Introduction
Frank F. Neutze, circa 1930
FRANK F. NEUTZE SR. was born in Camden NJ on December 22, 1894 in New Jersey to Harry and Mary Neutze. He was a member of the Ferdinand Neutze family that had lived at 345 Spruce Street in the 1870s and 1880s. Ferdinand Neutze had operated a retail shoe store in 1880, his sons followed him into various professions, including printing, a stove works, and barbering.
Frank Neutze grew up in Camden. He received his elementary education at the Fetters Elementary School at 3rd and Walnut streets, and attended Camden High School. When the census was taken in 1910 he was already studying law. The Neutze family then lived at 339 Spruce Street, a few doors away from a young Italian immigrant couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Fanelle.
Frank Neutze completed his law studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He had already been admitted to the New Jersey bar when he registered for the draft in June of 1917. He was then living at 572 Pine Street. Frank Neutze married his wife Anna around 1917 shortly thereafter. He served with the United States Army during World War I, rising to the rank of first lieutenant. In January of 1920, when the census was taken, the Neutzes were living in rented lodgings at 756 Federal Street. By this time he had set up his own office in Camden, which in 1947 were at 525 Cooper Street. He would maintain an office here into the late 1970s.
The 1920s saw Frank Neutze’s law practice prosper. A daughter, Helen, and a son, Frank Jr., were born. He was appointed a New Jersey State Supreme Court commissioner in 1923. He was appointed city solicitor for the city of Camden in 1923, and would serve as such until April 11, 1927 when he was appointed District Court judge. He ran for election to the City Commission in May of 1927. Although endorsed, along with commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton Jr. and Carroll P. Sherwood, by Camden’s Non-Partisan League, his slate, which included newly appointed Dr. Saunders, and realtor Carl R. Evered, did not win. During this time, as an adjunct to his law practice he taught classes at the South Jersey Law School.
Frank Neutze family moved to 1453 Wildwood Avenue in Parkside in the mid-1920s, but was gone by 1927. By April of 1930 Frank F. Neutze had bought a home at 204 Kings Highway in Haddon Heights NJ, where he would remain a resident for the rest of his days. Frank Neutze served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1932, which nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt for president. By June of 1933 one of his former students, Benjamin Asbell, was practicing law at Frank Neutze’s firm. In May of 1934 he was elevated to judge in the court of common pleas, where he would serve for several years before returning to private practice. One of his clerks, Private Emmett W. Ross, was killed in action while serving with the 106th Cavalry Group, on April 13, 1945. In these years he was also active in the American Legion, serving as an officer in the Camden county committee and in the Raymond C. Thoirs Post. On May 16, 1934 he was elected president of the Camden Reciprocity Club.
Frank F. Neutze passed away on September of 1980. He was survived by his son, who had followed him into the practice of law in the Camden area, before moving to the Richmond VA area in the late 1980s.
South Jersey: A History 1624–1924
FRANK F. NEUTZE was born in Camden on December 22, 1894, the son of John Henry and Mary Steinbach Neutze. His father was at one time captain of the Camden Police, and later Fish and Game Warden of Camden County. He attended the public and high schools of Camden, graduating with the class of 1913. He at once entered the law office of Samuel K. Robbins, where he studied for four years, attending the night classes at Temple University Law School, receiving his degree in 1919. He passed his bar examinations in 1916 and counselor’s examinations in 1919. Since that time he has been engaged in the general practice of law, having been appointed Supreme Court Commissioner in June, 1923. In April, 1923, he was made assistant city counsel of Camden.
Mr. Neutze is solicitor for the West Jersey Mutual, the Public Safety, and the Walt Whitman Building and Loan associations. Immediately upon completing his bar examinations, Mr. Neutze enlisted as a private in the Third New Jersey Infantry, National Guard. Later, this organization was merged in the 114th United States Infantry. On August 25, 1918, he entered the Officer’s Training School at Camp Gordon, Georgia, and when he received his commission as second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 99th Division. In October, 1918, he was promoted to first lieutenant, with which rank he was discharged in December, 1918.
Mr. Neutze’s name may be found among the members of the Camden Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Lions Club. He is president of the New Jersey Alumni of Temple University. Professionally, he is connected with the American, the New Jersey State, and the Camden County Bar associations. The subject which stands second in interest only to law with Mr. Neutze is astronomy. He has never ceased to keep up with the latest developments in this field of science, and follows with especial pleasure the work of Professor Doolittle, of the University of Pennsylvania.
Frank F. Neutze was married to Anna M. Schoellkopf on December 1, 1916, in the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Camden. They are the parents of a daughter, Helene Anna, who was born on March 7, 1921, and a son, Frank F., Jr., who was born November 29, 1924. Mr. Neutze is a member of the Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Camden.
Camden at a Glance
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On the force ten years, Sergeant Lewis Stehr was made a police captain yesterday by Mayor Ellis. He succeeds Arthur Stanley, who resigns because of disability after being commander of the Second District for eighteen years. Stehr’s place will be taken by Policeman George Anderson, of the Ninth ward, who has been a member of the force for twenty three years. The changes are effective February 15.
Miss Lillian Hoffman won the prize of gold for realizing the most money from the sale of tags in connection with the Jewish war relief fund movement. She turned in $40. A total of over $2100 was raised.
To take over a garage business the Haddon Auto Company was chartered yesterday at the office of the County Clerk with a capital of $50,000. The incorporators are W. P. Wingender, Frank Nuetze and Walter McGonigle.
Chief of Camden Police Is Retired
Trenton Evening Times —
CAMDEN, June 27.—The authorities shook up the Police Department yesterday by retiring Chief Edward S. Hyde and Eldridge Benjamin McClong, chief clerk of the department, on pensions. Announcement of the proposed changes came following a conference at City Hall attended by Mayor King, Commissioners Middleton and Sherwood, City Counsel Miller, and Assistant City Counsel Neutze. Commissioner Hitchner was unable to attend on account of the death of his father, but it is said he has acquiesced in the action of the other commissioners.
Captain James E. Tatem, who has been stationed at City Hall headquarters, was asked to become acting chief. Chief Hyde was eligible to a pension both from the standpoint of years of service and age.
Speaking for the commissioners, Mr. Miller said: “Chief Hyde and Captain McClong have signed applications for pensions and have been relieved from further duty. It was regarded as a move for the best interests of the police department and the city government that these two men retire at this time.”
Fireman Is Suspended for Being Intoxicated
Camden Daily Courier —
Roscoe Tribbett, a hoseman attached to Engine company No. one, Fourth and Pine streets, was suspended this morning following a charge of being drunk and disorderly while on duty, preferred by Captain W. Scott Franklin.
Tribbett, who lives at 1190 Penn street, was summoned to appear at Commissioner Hitchner’s office, City Hall, this morning, for a hearing. A committee composed of John W. Kelly, Chief of Electrical Bureau, acting in Commissioner Hitchner’s absence, Chief Marshall, Captain Franklin, and Assistant City Counsellor Frank Neutze.
Tribbett was ordered suspended to await action upon the return of Commissioner Hitchner, who is ill.
Conn L. Mack Honored By Friends at Dinner
Camden Daily Courier —
By FRANK SERIDAN [sic].
Men of all political creeds gathered at the festive board on Saturday evening at Silver Lake Inn in honor of Daniel P. McConnell, sports editor of the Post-Telegram, better known as Conn L. Mack or Applesauce Dan.
Dan sort of owed the boys a dinner because of a new arrival at his home but we thought we would save him the money so we gave him the dinner. You married men, especially Howard Miller, know how that is.
Well it was some party. Judge Samuel M. Shay presided for a while as toastmaster then City Solicitor Howard L. Miller elected himself to rule over the restinies [sic] of the meeting much to the contempt of the Court.
“Red” Brigham, a newspaper man, made the speech of his life. He still insists that he is the only speaker, who paid a tribute to the guest of honor of the evening. “Red” was there when it came to quoting Shakespeare.
George Jacobs’s necktie was one of the bright spots of the evening. Mack Parker had a terrible time trying to set up an alibi. As cleanup man of the Post-Telegram staff, nearly all those of Democratic and No Party faith, agreed he was a good man to stay away from during campaigns.
But Charley Wolverton, former prosecutor, eased up the situation when he vouched that no newspaer [sic] man ever broke faith with him during his many years in the prosecutor’s office, either as an assistant or the big noise.
Genial Ethan Wescott, now Prosecutor of the Pleas, traveled all the way from Princeton to pay a tribute to our Dan and it came from his heart.
Al White, the jovial City Clerk, admitted he was a candidate for some office last Tuesday. He asked Charley Wolverton how it felt to know you were defeated before election. Charley said he was sure of his election a year ago, even after the votes were counted.
Frank Neutze paid a nice tribute to our Dan which the boys appreciated.
Eddie Kelleher, of Miami, Trenton and Camden, erstwhile political leader of Democrats, et al, said “May it please the court” and Judge Shay smiled as hopes of five more years on the bench loom on his horizon as a result of the election of Moore.
Mister Frank H. Ryan, sports editor of the Courier, simply blushed crimson pink when interrogated as to why he was so late.
Larry Doran, chief of county detectives, supported Mr. Wolverton in his contention that newspaper men never lie. All agreed that Larry must be a good detective because he has survived all kinds of administrations at the Court House.
“Tom” Littlehales, formerly a Councilman from the Ninth ward, but now a Philadelphian, crossed the river to join in the tribute to Dan and the bunch appreciated his thoughtfulness.
The guests included: Judge Samuel M. Shay, Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott, former Prosecutor Charles A. Wolverton, Edward J. Kelleher, City Solicitor Howard L. Miller, Assistant City Solicitor Frank F. Neutze, City Clerk Alfred White, Edward Ferat, Thomas N. Littlehales, W. Brown, Charles H. Klump, Joseph Norcross, Lawrence Doran, Howard Smith, William Cleary, William Lyons, James Wren, George H. Jacobs, Frank H. Ryan, Andrew McLean Parker, John Brigham, Jack Dean and the oversigned.
Court Attache Scours City To Round Up Jury for Trial
Camden Courier-Post —
High comedy was furnished spectators in the District courtroom of Judge Frank Neutze today when lawyers in a $220 damage suit demanded a jury trial.
Leon Maragin, of South Camden, was the defendant. The plaintiff was Stanley Motyl, who owns a jewelry and phonograph shop at Tenth street and Kaighn avenue. On July 30, 1927, Maragin bought a phonograph and a number of records from Motyl. He was to pay for them in 60 days. A short time after the purchase was made Motyl and his wife separated.
When the storekeeper asked Maragin for the $220, he was informed the sum had been paid to his wife. Motyl claims his wife was not his business partner and that Maragin still owes him the money in spite of the fact that he has a receipted bill.
Carl Kisselman, representing the plaintiff, surprised the court by asking for a jury trial. William Sauerhoff, senior sergeant-at-arms, was dispatched to seek twelve men who would serve.
The first juror thus secured was Frank Green, a former board of education employe. He was drafted as he walked through the county building. Juror 2 was William Brecker, an uncle of Attorney Walter Keown.
Sauerhoff, after delivering the first pair, made a “raid” on the Elks clubhouse, where he enlisted the services of John McDougall, owner of a soft drink parlor at Ninth and Market streets.
The sergeant-at-arms then made a sortie down Federal street and picked up Charles Howarth, until recently owner of a cigar store at Eighth and Lawrence streets. On his way back to the courtroom with Howarth he picked up Isaac Robinson, a collector, and a few steps farther he added another collector to his “army.” Lorenzo Entriken, an insurance company employe.
In front of the courtroom Sauerhoff picked up two more “recruits,” Harry Knight and John O’Brien, a former water department employe.
On his next trip, the sergeant-at-arms signed up William M. Davis, a painter; Thomas Kirk and Martin Brown, summer policeman. He received the congratulations of Judge Neutze, who added that only one more man was required. It took Sauerhoff five more minutes to get the twelfth man, Louis Brown, a contractor.
The case was quickly completed, the jury took its place, and the dozen jurors retired to consider a verdict.
After they had been out of the courtroom for five minutes a knock was heard on the door of the jury room.
“We choose to have some ice water sent to us,” the jury shouted back.
Another five minutes. Another knock on the door.
“We wish to know when we eat,” came the voice again.
Late today the jury was said to be deadlocked because one of its members, wished to spend the night in a hotel.
Benefit Card Party Is Staged Today by Hospital Auxiliary
Camden Courier-Post —
A card party is being staged in the Board rooms of Cooper Hospital this afternoon, under the auspices of the Parkside Branch to the Woman’s Auxiliary of the hospital of which Mrs. Herbert Schoellkopf is president.
Tables are placed for five hundred, bridge and pinocle and the players are progressing.
Assisting Mrs. Schoellkopf with arrangements are Mrs. Herold Rittgers, Mrs. Weston Sharp, Mrs. Edwin Schoelkopf, Mrs. Harry Robbs, Mrs. Oscar Peterson, Mrs. Arthur Dennis, Mrs. Frank Neutze and Mrs. Munro Coulter.
Proceeds from the affair will benefit the hospital.
Local Legion Post to Put on Fight Show
Camden Courier-Post —
Sergeant Ray Smith Heads Committee In Charge of Arrangement for Jousts
Not to be outdone by any local organization, Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs Post, of the American Legion, passed a resolution last night in favor of staging a monster boxing show at Convention Hall sometime next month. Half the receipts will be donated to further the Boy Scout Movement.
Sergeant Ray Smith, former heavyweight boxer and now a licensed referee, was elected to head the committee on arrangements, which consists if ten members; Judge Frank F. Neutze, Dr. Irwin B. Deibert, Tom Taylor, J. Harry Ashton, Harry E. Bayne, George P. Rothermel, Albert Wehner, Fireman Ray Smith and Jack Weinberg will assist the sergeant in making the show a success.
A businessmen’s committee also will be appointed, but as yet has not been named by the legion committee members.
It is the intention of the committee to bring some of the best boxers in the country here for the show, which they will make an annual affair providing the initial one is a success. Chairman Smith stated today that he would apply for a boxing permit from Deputy Boxing Commissioner Edward A. Welsh at once.
Patrons, Patronesses Announced Today for First Military Ball
Camden Courier-Post —
Patrons and patronesses for the first military ball of the Camden Post No. 960, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening February 3 in the Elks auditorium, Seventh and Cooper Streets., are announced today.
The following prominent men and women are listed: Mrs. J.W. Connor, Miss C.M. Day, Mrs. J.H. Forsyth, Mrs. H.J. Goodyear, Miss B. Graham, Mrs. R.E. Green, Mrs. E.F. Haines, Mrs. J. Hood Jr., Mrs. W. Hurley, Mrs. J. Jarrell, Mrs. T. Keefe, Mrs. J.F. Kobus, Mrs. L. Liberman, Mrs. F.L. Lloyd, Mrs. M.A. Logan, Mrs. T.P. McConaghy, Mrs. F.F. Neutze, Mrs. L.K. Marr, Mrs. J.A. Pennington, Mrs. M.E. Ramsey, Mrs. E. Truax, Mrs. S.M. Shay, Mrs. W.J. Staats, Mrs. B.G. Tarburton, Mrs. R.W. Waddell, Mrs. E. Watson, Mrs. E.P. Wescott, Mrs. C.A. Wolverton.
David Baird Jr., William T. Boyle, Isaac Ferris, William Hurley, John Hood Jr., John Jarrell, Victor King, William J. Kraft, Thomas Keefe, Joseph F. Kobus, Hon. Edmund B. Leaming, Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, James H. Long, L.K. Marr, Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy, Hon. Frank F. Neutze, Samuel P. Orlando, Albert E. Simmons, Edwin Watson, Ethan P. Wescott.
Judge Shay to Be Next Prosecutor
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Trenton Bureau
Trenton, Jan. 31— The name of Judge Samuel M. Shay, of the Camden County Court of Common Pleas, has been handed to Governor Moore as the choice of the Camden Democratic organization for prosecutor, succeeding Ethan Wescott.
The name was submitted to Governor Moore last night by a delegation of Camden Democrats, headed by Edward J. Kelleher.
That Governor Moore will send the nomination to the State Senate appears certain, and it not likely that any serious objection will be raised in that body, inasmuch as Judge Shay’s reputation is of the highest and he has been twice before confirmed for the judgeship by the Senate.
Sees Drastic Changes
The choice of Judge Shay was a big surprise in state Democratic ranks, and started a flurry of speculation. If Judge Shay is appointed to the prosecutorship it will leave a vacancy on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas. Although the Camden Democrats are said to be a unit in supporting Shay and also on the other changes they contemplate, no definite word leaked out as to who will be Shay’s successor on the bench.
Judge Shay’s appointment as prosecutor, it was said by Camden Democrats who were here last night, mean drastic changes to the personnel of the Camden Prosecutor’s office. One of the rumors in effect is that District Court Judge Frank F. Neutze will be elevated to the County judgeship and that Prosecutor Wescott will succeed Neutze. It is also rumored that Judge Shay’s present post may go to either former Judge William T. Boyle or former Judge William C. French. Both Boyle and French formerly held the county judgeship position.
Another rumor is that Samuel P. Orlando will be named first assistant prosecutor and that either Francis G. Homan or Lawrence Gregorio, the incumbent will be named second assistant prosecutor.
The names at former Police Judge John T. Cleary and Assistant Prosecutor Joseph A. Varbalow also figure in the rumor. Cleary has been mentioned as first assistant prosecutor several times.
Term is 5 Years
Judge Shay is now serving his second term as Judge. He was reappointed for a five-year tenure of office last March. The term of the prosecutor’s office also is five years.
The proposed changes are said to be steps toward a complete reorganization of the Democratic party In South Jersey.
State Senator Joseph H. Forsyth, whose ‘O. K.’ is necessary before the appointment of Judge Shay could become official, under the “Senatorial courtesy rule” would not comment on the situation here today.
Interviewed in the Senate Chamber prior to the opening of today’s session, Senator Forsyth refused to admit that Governor Moore had sent for him last night and had discussed the appointment of Judge Shay. Forsyth’s answer, however, indicated that he had been in conference with the Governor on the subject last night.
“I have not made up my mind as to my attitude on the nomination of Judge Shay,” Senator Forsyth said. “I want to take up the matter with the Governor first. I do not think it would be proper to give my decision to the newspapers before I discuss the matter with the Governor.”
Headed by Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Gregorio, County Detective Frank Cocchilaraley and Justice of the Peace Jack O’Grady, a delegation of Camden Democrats were scheduled to arrive in Trenton this afternoon for a conference with Governor Moore in the interest of Prosecutor Wescott.
O’Grady stated he will present letters from the Bricklayers and Iron-workers Unions urging the reappointment of Wescott. Cocchiaraley is heading a group of South Camden Italians who are also favoring the reappointment of Wescott.
Love Case Appeal Opens
Camden Courier-Post —
LOVE CASE APPEAL OPENS
Manufacturer To Fight $75,000 Verdict In Supreme Court On Grounds of Excessive Award
The $75,000 verdict returned by a circuit court jury against Peter Malinowski, of Drexel Hill, who was accused of alienating the affections of a Camden fireman's 27-year-old wife, is “an excessive amount.”
That was stated by Judge Frank Neutze, counsel for Malinowski, who has secured from Judge Donges an order to show cause why a new trial should not be conducted in Supreme Court of New Jersey.
The verdict, the largest ever given in the Camden Circuit Court, was awarded to Samuel Oshushek, 1629 Pulaski street, who alleged the wealthy manufacturer stole the love of Mrs. Clara Oshushek. According to former Judge William C. French, who represented the fireman, Malinowski has transferred most of his property to a bank to be held in trust so as to prevent collecting the award, but the transfer is void under the laws of this state.
Judge Neutze secured the order from the presiding judge of the trial yesterday. It was made returnable at the fall term of the Supreme Court.
Judge Frank F. Neutze, April 1928
Portrait of Judge Frank F. Neutze — Camden Courier-Post, April 5, 1928
City Employe Kicked by Horse Asks Damages
Camden Courier-Post —
Alleging continued disability as the result of having been kicked by a horse last May while he was a city employe, Charles Morgan, 732 Birch street, will appear in Workmen’s Compensation Court Monday when his case is heard by Referee Charles E. Corbin.
Morgan claims he was injured by the horse while he was at work in the stables at the 112th Field Artillery Armory. At the time, he says, he was a laborer in the parks department.
