Introduction
Edmund A. Walsh
Edmund A. Walsh was born in New Jersey around 1896. He was married to his wife Margaret in the early 1920s. By 1924 he was living at and managing Michael J. Maloney’s service station at 1600 Broadway. Maloney also had a bar at that location. Edmund Walsh was a partner in the business by 1927.
Edmund A. Walsh also operated the saloon at 1600 Broadway in 1928, and continued in that business through the first half of 1930. At the time of the 1930 census he was still operating this bar. His family, which included son Edmund Jr. and daughter Betty Ann, lived at 1633 Broadway. By 1931 he was concentrating his efforts at the Ferry Avenue bar.
In 1932 Edmund A. Walsh was elected Republican county committeeman from Camden’s 8th Ward. He was reelected during the bitterly contested elections of May 1933, defeating mikey brown by only four votes in a possibly rigged election, and May 1934. He replaced Ferdinand J. Larkin on the Camden County Board of Freeholders after Larkin’s death in September of 1939. He later took a position as the secretary at the Camden City Municipal Court, also known as the Police Court, holding that post for twelve years. He also served as a Camden County undersheriff for three years while holding down the Police Court post. In April of 1952 Edmund A. Walsh was elected chairman of the Republican Party City Committee. He was re-elected in 1953, 1954, and 1955.
By 1947 Edmund Walsh was living at 600 Ferry Avenue. He later moved to 1713 South 4th Street.
Edmund Walsh passed away on September 15, 1955.
Haines and Reinert Head G.O.P.; Madden To Lead Democrats
Camden Courier-Post —
Haines and Reinert Head G.O.P.; Madden To Lead Democrats
[Left column portrait: JOSHUA C. HAINES] [Right column portrait: JAMES A. MADDEN]
Baird and Mrs. Verga Decline Posts During Spirited Committee Session
Joshua C. Haines, Camden county register of deeds, was elected chairman of the Camden County Republican Committee at its reorganization last night in one of the most spirited contests held within the Organization in a decade. Mrs. Isabella C. Reinert, of Collingswood, nominee for Assembly, was elected vice chairman. Haines succeeds Walter S. Keown and Mrs. Reinert takes the post held by Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga. Their election came at 11.30 p. m., after more than three hours of heat- (Continued on Page Two)
Hadley Faction Loses And Miss Kelley is Winner of Vice Chairmanship
Attempt of an insurgent Democratic faction to elect Raymond P. Hadley, of the Tenth Ward, as chairman of the Democratic committee, was overwhelmingly defeated at reorganization of the committee last night. James A. Madden, of Collingswood, favored by Harry L. Maloney and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, members of the state committee, was elected by a vote of 69 to 14 over Hadley. The meeting was held in the Women's Democratic Club, 543 Washington street. The faction also made an attempt (Continued on Page Two)
Grand Jury Probes 8th Ward Stuffing
Camden Evening Courier —
Fifth District Box Had Too Many Ballots, Prosecutor Told
Another investigation into the mysteries of Eighth Ward elections was begun yesterday when the April grand jury probed ballot-box stuffing in the Fifth District at the May 16 primary.
Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin requested the investigation after he “couldn’t make head nor tail” of the fact that 25 ballots remained in the box even after 232 Republican ballots—the number of persons of that party recorded as voting—had been counted.
Although unconfirmed, it was declared that all of the ballots were marked for Edmund A. Walsh, incumbent, who defeated mikey brown for election to the G.O.P. Committee.
It is understood the prosecutor pointed out that the ballots were in bundles of five or six, and apparently had not been cast singly.
Baldwin learned that the extra ballots were not counted by the election board, each member of which was called to the grand jury room yesterday afternoon. All expressed ignorance of how the ballots could have been placed in the box, it is understood.
When Baldwin was informed of the mystery he personally inspected the box, which has been impounded in the office of City Clerk Frank S. Albright.