The city, which will be represented at the hearing by Rocco Palese, assistant city solicitor, contends Morgan’s disability occurred prior to his employment with the city. Morgan is represented by Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Bar Urges Forsyth to Raise Neutze Ban
Camden Courier-Post —
Resolution Asks Senator to Permit Confirmation as Prosecutor
The Camden County Bar Association today was on record as urging State Senator Joseph H. Forsyth to permit confirmation of Judge Frank F. Neutze as Camden county prosecutor.
The association, composed of attorneys of both political parties, adopted a resolution yesterday which [?] upon Senator Forsyth to withdraw his opposition to Neutze.
Meanwhile, however, the Republican State Senators conferred at Trenton and decided to withhold confirmation of most of Governor A. Harry Moore’s important appointments. Neutze’s nomination, sent to the Senate after Forsyth had refused to approve the appointment of Judge Samuel M. Shay to the post, is among these, as is the nomination of Judge Charles Egan as Hudson county prosecutor.
The Camden county Republican organization, it is known, favors retention of Ethan P. Wescott as prosecutor until after the November election. Wescott is now serving as acting prosecutor under temporary appointment as deputy attorney general, to which position he was recently named by Attorney General Edward L. Katzenbach upon expiration of his regular term as prosecutor. Unless the senate confirms Neutze, it was said at Governor Moore’s office today, no further nominations to the post will be sent to the senate.
The Republican state leaders are also anxious to block approval of any of the governor’s nominations because of the hope of electing a Republican governor in the fall. If they should succeed in doing this, the way would then be open for the nomination and confirmation of a Republican prosecutor in Camden who would take over the office from Wescott.
In its resolution endorsing Judge Neutze for the appointment and urging his confirmation the bar association made no reference to county criminal affairs but limited its comment to a recital of Neutze’s qualifications for the post of prosecutor.
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas The Hon. A. Harry Moore, Governor of the State of New Jersey, has seen fit to twice honor the Hon. Frank F. Neutze, a member of the Camden County Bar Association, the second time naming him to the office of prosecutor of the County of Camden.
And Whereas, The office of prosecutor of the pleas, is an office of great importance to the people and bar of Camden county, and of particular interest to this association.
And Whereas, The nomination of Judge Neutze is now before the Senate of the State of New Jersey for confirmation.
And Whereas, On account of our association with Judge Neutze as a practicing attorney and our experience before him as judge of the Camden City District Court, we are certain of his ability and integrity.
And Whereas, We are certain of the efficient manner in which he has handled the position of judge of the said Camden District Court and feel that he would be equally efficient as prosecutor.
And Whereas, We are satisfied that it is our duty to give to the Hon. Joseph H. Forsyth, State Senator from Camden, the benefit of our judgment and experience.
Therefore, Be It Resolved, By the Camden County Bar Association that these facts be called to the attention of the Hon. Joseph H. Forsyth, State Senator from the County of Camden, and that he be urged to use his best endeavors to secure the confirmation of the nomination of the Hon. Frank F. Neutze as prosecutor of the pleas of Camden county.
And Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution, signed by the secretary and under the seal of this association, shall be immediately forwarded to the Hon. Joseph H. Forsyth, Senator from the County of Camden.
After passing the Neutze resolution yesterday, the bar association elected these officers: Judge William T. Boyle, president; Joseph H. Carr, and Judge Ralph W. E. Donges, vice presidents; Judge Neutze, treasurer; and George M. Stevens, secretary.
Each of these officers except Neutze were re-elected. Neutze succeeds Elmer ti Van Name, treasurer for more than 10 years, who asked to be relieved of the post.
At a meeting last week 60 members of Raymond C. Thomas Post, American Legion, adopted a resolution urging confirmation of Judge Neutze for the post of prosecutor. Neutze is a war veteran and a member of the Legion.
Owner Sues to End Lease on Pekin Cafe
Camden Courier-Post — April 12–13, 1930
OWNER SUES TO END LEASE ON PEKIN CAFE
Woman Declares She Did Not Know of Liquor on Her Premises; Padlock Delay Granted
Suit to break the lease held on the Pekin Cafe, 818 Broadway by James Richardson, proprietor, has been filed by Mrs. Emma J. Lickfield, owner of the property.
That action was revealed after Judge Avis in Federal court here ordered the cafe padlocked. Judge Avis granted Richardson three weeks notice before a consent padlock becomes effective.
Mrs. Lickfield, who lives at 549 Washington street, was named co-defendant with Richardson in the padlock proceedings. According to her attorney, Judge Frank F. Neutze, Mrs. Lickfeld [sic] did not know there was liquor on the premises but did not fight the padlock proceedings. It was revealed that U. S. authorities were willing to permit her to reopen the building to other uses after the Pekin Cafe has been removed.
George Aaron, Richardson’s attorney, asked for a delay in the case on the grounds that his client was in jail and could not make a suitable defense. Richardson was sentenced to 20 days in jail and payment of a $300 fine for possession of liquor and maintenance of a nuisance on March 28.
Judge Avis then offered to sign an order bringing Richardson from the jail to testify but Aaron demurred, declaring his client would have to be out of jail several days before he could prepare a defense. He then offered to consent to a padlock if Richardson were allowed a month in which to leave the premises instead of the customary two weeks.
This was refused but Judge Avis allowed Richardson an extra week since he will not be out of jail for another week. Horace C. Jeffers, assistant United States District attorney, represented the government.
Judge Shay to Speak at Moore Meet Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Judges Samuel M. Shay and Frank F. Neutze will be among the speakers at an A. Harry Moore rally to be held Friday night by Democratic clubs of the Eleventh Ward at Maennerchor Hall, Twenty-seventh Street below River avenue.
Other speakers will include Samuel P. Orlando and the three Democratic Assembly candidates, William French, Jr., Vincent DePaul Costello and Fred Stanton. A North Jersey orator also is expected.
Mrs. Lillian Pisko, Democratic county committeewoman, is general chairman of the rally, and is being assisted by Charles Goldy, county committeeman; Mrs. Helen Rush, former committeewoman, and John Hutchinson.
Mrs. Pisko and Goldy will open Moore headquarters for the Eleventh Ward today at 923 North Twenty-seventh Street.
Vets Pledge to Aid Moore in 14th Ward
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 200 World War veterans last night pledged their support to A. Harry Moore. Democratic gubernatorial candidate, at a meeting of the Camden County A. Harry Moore Veterans’ League, held in the Fourteenth Ward Democratic Club, Seventh and Morgan streets.
The veterans, including members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Camden county, were addressed by Judge Frank F. Neutze, who was a lieutenant during the war; Ralph Wescott, Haddonfield freeholder candidate; Frank Suttill and Edward L. Canning.
Judge Neutze, chairman of the Camden league, announced that 678 veterans of Camden county have now pledged their support to Moore.
7 Democrats Rallies in County Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Democratic speakers, urging suffrage in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and the local Democratic ticket, will invade seven political clubs in the city and county tonight.
County meetings, all at 8 p. m. and speakers are as follows:
First Ward Democratic Club, Gloucester, Mercer and Burlington streets, E. George Aaron, Firman Michel and Marie V. Kelly.
Pennsauken Colored A. Harry Moore Club, Magnolia and Scovel avenues, Merchantville, Dr. Clement T. Branch, Eugene Aumaitre and Albert Melnik.
Lindenwold A. Harry Moore Club, Garden Lake fire hall, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Leon Rose, Joseph Varbalow and Mrs. Florence Melnik.
Glendora A. Harry Moore Club, fire hall, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving, Gene Mariano, Samuel P. Orlando and John Crean.
Somerdale Democratic Club, fire hall, Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Edward L. Canning, Thomas Madden and John Delaney.
Fifth Ward Democratic Club. Fifth and Pine Streets, Samuel T. French, Rev. Robert A. Jackson, David L. Visor and Sabba Verdiglione.
Eighth Ward Democratic Club, 509 Ferry Avenue, Isaac Eason, Francis Homan, Charles Degnan and Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Democrats to Hold Meetings Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Candidacy of Moore to Be Expounded at Meetings in City and Suburbs
The campaign for A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local Democratic candidates, will be carried into six wards of the city and in seven communities or the county tonight.
All meetings and speakers are as follows:
Second Ward Democratic Club, 841 Market Street; Eugene Aumetre, John Crean, Vincent Gallagher, Leon H. Rose and Charles Woods.
Fourth Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 455 Berkley Street; Samuel T. French, Victor King, Thomas Madden, Leon H. Rose, Gene Mariano, Samuel P. Orlando and Rev. Robert H. Jackson.
Sixth Ward Democratic Club, Fourth and Walnut Street; Frank Connor, Albert Melnik and Thomas Madden.
Tenth Ward Democratic Club, Fifth and Vine Streets; Boyd Morrison, Joseph E. Nowrey, Charles Degnan and David L. Visor.
Seventh Ward A. Harry Moore Club, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue; Dr. Leroy Baxter, of Jersey City; Isaac Eason, Dr. Clement Branch, Rev. Robert H. Jackson, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving and Frank Suttill.
Eleventh Ward Democratic Club, 927 North Twenty-seventh street; Boyd Morrison, Firmin Michel, Victor King, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving.
Gloucester City Democratic Club, 308 Monmouth street; Boyd Morrison, Gene Mariano, Joseph Varbalow.
Magnolia A. Harry Moore Club, Evesham and Gloucester avenues; Firmin Michel, Edward L. Canning, John Delaney, Marie V. Kelley and Francis Homan.
Lindenwold Colored Voters’ Club, Blackstone Hall, Lindenwold, Eugene Aumetre, William Williams and Oliver Bond.
Somerdale Club, Whelen home, Somerdale road and Oggs Avenue; Marie V. Kelly, David L. Visor and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland.
Somerdale Democratic Club, Leone Hall, Warwick Road and Helena Avenue; Samuel P. Orlando, Aaron Heine, Lawrence Gregorio and E. George Aaron.
East Haddonfield Democrat Club, Crescent and Berlin Road; Edward L. Canning, Albert Melnik and Judge Frank F. Neutze.
East Haddonfield Improvement Association, Batesville, Delaware Township; Ralph Wescott, Judge Frank F. Neutze and Mrs. Florence Melnik.
More than five speakers from North Jersey will appear at as many meetings as possible.
Brooklawn Owners Victims of Tricks Says Judge Neutze
Camden Courier-Post —
People is Sold Out to Money Lenders by Politicians, He Tells Voters — Asks Moore Support
“The people of Brooklawn, faced with the loss of their homes, expected mercy and fair-dealing from the government but they have been sold out to processional money-lenders by a gang of local political tricksters, who pose as their friends.
This charge was made by Judge Frank F. Neutze become 500 Brooklawn residents last night at a meeting conducted in the borough hall under auspices of the Brooklawn A. Harry Moore Club.
“The sale of 72 Brooklawn houses and 262 mortgages by the government according to the newspapers through intervention of David Baird, Republican candidate for governor, is the most odious piece of business ever pulled off against a people in the history of Camden county,” Judge Neutze said.
“These charges are not made without supporting facts. It does not require great legal intelligence to see into this deal. Let us look into this business in which property rights were given precedence over human rights, and let us see who the persons are behind this deal.
Two Bids Accepted
“Approximately 75 Brooklawn residents, most of whom had at least thirty percent equities in their homes and in mortgages bid on the properties and mortgages. Their bids totaled $126,205.50. Only two of these bids were accepted, and these were from tenants who rented and did not have equities in the properties on which they bid. These two properties went for $1000 and $1200 respectively.
“At this point you will note the eternal choice of the Republican Party between human rights and property rights; how the government allowed you people to buy your homes and then ignored you.
“The bids of the Brooklawn residents on the mortgages, some of which were as high as sixty and seventy percent of the full value, were refused. The Shipping Board, representing the government, said the bids were too low and that the properties the residents bid for were the most desirable ones offered and if they were awarded to the owners the government probably would not receive a bid from any syndicate on the properties that were not so desirable.
“That explanation of the government is a mockery of President Hoover’s oft-repeated statement that every governmental effort would be made to make it easy for the tenants of this country to own their own homes!
“On October 7, the bids were rejected. For ten days following, your council and other political lights were at wits ends with all kinds of schemes to save your borough from its financial dilemma. No action was taken until last week when it was suggested the schools be closed as on $40 remained in the borough treasury.
Called Political Trickery
“Your local political tricksters had you where they wanted you. Then came the blow that proves the utter ruthlessness of your so-called friends who claim allegiance to the Republican Party. Last Monday you read in the newspapers where the Tower Company, of Newark, had been awarded the 262 mortgages and 70 properties for $227,000. Then you heard the hullabaloo that Brooklawn had been saved by David Baird. You read he was in Washington with Congressman Wolverton and that he had this deal put over on Sunday. I never knew the government conducted business on Sunday, and I have heard several people question whether Baird was in Washington last Sunday. However, that possibility is of little importance.
“There is a point in these negotiations that must be strongly emphasized. You will note the tenants and homeowners offered $126,205 for approximately 97 properties, or an av-erage of $1300 per property. You will note that the Tower Company, in their bid for 262 mortgages and 70 properties only bid $227,000 or about $700 per property. Do not fail to see that their bid included 235 more properties than the tenants and homeowners!
“Everybody will get profit out of this deal except the home owners! What do you know about the Tower Company of Newark? It is said that Mr. Tower, head of the company, is a former member of the Merchant Fleet Corporation of the U. S. Shipping Board.
“This Tower Company has been represented in this deal by William Okin and Michael Gross, two real estate speculators of Newark and all of you know that the representatives of the Tower Company are calling on you Brooklawn homeowners every day in a car with tags in the name of Senator Pierson, Union county license number ‘U 2’. This company has not told you homeowners at what discount they will offer the mortgages to you for.
“But you all know that the representatives of the Tower Company stated to you at a meeting in this hall about eight days ago that there would be a ‘liberal reduction on the mortgages’ and that in about two weeks everyone would receive letters from the Tower Company. Mark it well and pertinently that you will not receive these letters until after election day.
Every Bid Known
“As a matter of business reasoning let me point out to you that the Tower Company knows what everyone has bid. If they demand more for a mortgage than you bid with the Shipping Board and if you do not pay it, there is nothing to prevent them from instituting foreclosure proceedings against you immediately.
“You will also note that the government required the home owners to pay within 60 days if their bid was accepted, but you will note the Tower Company has been given the privilege of paying their bid in installments over a period of time.
“Has there been any regard for you in this deal? Just realize that for $100,000 more than the tenants and homeowners bid, the Tower Company got 235 additional properties at about $400 per property.
“The government allowed you to buy these homes, and now political jobbery has sold you out for thirty pieces of silver. You people of Brooklawn, faced with the loss of your homes, expected mercy and fair-dealing from the government but you have been sold out to professional money-lenders by a gang of local political tricksters, who pose as your friends!
“You may expect these money-lenders to demand their pound of flesh, and they will get it. You have no defense, no measure of retaliation, except by the ballot box. Mr. Baird, through the newspapers, claims credit for saving your borough— he wants your vote. If you think he has saved anything you will vote for him but repent later. This man must be rebuked and your ballot must be cast for A. Harry Moore and the straight Democratic ticket if you possess ordinary intelligence.
“You don’t want a businessman for governor who does all he can for business against the people; you want A. Harry Moore, who has made the welfare of the people his business. Ten years of your earnings and life’s blood have gone into your homes, and now you are in the hands of out-of-town money-lenders and politicians. Your duty is clear on November 3.
Walter T. McCann, candidate for coroner, and Leon H. Rose, also spoke. Prolonged applause marked the completion of Judge Neutze’s address. Joseph Drammer presided.
Moore Rallies Tonight in 3 Wards, Ashland
Camden Courier-Post —
Rallies in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local candidates on the Democratic ticket will be conducted tonight in Ashland and in three wards of the city.
The meetings and speakers are as follows:
Sixth Ward Democratic Club, Fourth and Walnut Streets; E. George Aaron, Samuel P. Orlando, Boyd E. Morrison, Charles Degnan and Sabba Verdiglione.
Third Ward A. Harry Moore Club, Third and Benson Streets: Samuel T. French, Orlando, Edward L. Canning, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Frank Homan and Anthon Ruffo, of Trenton.
Eleventh Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 927 North Twenty-seventh street: Aaron, Canning, Isaac Eason, Marie V. Kelly and Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Ashland Democratic Club, home of Ida May Heidrick, Burnt Mill road and Second Avenue: Thomas Madden, Leon H. Rose and Eugene Mariano.
Bennie Approval Awaited in Senate
Camden Courier-Post —
Governor Sends in His Name as Camden County Jury Commissioner
Trenton, June 11 (Saturday) — Nomination of former Freholder [sic] Joseph Bennie, Camden Democrat, as Camden county jury commissioner, was sent to the Senate yesterday afternoon by the governor. It had not been acted on early today as the Legislature prepared to adjourn.
Bennie, who would serve a one-year term at $750, would succeed George Kleinheinz, also a Democrat. Kleinheinz has been acting jury commissioner since April 1, when his term expired, being named temporarily by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
Bennie has been slated for the job for some time but Senator Stewart said he had been holding up his approval of Bennie’s appointment while awaiting a report on the case of Judge Frank F. Neutze, of Camden district court, from the ethics committee of the Camden County Bar Association. The committee is investigating charges made by Stewart that Neutze was guilty of “ambulance chasing.” Stewart cited the charge as one of his reasons for refusing to approve the governor’s re-appointment of Neutze.
“I have changed my mind,” Stewart said yesterday, “because the Neutze matter cannot be settled now and the jury commissioner appointment might as well be approved.”
Bennie’s appointment was recommended by Harry L. Maloney, and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Democratic state committee members from Camden county.
District Court Bill to Fit Only 2 Cities
Camden Courier-Post —
Bleakly Amending It to Apply to Camden and Trenton Alone
Amendment of his city district court bill to apply only to Camden and Trenton in order that opposition in other sections of the state will be overcome is being considered by Assemblyman F. Stanley Bleakly, of Camden.
The measure, now before the Legislature, would take from city district court judges their power of appointing court employees.
In Camden this applies to Judge Frank F. Neutze, a Democrat. Such power would be placed in the hands of municipal governing bodies. In discussing the bill Bleakly said that he introduced it at the request of the Camden City Commission as an economy measure. He contended it would save the city $5400 a year.
“It is only fair,” he declared, “that the city governments, which must foot the bill for district court expenses, should have some control over how many employees are appointed for Political Purposes.”
“Let me say now that this is no ripper legislation. It is not motivated for political purposes; it is purely an economy and home rule bill, like the bills to lift mandatory appropriations.
“The Camden city district has 11 employees. Courts in other sections of the state have fewer.
“The City Commissioners saw in this difference a chance to economize, but under the law they were powerless to do anything.
“As originally introduced, the bill applied to all district courts, county and city alike. Because there are less employees in courts elsewhere in the state and because the situation is entirely different than it is here, certain objections were raised. Therefore, I have drawn up amendments.
“These amendments, in addition changing the act so that it would so apply only to cities of the size of Camden and Trenton, protect those now employed in the district court. Such protection was not provided in the original bills.
“Under the amendment, any changes in the personnel of the Camden district court will be made in accordance with the civil service list.
“In other words, the only ones to go would be the last ones taken on, regardless of their politics. If the bill goes through there will be just as many or within one as many Democrats as there will be Republicans.
To Retire Hillman
“It is planned, I understand, to retire Edwin A. Hillman, clerk of the court and a Republican, who has been ill for some time. His salary is $3000 and his pension of $1200 would mean a net saving of $1800 to the city. His successor would be chosen strictly on civil service qualifications, not through politics.
“The dropping of one clerk and two sergeants-at-arms at $1200 a year each would mean another saving of $3600, or a total of $5400. Those that would go would be the newest ones on the civil service list.”
The present district court setup shows six Republican and five Democratic employees. In addition to Hillman, they are William Sauerhoff, Clemson England, Benjamin Manning, Republican sergeants-at-arms; Edward Dennis, Edward Martin, Harry Daily, Democratic sergeants-at-arms; Charles Ferat, assistant of clerk, Republican; John Bissinger, small claims clerk, Democrat; Imlay Binkert, deputy clerk, Republican, and Frank Suttill, clerk, Democrat.
Palese Peddles Tickets For His Own Testimonial
Camden Courier-Post —
Selling tickets for his own testimonial dinner is a distinction enjoyed by Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese.
The dinner, arranged as a testimonial to “the Polish Ambassador,” proved a surprise to Palese last night when 28 friends, members of the “Srelsihc Club,” let him share the secret in Hotel Walt Whitman.
The dinner, among other reasons, was tendered him because he was the only member of the club to put together a Courier-Post “Hi-Ho” puzzle. For a week prior to the affair he sold tickets to friends, not knowing the affair was in his honor.
With former Judge John B. Kates as toastmaster, wit and repartee passed the festive board, while entertainment was furnished by Bobby Heath and Billy James, famous writers of popular songs.
Those who did honor to Palese are: Judge Kates, Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin, Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran, John R. DiMona, Carl Kisselman, Herbert H. Blizzard, Robert Brest, Charles F. Knapp, Edward V. Martino, William Freeman, William Duby, Louis J. Gale, Edward Gorman, John J. Fitzgerald, City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman, Anthony Maltesta, F. J. Haws, Edward Neuman, Clifford Stratton, Jules Derowski, Bronislaw Derowski, Richard Troncone, T. Harry Rowland, William F. Lehman, William McDonald, Judge Frank F. Neutze and Robert W Saeger.
59 Legionnaires Name New Commander and Other Officials
Camden Courier-Post —
Walter G. Garlan, of Haddonfield, was elected commander of Thoirs Post, No. 47, American Legion, last night at a meeting held in the ballroom of the Hotel Walt Whitman.
He was unopposed and succeeds LeGrand Roberts, mayor of Oaklyn.
Fifty-nine members participated in the election, which saw spirited contests for vice commander, post chaplain and sergeant-at-arms.
Robert C. Brown and Peter De Costa were elected vice commanders, defeating Judge Frank F. Neutze, a third candidate, by a slim margin.
Walter C. Charles won out in the race for post chaplain, defeating Rev. Earl C. Sensor. Ira H. Condit successfully waged his campaign for the sergeant-at-arms post, winning over Paul V. Magee.
Others elected to office were Ellis C. Kircher, finance officer; Frank B. Anderson, service officer; Earl W. Young, historian and Dr. A. Lincoln Sherk, hospitalization officer.
Democrats Arrange for ‘Maloney Day’
Camden Courier-Post —
July 9 Set for Reception and Picnic to New Revenue Collector
“Harry L. Maloney Day” will be celebrated by South Jersey Democrats, Sunday, July 9, when the newly-appointed collector of internal revenue will be guest of honor at a picnic at Silver Lake Park. State leaders of the party will attend. Maloney, Democratic state committeeman from Camden County and Mayor of Bellmawr, was named by President Roosevelt to succeed Edward L. Sturgess and is expected to take office by July 1.
Plans for the outing were made last night at a meeting in Democratic headquarters, 538 Stevens Street, at which Albert S. Marvel, Jr., was named chairman of the general committee. Vincent de P. Costello was elected secretary and former Mayor Victor King treasurer.
The committees follow:
Ways and means— Sidney Kaplan, chairman; Judge Samuel M. Shay, Judge Frank F. Neutze, Victor King, Vincent Gallaher, Samuel P. Orlando and Thomas N. Madden.
Entertainment— Joseph A. Varbalow, chairman; Patrick H. Harding, Joseph E. Nowrey, Calogero Salvagio, Thomas Cavanaugh and Joseph A. Gorman.
Refreshments— Ralph W. Wescott, chairman; Raymond Hadley, Walter Bateman, Joseph Ackroyd, James Hainesworth, Joseph Harczynski.
Athletics— Frank Abbott, chairman; John Lyons, Joseph McVey and Daniel T. Hagans.
Music— John P. Bissinger, chairman; Ventorino Francesconi, William Bell, Bernard Tracy and Matthew P. Johnson.
District organization— Michael J. Powell, chairman; Dominick Josephs, Ralph Comilli, Herbert McAdams, William Noonan, Edward Huston, Harry Daly and William Kistner.
Transportation— Mayor Emerson Jackson, of Gloucester, chairman; Lewis C. Parker, George Cohen, John Bennett, Horace L. Brewer and Sabba Verdiglione.
Printing— Charles J. Clark, chairman; Raymond Saltzman, Jack Goldstein, Walter Kelly and William M. Williams.
Publicity— Edward C. Bowe, Herbert Beattie, Patrick Whalen, Alfred R. White and Luke Bates.
Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, state committeewoman, and Miss Marie V. Kelley, vice-chairman of the county committee, will head a women’s reception committee to be chosen later.
The committees will meet again Monday night to complete arrangements.
Benjamin Asbell
Camden Courier-Post —
BENJAMIN ASBELL, Camden attorney, who recently was elected master of the Upsilon Lambda Phi Fraternity, by delegates of 3500 members throughout this country and Canada. A graduate of Camden High School and South Jersey Law School, Asbell now is practicing in the law office of Judge Frank F. Neutze. He resides at 918 South Fifth Street.
8 in Camden Pass State Bar Tests
Camden Courier-Post —
14 Others From South Jersey Given Right to Practice Law
Nine Camden law students and 14 others from South Jersey cities passed the April state bar examinations and may practice as attorneys in New Jersey.
That was announced at Trenton yesterday by Rue Brearley, secretary of the State Bar Examiners. Brearley stated that in the entire state, 206 students passed the tests. The counselor-at-law results were not announced.
Those in Camden were:
Howard G. Kulp, Jr., studying at the law offices of Carr and Carroll.
Norman Heine, law office of his brother, Aaron Heine.
Louis L. Goldman, firm of Orlando and Kisselman.
Franklin L. Deibert, offices of his brother, Edward R. Deibert.
Joseph Lipkin, offices of Judge Frank F. Neutze.
Stanley L. Bennett, law offices of his brother, City Commissioner Harold W. Bennett.
John F. Ruck, law offices of Walter S. Keown.
James D. Stockwell, law firm of Bleakly, Stockwell and Burling, of which his father, Henry F. Stockwell, is a member.
Bartholomew A. Sheehan, law offices of Walter S. Keown.
Among the other South Jersey students who were successful was Harold B. Wells, Jr., son of Judge Harold B. Wells, of Bordentown. The others are: Fred A. Gravino, John B. Wick and Frank Sahl, all of Woodbury; I. Harry Levin and W. Howard Sharp, of Vineland; Wheeler Grey, William B. Brooks and Morgan E. Thomas, of Atlantic City; Thomas H. Munyan and John E. Boswell of Ocean City; Francis Tanner, Toms River; James Edward McGlincy, Bridgeport, and Charles J. Berkowitz, Lakewood.
Neutze Chosen to Succeed Him In Common Pleas Job
Camden Courier-Post —
NAMED IN CAMDEN COUNTY JUDICIAL ELEVATIONS
Governor Moore last night nominated Common Pleas Judge Samuel M. Shay, left, to succeed the late Henry H. Eldredge as Circuit Court judge; District Court Judge Frank F. Neutze, right, to succeed Shay on the common pleas bench, and former Assistant Prosecutor Joseph A. Varbalow, center, to take Neutze’s place as district court judge. All are Democrats.
Neutze Chosen to Succeed Him In Common Pleas Job
DISTRICT POST TO VARBALOW
Trenton, April 30.—Common Pleas Judge Samuel M. Shay, of Camden, tonight was nominated by Governor A. Harry Moore as circuit court judge to succeed the late Henry H. Eldredge, of Cape May. District Court Judge Frank F. Neutze was nominated to succeed Shay as common pleas judge. Joseph A. Varbalow, former assistant prosecutor, was named district judge, succeeding Neutze.
The appointments of the three Democrats gives Camden county three of the four high court posts in South Jersey. Supreme Court Justices Frank T. Lloyd and Ralph W. E. Donges are residents of Camden county.
Reports that the governor would make these appointments have been current at the State House since Saturday.
Loder Loses Out
Earlier, Common Pleas Judge Leroy W. Loder, of Cumberland county, was reported to have had an equal chance with Shay for the Circuit Court position.
The nominations were referred to the judiciary committee, which is usually guided by the attitude of the Senator from the county in which the post is to be filled. In these cases, Senator Albert S. Woodruff, although a Republican, is expected to move that the nominations be approved. No nominations were acted on tonight.
$16,000 a Year for Shay
Shay is now serving his third term as common pleas judge. His elevation will increase his salary from $9000 to $16,000 a year, less the 15 percent cut now in effect in Camden county. Neutze’s salary now is $4000, which Varbalow will receive, also less the 15 percent.
The governor nominated Robert H. Davidson, of Paterson, as common pleas judge of Passaic county, to succeed William B. Harley, whose term expired.
Harley’s Reward
Harley had been nominated for reappointment several weeks ago when he broke open the job-buying scandal by charging he had paid $25,000 to insure his original appointment. The Senate then declined to approve the nomination. Davidson’s name was suggested to the governor by Senator John C. Barbour, of Passaic.
The only statement the governor made concerning the Davidson appointment was that an investigation by him had “adduced nothing which reflected in any way on his character and integrity.”
The name of William J. Dallas, of Haddon Heights, for reappointment to the Camden county tax board was sent to the Senate by the governor.
Sketch of Shay
Shay was born in Marlton, Burlington county, July 23, 1885. His elementary schooling was obtained in that section. He attended Merchantville High School and Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He received the degree of doctor of philosophy there and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar before finishing his course. His admission was in 1913. He was granted a counselor’s title in 1922.
He first was appointed common pleas judge in 1922, and reappointed in 1927. His third term was approved in 1932.
He is married, has three children and lives at 314 Volan street, Merchantville.
Neutze’s History
Neutze has been District Court judge since 1927. Prior to that he served as assistant city solicitor from 1923 to 1927.
He was born in Camden and received his elementary education at the Fetters School, Third and Walnut streets. He left Camden High School to study law at Temple University, Philadelphia. He was graduated in 1920 with a Bachelor of Laws Degree.
His legal studies were interrupted for about two years, when he entered the United States Army to serve in the World War. When mustered out he was a first lieutenant.
He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1916 and in 1919 obtained his title of counselor. He was chosen as Supreme Court Commissioner in 1923.
He is married, has two children. He is an instructor at the South Jersey Law School; vice commander of the Camden County Executive Committee of the American Legion; adjutant of the Thoirs Post, American Legion, and president of the South Jersey Temple Alumni Group.
Varbalow Star Student
Varbalow is 34 and resides with his wife at 2602 Baird boulevard, Camden. He was graduated from Camden High School in 1913 and entered the law school of the University of Pennsylvania from which he was graduated four years later with the highest honor ever accorded a Camden boy who attended the school. He was elected a member of the Order of Coif, an international legal society.
He studied law under Circuit Court Frank B. Jess in Camden and began practicing in July, 1919. He was named assistant prosecutor by Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott on April 3, 1923, and served in that position until he resigned September 8, 1928.
He is vice president and secretary of the Victoria Amusement Company, operators of a number of theatres in South Jersey.
Girl and Man Admit Scrip Theft Guilt
Camden Courier-Post —
A plea of guilty was made by Miss Marian L. Black and Thomas Jordan yesterday to an indictment charging them with larceny of Camden county scrip worth $3700.
They pleaded not guilty to another indictment charging them with the theft of a total of $10,171 in scrip, and also to a charge of conspiracy to steal scrip.
The pleas were taken by Judge Frank F. Neutze in what was the first case he heard as Common Pleas Court judge. Judge Neutze deferred sentence until Thursday.
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando explained that the total amount of scrip stolen from the office of County Treasurer J. Wesley Sell was $10,171, and that during the course of the investigation the two accused admitted taking $3700 in scrip. Therefore two indictments were prepared, one to cover the entire amount missing and the other incorporating only the amount they had confessed to stealing.
“I am satisfied they took the whole amount,” he declared. “I don’t know whether I’ll put them on trial for the difference between what they admit having and what was actually taken. That depends upon the severity of the sentence they receive Thursday.”
The scrip disappeared during last fall and early winter, at which time Miss Black was an employe in Sell’s office. Both have been in the county jail in default of bail since their arrest March 16. Miss Black is 23 and resides at 6 Lane avenue, Gloucester. Jordan, who is 28, lives at 204 Erie street. They were represented in court by William C. Gotshalk.
Man Ordered to Pay $4 Weekly to Wife
Camden Courier-Post —
Harry Wachman, 43, a New York garment worker, was ordered yesterday to pay $4 weekly for the maintenance of two children following his arrest on charges of non-support.
Wachman was arraigned before Judge Frank F. Neutze in Criminal Court on complaint of his wife, Sarah, of 404 State street, who charged that her husband left Camden 11 months ago. Lack of work in this vicinity caused him to go to New York, Wachman said. He testified that during his stay there he worked but five weeks and was required to spend his earnings to keep in good standing in a union.
Man and Girl Get Six Year Terms in Theft of Scrip
Camden Courier-Post —
Typist Faints in Court
Miss Marian L. Black, 23, former county employe, and Thomas Jordan, 28, North Camden cafe proprietor, yesterday were sentenced to from four to six years in state prison for the theft of $3,171 in scrip from the county treasurer’s office.
Miss Black, former stenographer in County Treasurer J. Wesley Sell’s office, fainted and had to be assisted from the Criminal Court before Judge Frank F. Neutze told her her sentence. She revived and tearfully returned to the court to hear it.
Jordan was charged in two indictments with conspiracy and with having received stolen goods. Judge Neutze termed him “the master mind” in the theft of the scrip.
Both were sentenced to from two to three years on each charge, the court ordering the sentences to run concurrently, however. Judge Neutze offered to reduce their sentences in half in the event they co-operated with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando in recovering for the county $6,871 in scrip still unaccounted for.
William C. Gotshalk represented Jordan. Orlando made a plea on behalf of Miss Black, noting that she had made a good reputation and held a position of trust. He asked that the sentence be “enough to satisfy the desires of the county, who were vitally concerned in this case, and to deter others employed in positions of trust.”
“I don’t believe your plea of not guilty in the theft of the entire amount,” Judge Neutze told the pair. “I believe you both know where the balance of this money is hid. If you will give me an answer regarding the location of this hidden scrip and if you comply, I will run the sentences concurrently instead of consecutively.”
Jordan and Miss Black had previously pleaded guilty to the theft of $3,700, and denied that they had taken the entire amount of $10,171 in scrip, the balance missing from Sell’s office.
Reciprocity Club Picks Judge Neutze
Camden Courier-Post —
The Camden Section of the Reciprocity Club of America received its charter from the parent organization at its annual monthly formal dinner conducted last night in Hotel Walt Whitman.
Judge Frank Neutze received the charter, and among the dignitaries present were Herbert H. Blizzard, vice president; Rocco Pacifico, second vice president; Charles M. Murray, third vice president; William J. Weibert, chairman of entertainment committee, and Rud Preisendt, Jr., secretary of the entertainment committee.
The charter was presented to Judge Neutze by Justin F. Allman, of Philadelphia, third national vice president. William D. Keefe, national executive director, was toastmaster. The club is devoted to the purpose having as its motto, “Not What Do I Get—But How Can I Help.”
The colorful Russian Choir of 30 voices, now touring this country under direction of Vasily Andraesky, featured the entertainment program.
Uninvited Picket Given Year Term for Having Gun
Camden Courier-Post —
Man Who ‘Muscled in’ N. Y. Ship Strike Refused to Leave Line
PALS ALREADY FINED
A former Philadelphia strikebreaker who “muscled” his way uninvited into the picket line outside the New York Shipbuilding Corporation and had a loaded pistol in his possession was sent to state’s prison yesterday for from one to three years.
He is Henry Parks, of 7073 West Chester pike, Upper Darby, Pa., who pleaded guilty in special sessions court before Judge Frank F. Neutze to carrying a concealed deadly weapon.
When Judge Neutze pronounced sentence Mrs. Mary Parks, mother of the prisoner, became hysterical in the courtroom, crying out that “my son is a good boy—he didn’t do anything.”
Parks and four companions were arrested outside the Camden shipyard on May 5 on the complaint of the strikers. The latter protested that Parks had joined the picket line unasked and when he was ordered to leave, declared he had a gun and no one could force him out of line.
Acting Motorcycle Sergeant James Wilson testified yesterday that a car containing five men had stopped opposite the shipyard’s main entrance and the occupants had been drinking. Wilson and Motorcycle Policemen Earl Wright and Joseph Black found eight bullets on the floor of the car, and then rounded up the men. Parks was in the picket line and had a loaded gun, Wilson testified.
At the time of the arrest, City Detective Benjamin Simon revealed that all five men were Philadelphia taxicab drivers and had taken those jobs as strikebreakers during the Philadelphia taxi lockout. The five men declared they had not come to Camden as strikebreakers, but that they had been drinking and were on their way to Gloucester for more beer when they saw the shipyard men picketing, and merely stopped to ascertain what progress had been made in strike settlement.
The five were “booked” at police headquarters “on suspicion of inciting a riot” but in police court it was changed to “loitering” against four and the gun-toting charge against Parks. The latter was held in $2500 bail by Judge Pancoast for the grand jury, but Parks did not wait for an indictment. He went into special sessions yesterday and pleaded guilty.
The other four, who were fined $25 by Judge Pancoast May 7, were Archie Oates, 5150 Ludlow street; Charles Merriken, 5423 Pine street, and Herbert Lennox, 258 South Fifty-fourth street, all of Philadelphia, and John Mason, 1126 Roosevelt boulevard, Llanerch, Pa.
On the day after the five men were arrested, Edward Baker, a member of the shipyard strikers’ grievance committee, reported to police that his car had been forced to the curb by another automobile containing four men. These men warned him to “lay off” the five prisoners, Baker said. Baker had rounded up the witnesses for the police in the case against the five defendants.
2 Sentenced by Neutze
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Joseph Cimino, Line Street, Edward V. Martino, Anthony Amato, and Frank F. Neutze.
Orlando Assumes Charge of Vice War
Camden Courier-Post / Evening Courier —
Prosecutor Directs Cleanup and Pushes Probe of Feitz Murder
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando today dropped all other duties and took personal charge of the drive to rid Camden city and county of vice.
Orlando announced he would concentrate his activities in the drive against crime and the solution of the murder of Detective William T. Feitz Jr., slain two weeks ago in a South Camden disorderly house.
“I hope to gather enough evidence to go before the grand jury within the next week or 10 days,” Orlando said. “The Feitz murder investigation is progressing and I hope to have sufficient facts before me soon that will enable is to apprehend the slayers.”
Weekend developments in the general drive against crime resulted in the raiding of at least 30 gambling houses, illicit saloons, and alcohol stills with police spurred to feverish activity by Mayor Roy R. Stewart’s probe of the department, which he said will end this week, unless new evidence develops to extend it.
Blair Release Sought
Meanwhile, Edward V. Martino, council for Michael Tenerelli, alias Mickey Blair, former boxer, announced his intention of appearing before Judge Frank F. Neutze today to apply for a writ of habeas corpus to effect the release of Blair, held as the “key witness” in the Feitz slaying.
“Prosecutor Orlando had demanded $10,000 for the release of Blair,” Martino said. “That amount is ridiculously high. When I asked Orlando why his office required such excessive bail, he told me ‘I have to back up the police’.”
Martino said he would demand the prosecutor show in court the reason for the “unreasonable demand.”
Lieutenant Walter Welch, new commander of the Second Police District, conducted an intensive cleanup of his bailiwick over Saturday and Sunday, raiding 25 alleged violators of liquor and gambling laws.
Aided by state alcohol agents, police raiders headed by Lieutenant George Frost uncovered two 50-gallon stills and a bullet-riddled target in two apparently abandoned houses at 531 and 533 South 2nd Street. An advance “tip-off” had caused operators of the stills to flee, police said.
Two alcohol “drops,” believed operated by the proprietors of the South 2nd Street houses, were visited but found empty.
Numbers Baron Nabbed
Marshall Howard, 33, of 1912 Derousse avenue, Delair, described by Prosecutor Orlando as a ‘big shot’ in the Pennsauken and Camden numbers racket, was arrested Saturday when he visited the court house to make inquiries concerning an unnamed woman under arrest as a numbers writer.
A short while later, at the request of Orlando, Lucille Barber, 35, of 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, and John Barnes, 26, of 7508 Pleasant avenue, Pennsauken township, both colored, were arrested as numbers writers.
It was reported at Pennsauken township police headquarters that the pair was wanted in connection with the case against Howard.
Both were held in $1000 bail for the grand jury.
Those who were held without bail as material witnesses in the Feitz case are Cornelius Murphy, 50, of 239 Sycamore Street, doorkeeper in the establishment; Edward Grapatin, 32, of 246 Kaighn Avenue; Joseph McKenna, 31, of 1404 Broadway; Katherine Lougheed, 32, of 626 Pine Street; Edna Butler, 33, colored, of 1122 South 2nd Street, and Joan Stein, 24, of Philadelphia. Six others were released in their own recognizance as material witnesses.