“I couldn’t make head nor tail of it, so I presented the case to the grand jury,” Baldwin said. He refused to comment further.
Principal Figure in Many Battles Welcomes Quiz
Camden Evening Courier —
Mikey Brown Says Jury Has Plenty To Probe In Eighth Ward Voting
‘Stuffing’ of Ballots Reported in Fifth and First Precincts
Rumors Are Checked
“The prosecutor and the grand jury have plenty to investigate in this ward concerning the last primary election.”
mikey brown, central figure in many Eighth Ward election squabbles and thrice accused in election irregularities, had that to say yesterday when informed that Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin and the April grand jury is investigating alleged ballot box stuffing in the ward at the last primary, May 16.
Disclosure of ballot box stuffing in the Fifth precinct of the ward, which the prosecutor said he asked the grand jury investigate was followed by reports yesterday that similar irregularities prevailed in the First precinct at the primary, and possibly in other districts.
Reports Checked
In extending his probe of ward political conditions, Baldwin said he is checking reports that a Brown challenger at the May election had refused to let the First precinct election board count what he declared were “stuffed ballots.”
The challenger is reported at close of the polling place to have said as he lifted a ballot box for the election board and spectators to see:
“There are ballots in this box that don’t belong there. They cannot be counted. I won’t permit it. And remember, mikey brown didn’t stuff this box today, as he had been accused falsely of doing at previous elections. Mikey wasn’t in this polling place, so you can’t blame him,”
Brown had been three times in Camden County Criminal Court for ballot box stuffing and other alleged election irregularities. He was exonerated twice, and there was a disagreement in the jury in the third case. At the May primary, he opposed Edmund A. Walsh in a contest for Republican county committeeman from the Eighth ward, but was defeated. Walsh was re-elected.
Asked what he knew about the latest Eighth ward situation, Brown said:
“All I can say is that the prosecutor and the grand jury will have plenty to investigate pertaining to the May 16 primary in the ward.”
Box Not Impounded
The first precinct ballot box has not been impounded by City Clerk Frank S. Albright, as was the case of the box of the fifth precinct. Baldwin said he was checking rumors one of the first precinct boxes contained about 50 or 60 stuffed ballots. Baldwin said that if the situation be found by him to be as reported, he will request the grand jury to summon witnesses.
Baldwin said he also is checking reports that the names of dead persons were “voted” at the ward primary.
Rival Candidates Enter Baird’s Fold
Camden Courier-Post —
Endorsements From Same Organizations Cited in Eighth Ward
Contests for the Republican nomination for freeholder and for Republican county committeeman and committeewoman will enliven the primary election May 15 in the Eighth Ward.
Freeholder contestants include Dr. Orris W. Saunders, 1700 Broadway, “Regular Republican,” and Walter Sekula, 1635 South Sixth street, “Regular Organization Republican”; for committeeman, Edmund A. Walsh, 1633 Broadway, “Regular Republican,” and William Tansky, 1903 South Sixth street, “Regular Organization Republican”; for committeewoman, Mamie F. Piraine, 2006 Broadway, “Regular Republican,” and Theresa Maloney Di Lello, 723 Ferry avenue, “Regular Organization Republican.”
Both the “Regular Republican” candidates and the “Regular Organization Republican” candidates announce that they are with the Baird-Baker faction. At the same time both groups claim the endorsements of Republican clubs in the ward.
Active in Politics
Dr. Saunders is a former Camden county coroner, a former member of city council from the eighth Ward, a former city commissioner candidate; a member of the Board of Managers of the Lakeland Tuberculosis Hospital; a director of the West Jersey-Parkside Trust Company.
Walsh has been a county committeeman for two years. He expressed confidence of re-election with a large majority.
Mrs. Piraine has been county committeewoman for three years. She predicts a big majority for the “Regular Republican” candidates at the primary.
Walsh said that Dr. Saunders, Mrs. Piraine and himself have been endorsed by the precinct committeemen and women of the ward; by the Eighth Ward Republican Association, and by the Regular William H. Jones Colored Republican Club, both men and women.