They are Sam Silverman, 34, of 325½ Kaighn Avenue; Edward Gorba, 20, who has supplied police with most of the information about Feitz’ death, and Gorba’s brother, Henry, 19, of 17 North 21st Street; Joseph McDonald, 20, of 1605 South 9th Street; Edith Miller, 28, colored, of 205 Sycamore Street, and George Martorano, 25, of 532 West Street.
Aided by Patrolmen William Marter and Carmin Fuscellaro Sr., Lieutenant Welch conducted a series of raids Saturday night and yesterday morning. The saloon of Mary Niewinski, at 400 Mechanic Street, was raided early yesterday and two customers arrested.
Lieutenant Welch Leads Raiders
Welch, who took over the duties Lieutenant Ralph Bakley when the latter was suspended by Mayor Stewart yesterday, declared he was seeking violators of the city’s Sunday closing ordinance, which states that places selling liquor must close “between the hours of 2:00 AM Sunday and 7:00 AM Monday.”
Nickelson Lehger, 49, of 311 Somerset Street, Gloucester and George Burkett, 38, of 340 Liberty Street, were arrested in Mrs. Niewinski’s place. Welch said they were shooting craps on the bar. Mrs. Niewinski was released in $500 bail as proprietor and the men were released in $100 bail each as frequenters.
The three were arrested on Welch’s second visit yesterday, he said. The first time he ordered Mrs. Niewinski to close her place, but on his second visit, he found the men gambling, he said.
Welch and his squad visited a house at 1903 South 6th street, reputedly operated by William Tansky, 33. Tansky, charged with violating the closing ordinance, was released in $500 bail as proprietor, and Edward Krown, 65, of 1705 South 4th Street; Edward Judd, 41, of 721 Ferry Avenue; and William Sampey, of 729 North 10th Street, charged with being frequenters, were released in $100 bail.
Saloon Raided
A saloon operated by Helen Brass, 52, at 1067 Ferry Avenue, scene of an unsuccessful holdup attempt Friday, was next raided. Frank Dipeto, 42, of 829 Sylvan Street; Edward Podyezmek, 47, of 783 South 2nd street; Joseph Orbin, 53, of 963 Florence Street; and Angelo Del Rossi, 70, of 430 Emerald Street, were arrested and held as frequenters. Mrs. Brass was charged with violating the closing ordinance.
The establishment of Mitchell Lambert, 26, at 1427 South 9th Street was next visited. Lambert, held as proprietor was released in $500 bail. Florian Shepecarter, 36, of 2811 Yorkship Road; John Glenn, 35, of 52 Courtland Street; Paul Korzewszeski, 34, of 1041 Atlantic Avenue; and William Lanning, 37, of 1149 South 9th Street were all nabbed as frequenters.
At 1025 South 2nd Street, Welch and his men found four colored men and women, and Meg Mack, 38, colored, who was charged with being proprietor. The four gave their names as Alvin Mack, of the South 2nd Street address; Howard Elinor, 30, of 215 Chestnut Street; and Alice Wells and Emily Robinson, 28, of the same address. All were held for hearing today.
Welch declared he was unable to enter some of the places visited because he did not hold warrants. He said he would procure warrants today and return to several of the places. In the other instances where raids were made, Welch did not reveal the addresses or names.
Welch announced last night he is not seeking “personal notoriety” through his activities, but is merely doing his duty as a police officer. He declared “the lid has been clamped on the second District and will stay on.”
Mayor Stewart commended Welch’s activities, and declared he will recommend suspension of liquor licenses in all the places where violations were uncovered.
State Police Stage Raid
Thirteen were arrested by a detail of state troopers from the Mt. Ephraim and Berlin barracks when a raid was staged on the home of Dominick Melchiore, 28, at Cedar Avenue, Blenheim.
Melchiore was charged with operating a gambling establishment. Arraigned before Justice of the peace Charles Jackson at Runnemede, he was fined $5 and costs. Charles Darpino, 26, a Camden man among those arrested, gave his address as 306 Chestnut Street. He and the 11 others were fined $3 each and costs.
The police raiders who uncovered the two stills and riddled target at 533 South 2nd Street also visited the home of Charles Auletto, 20 South 2nd street. Auletto, charged with selling illegal liquor, denied knowledge of the stills, but was held on $1000 bail for the grand jury by Police Judge J. Harry Switzer.
Two men were fined $25.00 each last night in Pennsauken township police court by Recorder George E. Yost on slot machine gambling charges.
Arthur Pipher, 25, of 2248 North 36th Street, Camden, was charged with placing slot machines in various stores for gambling purposes, and Edward Friedberg, operator of a medicine store at Park and Union Avenues, Pennsauken was charged with possession of a slot machine. Friedberg announced he would appeal his conviction.
It was testified that he offered merchandise as prizes in conjunction with operation of the device.
Judge Neutze Decrees Prison Sentences to Replace Fines
Camden Courier-Post —
GRAND JURY QUIZ OPENS TOMORROW
Alleged Writer Arrested Near City Hall; Held By Switzer
Long prison terms instead of fines will be given number barons and operators who are convicted in the Camden County Criminal Court.
That was the promise made today by Judge Frank F. Neutze to “lottery lords”, who may appear in his court as he sentenced Austin “Shamus” Maguire, former pugilist, to serve 30 days in the county jail and to pay a fine of $200.
“Yours is the last case in which a fine will be imposed,” Judge Neutze told Maguire. “In the future every numbers baron and operator convicted in this court will serve jail sentences and those who are second offenders will go to Trenton for long prison terms.”
Maguire, indicted for a year-old offense as a numbers bank operator, pleaded non vult to the charge before Judge Neutze, who seized upon the occasion to warn racketeers he “was going to do his part to rid the city of vice and crime.”
“In sentencing you, I am taking into consideration the fact that you are an intelligent youth, now willing to do what is right,” the judge said. “This charge, I am informed, is a year old and I am told you are now not in this business.
Grand Jury to Meet
“I am also taking into consideration the fact that you were an honor student at Camden Catholic High school. However, I am serving notice that in the future I am going to step down and send number barons to prison. There will be no more fines. They tell me this number business cannot be broken up, however I will do my part to break it up. Fines do not seem to do a bit of good, so it will be jail sentences from now on.”
Judge Neutze “cracked down” on the number barons just one day before the Camden county grand jury is to consider indicting more than a half dozen alleged “barons.”
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, warring on vice and crime, will present these cases at the first session of the new September jury tomorrow.
Although unconfirmed, it is rumored several score Camden policemen have been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury to give evidence in the numbers drive. The police have been served with subpoenas citing the “State versus John Doe, et al.” and not for any specific case.
Alleged Writer Held
One of those whose case will be heard by the grand jury tomorrow will be that of Samuel Kane, 51, of 211 Walnut street, Philadelphia, who was held in $2000 bail today in Camden police court by Judge J. Harry Switzer.
Detective Harry Kyler, who arrested Kane yesterday near the City Hall, testified that the defendant “did most of his writing right in the city hall and court house.”
“We never have been able to catch this man with a numbers book on him and we believe he has a place to secret it in the city hall. I personally have seen him writing numbers in the city hall and court house.”
15 Cases Are Listed
Orlando said today he has 15 numbers cases listed to be heard by the Grand Jury tomorrow.
“It is time we drive this racket from the city and county,” he declared. “It is taking too much money from persons who are unemployed and others who can ill afford to gamble. I am sure the fine body of men and women comprising our present Grand Jury will return indictments in all of the cases.”
Orlando pointed out the maximum penalty for a numbers violation was five years in the state prison.
Others whose cases will be presented tomorrow include those of Fred and Joseph Klosterman, Marshall Howard and John Studinger. Orlando has classed all of these men as “Lottery Lords” or “big shots” in the racket.
Bribery Charged by Grand Jurors
Camden Courier-Post —
26 Other Persons Named in 111 True Bills on Numbers
KLOSTERMANS TO FACE TRIAL
A bumper crop of 111 indictments was returned yesterday by the September vice probing grand jury against alleged numbers operators alone.
In addition, Mickey Blair, free on bail as a material witness in the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to rob Mrs. Emma Heisler, in whose house Feitz was slain.
The 111 numbers indictments were aimed at 26 individuals, including Fred and Joe Klosterman, long known as numbers barons. Each of the brothers was indicted on six counts of engaging in the lottery business and on 12 additional indictments charging sale of lottery tickets.
The complete list of true bills were handed up to Judge Frank F. Neutze of the Camden County Common Pleas Court.
The numbers indictments follows [sic]:
Engaged in lottery business—Antonio Macio, 2125 Haddonfield road, Pennsauken township, one count; Fred Klosterman and brother, Joseph, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street, six counts each.
Selling lottery tickets—Geneva Harden, beauty parlor operator in Pennsauken township, ten counts; Marshall Howard, 1912 Derousse avenue, Delair, 10 counts; Frank Martz, 235 Erie street, Camden, two counts; Arthur Woodridge, 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Albert Young, 519 North Second street, Camden, one count; Andrew Pointkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, six counts; Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, five counts; Charles Simonin, 709 Fairview street, Camden, five counts; John Studinger, 2504 Federal street, Camden, 10 counts; Lucille Barber, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Samuel Ford, 1124 South Ninth street, two counts; John Geronio, 1042 Cooper street, one count; James Davis, 100 Mt. Vernon street, Camden, one count; Oscar Conway, 2803 Mitchell street, one count; John Barnes, 7805 Pleasant avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Nathan Boston, Parry, Burlington county, one count.
James Gantt, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Mary Angelo, 600 Pine street, two counts; Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street, two counts; Samuel Kane, 211 Walnut street, Philadelphia, one count; Samuel Karon, 1528 Mt. Ephraim avenue, one count; Walter Hart, 1245 Thurman street, Camden, five counts; Frank Kulzcnski, 1100 Orchard street, two counts.
The presentment required only three minutes and the grand jury immediately withdrew to its chambers to consider new evidence in its probe of vice and gambling here.
It was indicated that the first batch of indictments found by the grand jury was just that, and that further true bills would be forthcoming as the work of sifting the mass of evidence continues.
A quartet of former city detectives who were transferred to regular police duty June 14, and seven attaches of the county jail were among the list of witnesses subpoenaed.
The erstwhile plainclothesmen are Clarence Arthur, Benjamin Simon, Clifford Del Rossi and Leon Branch. All were put into uniform without explanation, and with the understanding, they declare, that they would not be displaced. All expressed surprise at their removal, inasmuch as others were later appointed to their posts, because they had good records while members of the detective bureau.
Arthur and Branch appeared briefly before the probing body.
Crawford Smith is the brother of Detective Walter Smith and former Detective Howard Smith, it was reported by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Michael Tenerelli, known in fistic cicles [sic] as Mickey Blair, was among those waiting in the grand jury anteroom when the jury adjourned to be called before the probers. All those called were subpoenaed on “John Doe” warrants.
Mickey told reporters he has no idea what form of questioning will be followed when he is called into the grand jury room. He was recently released under bail of $5000 as a material witness in the Feitz killing investigation.
Those who could not be heard by the grand jurors before adjournment yesterday were told to come back next Thursday.
Among the witnesses in the vice probe called into the jury room were two Camden county jail attaches, Mrs. Lillian Vincent, matron, and Frank Tyson, jail clerk.
Both were asked questions regarding the proceedure [sic] followed in releasing prisoners from the pail [sic], it was learned. Tyson was not asked by the grand jurors if the prisoners were ever allowed to leave jail before their terms were up, he said.
“We never discharged a prisoner during my long experience in the county jail,” he told reporters, “without the proper release slip. I do not know of any prisoner ever being released before his time was up.”
Other members of the county jail staff waiting to appear were Edmund Powell, former warden; William Kinsler, Walter Taylor, Joseph Rea and John Feitz.
Another witness to testify was Mrs. Anna Smallwood, of Fifth and Chestnut, who posted $5000 bail for Mickey Blair to effect the former boxer’s release in the Feitz murder case.
It is thought that the county jail attaches will be questioned in an endeavour to learn how prisoners are released before time, although confirmation of this report was lacking.
The grand jury also returned indictments against Robert R. Young and Fred H. Schmitz, both of Philadelphia, former employes of the RCA Victor Company, charging them with the theft of four automobile radio sets from the plant on September 19.
Harry Smith, John Lockwood, Edward Troutman and Thomas Moreland, of Camden, were charged with larceny of merchandise from the American Stores Company on August 30.
Stanley Gaisor and Henry Parewicz, both of Camden, were indicted on charges of the theft of an automobile owned by County Physician Edward B. Rogers. The automobile was stolen in Camden, August 31.
Paul Pralas was indicted on charges of atrocious assault and battery on Rocco Piliro on September 19 in Camden.
The following were indicted on charges of desertion and non-support: Cornelius Chambers, charged by his wife, Ethel, with deserting her and three small children.
Thomas Porter, of Clementon, with non-support of his three small children. Frank Drew, Camden, desertion and non-support of his wife, Martha, and three minor children. Walter Butterfield, Brooklawn, with desertion of his wife, Verna, and one minor child. Eugene Morselander, of Camden, with desertion of his wife, Gladys.
2 Speakeasy Owners Paid Hush Money, Graft Probers Hear
COLSEY DROPS ACCUSED MEN
Sixty-two indictments charging six Camden policemen with graft and bribe-taking were returned by the new grand jury yesterday.
The wholesale indictments constituted the first visible results of the probe into Camden’s vice affairs and connection of the police with vice, ordered by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
They are charged with taking hush money.
Those indicted:
Patrolman Thomas T. Cheeseman, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Vernon Jones, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Howard Fisher, 10 indictments.
Patrolman George Weber, also known as Buck Weaver, 10 indictments.
Detective Joseph Leonhardt, one indictment.
Patrolman Frank Wilmot, one indictment.
All are attached to the Second district except Leonhardt, who was dismissed from the force two weeks ago by Mayor Roy R. Stewardt [sic], and has appealed his case to the Civil Service Commission.
Leonhardt was with Detective William T. Feitz on the night of September 2, when Feitz was slain in Mrs. Emma Heisler’s alleged disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street. He and Feitz had been made district detectives less than a week before the shooting. They had been assigned to the “beat” in which Mrs. Heisler’s house was located, relieving Cheeseman and Jones, who were demoted to patrolmen.
Cheeseman was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death from a city hall window while being held as a witness in Feitz’s death.
12 Drew Suspensions
Those indicted, with the exception of Fisher, were among the 12 members of the force suspended by Mayor Stewart in connection with his personal investigation of police connections with vice.
Wilmot, Weber and Jones were returned to duty Wednesday after serving 30-day suspensions.
Cheeseman and Jones are named jointly in nine indictments; jointly with Fisher and Weber in nine other indictments; the four are lister [sic] separately in one set of indictments. Jones and Cheeseman are listed separately in another pair of indictments, while Leonhardt and Wilmot are named in one joint indictment.
Two men, Glenn Brown and Michael Tocco, are named in each indictment as having paid the policemen sums verying [sic] from $5 to $80 since last March. They are reported to be operators of illegal liquor establishments.
Jury Indicts 6 Cops On Vice Graft Charge
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando announced evidence had been given the grand jury to support charges that each of the men indicted had been accepting graft from racketeers and underworld characters.
The nine indictments against Cheeseman, Jones, Fisher and Weber charge them with having received the sum of $5 from Brown on nine different dates in March and April of this year, for a total of $45.
Cheeseman and Jones are jointly indicted on nine counts for having received from Tocco the sum of $160, in various amounts ranging from $10 to $80 on various dates in May, June and July.
Cheeseman and Jones are each indicted on two separate counts. Jones is charged with having accepted a $40 bribe from Tocco on May 24 and with having received another $5 from Brown on March 3. Cheeseman is indicted for receiving the same sums from the same persons on the same dates.
Fisher is indicted alone on one count of having received a $5 bribe from Brown in March. Weber was also indicted alone for the same offense.
Leonhardt and Wilmot, mentioned in only one indictment, are charged with having accepted $20 from Tocco in March.
Cheeseman has been a member of the police department for 16 years, most of which he served in the capacity of a detective. He was demoted on Sept. 3, 1930, to the rank of a patrolman, but later was again promoted to district detective. Two months ago he was demoted back to patrolman again and has been patrolling a ‘beat’ in South Camden since that time.
Cheeseman Appointed in 1918
Cheeseman is 48. He was appointed to the police force on January 11, 1918, and lives at 249 Rand street. He has served in various capacities since appointment, having been a member of the city vice squad, detective bureau, district detective and patrolman. His rank in the department was listed as a detective, although recently he has been assigned to uniform in South Camden.
Fisher, 42, of 1139 Baring street, was appointed to the force September 29, 1919. He has spent comparatively all of his time in the department as a patrolman in the Second Police district.
Jones is 37 and lives at 1011 South Sixth street. He received his appointment April 27, 1924. He has served on the vice squad, as a detective and plainclothesman. He was recently demoted to a patrolman’s rank.
Leonhardt lives at 553 Division street and is 39. He was appointed a member of the police department on April 25, 1924, two days before Jones. He served until recently as a patrolman, but was promoted to district detective when Jones suffered demotion. He was discharged from the police payroll on September 26 by Mayor Stewart, who said he had gathered evidence against him in his probe of the department which followed the murder of Feitz.
Wilmot is 32 and lives at 201 Kaighn avenue. He was appointed a policeman on July 1, 1928, and has served as a member of the Second district since his appointment.
Weber, 47, of 1369 Princess avenue, was made a member of the force on May 17, 1922. He also has served his entire time as a patrolman in the Second district.
The indictments were presented to Judge Frank F. Neutze in Justice Lloyd’s absence.
Five Are Suspended
Mayor Stewart and Police Chief Arthur Colsey conferred shortly after the indictments were returned.
[Text between this point and the next crop is not on the scan; crop 09a is not in the archive.]
and Judge Neutze to grant these men a speedy trial,” the mayor declared, “so that the cases against them will be disposed of and their guilt or innocence established. In this way the community will have the benefit of their services, if they be found not guilty, as soon as possible.”
None of the policemen indicted had been arrested last night.
Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran said he expects them to surrender today and post such bail as may be set.
Named by Jury
THOMAS CHEESEMAN
VERNON JONES
Twenty indictments against each of these policemen, formerly assigned as detectives to the beat where Detective William T. Feitz was shot to death in a disorderly house, were returned yesterday by the grand jury. Cheeseman and Jones preceded Feitz and Leonhardt, dismissed and also indicted, on the death beat.
Quartet Indicted on Graft Charges
Four of the six policemen indicted yesterday on charges of bribery. They are George Weber, (upper left) also known as “Bucky Weaver”; Frank Witmot [sic] (upper right), Howard Fisher, (lower left), and Joseph Leonhardt, (lower right), who had been dismissed from the police department.
2 More Arrested in Numbers War
Camden Courier-Post —
2 More Arrested in Numbers War
Pair Seized Few Hours After Neutze Gives 12 Heavy Sentences
Action yesterday backed up the assertions of Camden county and city law officials that they are out to break the back of the numbers racket here.
Judge Frank F. Neutze, in criminal court, meted out sentences of from one to six months and fines of from $100 to $250 to 12 minions of the “higher ups.”
A few hours later two more alleged number writers fell into the police net. Both suspects were jailed in default of $2000 bail each for hearings in police court today.
Alleged to be carrying 120 numbers slips and $203.30, Dominick Mozzare, 25, of 6816 Highland avenue, was arrested at Twenty-seventh street and River road at 3 p. m. by Acting Sergeant Louis Schmidt and Patrolmen Paul Edwards and Elwood Humphreys. Questioned at the detective bureau in City Hall, Mozzare said he did not know the identity of the “higher-up” for whom he worked. He said he is an automobile trimmer. Police declared he had been in the racket about eight months and had been under suspicion several months.
An hour or so earlier, Horace Gunby, 27, colored, 1863 South Tenth street, was picked up at Seventh street and Ferry avenue by Sergeant John Garrity and Acting Sergeant Earl Cunningham. They said Gunby carried several numbers slips and a small amount of money. He gave his occupation as a bellhop.
Gives Heaviest Sentences
In cracking down on the 12 defendants haled before him in Camden County Criminal Court Judge Neutze adopted a policy of issuing the heaviest jail sentences possible and imposing the heaviest fines under the law to all convicted or confessed underlings of the numbers barons in the hope of eventually trapping the ring-leaders through informers, or forcing them out of business.
Those who received the heaviest sentences were Andrew Piontkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, alleged lieutenant of the Klosterman brothers, under indictment as gambling barons; Walter Hart, 1245 Thurman street, also an alleged Klosterman aide, and Frank Martz, 235 Erie street. Each was sentenced to six months and fined $250. Martz is a second offender.
Judge Neutze expressed agreement with the suggestion of Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando that the practice of numbers barons paying salaries to their henchmen while the henchmen are in jail can be broken up by placing so many “small fry” behind the bars that the “big shots” cannot afford to pay them, and thus the names of the “big shots” will eventually come out.
All of the defendants had previously pleaded guilty or non vult.
Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street, drew a sentence of three months in jail and a $100 fine despite the plea of his attorney, former Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, that Kirk was “only an employe.”
“That makes no difference to me,” said the court. “He was in the numbers racket.”
Called Klostermans’ Aide
When Pointkowski came before the court, Orlando said:
“This is one of the lieutenants of the Klostermans, and he refused to talk to me. When first arrested, he told Camden police he worked for the Klostermans, but he turned a right-about-face when I talked to him and tried to make monkeys of us.”
“Well, I’ll send him upstairs for six months and fine him $250 and maybe he’ll talk then,” said Judge Neutze.
Orlando asked the court to send Hart to the state prison.
“This man,” said the prosecutor, “is very close to the big shots.”
“Whom do you mean—the Klostermans?” asked Neutze.
“I certainly do,” replied Orlando. “He is also a second offender. He’s been in this business over four years, working for the Klostermans, and should go to the state prison.”
“Whenever I hear that name Klosterman, I see red,” said Neutze as he pronounced sentence.
The Klosterman brothers, Fred and Joseph, of East Camden, have been indicted as number lottery operators but their trial has been postponed.
Martz was described by Orlando as having served 60 days in jail in 1932 for writing numbers, and he was sentenced to six months and a $250 fine, without further questioning.
Refuses Leniency
John Studinger, who formerly operated a store at 2504 Federal street, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $100. His counsel, District Court Judge Joseph Varbalow, argued he was only a “small fry” and putting him in jail would not break up the lotteries.
“This racket is no worse than raffles, punchboards, slot machines and all the disorderly houses that are thriving in this county,” said Varbalow.
“I started in on these number writers with short jail terms,” answered Neutze, “and then I began adding fines. But I found that did not stop the lawbreakers, for when these fellows get out they start all over again. I understand the lottery racket is getting worse and worse here and I’m going to do something about it.”
Charles Simonin, who conducts a grocery store at 709 Fairview street, was given 30 days and fined $100. Father of two daughters, he pleaded he accepted a proposition from a stranger who asked him to sell numbers in his store, and then would come around daily and collect them, giving Simonin a small “cut.” He contended he did not know the name of the man with whom he dealt, much less the identity of the heads of the ring.
Mrs. Mary Angelo, grocer, 600 Line street, the mother of a 3-year-old baby, had pleaded guilty with a story similar to Simonin’s. She received a three-month suspended sentence but must pay a fine of $100. Judge Neutze said he was suspending the sentence not because of her sex, but because of her baby.
Student Given Month
Samuel Ford, 19, colored, 1124 South Ninth street, a high school student, was described by Orlando as “honest and sincere in telling his story and entitled to a break.” He was sent to jail for a month and fined $100.
Frank Terionova, 27, of 312 Beckett street, was “a fellow we couldn’t talk to,” Orlando said. “He told us he worked for Joe Brown, but maybe it was John Smith, and whoever it was he is shielding him,” Orlando continued.
Rocco Palese, former assistant prosecutor, called Orlando unfair, asserting some of the defendants “really do not know whom they are working for and therefor cannot make a statement.”
“If they don’t know who they’re working for, who does?” demanded Orlando.
“I feel,” said Judge Neutze, “that some of these fellows don’t know who they are working for, but I sentence him to three months in the county jail and to pay a fine of $100. Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $100; James Gant, 28, colored, of 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken, three months and $100 fine; Walter Woodrich, 48, of 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken, two months and $100 fine.
Orlando said Woodrich will be a witness against the Klostermans, for whom he worked.
‘Santa’ Pays Fines of Numbers Pawns
Camden Courier-Post —
Or Maybe His Brother Helped 2 Who Changed Testimony in Klosterman Case
There IS a Santa Claus—at least for numbers racketeers—and he pays off their fines in scrip.
Three convicted numbers writers have had their fines paid by unidentified persons. In two such cases, the same man paid both fines. And curiously enough, the fines this man paid were those on two recanting witnesses at the Klosterman trial. One of the fines was paid the day before the surprising trial and the other fine was paid a few hours after the trial. All of which may be a coincidence—.
The payment of the fines was revealed yesterday afternoon by Frank Tyson, chief clerk of the county jail. Tyson stated that all fines were paid in scrip but that the donors’ names were not recorded.
“We don’t keep any record of the names of persons who pay fines for prisoners,” Tyson averred. “If someone wants to pay a fine, we take the money. I can’t even say whether the same person paid all the fines. I believe they were different persons.”
And so Santa Claus—and maybe a brother or two—went to the rescue of Arthur Woodridge, 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken; Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, and Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street.
Smith and Woodridge were two of the “state witnesses” at the trial Thursday of Fred and Joe Klostermen [sic] who “thought” they had been employed as numbers men by the Klostermans but weren’t sure—resulting in acquittal for the Klostermans.
Previously, Woodridge had been sentenced to two months and fined $100 on numbers charges, while Smith had been fined $100 and sentenced to three months. Both are still serving time at the county workhouse.
But on Wednesday, Santa Claus paid Woodridge’s fine. An hour or two after Thursday’s trial concluded, Woodridge’s unknown benefactor also paid Smith’s fine. Kirk’s fine was paid on January 3 by Santa; he had been fined $100 and sentenced to three months.
Meanwhile, Miss Geneva Harden, beauty shop operator of Chapel avenue, Delaware township, was arraigned before Judge Frank F. Neutze yesterday afternoon following her conviction of numbers charges on Jan. 2. She was given a suspended jail sentence and then fined $200.
It was first reported that Miss Harden’s fine was also paid by “Santa Claus,” after Tyson had said no record was kept of the doner’s [sic] name. After this report was published, Joseph W. Cowgill, attorney, telephoned the Courier-Post and said:
“I’m the man who paid Miss Harden’s fine, but I’m not Santa Claus. I obtained cash from Miss Harden’s mother and took it to the sheriff’s office where they all know me. And I didn’t pay it to Tyson; I paid it to ‘Happy’ Glenn.
“Furthermore, I had cash, but someone in the sheriff’s office asked me to trade it for scrip as a favor to them.”
Prison Terms for Reneging Witnesses in Number Case
Camden Courier-Post —
5 Who Shifted Stories in Klosterman’s Trial Get 2 to 3 Years
NEUTZE IN BRIEF SESSION CANCELS OLD SENTENCES
Orlando, Aides in Court as Stiffer Penalties Are Handed Out
Five of the eight state witnesses who recanted at the trial of the Klosterman brothers, alleged “numbers barons,” were sentenced today to serve from two to three years in state’s prison.
The sentences were imposed by Judge Frank F. Neutze in Camden Criminal Court in the presence of only Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando and his assistants, Patrick H. Harding and Isaac W. Eason.
The five men, who were serving sentences in Camden County jail for “numbers” writing are Walter Hart, 28, of 1245 Thurman street, Andrew Pointkowski, 30, of 1475 South Ninth street, Thomas Kirk, 40, of 935 Carpenter street and Crawford Smith, 53, of 702 Carman street, Camden, and Arthur Woodridge, 40, colored, of 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken township.
Earlier Sentences Voided
It required but five minutes to resentence the defendants, the court first voiding his earlier sentences of county jail terms and fines.
In court last Thursday when Joseph and Frederick Klosterman were acquitted on 30 indictments in connection with the “numbers” lottery here, the five men were evasive in their testimony as to whether the Klostermans were the “numbers” bankers.
Today when lined up before Judge Neutze in Criminal Court they gaped in astonishment at the swiftness with which they were sent to prison for longer terms.
One of the five, Crawford Smith, nearly collapsed in a chair in which he was permitted to sit during sentencing. Smith has been suffering from a heart ailment.
Turning to Hart, Judge Neutze said:
“I sentenced you to six months in the county jail and ordered you to pay a fine of $250. That fine has been paid. Who paid it?”
“I don’t know,” Hart replied.
“Well, I am going to void my previous sentence,” the court declared. “There are five indictments against you on ‘numbers’ charges. I am going to sentence you to state prison to serve from two to three years on each indictment. The sentences will run concurrently.”
Continues Re-Sentencing
Pointkowski was next. The jurist turning to the defendant who had been given six months in the county jail and a $250 fine on Jan. 3, said:
“There are six indictments on ‘numbers’ charges against you. Your new sentence will be from two to three years in state prison, the terms to run concurrently.”
Woodridge was next. He had been found guilty Jan. 3 on one indictment charging “numbers” writing and sentenced to two months in jail and fined $100.
“I am going to void your sentence and send you to state prison for two to three years.”
Lloyd Again Prods Orlando and Cops In Numbers Cases
Camden Courier-Post —
Lloyd Again Prods Orlando and Cops In Numbers Cases
Detectives Told to Produce or Quit by Jurist
FIVE GET ’PEN’ IN ABOUT-FACE
Five state witnesses, who thought they got off “easy” in numbers cases, yesterday underwent reversal of county jail terms and found themselves sentenced to the penitentiary.
Judge Frank F. Neutze sentenced them in Criminal Court.
Terms ranged from two to three years, and they followed the witnesses’ sudden “about-face” in the Klosterman brothers’ case. The five all convicted numbers writers, recanted testimony last week at the brothers’ trial.
Censure of the prosecutor’s office by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd followed. Justice Lloyd called Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando and his staff to his chambers on the fourth floor of the new courthouse. Attending the conference in addition to Orlando were:
Assistant Prosecutors Harding and Eason, Chief County Detective Lawrence T. Doran, County Detectives James J. Mulligan, James Wren, Joseph Bennie, Casimir Wojtwokiak [sic] and Elmer Mathis, and Mrs. Daisy Rourke and Mrs. Ethel Michener, stenographers.
“Go out and do some work, or else be replaced,” is the ultimatum said to have been hurled at the detectives by Justice Lloyd. He is said to be aroused over apparent inactivity of county detectives on evidence in the Klosterman case.
That there is “nothing to stop the prosecutor” from having the Klostermans re-indicted on numbers charges is the contention of the Supreme Court Justice, and Prosecutor Orlando, when told of this statement, declared he was “working on it.”
Jail terms, which Judge Neutze voided, before imposing prison sentences, was begun by the accused quintet on January 3. They also were fined on single indictments. Yesterday’s sentences, with a single exception, were upon other indictments returned against the same defendants. The five sentenced are:
Walter Hart, 28, of 1245 Thurman street, who was serving six months in the county jail and fined $250 on one of five “numbers’ indictments.
Andrew Pointkowski, 30, of 1475 South Ninth street, who was serving six months and fined $250 on one of six “numbers” indictments.
Fined, Jailed
Thomas Kirk, 40, of 935 Carpenter street, who was serving a three-month jail sentence and fined $100 on one of five “numbers” indictments.
Crawford Smith, 53, of 702 Carman street, under a three-month county jail sentence and $100 fine on one of five “numbers” indictments.
Arthur Woodridge, 40, colored, of 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, who was serving a two-month county jail sentence and was fined $100 on one “numbers” indictment.
No explanation could be obtained as to the re-sentencing of Woodridge who had been indicted twice for “numbers” but acquitted on one bill and sentenced to the county jail on the other charge.
Justice Lloyd’s statement as to whether the Klostermans would be re-indicted and tried again on “numbers” charges came in response to a question by a Courier-Post representative.
“Will the Klostermans be re-indicted?” the jurist was asked.
“Not on the dates in August and September, 1934, during which they were alleged to have operated a ’numbers’ lottery and also been acquitted.
“However there is nothing to stop the prosecutor from indicting them for conducting the same illegal business in May, June and July of last year.”
Only five minutes were required to re-sentence the five men in a court room that was almost empty as no announcement had been made previously of what Judge Neutze intended to do. However, Prosecutor Orlando and his assistants, Patrick H. Harding and Isaac W. Eason, were in court.
“It is true I had them over here,” Justice Lloyd said regarding the censuhe [sic] confernece [sic]. “I am sorry that it got out. I have made a record of what I told them, but I can’t discuss it or tell what I said to them because I promised them that I would not make it public. But if things don’t work out the way they should, then I will have something to say.”
None of the prosecutors or other employes would make any statement relative to what Justice Lloyd told them.
Conference Result
Before imposition of sentence, no mention was made by Judge Neutze in the presence of the defendants of their “change of heart” on the witness stand last Thursday when the Klostermans were on trial.
Asked the reason for it, Judge Neutze said:
“I didn’t have to—they knew!”
The re-sentences, it was stated by Judge Neutze after he had left the bench, followed a conference held Saturday in which he participated with Justice Lloyd and Prosecutor Orlando.
“We reached the conclusion that these recanting state’s witnesses should be punished,” Judge Neutze declared.
Three other state’s witnesses also recanted their previous statements at the trial of the Klostermans which resulted in Judge Neutze directing the jury to find Frederick and Joseph Klosterman not guilty on 30 indictments charging them with operation of the “numbers” lottery.
It was indicated by both court officials and the prosecutor’s office that nothing in the way of punishment can be imposed on them because they are not serving jail sentences.
The trio is Albert Young, 35, of 519 North Second street, sentenced to three months and a $100 fine last Nov. 2 by Judge Neutze on one “numbers” indictment and released by the jurist in time to spend Christmas holidays with his family; Frank Kulczynski, 40, of 1100 Orchard street, who was sentenced Nov. 26 to two months in the county jail and a $200 fine on one “numbers” indictment and given a suspended sentence on a second “numbers” charge, and Harry Koron, 40, of 528 Mt. Ephraim avenue, fined $200 and sentenced to two months in the county jail on Nov. 26 for “numbers” writing.
Judge Neutze’s statement in connection with re-sentencing of the five men follows:
“During the trial I was absolutely disgusted at the testimony that these men gave. I had been informed they would testify against the Klostermans and connect the Klostermans with the “numbers” racket.
“When they got on the witness stand I was surprised to see them doing an about-face. They used up a great amount of the county’s time and money and I made up my mind then that they would be punished. I had a conference on Saturday with Prosecutor Orlando and gave him my views on additional punishment for these men.
“He agreed with me that these men should be punished and I asked him to bring the five men into court to be sentenced on the other “numbers” indictments. That was agreeable to him. The sentences speak for themselves.”
On Saturday, Judge Neutze, in a statement to the Courier-Post, said he would not move for re-sentencing of the five recanting state witnesses on other “numbers” indictments because it was up to the prosecutor.
At the same time he denied that the prosecutor on January 3, when the five men with seven other men and women “numbers” writers were sentenced, had asked him to impose stiff prison sentences to make the defendants “talk” as to who the “higher-ups” were.
Justice Lloyd in a statement yesterday said the five men who were sentenced to prison received only what they “were entitled to.”
“These men not only committed these crimes, but they deceived the prosecutor as to what they would testify to,” Justice Lloyd said. When they came into court they deviated from their testimony and were guilty of either lying or perjury when they denied they knew the Klostermans.
Misled Prosecutor
“They were guilty of misleading the prosecutor’s office and they were entitled to exactly what they got.
“The prison sentences today will show the criminal they cannot play fast and loose with the courts. The sentences meet with the hearty approval of myself, Judge Neutze and Prosecutor Orlando.”
Prosecutor Orlando, located before Justice Lloyd, who was hearing a motion in which the prosecutor was interested, said:
“I am heartily in accord with the sentences imposed by Judge Neutze.”
In court last Thursday when the Klosterman brothers were acquitted the five men were evasive in their testimony as to whether the Klostermans were the “numbers” bankers.
Yesterday when lined up before Judge Neutze they gaped in astonishment at the swiftness with which they were sent to prison for longer terms.
Nearly Collapses
One of the five, Crawford Smith, nearly collapsed in a chair in which he was permitted to sit during sentencing. Smith has been suffering from a heart ailment.
Turning to Hart, Judge Neutze said:
“I sentenced you to six months in the county jail and ordered you to pay a fine of $250. That fine has been paid.. Who paid it?
“I don’t know,” Hart replied.
“Well, I am going to void my previous sentence,” the court declared. There are five indictments against you on ’numbers’ charges. I am going to sentence you to state prison to serve from two to three years on each indictment. The sentences will run concurrently.”
Pointkowski was next. The jurist turning to the defendant said:
“There are six indictments on ’numbers’ charges against you. Your new sentence will be from two to three years in state prison, the terms to run concurrently.”
Woodridge was next.
“I am going to void your sentence and send you to state prison for two to three years.”
The next defendant was Kirk.
“There are five indictments against you,” said Judge Neutze. “Your new sentence is two to three years in State Prison on each indictment, the terms to run concurrently.”
Crawford Smith was the fifth and last defendant to be re-sentenced. When he first came into the court room with the other prisoners, Smith asked the court if he could sit down as he was suffering from a heart ailment.
“I understand you were ill,” Judge Neutze said, “and I had Dr. Rogers (Dr. E. B. Rogers, County Physician) examine you.”
“Yes, I have a bad heart,” Smith complained.
“Well, Dr. Rogers reports to me,” continued the court, “that you are not a well man but your condition is not serious. There are five indictments against you. Your sentence is from 2 to 3 years in State Prison on each indictment, the sentences to run concurrently.”
Smith, who had been under sentence to serve three months in the county jail and pay a fine of $100, for “numbers” writing, slumped forward in his chair and nearly collapsed. After he revived sufficiently he was taken back with the others to the county jail on the fourth floor of the Courthouse to await transportation to Trenton.
Crawford Smith, according to Police Chief Arthur Colsey, is a brother of District Detective Walter Smith and former County Detective Howard Smith.
The $100 fine imposed upon Woodridge, one of the five men re-sentenced, was paid last Wednesday, the day before the trial of the Klostermans. The $100 fine against Smith was paid last Friday.
Klostermans Identified as Numbers Kings by 5 Witnesses
Camden Courier-Post —
Storekeeper Says His Place Was Used as ‘Drop’ for Gaming Slips
5 CONVICTS RECALLED FROM STATE PRISON
Five witnesses in Criminal Court yesterday placed their fingers on the Klosterman brothers, Joseph and Fred, as Camden numbers “barons,” as they went on trial on 12 counts charging them with operating a lottery.
Each of the witnesses admitted under direct examination by Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando they had been in the employ of the Klostermans at two of the three establishments they are alleged to have maintained.
John Frenia, 57, proprietor of a delicatessen store at 1413 Mt. Ephraim avenue, testified he worked for the Klostermans at the Young Republicans Seventh Ward Club, 1411 Mt. Ephraim avenue. He said the Klostermans used the club as a headquarters for their numbers bank. He further admitted his store was used as a numbers “drop” for the Klostermans and that packages of numbers were left at his store daily by “pick up” men and called for by either Fred or Joseph Klosterman. His wife, Pauline, corroborated his testimony.
Chester Topolski, 25, of 1230 Dayton street, testified he was employed as a janitor at the club and received money from the bank operators to be turned over to “pick up” to pay off winners.
Tells of Numbers Party
Another witness, Albert Magee, 45, colored, of Davistown near Westmont, told of a party which Fred Klosterman “threw for his ‘numbers’ writers at a Black Horse pike roadhouse. It was strictly a formal affair, Magee testified, and he was introduced to Fred Klosterman as “one of his numbers writers.”
John Szalanski, 30, of 1188 Chestnut street, another witness testified he was employed by the Klostermans as a “pickup” man in the number business for three years. He worked for them until a few days after they were acquitted January 17 last in Criminal Court here of 30 joint “numbers” indictments.
The court adjourned at 4.03 p. m. until 10 a. m. today after Mrs. Frenia finished her testimony.
Seated in the court room near the exit to the county jail were five numbers writers, who suddenly lost their memory at the first trial of the Klostermans in January and were resentenced to serve from two to three years in state prison. They were Crawford Smith, 53, of 702 Carman street; Thomas Kirk, of 935 Carpenter street; Walter Hart, 28, of 1245 Thurman street; Andrew Pointkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, and Arthur Woodridge, 40, of 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken. They were returned from Trenton for the trial and probably will be called by the state this morning.
It was indicated last night by the prosecutor that these men are willing to talk.
Szalanski further testified he saw both Klosterman brothers in the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club and at a taproom called the Chez La Joy, 1050 Mechanic street. The state charges the taproom and another establishment at 1051 Mechanic street were used by the Klostermans as headquarters for their illegal “numbers” racket.