Walsh added that at a workers’ meeting last night at Mill Tavern, Broadway and Jefferson street, attended by 150, the Baird-Baker ticket was endorsed. Mrs. Florence Baker, candidate for state committeewoman, was among the speakers, he said.
Mass Meeting Friday
Walsh also announced that a mass meeting will be conducted May 11 at Empire Hall, Fillmore and Viola streets, when the Baird-Baker candidates will speak.
Sekula said the candidacies of himself, Tansky and Mrs. Di Lello have been endorsed by the Eighth Ward Republican Club and the Jones Colored Republican Club. Sekula said neither club has endorsed the candidacies of Dr. Saunders, Mrs. Piraine and Walsh, who, he added, have only the endorsement of a new Republican club in the ward that has just been organized. Sekula said that as to endorsements by precinct committeemen and women, they are divided in their support.
Sekula is seeking the nomination for a second term as freeholder. He is in the trucking business and served as president of the Eighth Ward Republican Club, 1718 Broadway, for eight years.
Tansky, who has lived in the ward 24 years, served three enlistments in the Army and the Navy and is in the cafe business. He was 15 when he served in the World War, the youngest soldier. He is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wards, Post 980.
Sekular [sic] predicted victory for himself, Tansky and Mrs. Di Lello.
Club Endorsement Denied in 8th Ward
Camden Courier-Post —
she picked up two candidates who were not members of the club, Walsh and Dr. Saunders.
“As a result, the club held a special meeting and rescinded its motion endorsing Mrs. Piraine.”
“Dr. Saunders cannot rightfully claim affiliation as a Regular Republican by virtue of his candidacy in 1927 on a Non-Partisan ticket,” Tansky added.
Tansky has served in the United States Army and Navy with three overseas enlistments. He has resided 24 years in the Eighth ward, is married and has two children. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wards, Post 980.
Sekula has been in the trucking business for 15 years at 1635 South Sixth street, while Mrs. Di Lello conducts a confectionery store at Kossuth street and Ferry avenue. She was born and reared in the Eighth
Boy Shot, Many People Hurt in Eighth Ward Riot
Camden Courier-Post —
Youth Cut in Chest by Bullet; Bystander Cut on Head
POLITICAL LEADERS PUT TO QUIZ BY DETECTIVES
At least one person was shot and many were hurt in a street battle last night that was the aftermath of a bitter political contest at the primary election between rival Republicans factions in the Eighth ward.
When nearly a score of police arrived in response to a riot call from Sixth and Viola streets a crowd of 1000 excited residents of the ward had gathered there and a dozen or more individual combats were in progress.
Bullet Hits Boy
Nicholas Sustich, 15, of 1804 Hale street, was treated at Cooper hospital for a flesh wound of the chest, which police said was caused by a ricocheting bullet.
Joseph Samenick, 1005 South Sixth street, was treated at the West Jersey Homeopathic hospital for cuts on the forehead. He claimed to be an innocent bystander.
Others were treated for minor injuries by local or family physicians, having been taken away from the scene of the riot by friends before the arrival of the police.
Detectives investigated a report that Isaac D. Shute, former city detective and former county committeeman from the Eighth Ward, had been shot in the leg. According to Detective George Zietz, he learned from a member of Shute’s family that he had received treatment by a physician for cuts of the right hand resulting from a fall.
After questioning a score of persons at detective headquarters last night, including leaders of each of the rival Republican factions, John Hess, 34, of 1825 South Sixth street, was arrested on a charge of illegal possession of firearms and held in $1000 bail for a hearing in police court this morning.
Parade Starts Melee
According to Zeitz, the melee started when a parade led by Nicholas Scarduzio, of 1863 South Fourth street, former summer policeman, stopped in front of the saloon of William Tansky, Jr., 1903 South Sixth street, two doors below Viola street.