Passed Bags of Slips
Frenia asserted that both Fred and Joseph Klosterman came into his store with bags containing “numbers” slips.
“I would pass them over to Leon Dabrowski, who worked in the Republican Club or to a man called “Sparrow” or another known to me only as ‘Peaches’,” Frenia testified.
Frenia told Prosecutor Orlando under direct examination that he could look from his second floor window directly into the second floor room of the Republican Club which is spearated [sic] by a five-foot alley:
“I could see men working over adding machines computing the daily play of the ‘numbers’ game,” Frenia testified.
“One one [sic] occasion the adding machines were passed from the Republican Club across the alley into my second story room.”
The witness said he was formerly employed by the Klostermans in their saloon business.
He further declared he received “numbers” slips from the Klostermans before and after their first trial in Criminal Court which resulted in acquittal because of lack of evidence produced by the state.
Szalanski further declared that he saw both Klosterman brothers in the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club at 1411 Mt. Ephraim avenue and at a taproom called the Chez LaJoy at 1050 Mechanic street, which the state alleges were two of the three headquarters of the “numbers” bank operated by the Klostermans.
Tells of ‘Counting Room’
“I saw both Fred and Joe Klosterman at the Republican Club last Summer in rooms on the second floor in which there were five adding machines for computing the daily ‘numbers’ play,” testified Szalanski.
“On one occasion when one of the ‘numbers’ slips which I picked up, hit the daily number, Fred Klosterman paid me $500 to distribute to the writers who then gave it to the winners.”
The Klostermans, represented by Carl Kisselman, are on trial on 12 joint indictments charging the operation of a “numbers” lottery. The true bills allege the brothers “unlawfully did keep a place with the intent that persons might resort thereto for the purpose of gambling at so-called game of numbers.”
The indictments further charged the political club was used for unlawful lottery purposes between September 22, 1934, and January 31, 1935; that the taproom, Chez LaJoy and a dwelling at 1051 Mechanic street was so used between March 1, 1933, and July 31, 1934.
Szalanski, the first witness to definitely hook up the Klostermans with the “numbers” racket in Camden, said that he was employed by the brothers after a conference in a saloon at Mechanic and Liberty streets.
“I told the Klostermans I had no car and they advanced me $100 to buy an automobile,” said the witness.
When the witness said he continued to work for the Klostermans as a “pickup man” during and after the first trial, which resulted in the court directing a verdict of acquittal because of lack of evidence, Judge Neutze questioned him:
“Do you mean to say that you turned money over to the Klostermans at the Republican Club after their last trial?”
“Yes,” the witness replied.
Denies Intimidation
Szalanski admitted he was arrested two weeks ago in Philadelphia on “numbers” charges and is at liberty under bail.
Cross-examination of the witness by Kisselman failed to move Szalanski.
“Didn’t the prosecutor’s office try to intimidate you into testifying here?” asked Kisselman. “Didn’t they tell you what happened to other ‘numbers’ witnesses when the prosecutor’s office deemed their testimony was not satisfactory?”
The witness denied he had been intimidated or threatened into testifying.
“I know what is going on—I read the newspapers,” he asserted.
Szalanski corroborated statements of Topolski, as to the identity of persons seen about the club.
Szalanski was recalled to the stand when court reconvened after the noon recess. He testified he worked
Again on Trial
JOSEPH KLOSTERMAN
FRED KLOSTERMAN
Brothers, who were identified yesterday by former employes of Camden numbers operators.
as an “extra” at the Seventh Ward Republican Club for $1 a day.
“Who gave you to understand that you were to take $1 from the money you received in the numbers business?” Orlando asked.
After giving several evasive answers, Szalanski finally admitted that Fred Klosterman had told him he was entitled to $1 a day for his labor.
Puts Finger on “Joe”
Magee was the third witness called at the afternoon session.
Q. What is your business? A. I am a “numbers writer.”
Q. How long were you in the business. A. Three years.
Q. What district did you cover? A. I covered Blenheim, Hilltop and surrounding territory.
Q. How much did you take in a day from your collections last year? A. Oh, about $20 a day.
Q. To whom did you turn over this money? A. I turned it over to a man named George Smith.
Q. What percentage of the proceeds were you paid? A. I got 25 percent.
Q. In December, 1934, you had some differences with the pickup man over your total sheet and a shortage? What did you do about this? A. I went to a saloon on Mt. Ephraim avenue in Camden and asked for the Klosterman brothers.
Q. Did you see either of the Klosterman brothers and if so, which one?
At this point, Prosecutor Orlando asked the witness to point to either one of the two brothers and asked them both to stand up which they did.
“That’s the one there—in the blue suit,” said the witness pointing to Joe Klosterman.
Q. Did you ever meet Fred—the man besides him—his brother? A. Yes, I met him on the Black Horse pike in the Summer of 1934.
Party for Writers
Q. What was the occasion of that meeting? A. Well, it was at Charley Lutz’s place—that’s a roadhouse.
Q. What were you doing there? A. Well, it was a party to the “numbers” writers and we were all there for a good time.
Q. Well how did you happen to meet Fred Klosterman? A. Well, somebody took me up and introduced me to him and said I was one of the boys—one of his “numbers” writers.
Q. And then what happened? A. Well, Fred shook hands with me, turned around at the bar and ordered beer for the house.
At this juncture the witness was examined by the prosecutor as to his reasons for going to the Mt. Ephraim avenue saloon and he repeated his testimony that it was because of a shortage in his “numbers” slips account.
“Joe Klosterman treated me very nice and he said he would fix the thing up for me and I wouldn’t have any more trouble with my total sheets,” Magee said.
“After I saw him I didn’t have any more trouble,” the witness added.
Through a Polish interpreter, Frenia testified under direct examination that he had worked for Fred Klosterman in the latter’s saloon on Mt. Ephraim avenue in December, 1933. He also testified that previously Joe Klosterman employed him in another saloon at Green and Mechanic streets.
“What would you do with the numbers slips when you received them in your store and from whom did you receive them?” Orlando asked.
“Sometimes I received slips from Leon Dabrowski and from Fred Klosterman and his brother Joe only once or twice.”
Orlando then directed five or six men to stand up in the courtroom. He asked Frenia to point out any of those standing among the men who delivered slips at his store. Among those identified by the witness were Walter Hart, Kirk, Piontkowski and Szalanski, who had previously testified.
Saw Counting in Club
Q. How near was the rear of your store to the Seventh Ward Republican club? A. It was only about five feet across an alley.
Q. Could you see into the club from the second floor of your store? A. Yes. I could see into the second story window of the club.
Q. Did you ever look across there, and if so, what did you see? A. I saw Leon Dabrowski, “Sparrow” and “Peaches” counting out slips on adding machines.
Q. Were those machines ever moved across to your house? A. Yes.
Q. How were they moved across this alley to you? A. They were just lifted across and I took them in with my hand. It was only about five feet distance.
Q. Had you previously discussed moving these machines with either of the Klosterman brothers? If so, what was the reason? A. Sometime in November of 1934 I talked it over with Fred Klosterman and the only thing he told me was that the machines were needed.
Q. When these men brought “numbers” slips to your store how did you receive them? A. Sometimes I received them in paper bags and sometimes I received them on paper. Fred Klosterman told me it was O.K. to turn over the slips to Leon Dabrowski. I also received slips from Fred Kolsterman [sic] and Joe Klosterman once to my place.
Q. Did you receive slips at your store before and after the last trial of the Klosterman brothers on January 17? Answer yes or no. A. Yes.
Frenia, in answer to a direct question of the prosecutor as to when was the last time he had an adding machine in his store or home, said it was three days before he was arrested on “numbers” charges.
He also testified he received $10 a week for about four months for “receiving numbers” in his delicatessen store. He said he was told by Fred Klosterman he would get that amount each week and that the money was paid to him each week by Dabrowski.
Gives Confused Testimony
The last $10 he received, Frenia testified, was paid to him in January of this year. For this money, Frenia asserted, he was to “take the slips and help around the club.”
He said that on the second floor of the Republican club, were tables and chairs and the money they brought in, but there were no adding machines there. In earlier testimony, Frenia testified he had adding machines in his home which had been passed over a second-story window from the clubhouse.
Under cross-examination by Kisselman, Frenia gave confusing and contradictory testimony as to whether or not Joe Klosterman had received or taken any of the “numbers” slips from his store. Finally, he declared Joe Klosterman did take “numbers” slips from the store on one occasion.
Frenia denied that any county detectives sought to intimidate him in telling his story as Kisselman charged, by reminding him that other witnesses who told stories not satisfactory to the prosecutor’s office, were sentenced to prison terms of two to three years.
Knew of Punishments
Frenia said he knew that phase himself as he had read it in the newspapers. Prosecutor Orlando objected to Kisselman’s questioning along these lines, asserting it was unfair to infer that “something would happen to witnesses because of anything displeasing that they may say and the prosecutor might not agree with.”
“We are not responsible,” Orlando said, “for the condition of witnesses’ minds brought about by something over which we have no control.”
Kisselman was permitted by the court to ask the question, explaining that “whatever it is Mr. Kisselman is seeking to bring out, the jury would get later.”
“Do you know why these other witnesses got 2 to 3 years?” Kisselman asked.
“Yes, I know that because it was in the paper and because they were working in the ‘numbers’ business,” said the witness. “They got more than three months because they did not tell the truth.”
Mrs. Frenia, called as a state witness, testified both Fred and Joseph Klosterman came to their store for “numbers” slips.
She testified she gave the slips to Fred Klosterman five or ten times and that she gave the slips to Joseph Klosterman about five times before Christmas, 1934.
Asked to name who brought the slips to their store, the witness said Walter Hart, Arthur Woodridge, “Sparrow” and another man whose name she did not know.
Gave Klosterman Slips
She disclosed that Dabrowski would come into the store to collect the slips. “They started to bring the slips into the store around Christmas time and they stopped in January a couple of days before my husband was arrested,” the woman testified.
The witness said the slips were sometimes in a bag and on other occasions wrapped in a rubber band. She testified to delivering some of the slips to Fred Klosterman not wrapped up in a bag.
“Between five and seven people would bring the ‘numbers’ slips to the store,” Mrs. Frenia said.
Under questioning the woman said she was in the store when the adding machines were transferred from the club next door to her house. She asserted the men who brought the machines from the club to their house were Dabrowski and “Sparrow.”
Mrs. Frenia further testified that she could see from her second floor of the house, men adding numbers on the second floor of the clubhouse next door. She also said she saw both Fred and Joseph Klosterman on the second floor of the club but did not remember whether she saw them there when they were adding numbers.
“I saw Leon Dabrowski and “Sparrow” in the clubhouse adding numbers,” she testified.
Testifies of Slips
Relating how she first came to pick up the “numbers” packages left in her store, she explained that Fred Klosterman told her that “if anyone brought a package there to take it.” That was about a month or two before Christmas, 1934, the woman declared.
Asked if she had a similar conversation with Joseph Klosterman, she said she did not.
She testified the last time Fred Klosterman was in the store to pick-up “numbers” slips was in December before Christmas. Joseph Klosterman was in the store also before Christmas which was the last time she saw him, Mrs. Frenia testified.
Under cross examination, Mrs. Frenia said she never played the “numbers” or banked or sold “numbers” slips. She testified her husband was not in the store when Joseph Klosterman came in and she knew the packages contained “numbers” slips because she saw them.
Asked how she would know they were “numbers” slips if she did not play them, the woman said “they asked for them.”
Mrs. Frenia was asked if she did not know it was against the law to take the “numbers” slips. She said “Yes, I did, but I took them because my husband worked for them at the club.”
“How often did you see what was going on in the second floor of the clubhouse from your home?”
“About twice a week—only when I looked over there.”
Exposes Brothers
Testimony of John Szalanski:
Q. Did you ever turn over numbers to Fred and Joe Klosterman at the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club? A. Yes.
Q. What were you in the business? A. I was a pickup man for about three years.
Q. When did you first start in the numbers business with Klosterman? A. I can’t tell exactly. I would say about three years ago.
The witness then identified each defendant from the witness stand.
Q. Before you started with them, with whom did you do business? A. With Griffith, of Haddon Heights or Haddonfield.
Q. Why did you go to Klosterman? A. I went with them because I made no money out of Griffith.
Q. Whom did you first see at the Klostermans? A. I saw Fred. I had no car, and they gave me $100 to get one. I talked it over with Fred. They gave me a $100 check at the saloon on Liberty street where I saw both Fred and Joe and I bought with it a Chrysler coupe.
Dealt With ‘Fred’
Q. With whom did you do your business? A. With Fred. I handed him the slips. I would turn the slips over to Fred at Mechanic and Green streets. That was before they moved to the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club.
Q. Did you turn the slips over to Fred or to Joe at the club? A. To either of them.
Q. To either or both? A. Yes. If I was late I would turn them over sometimes to Leon Dabrowski or to someone else in the office. That would be about once a month, or sometimes once or twice a week. I would turn them over at the club better than a year.
Q. Would you ever turn them over at Fred’s home? A. Yes.
Q. How long have you known Leon? A. About six years. He is supposed to be a brother-in-law of Fred.
Q. What was your daily average in the money you delivered from pickups? A. About $100 a day. I would get 5 percent. I would turn the money over to Leon, and I have turned it over to Fred already a few times at the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club.
Trial Failed to Halt Them
Q. You turned money like that right after the trial this year? Before the witness could answer, Judge Neutze interrupted to ask: “Do you mean to say that you turned money over to them right after the trial?” The witness answered, “Yes.”
Prosecutor Orlando then asked the witness whether he could identify Frenia or Mrs. Frenia. He identified both as the ones who conducted a delicatessen store next to the club. He testified that he would turn the slips in to John Frenia every day for a few months up to last Christmas.
Q. Why did you turn them in at Frenia’s place instead of at the Seventh Ward club? A. Fred or Leon told me to turn them in there instead of at the club.
Q. Where did you turn in the money? A. I turned it in to the club, upstairs on the second floor.
Asked by the prosecutor to describe the second floor, the witness said it contained rooms much like the second floor of a home, and in one of the rooms was a table at which Leon sat. There were four or five adding machines, and numbers slips in the room.
Q. Did you ever see Joe and Fred Klosterman on the second floor? A. Yes, about once a week.
Q. When do you recall seeing Joe there, in particular? A. There was once last Summer in the afternoon, between 2 and 5.
Q. Who else was there? A. There was Leon Dabrowski, Andrew Piontkowski, who were adding up slips; myself and Fred or Joe, whoever came in.
Tells of Getting Money
Q. On the hits, who would deliver the money? A. I delivered the money.
Q. From whom would you receive the money? A. Sometimes from Fred, if there was a big hit and the people won a lot of money. If it was not such a big hit, I would receive the money from Leon.
Q. Did any of the players make large hits? A. Yes. Fifty cents and a dollar. That means if they hit a dollar it would mean $500, and Freddy or Leon would give me that money.
At this point, the voice of the witness was almost inaudible, and the prosecutor requested him to speak out loudly and clearly. Orlando next asked the witness whether he had any difficulty before he quit the Klostermans. He answered that he had, because he had borrowed $50, and Fred had told him that if he made any other loans, he was to know about it. Fred also told him, he said, to be a “good boy” while he was away.
In the back room of the Chez La Joy, he said, he received the full amount of a big hit. At the time there was there with him, Fred Klosterman, Leon and a man called “Flori.”
“At this time,” the witness said, “Fred ordered Leon to give me the full amount.”
Gave Brothers Slips
Q. To whom did you give the money? A. I gave it to a fellow I knew as ‘Bill’ on the East Side.
Q. Did you give him all of the money? A. No.
Q. Did you take any of it out for yourself, for commission? A. No.
Q. How much did you give him? A. I gave him between $400 and $500. He was the writer.
Q. Did you ever deliver slips to Fred or Joe Klosterman at the Chez La Joy? A. Yes, whoever was around.
Q. When, in particular? A. Well, on one occasion last summer I handed them to Joe, and at other times, I also handed them to Fred in the summer. I would say about a half dozen times in the past year.
The witness testified he delivered slips to Leon at the Chez La Joy but that he never delivered slips to Mrs. Frenia, but he did to her husband for about two months. He said he gave the slips to Frenia in a paper bag. He also testified that he knows a man by the name of “Peaches,” and that he saw him at the Republican club, turning in numbers.
He also turned in slips to Andrew Pointkowski, he said.
Orlando Overruled
“I also saw Walter Hart turning in numbers at the club and the store, as did Tom Kirk,” the witness testified.
That ended the direct examination. On cross-examination by Kisselman, the witness said that he first told the prosecutor what he knew about a month ago.
Q. Did the prosecutor come after you? A. Yes. They called me on the phone and told me to come to the prosecutor’s office.
Q. Are you charged with anything here in connection with this case? A. No.
Q. Did they tell you there were witnesses in jail; that these other fellows were in jail? A. I knew it.
Q. Did Mr. Doran, chief of detectives, tell you that because the previous testimony of these witnesses was unsuitable, their sentences were increased? Prosecutor Orlando objected; to which Kisselman replied:
“It seems that we have a right to show intimidation.”
“I can’t see the relevancy of such testimony,” replied Orlando.
Judge Neutze allowed the question and the witness answered:
“I knew it because I read it in the newspapers.”
Asked why he appeared as a witness, whether because he was a public-spirited citizen and wanted to tell the truth, he said that was the reason. He admitted later under cross-examination, that he was arrested in Philadelphia because he was in the numbers business.
Parries Cross-Jabs
Q. You come here and profess to be a public-spirited citizen, yet you were arrested after what you told the prosecutor in connection with the case? A. Yes.
Q. When did you last see Fred in connection with the numbers business? A. On a Saturday after the trial. (The date of the trial was January 17, 1935.)
Q. Did you know that Fred was in the hospital? And did you do the numbers business with him when he was in the hospital? As a matter of fact, didn’t Fred go away the day after the trial? A. He went away on a Saturday, and I did business in the meanwhile with Leon. I would see Joe around.
Q. Did you see him every day before the trial? A. Yes, I would say about every day.
Q. Do you remember seeing him after the trial? A. I don’t remember seeing him after the trial.
Luncheon recess was declared. The court warned the jury not to discuss the case with anyone on the outside.
Tells of Transfer
Topolski, who testified he was employed as a janitor at the clubhouse by Fred Klosterman but paid by a man named Leon Dabrowski, said he often saw Dabrowski, Charlie Smith, Walter Hart, Andrew Piontkowski, Crawford Smith, “Gassy” and “Peaches” about the place.
Topolski said he also was employed as “pickup man” in the “numbers” business and that he took the slips and money to the delicatessen store of John Frenia next door to the Republican club. Dabrowski, according to the witness would then gather the slips and receive the money personally from Topolski.
Jury Quickly Chosen
It required only 45 minutes to select the jury to try the Klostermans. The state used seven challenges and the defense ten.
The courtroom which was slow to fill up at the opening of the trial, was crowded by the time the jury had been selected and the prosecutor made his opening.
Topolski, who said he was a leather worker before engaging in the “numbers” business, was the first witness called by the state.
“I was a pick-up man in the numbers game,” Topolski replied in answer to a question by Prosecutor Orlando. “I used to meet a fellow on the corner known as Charles Stewart. He gave me number slips and books which I took to the delicatessen store of John Frenia.
“Do you know Fred and Joseph Klosterman, the defendants on trial here?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes I met them several times. I saw Fred Klosterman come into the club several times but I never saw Joe there.
The witness identified the two Klostermans seated at the defense counsel table. Questioned by Prosecutor Orlando as to whether he did any “numbers” business with either defendant, Topolski said, “I never did any business with either of them.”
“No, I Didn’t”
“Did you ever deliver any ‘numbers’ books or ‘numbers’ slips to a tap room called the Chez LaJoy at 1050 Mechanic street?” he was asked.
“No. I didn’t.”
That address as well as the Republican club are alleged by the state to have used together with a house at 1051 Mechanic street, as headquarters for the operations of the “numbers” business of the Klosterman brothers.
Names Three Men
“Did you ever deliver any “numbers” books to 1051 Mechanic street?”
“No, I did not,” answered the witness.
In connection with seeing the Klostermans, the witness said it was in the Republican Club that he met them, where both were members.
Questioned concerning his activities in the “numbers” business, Topolski said he started working as a “pickup” man sometime in June or July, 1934, and continued up to about three weeks before Christmas.
“How much business would you do?” he was asked.
“I would pick up anywhere from $40 to $50 daily. I would pick up from three different men.”
“Who were they?”
“Joe Miller, Charles Smith and John Jankowski.”
Questioned further, Topolski said he made arrangements to leave the slips at Frenia’s store for Leon Dabrowski, who he identified as “the guy who got me the job.” He testified he met Dabrowski in Chez LaJoy in June of last year.
‘Sort of Grab Bag’
“I would just hand Frenia the bag which had the slips in. I don’t think he knew what was in the bag,” Topolski testified.
“Sort of a prize bag, eh,” broke in Judge Neutze and the courtroom tittered in laughter.
Hired by Klosterman
“Who did you give the money to which you collected?” Prosecutor Orlando asked.
“To Leon Dabrowski.”
“Did you ever see Fred or Joe Klosterman at Frenia’s store?”
“No.”
The witness then said he did see them at the Republican Club where he had been engaged last July as a janitor to clean up the place.
“Fred Klosterman hired me but Leon Dabrowski paid me,” Topolski said. “The first couple of weeks I was paid $3 a week but then they raised me to $6 a week.”
Under grilling he said he did not think it was strange that Fred Klosterman gave him the job and Dabrowski paid him.
“Did you ever see any adding machines on the second floor of the club?” Prosecutor Orlando asked.
“No,” was the answer.
The witness then testified he cleaned up newspapers, slips of papers and long pieces of tape paper which were blank. He further testified he would see Dabrowski at the club in the evenings and also about when he was cleaning up.
Got 5 Percent Fee
Topolski said he was to receive 5 percent of the $40 or $50 of “numbers” playing which he collected daily. He said he deducted it from the money he turned in. Asked by Prosecutor Orlando to tell who appeared around the club when he was there, the witness said:
“Well there was “Gassy,” Charlie Smith, “Peaches,” Walter Hart, Andrew Piontkowski, Crawford Smith . . . and I also saw Fred Klosterman walk in and out but he never stayed long.”
Frenia was called to the front of the courtroom by the prosecutor and Topolski identified him as the man with whom he left the bag of “numbers” slips daily. The prosecutor then called Frenia’s wife and Topolski identified her but said he never left any “numbers” slips with her.
“Did any of the slips which you picked up ever hit?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes, there were several hits,” said the witness. “On one hit I received $15 which I gave to the “numbers” writers to distribute to the winners. They went mostly to Charles Stewart.”
Zeid Faces Trial, Court Is Guarded
Trenton Times —
Zeid Faces Trial, Court Is Guarded
Accused Camden Slayer Is Linked with Tri-State Gang
New Jersey swung its far-famed “Jersey justice” into action today against Charles Zeid, seeking retribution from him for the slaying of one of its officers of law. The Philadelphian — a member, police say, of the notorious “tri-State gang” — goes on trial in a heavily-guarded court room on a charge of shooting Detective William T. Feitz in an attempted hold-up of a reputed disorderly house.
New Jersey is the third State to charge a murder against members of the gang. In Virginia, Robert Mais and Walter Legenza, co-leaders of the gang, paid with their lives for the fatal shooting of a bank truck driver. Pennsylvania recently charged the kidnap-slaying of William Weiss, night life figure, against Frank Wiley and Martin Farrell, reputed members, who have been sentenced to die in the electric chair.
Judge Frank F. Neutze, who has refused to grant further postponement to Zeid, declared he will take no chances and has ordered officers to mingle with the spectators and watch for any outbreak. Feitz was shot to death September 2, 1934, as he entered an alleged disorderly house during a holdup, as part of his duties, authorities say.
Zeid’s court-appointed attorney, John A. Penn, in reply to a request for a bill of particulars, has been told by Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando that “Zeid or one or two accomplices” were the slayers.
Orders Spanking for Young Auto Thief
Elyria, Ohio Chronicle-Telegram —
CAMDEN, N. J.—Judge Frank F. Neutze thinks there is nothing better than an old-fashioned spanking for young law-breakers. So he summarily proceeded to deal out such a sentence when Theodore Emicle, 18, pleaded guilty to stealing an automobile to take his girl for a ride.
The youth’s father complimented the Judge’s decision in the courtroom’s proverbial woodshed, too.
Bigamist Sentenced to Prison As Both His ‘Wives’ Look on
Camden Courier-Post —
Tells Judge He Doesn’t Know Why He Married Either Woman; Offers Cork Leg as Alibi, But Neutze Blames It on His Head
Two wives of a Camden man appeared in Special Sessions Court yesterday to watch the man who had won their hearts sent to state prison. He was sentenced to four years for admitting bigamy. The second Mrs. Brown left the courthouse in tears.
“I don’t know why I did it,” the defendant told Judge Neutze. Judge Neutze concluded the defendant had no valid excuse and imposed the sentence.
One of Four Fined for Owning Still
Camden Courier-Post —
Trenton Man Pays $50, Jail Term Suspended, 3 Companions Cleared
Salem, Oct. 28.—A Criminal Court jury convicted Dominiek Dartolini, 28, of 800 Chestnut street, Trenton, but acquitted three companions today on a charge of possessing a dismantled still.
Judge Frank F. Neutze, before whom the men were tried, fined Dartolini $50 and suspended a three-month sentence in the county jail. The court expressed the opinion Dartolini was not “a bad man” but had been led into wrong doing through an opportunity of getting easy money.
Dartolini, John Pluke, Emilio Ciccimni and Mecircussi Sylvestro, all of Trenton, had been arrested on September 12, 1934, near Alloway, with a boiler from a dismantled still loaded on the truck belonging to the former. They testified a Trenton junk man hired Dartolini to come to Alloway for the boiler. It had been removed “from a still officers Raided a short time before.
Trooper T. L. Smith and Constable Harold Taylor testified Cleve Crawford, of Deepwater, admitted to them that he took the automobile of Roy Park, of Carneys Point, March 8 and wrecked it in a ditch.
Crawford is charged with operating a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner. He pleaded not guilty to the indictment. Testimony in his case will be resumed tomorrow morning.
In a third case started before Judge Neutze, Harry Sheppard, 45, of Cedarville, is charged with larceny of tools on March 20 from the Deepwater plant of the E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company. He testified that tools found at his home and which company employees said belonged to the firm were purchased nearly two years ago from a man whom he knew as A. J.
Former Teacher Taken to Trenton Death Cell
Sheboygan, Wisconsin Press —
Salem, N. J.—Mrs. Margaret Fox Doibow, 26-year-old former school teacher, convicted of murdering her husband, faced today the prospect of being the first woman to die in the electric chair in New Jersey.
The attractive, auburn-haired widow and her reputed lover, Norman Driscoll, 28-year-old farmer, will be taken to New Jersey’s death house in Trenton tomorrow, to await execution, set for the week of March 15, for the slaying of Harry Y. Doibow.
Joining Bruno Richard Hauptmann, convicted kidnap-slayer of the Lindbergh baby, who also is awaiting death.
A jury of 10 men and 2 women convicted Mrs. Doibow last night in Salem county court house, which pronounced the mandatory death sentence.
The trial began Jan. 27. The state introduced testimony as to Mrs. Doibow and Driscoll’s clandestine love affair for months, during which they pledged Doibow’s death.
It was claimed he was slain the night of Aug. 15 on the Mannington township farm. The state contended Driscoll struck the fatal blow with an iron pipe while Mrs. Doibow held the victim in the barn.
Mrs. Doibow’s lawyers announced they will file an appeal.
Woman and Lover Sentenced to Chair
Marion, Ohio Star —
Former Teacher and Farmer Found Guilty of Killing Her Husband.
By The Associated Press
SALEM, N. J., Feb. 11—Mrs. Margaret Fox Doibow, 26-year-old former school teacher, convicted of murdering her husband, faced today the prospect of being the first woman to die in the electric chair in New Jersey.
The attractive, auburn-haired widow and her reputed lover, Norman Driscoll, 28-year-old farmer, will be taken to New Jersey’s death house in Trenton tomorrow, to await execution, set for the week of March 15, for the slaying of Harry Y. Doibow.
Joining Bruno Richard Hauptmann, convicted kidnap-slayer of the Lindbergh baby, who also is awaiting death.
A jury of 10 men and two women convicted Mrs. Doibow last night in Salem county court house, pronouncing the mandatory death sentence.
Judge Neutze to Speak to Fathers and Sons
Camden Courier-Post —
Carneys Point, Feb. 12—Judge Frank F. Neutze, of Camden, will be the principal speaker tomorrow night when the annual father-son banquet for Pennsgrove and Carneys Point is held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium here. The jurist has been serving in the Salem county courts during the illness of Judge J. Forman Sinnickson.
A program of vaudeville and motion pictures has been arranged following the dinner at 6 o’clock and Judge Neutze’s talk. Chester Scott is chairman of the committee which has arranged the affair. Jesse Green will be toastmaster.
Nathan Katz Fined, Escapes Prison
Camden Courier-Post —
Judge Neutze Influenced by Restitution, Poor Health in Suspending Sentence
Nathan U. Katz, 44, former Kaighn Avenue real estate dealer, pleaded non vult yesterday before Judge Frank F. Neutze in Criminal Court to a charge of embezzling a total of $4586.27 from four building and loan associations he represented. He was given a suspended sentence of one to three years in state prison and fined $500.
Representatives of the building and loan associations testified to his good character and asked for clemency. A physician testified Katz has a lung ailment.
In imposing sentence, Judge Neutze said he was influenced by the fact that restitution was made before charges had actually been brought against Katz, and also by the fact that Katz is in poor health.
It was brought out that complaint against Katz by the State Department of Banking and Insurance followed an 18-months investigation of his activities by the department. The cost of this probe, approximately $3100, has been assessed against the four associations.
Assistant Prosecutor Isaac W. Eason made no recommendation to the court. He said that during an 18-month period, including all of 1934 and half of 1935, while the state was unearthing Katz’ defalcation, that the real estate agent had made restitution.
“Katz made restitution when he found out that the state was investigating,” Eason said. “On the other hand, it is true that the defendant is in poor health and has pleaded non vult, saving court costs.
Katz, who lives at 1531 Wildwood Avenue, was represented by former Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin.
In imposing sentence, Judge Neutze said, addressing Katz:
“The fact that restitution was made prior to charges actually being brought makes a tremendous impression on me. The condition of your health is also to be considered.”
Katz was indicted last October. According to the indictment, he is charged with embezzling the following amounts from the following associations:
Apollo, $723.29; Bridge, $1230.85; Hyman Varbalow, $693.52; Home Buyers, $1938.61.
Defends City District Court
Camden Courier-Post —
To the Editor:
Sir—Whatever the motive of Mr. Scovel may be in trying to abolish the Camden City District Court, the Camden Bar Association should strongly object to such action on the part of Mr. Scovel. Politics have no place in our courts, and certainly should never have any place in our court system.
While Judge Neutze was judge of the Camden City District Court he established a fine record in keeping its docket clear. Judge Varbalow has done an equally fine job. While under the guidance of these able men the District Court always carried itself financially. The younger men of the Camden bar, of whom I am one, can readily appreciate the work of Judge Varbalow and the purpose of his court. And as for the lay citizens of Camden, this court may be termed as “the poor man’s court.”
It seems to me that a child can readily read through Mr. Scovel’s action. The Camden City District Court has served its purpose and is now serving its purpose. Why change? Is there not enough legislation to pass upon which needs reform or change? Why not do first things first? If ever the Camden County Bar Association did anything to voice its protest in defense of our legal profession now is the time to do it.
SAMUEL W. STRAUSS
300 Broadway, Camden
Man Pleads Guilty in Shane Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
Four Other Suspects Deny Guilt When Arraigned Before Neutze
One of five suspects held in the $10,380 robbery of Mrs. Mary Shane, wife of a Camden motor vehicle agent, entered guilty pleas to two of four indictments yesterday before Judge Frank F. Neutze. The others pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Frank Gromacki, 28, of 412 Broadway, pleaded guilty to larceny from person and highway robbery without instilling fear in the victim. He entered not guilty pleas to conspiracy and highway robbery and instilling fear.
The other suspects are Stanley N. Powell, 28, of 1256 Whitman Avenue; Harry Gassel, 27, of 1282 Liberty Street; Leon Grenkwicz, 23, of 1469 Louis Street, and Edward Giedrye, 21, of Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Liberty Street.
Mrs. Shane, wife of Samuel Shane, who served as motor vehicle agent at 1289 Kaighn Avenue, was robbed on January 2, near the American National Bank, Broadway south of Kaighn Avenue. She was about to enter the bank to deposit $8930 in cash and $1450 in checks, representing receipts from motor vehicle licenses issued at the agency on December 31. A bag containing money was snatched from her hand.
Approximately $6000 has not been recovered.
Gassel was continued in $5000 bail while the others were returned to cells to await trial. Gassel’s car was alleged to have been used by the others in fleeing from the robbery.
Judge Neutze said Gromacki “will be given consideration” when sentence is imposed as a result of his two guilty pleas.
Neutze Tells Fathers to Keep Children Busy to Halt Crime
Camden Courier-Post —
Closer Co-operation Between Schools and Parents Urged by Judge Who Cites Peril in Unemployment Among Youths
Closer co-operation between parents and schools to eliminate juvenile delinquency was urged last night by Judge Frank F. Neutze, of Common Pleas Court, in an address to the Camden High School Fathers’ Association at its February meeting in the City Commission chamber.
Judge Neutze said that in cases of juvenile delinquency he invariably tried to contact parents of the child to seek their co-operation and that detention home sentences were a last resort.
“If parents did what was expected of them there would be no delinquency,” Judge Neutze said. One cause of juvenile delinquency, he said, was the fact that many youngsters leaving school were unable to find jobs and too much spare time gave them opportunity to get into mischief.
“Give them something to do to keep them busy,” he urged the fathers.
A concert was given by the WPA band of 35 pieces, under direction of Joseph Fuhrman and conducted by William Townsend. Howard Weedun presided. Plans are being made for an open house night, March 24, it was announced by H. H. Steplar, publicity chairman. The school building will be open for inspection and the program will include demonstrations and entertainment by students. Parents will have an opportunity to meet the teachers.
Camden Strikers Held for Disorder
Trenton Evening Times —
Camden Strikers Held for Disorder
City Commissioner Declares That Settlement Will Be Reached
CAMDEN, July 21 (AP).—Judge Frank T. Neutze today turned over to the Grand Jury 26 cases involving riot charges growing out of RCA strike disorders last week. He demanded an aggregate of $135,000 bail for the release of the men.
The court dismissed 39 other defendants, most of whom had been held in default of bail since the outbreaks last Thursday and Friday. He turned over five other cases to Police Judge Lewis Liberman, who fined four of the defendants and suspended sentence on the fifth. Fines exacted totaled $55.
Judge Neutze said he sat as a committing magistrate at the direction of Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd, who last week personally presided in a similar capacity at preliminary hearings.
There were frequent oral clashes between attorneys for the strikers and sympathizers and assistant prosecutors. Several hundred spectators were denied admittance after the room became filled. Policemen carrying sticks patrolled the halls.
Ernest Christy, 27, of Philadelphia, who, Police Sergeant Edward Carroll testified, was arrested after he shouted, “Go get the cops, kill them,” was held in $10,000 bail.
75 Percent of Criminal Cases Bring Convictions in Court
Camden Courier-Post —
983 Indictments Disposed of During 1935, With 624 of 838 Defendants Being Found Guilty; 195 Sent to State Prison
Seventy-five percent of the criminal cases that came before judges in the Quarter Sessions Court during 1935 resulted in convictions, according to a yearly report compiled by Prosecutor John J. Fitzgerald. Of 983 indictments disposed of, 838 defendants were arraigned before judges in court and 624 were convicted. Pleas of guilty were entered by 40 defendants; others waived trial by jury, and 48 persons were convicted by juries.
Of 113 defendants charged with gambling, 102 were convicted. In many instances the percentage of convictions was much higher than 75 percent. Three murderers were tried and convicted, and one, Charles Zeid, suffered the death penalty.
That Camden county is virtually free from the narcotic traffic was shown by the fact that during the entire 1935 court term only one defendant was charged with that crime.
Eleven motorists faced justice charged with manslaughter.
Prison sentences were commuted by Judge Neutze, who sat extra days to clear the criminal docket and who urged speedy trials for defendants in jail unable to obtain bail.
Fingerprints Betray Criminals Here As Expert Aids Judge and Prosecutor
Camden Courier-Post —
Hidden Pasts of Many Law Violators Revealed by Scientific Process as Local Authorities Work in Unison With National and State Agencies; George Roundey, County Aid, Efficient Link in Hunt For Enemies to Society
Judge Frank F. Neutze, intrigued by the system which has equipped him with more knowledge of prisoners than they wish him to possess, is fingerprinted in the bureau of identification at the Camden county jail. George Roundey, expert of the bureau, is shown making impressions of the jurist’s fingers, while Sheriff Joseph H. Van Meter is an interested onlooker.
Scene: Camden County Criminal Court. John Doe is facing the court for sentence having just been convicted for burglary.
Judge Frank F. Neutze: “Doe, you have been convicted by a jury and I will now impose sentence. Have you ever been convicted of any other crime?”
John Doe: “No, your honor, this is the first time that I have ever been in trouble.”
Judge Neutze: “I don’t believe you” (he scrutinizes several papers on the bench before him). “You became a criminal when you were 12 years old when you lived in Portland, Me. You served three terms in reformatories in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. You also served two terms of five years each in Sing Sing. You did three years at Joliet. You served 18 months for burglary in California. You also served time in Wisconsin for robbery and another five year term in Texas for holdup with a revolver. You will serve from five to seven years in state prison. Next case, Mr. Prosecutor.”
(The court lays the paper aside and picks up others as the next defendant appears for sentence).
John Doe might have escaped with a lighter prison sentence had Judge Neutze not had those mysterious sheets of paper before him. The papers were given to the court 24 hours before John Doe appeared for sentence by George Roundey, chief of the bureau of identification of the Camden county jail. They contained the complete criminal record of all defendants appearing before the court should the defendant have a criminal record.
Roundey has a room in the jail that is devoted exclusively to photographic and fingerprint work. His files contain thousands of fingerprints and photographs of captured and “wanted” criminals.
Roundey is one of the busiest men in the court house. Every minute of his working day he is taking rogues gallery pictures, filing applications for revolver permits, filing fingerprints by the hundreds, received from various police departments throughout the nation.
Although Roundey’s department is small, police officials who have visited it state it to be one of the most complete they have ever seen. They marvel at the fact that it is being operated by only one man.
A Psychologist, Too
Roundey is not only a fingerprint expert but a student of psychology and human nature. On numerous occasions after police have questioned arrested criminals with no result Roundy [sic] takes them into his office to be photographed and fingerprinted and treats them like human beings and it invariably happens that Roundey [sic] suggestions to the criminal to “come clean” has resulted in defendants “copping a plea” and saving the county the expense of a trial.
“I consider the work of George Roundey, in the identification and record bureau of the county prison, to be most invaluable to my court,” Judge Neutze said. “Every defendant who appears before me has or has not a police record. If he has a record, Roundey sees that a copy of that record is in my hands when the defendant is up for trial and sentence. His co-operation with my court has been most splendid and the court feels proud to have such a young man working with it. He is always on the job and in imposing sentence I depend largely on the notations that Roundey has placed in my hands.”
Similar praise of Roundey’s works was voiced by Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando.
Helps Reduce Crime
“The prosecutors [sic] office, before Roundey started the identification bureau, had no set way of learning the past records of persons brought into this office. Since he assumed charge of the identification bureau several years ago, his work there has been most beneficial to this office. It is to be regretted that his department is not as extensive as it should be and we all wish that the Board of Freeholders could see their way clear to appropriate more money to extend the facilities and scope of this department which to my mind has been instrumental in cutting down crime in this county,”
Sheriff Joseph H. Van Meter also was loud in his praise for the work done for the county by Roundey’s department. Van Meter said that Roundey has completed plans for a “stand-up” room in the county jail where complainants might look over defendants for identification purposes without being seen by the suspects. It is expected that this identification room will be completed in several weeks.
Roundey, found in his “workshop” filing fingerprints, reluctantly consented to an interview. He continued working as he was being asked about his work.
“Everyone arrested for an indictable offense, regardless of whether they are sentenced in police court or not, are fingerprinted and photographed,” he said.
Records Exchanged
“After we get our returns from the state and national bureaus on each subject, we contact every police department that has had anything to do with the criminal and find out from them what their charges were and also the final disposition of their case. We further check to see if that department wants the person that we have.