(Continued on Page Two)
(Continued from Page One)
Tansky was unsuccessful candidate for the post of county committeeman in the Tuesday primaries. He was reputed to be backed by the Woodruff-Verga faction.
The parade was in celebration of the victory of Dr. Orris W. Saunders, who won the Republican nomination for freeholder, defeating Walter Sekula, the incumbent, of Edmund A. Walsh, who defeated Tansky, and of Maime F. Piraine, re-elected county committeewoman over Theresa Malony Di Lello. The successful candidates were of the Baird-Baker faction.
Walsh and Miss Piraine were in the parade, according to Zeitz. The celebration of victory had started the night before and centered largely throughout the day in the saloon of Celie Ellis, across the street from
that of Tansky.
More than 100 persons were in the procession, which was led by an improvised band of accordians, fifes, drums and bugles.
When it stopped in front of the Tansky place, according to the police, Benjamin Tansky, 30, a brother of the proprietor, came to the door of the saloon and objected to the political jibes that were hurled by the parading factionalists.
Bloody Free-For-All
When the paraders remained, the police said, hot words were exchanged, a dozen or more others who were in the Tansky place came out, and the battle started.
Eye-witnesses described it later as a bloody free-for-all in which fists and “billies” were used. The riot call was sent to police at 7.30.
Motorcycle policemen converged to the scene and a squad of detectives arrived led by Zeitz and including Leon Branch, Fiore Troncone and Richard Donnelly. Many of the combatants fled, but hundreds remained
as police and detectives strove to locate the injured, most of whom had been removed.
Scarduzio Beaten Badly
They learned that Scarduzio had been badly beaten on the head and that two shots had been fired in the melee.
According to Zietz, Hess admitted at detective headquarters that he had fired the shots from a revolver which he had procured from back of the Tansky bar, and that he had aimed the shots at the pavement for the purpose of “scaring” the parade crowd away.
Benjamin Tansky told police that when he remonstrated with the rival political group about 15 of them attacked him. They knocked him down, he said, and poked him in the eye with a pole. He exhibited a black eye to substantiate his story.
Zietz said he found a loaded revolver, with two shells fired, in a radio cabinet in the living room behind Tansky’s barroom.
Shooting Suspect in 8th Ward Riot Held in $1000 Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
John Hess, left, was held for the grand jury on charges of illegal possession of firearms as a result of the shooting incident at Tansky’s Cafe. On right is his attorney, Edward V. Martino.
Walsh Blocks Coup By Baird in Freeholders
Camden Courier-Post —
Prevents Meeting and Halts Plan to Make Wood Director
Proceedings Off Till Next Monday
An attempted coup by David Baird in his drive to rebuild his fallen fences for the primary election next May was frustrated yesterday by one lone freeholder, and the baby member of the board, at that.
Edmund A. Walsh elected from Camden’s Eighth Ward to fill the unexpired term of the late Ferdinand J. Larkin, foiled Baird’s well laid plans when he refused to attend the annual organization meeting after the Republican League bloc of freeholders had been maneuvered into a position of agreeing to support James W. Wood, Baird satellite, for director.
A spokesman for the League group said the agreement was nullified, however, by yesterday’s adjournment.
Walsh’s loyalty to City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, long-time political foe of Baird, had the effect of stalemating the 1940 organization, the last under the large board, since the Democrats, upon learning of the G.O.P. decision to support Wood, bolted the meeting room.
“Refused to Sell Out”
Walsh took the stand that to vote for Wood would be to sell out to Baird. Walsh was ready and willing to vote for any other Republican. At no time was he for a Democrat.
The 20 Republican freeholders present could have transacted business and elected Wood if they had gone into session, but Walsh’s refusal to be a party to the Baird-Wood scheme left only 19 freeholders willing to meet, and that number is one short of the quorum required by law.
When shortly after 5:00 PM—five hours after the statutory time for reorganization—there was no indication that either Walsh or the Democrats would return. Wood, J. Alfred Beck, president of the Republican league, and Maurice Bart, floor leader for the Democrats, conferred and agreed to adjourn until next Monday.
Price Furnishes Surprise
Walsh emphasized that he favors Republican organization of the board and agreed to support any Republican for director except Wood. These are the sentiments of Mrs. Kobus. Too, it was the stand of the Republican League until at yesterday’s joint conference of the three G.O.P. factions the group headed by Raymond G. Price cast its lot with Wood. This in itself was a major surprise of the day, since Price and Edward J. Quinlan both elected with Kobus support had been considered anti-Baird-ites.
Party Committees To Form Tuesday
Camden Courier-Post —
Reorganization of the Camden County Republican and Democratic committees will be held Tuesday night, it was announced today.
The Republicans will name new officers at a meeting at 8.30 p. m. in Collingswood borough hall, Mrs. Laura Bilson, of Laurel Springs, secretary, announced.
The Democrats will meet at 8 p. m. in Democratic headquarters, 503 Market street, according to L. Wayne McCormick, of the Twelfth ward, secretary.
The Camden City Republican committee will reorganize Monday at 8 p. m. in the “Citizens League for Freedom” campaign headquarters, 419 Broadway, Edmund A. Walsh, of the Eighth ward, secretary, announced.
The Democratic city committee will hold its reorganization at noon Monday in Kenney’s restaurant, 531 Market street, according to Angelo Malandra, of the Fourteenth ward, chairman.
E. A. Walsh Dies; City GOP Leader, Ex-Freeholder
Camden Courier-Post —
Prosecutor’s Aide Ill Since Surgery Of Last Year
Edmund A. Walsh, 58, chairman of the Camden Republican City Committee, investigator in the prosecutor’s office and former freeholder and undersheriff, died Thursday in Cooper Hospital.
Physicians attributed death to post-operative complications. Mr. Walsh had been ill since surgery last year, and was taken to the hospital two weeks ago.
He had been Eighth Ward Republican leader for 14 years, and city committee chairman for three.
Born in Gloucester City and a resident of Camden for 30 years, Mr. Walsh one time operated a cafe at 4th st. and Ferry ave. His home was at 1713 S. 4th st.
In 1939 he was elected to the old large Board of Freeholders and seated after stormy opposition. He served as undersheriff during an interval in his 12 years as clerk in the municipal court.
Surviving are his wife, Margaret; a son, Edmund, of Camden; two daughters, Margaret M., of Camden, and Mrs. Louis Sacotti, of Glendora; a brother, Bayard, of Gloucester, and four sisters, Sister Theresa Margaret, of the Order of St. Dominic, Newburgh, N. Y.; Mrs. Catherine Frost, of Gloucester City; Mrs. William A. Laub, of Ocean City, and Mrs. Edward A. Ganley, of Philadelphia.
Requiem high Mass will be celebrated Monday at 9.30 a. m. in St. Mary’s R. C. Church, Gloucester City. Relatives and friends will meet at 8.30 a. m. at the old Walsh family home, 400 Market st., Gloucester City, where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. The service will be under the direction of the McCann Funeral Home of Gloucester City.
Death Notices
Camden Courier-Post —
WALSH—On Sept. 15, 1955, Edmund A., husband of Margaret Walsh (nee Maloney), of 1713 S. 4th St., Camden. Due notice of the funeral will be given by Walter J. and John R. McCann Funeral Home, 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester.
WALSH—On Sept. 15, 1955, Edmund A., husband of Margaret Walsh (nee Maloney), of 1713 S. 4th St., Camden. Relatives and friends of the family, will meet Monday at 8.30 a. m., at the home of the deceased’s late parents at 400 Market St., Gloucester. High Requiem Mass will be celebrated Monday at 9.30 a. m., St. Mary’s R. C. Church, Gloucester City. Interment at New St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday evening. Funeral under the direction of Walter J. and John R. McCann Funeral Home, Gloucester.