“After we get back all of our returns from the different departments, we make four copies of the subject’s completed record. One of these is placed in our files as a master record. The others we keep until the subject is placed on trial, and on that trial three copies are given to Mr. Brager, N. J. parole officer; the prosecutor’s office, and to Judge Neutze.
“Judge Neutze has on the bench with him on every trial day, either a clean bill of health or the criminal to write us for the final dispositions as they will appear on the returns sent out by the state and national bureaus. This alone will mean considerable saving both in time and money to our bureau in the future.
“In my spare time I have made up a small modus operandi file for the bureau. Every one who is arrested for breaking and entering, robbery, larceny of auto or any type of larceny is indexed in our files, this file shows name, description, fingerprint classification and with whom the subject associates. Any department who later makes an arrest on this man, or who suspects him on some job, can come to this bureau and get a list of the names of his pals and in that way many jobs can be cleaned up as the police know who they want from the start of the case.
List of ‘Wanted’ Persons on File
“A ‘wanted’ file is kept of everyone that is known to be wanted by the prosecutor’s office and all other departments in the county. These persons who are wanted are also posted as wanted in the state and national bureaus. They in turn notify us the minute that the wanted person is arrested by any other department in the country.
“Before this department was established, neither the prosecutor nor the judge knew the past history of record of every person who comes before him that we have had in the jail.
“We miss a few cases because the defendant is let out on bail at the hearing and is not committed to the county jail. This can only be eliminated by having a county bureau of identification and require that every person arrested for an indictable offense be brought to that bureau for fingerprinting before he or she is released in bail. Judge Neutze has worked very well with me in this respect. If he is doubtful of a person who I have not had a chance to investigate, he always sends them up to the jail for printing and defers sentence until my investigation is completed.
Every Case Studied
“Every case that goes through this bureau is followed by us until it is disposed of, either by the grand jury throwing it out or by being tried in court and found not guilty or guilty. In this way we get the final disposition of each case and forward them to the state police and Washington bureau so that the final disposition of every case handled by this bureau appears on the master records of their bureaus. This will in the future keep other departments who may arrest this subject from having any criminal who was brought to trial.
“A library of fingerprint reference books and fingerprint law is kept in the bureau, not only for the use of the department but also for the use of the prosecutor’s office should questions on these subjects arise. Considerable money was saved in the building of this department by former Sheriff Pelouze and myself. We visited several other departments and profited greatly by their experience and also by their mistakes. Total cost of the department including files, indexes, cameras, building and equiping [sic] dark room, rogues gallery, was less than $1400. Money saved by securing ruling from the postmaster general that prints are printed matter and may be sent as third class and not first is about $75.00 per year.
Urges Extension of Work
“This county needs and should have a bureau that would be open 24 hours a day. Everyone arrested should be brought to that bureau for fingerprinting so that their identification could be established before they are released in bail. In this way the prosecutor and the court would have complete records of everyone brought to trial. It would also be of use to the county probation officer in that many of his men on probation or parole are arrested in other towns and he has no way of knowing it.
“Applications for pistol permits are investigated. Five copies of prints are taken. One copy is for the police chief of the town where the applicant resides; the bureau of investigation, Washington; the N. J. state police, Trenton; the Camden county clerk, and our own bureau. The police chief must sign any application and also answer questions that appear on a sheet attached.
“All guns owned by an applicant must be brought to the bureau so that we may check the numbers and file them with the state police. An applicant must have a very good reason for carrying a pistol or the permit is denied. We have cut down on the number of permits in the county, exclusive of Camden City, as ourt [sic] total number of applicants since 1933 is only 165. As soon as a person who holds a pistol permit is adrested [sic], this bureau is notified by the state and national bureaus, we in turn advise the judge who issued that permit, of the arrest, so that he can take whatever action in the matter he cares to. No one is issued a permit without the consent of the police chief of his or her town.”
Three Sentenced on Three Charges
Camden Courier-Post —
Neutze Jails Man on Booze Evidence, One for Non-Support, Boy for Theft
A Philadelphia youth was sent to a reformatory, an owner of bootleg liquor was sent to the county jail for six months and a man, charged with desertion and non-support, was sent to state’s prison for a year yesterday by Judge Frank F. Neutze in Special Sessions Court here.
John Skodi, 16, of 804 Fairmount avenue, Philadelphia, entered a guilty plea to stealing the automobile of William Allen, of 412 North Sixth street, last July 26. He was sentenced to the Annandale Reformatory for an indefinite term.
Benjamin Wilson, of 139 Mt. Vernon street, at whose home authorities seized a small quantity of untaxed liquor, entered a plea of guilty and was given the choice of paying a $200 fine or going to jail for six months. He went to jail.
Martin Bell, of 1821 Carlton street, Philadelphia, was pictured as refusing to support his wife, Florence, of 3209 Alabama road, Camden, and their two children, Florence, 2, and Loretta, 1. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to a year in state’s prison.
Court Calls Strike And Man Goes ‘In’ Instead of ‘Out’
Camden Courier-Post —
Thomas Patterson, who manages a baseball team in Mt. Ephraim, had the third strike called on him yesterday by Judge Frank F. Neutze, in criminal court. He was sent to jail for 30 days for assault and battery on his brother-in-law.
It seems that Patterson and Alfred Linnerman do not speak and are keen rivals in baseball. Patterson manages one nine and Linnerman also bosses a Mt. Ephraim outfit on the diamond.
Patterson is lame and walks with a cane, but he is fast with a baseball bat, if Linnerman’s tale is convincing. It seems that on July 17 the teams of Patterson and Linnerman met on the diamond, and the struggle didn’t end with the third out in the ninth inning.
According to testimony, the players on the rival teams became involved in an argument, into which Patterson is charged with having walked with a baseball bat and grave determination. Then he is charged with having picked out his relative’s eye for a fast one in the groove and let fly.
Linnerman took the count like Joe Louis with Schmeling and, when he was revived and restored to normalcy, had a warrant issued for his brother-in-law.
Patterson entered a general denial of Linnerman’s story. He said he was walking to the dugout, peaceably and with the club’s bats in his hand when he was whirled into as fast a fight as ever he had witnessed on any diamond, minor or major.
Instead of fattening his batting average on Linnerman, Patterson said he was socked himself, but Judge Neutze called “out” on that one.
Two Men Jailed in Theft Plot Try to Involve G.O.P. Club Aide
Camden Courier-Post —
Ninth Ward Employe Named by Prisoners in Scheme to Loot Building of Slot Machines; Judge Neutze Discounts Story
An employee of the Ninth Ward Republican Club yesterday was accused of plotting to steal slot machines from the club at 536 Broadway by two South Camden men convicted of robbing him.
Michael Maloni, 25, of 321 South Fourth street, and Dominick Vizzone, 24, of 316 South Fifth street, were sentenced to four months in the county jail when Judge Frank F. Neutze told them their story “doesn’t ring true.”
Maloni and Vizzone were arrested on complaint of Jacob Mutzer, 417 Carteret street, employed at the club. He said he was coming out of a restaurant in South Camden early on the morning of June 17 when he met Maloni and Vizzone.
“They induced me to get into their car and then they drove me to a field back of the Camden Forge Company,” Mutzer testified. “There they took my money and keys, including keys to the club. I was afraid they might get into the club and clean it out so I notified police.”
Detectives went to the club house, but Maloni and Vizzone did not appear. They were arrested later.
The defendants denied robbing Mutzer.
“His story is not true,” Maloni insisted. “He told us to take his keys and go to the club and take the slot machines from there while he waited for us. He said it would look like a hold-up. We refused to have anything to do with it.”
Mutzer cut in and said Maloni’s testimony was untrue.
Judge Neutze told Maloni and Vizzone he thought they were “looking for a way out,” and imposed sentence.
2 Youths Get 3 Years for Robbing 9 Homes
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Negro youths who are charged by police with having staged nine home robberies here during the past two months, were sentenced to serve from three to five years in state prison by Judge Frank F. Neutze yesterday.
They are William Smith, 18, of 1017 Sycamore street, and Edward Keaton, 17, of 816 Spruce street. Both pleaded guilty.
Slayer of Husband Gets 5 to 10 Years
Camden Courier-Post —
Woman Changes Plea of Not Guilty to Murder to Guilty of Manslaughter
Judge Frank F. Neutze yesterday sentenced Mrs. Sarah Woodland, 42, of 2633 Mitchell street, to five to 10 years at the State Home for Women at Clinton. The woman changed a plea of not guilty to murder to guilty of manslaughter, as she was about to be tried.
Mrs. Woodland was charged with stabbing her husband to death August 15 at their home during a heated argument in which she said she was forced to defend herself. When he attempted to strike her with a chair, she grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed him in the left breast.
Assistant Prosecutor Patrick H. Harding explained that the court permitted her to plead to manslaughter rather than murder because the evidence was insufficient to convict on a murder charge.
During the arraignment the woman kept moaning, “Oh, Lord, have mercy on me for what I did.” She was hysterical when taken from the courtroom after imposition of sentence.
Accused of Stealing Metal Road Markers
Camden Courier-Post —
Junk dealers pay 10 cents a pound for the little discs of aluminum which catch the beams of automobile headlights and act as highway markers. This was revealed in Criminal Court here yesterday when Charles Armitage, 63, of 124 Mechanic street, was arraigned on charges of stealing the markers from the highways. Troopers arrested Armitage after the state highway department had reported losing over 100 of the markers and found a bag of the discs in his possession. Armitage said he had found the metal in a lot in Woodbridge. Because the accused man is in ill health and because this is his first offense, Judge Frank F. Neutze released him with a six-month suspended sentence.
Suitor, Held in Threat, Gains Court Leniency
William Brayman, of 633 North Twelfth street, Philadelphia, appeared before Judge Neutze after being arrested on a charge of threatening to kill Mrs. Marie Bowker, of 414 Monument street, Gloucester. Mrs. Bowker testified she had moved to Gloucester from Philadelphia to escape Brayman’s attentions, and that he had threatened to kill her unless she accepted him. Brayman denied having threatened her life. He testified he was now anxious to stay as far from Mrs. Bowker as possible.
Camden Voters League Will Honor Governor
Gov. and Mrs. Harold G. Hoffman and Judge and Mrs. Frank F. Neutze will be honored by the members of the Camden County League of Women Voters at a tea to be given in the Hotel Walt Whitman. The program will include vocal solos by Mrs. Lawrence Northrupp Van Wort, of Haddonfield. Approximately 300 invitations were issued for the event.
Threatened Wife ‘Because of Love’
Pleading guilty to a charge of threatening to kill his wife “because of my great love for her,” a Philadelphia man was sentenced to four months in the county jail by Judge Frank F. Neutze in Special Session of Court. Mrs. Alice Fendall, of 708 Royden street, testified her husband visited the dentist’s office where she is employed and told her if she didn’t return to him he’d stab her with an ice pick, which he held against her side. “You can’t do it with an ice pick,” Judge Neutze said. “Four months in the county jail.”
Robert James, 28, of 622 Liberty street, was accused of forging the name of Frank Bryan, proprietor of a gasoline filling station at Park avenue and White Horse pike, Collingswood, to four checks totaling $48, and cashing them. James admitted the charge and promised to stay straight in the future. When it was revealed he had served 60 days in Burlington county for larceny, Judge Neutze imposed a 60-day sentence.
Ball of $600 was set on John VanWhiting, 33, of 803 North Clinton street, Trenton, when his case was continued by Judge Neutze.
10-Year Term In Cell Given Waterhouse
Camden Courier-Post —
Pal in Holdup Case Also Sentenced to Prison By Neutze
Ten to 15 years in the state prison at Trenton and a $1000 fine each were the sentences imposed in Camden Criminal Court yesterday by Judge Frank F. Neutze upon Rollie Waterhouse, 26, and Harry Sheer, hoodlums convicted of highway robbery.
Imposition of the fine prevents removal of either prisoner from the prison to a prison farm until the fine is paid.
A third defendant in the case, Daniel Rudinoff, was refused parole and sent to the Annandale Reformatory for an indeterminate sentence. Waterhouse was convicted and on his way to prison 32 minutes after a jury of nine men and three women received his case.
The trio was charged with beating and robbing the escort of a girl in Gloucester on May 16 last, taking $17 from the man, after severely beating him. Sheer and Rudinoff had pleaded guilty, but Waterhouse had insisted on a trial by jury.
Judge Neutze was especially emphatic in sentencing the gangsters, and disregarded the plea of Albert Brager, that Rudinoff be given freedom on parole, because of his excellent past record. Rudinoff had been given an opportunity to turn state’s evidence, which he did, but when he testified he said that he was so drunk “he couldn’t remember a thing about it.”
That apparently incensed the court.
“I feel different toward you, young man,” he said to the prisoner, “than toward these other prisoners. I intended to give you a suspended sentence because you had never been in trouble before.
“But you didn’t come clean. You had a chance to help this court but you were not fair to the court. I know the reason that you acted as you did on the witness stand is because you are afraid that Waterhouse’s gang might get you.
“These local gangsters, though, I have found are brave outside but when they come in here, they are cowards and just ‘can’t take it.’ I am going to give you an indeterminate sentence.”
E. George Aaron, attorney for Rudinoff, then added his plea for probation.
“I believe these men he was associated with to be the worst in this country,” retorted Judge Neutze. “I believe he should be punished. These Camden gangsters, anyway, are nothing but a bunch of bums, and are better out of society than in it. I just can’t let this young man go. He must be sent to Annandale.”
The victim of the gangsters’ attack was James Law, 21, of 225 Monmouth street, Gloucester.
It was charged that Law and Miss Virginia Wade, of 1407 Princess avenue, were awaiting a bus at Broadway and Hudson street, Gloucester, when they were attacked by three men on a nearby step.
Law and Miss Wade identified Waterhouse as a participant in the fight and robbery and picked Rudinoff from among the spectators at the trial. Rudinoff is out on bail. Sheer is in jail.
Waterhouse denied aiding the robbery and said he was so drunk at the time that he did not remember what happened. Rudinoff, questioned as a state’s witness, said he was tipsy, too. Waterhouse said he recalled a fight and trying to stop it. It was brought out that the missing $17 was found by a Gloucester policeman in Rudinoff’s pocket.
Sheer was brought down from the county jail and admitted writing a letter to Waterhouse, stating that he was not guilty in the affair and shouldering the guilt with Rudinoff. Sheer was taken into custody last week at Fort Smith, Arkansas, when, as a fugitive, he surrendered to police.
RCA Strikers Lose Appeal on Terms
Camden Courier-Post —
State Supreme Court Refuses to Set Aside Conviction of 3 by Liberman
Trenton, Oct. 27.—The New Jersey State Supreme Court today dismissed the appeal of three defendants convicted in Camden Police Court as disorderly persons in activities growing out of the recent BCA strike in that city.
Appellants are Fred Barone, Catherine Bretschneider, and Irene Adair, each of whom was given 60 days and fined $100 on conviction of being disorderly persons. Samuel L. Rothbard, their counsel, attacked the validity of the complaints upon which the three were arrested, in his argument before Justices Trenchard, Bodine and Heher.
City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly opposed the setting aside of the convictions. John R. DiMona, also represented the city at the hearing.
Rothbard asked for a writ of certiorari to set aside the action of the Camden Common Pleas Court, which upheld the convictions of the Police Court. He argued that the complaint on which the three were convicted was invalid and ineffective under section three of the Disorderly Persons Act, in that the complaint failed to be specific and accurate in the charges made against them in the police court.
Bleakly contended that the defendants’ counsel had twice waived his right to get a review of their convictions. He claimed that under the Police Court Act of 1927 the matter could have been brought up to the higher court as soon as the complaint was made, or 30 days after the convictions.
Bleakly argued that Camden Common Pleas Court Judge Neutze, after reviewing the whole case could have granted the defendants a new trial, but instead upheld the proceedings in the police court. He also argued that the Common Pleas finding could not be reviewed by a writ of certiorari. Rothbard contended that no other kind of an appeal from the Common Pleas ruling could be taken.
U.S. Spending Cuts Urged by Short at Realtors Rally
Camden Courier-Post —
Bred Race of Softies, Says Missouri Congressman; Assails Tax Burden — Board Officers Feted
“We must put an immediate curtailment on this lavish spending down in Washington, which leads only to unbalanced budgets.”
So declared Congressman Dewey Short, Republican, of Missouri, principal speaker last night at the 22nd annual banquet of the Camden County Real Estate Board. It was in honor of last year’s officers of the board and was held in the Hotel Walt Whitman, with more than 400 attending.
Asserting he was speaking without partisanship, Congressman Short said:
“It is a fact that we are floundering around in Washington and that we have the jitters concerning certain developments in the national trend of things.
“We face the fact that 11,000,000 persons are out of work in the United States but, on the other hand, we see that the government is making special awards to indolents.
Deplores U.S. ‘Softies’
“So it has inspired in the average man out of work a feeling that the world owes him a living whether he works or not.
“The most regrettable thing that we Congressmen feel is that we have bred a race of softies, people who don’t come down there and stand up for their rights.
“I believe in the justice of minority rights which will keep both parties clean and decent.”
Drawing a parallel between President Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover when he was President, Short said:
“Roosevelt is never contemplating. He is too busy acting. Hoover was so busy contemplating nothing was done.”
Sees Housing Need
The Congressman declared there is a vital need of housing facilities and that “we are under an unbearable burden of taxation on real estate, which can be overcome only by stopping excessive spending.”
Other speakers were Andrew N. Lockwood, president of the New Jersey Association of Real Estate Boards, Vincent P. Bradley, ambassador-at-large of the National Association of Real Estate Boards and Mayor George E. Brunner, of Camden. J. Frank Hanly, president of the county board, was toastmaster. There was an invocation by Rev. Paul Loraine, of Pennsauken Township.
The officers of 1937 honored were Harry A. Willson, president; Edward J. Borden, vice president; Edmund H. Lenny, secretary; Charles H. Vaughn, treasurer; C. Armel Nutter, governor to the New Jersey Association of Real Estate Boards, and Margaret N. Penfield, executive secretary.
Among the guests were, Joseph B. Sentzman, president of the West Philadelphia Realty Board; former Judge Frank F. Neutze, Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, Assistant County Prosecutor Patrick H. Harding, State Senator Albert E. Burling, William H. Eppright, Charles P. Halyburton, Ellis Kircher, Charles R. Myers and Harry A. Louderback.
Real Estate Board Annual Banquet
Camden Courier-Post —
“We must put an immediate curtailment on this lavish spending down in Washington, which leads only to unbalanced budgets,” so declared Congressman Dewey Short, Republican, of Missouri, principal speaker last night at the 22nd annual banquet of the Camden County Real Estate Board, held in the Hotel Walt Whitman, with more than 400 attending.
Among the guests were, former Judge Frank F. Neutze, Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, Assistant County Prosecutor Patrick H. Harding, State Senator Albert E. Burling.
Thoirs Auxiliary Dates Style Show
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Albert Wehner Named Chairman of Charity Event, March 28
The annual fashion show followed by cards which is sponsored by the Auxiliary to Thoirs Post American Legion has been announced for Monday evening, March 28, and will be held in the ballroom of the Hotel Walt Whitman.
Mrs. Albert Wehner, of Collingswood, has been named general chairman for the event by the president, Mrs. Meyers Baker. Proceeds are used each year for the child welfare and rehabilitation work of the auxiliary.
Mrs. Wehner is being assisted by the following committees: Prizes— Mrs. W. DuBois Brown, chairman, Mrs. Earl Ludlam and Mrs. Raymond A. VanHorn; cards and tallies—Mrs. Edward Hamilton, chairman, Mrs. Earl Young, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Anne Davis Spooner, Mrs. Peter DaCosta, Mrs. Milton Walker, Mrs. Walter Garlan and Mrs. Rocco Palese; candy—Mrs. Harold Evans, chairman, Mrs. George F. Seybold, Mrs. Joseph Bossle, Mrs. LeGrande Roberts and Mrs. Byron G. Tuttle. Novelties—Mrs. Russell B. Keen, chairman, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Mrs. Charles Yost, Mrs. John Errickson and Mrs. Heber DeLong; music— Mrs. Frank F. Neutze; tickets, Mrs. Percy L. Bastian, chairman, Mrs. John T. Cleary and Miss Rachel Donalley.
Further plans for the benefit will be made at the monthly meeting of the executive board to be held at the home of Mrs. Percy L. Bastian, 12 Fairview court, this city, on Wednesday, February 23. Hostesses will be Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Bossle, Mrs. Roberts and Mrs. Wehner.