Introduction
FRANK H. MILLER founded his detective agency at 443 Broadway in 1912. The business was operated by him and a son William H. Miller at that address through at least 1947. The agency apparently was sold by 1956. The new owners operated at 578 Clinton Street as late as 1959.
Frank Miller was born in New Jersey on May 12, 1879. The 1910 Census shows him working as an investigator, living at 911 Cherry Street with his wife of 12 years, Mildred. The 1920 Census shows him living at 443 Broadway with his wife named Teresa, daughter Dorothy, and niece Martha MacIntire. The 1930 Census shows that he had moved to 919 Merrick Street in Haddon Township, and that his wife was named Catherine. By 1947 a William H. Miller was running the business.
Couple Held on Serious Charge
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Taken into custody while alone in the grand stand of the Ottawa baseball team at Parkside late on Wednesday night by Detective Frank H. Miller, Mrs. Lulu Genther, of 33 Marlton avenue, and Alfred Ivins, of 537 Birch street, were yesterday committed by Justice Wright, of Camden, in default of $500 bail each on a charge preferred by the woman’s husband, Arthur Genther. The specific date named in the complaint is August 6, at which time Detective Miller avers he was only a few yards from the couple while they were sojourning in a secluded spot at Knight Park, Collingswood. The Genthers have two children, a boy of 6 and a girl of 5. Genther said last night that he would begin immediate proceedings for divorce.
Camden Police Officials Honored
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special to The Inquirer.
JERSEY CITY, N. J., June 2.—At the annual meeting of the New Jersey State Police and Detectives, held here today. John S. Smith, formerly county detective of Camden, and now located at Atlantic City, was elected chief, and Frank H. Miller, of Camden, was elected captain. Walter S. Le Tourneau, of Camden, was elected secretary and treasurer. The State police force consists of twenty-five officers, who are commissioned by the Governor.
Finds Wife in Room with Another Man
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Detective Who Accompanies Woman’s Husband Calmly Awaits Couple After Threat Is Made
When Detective Frank H. Miller went to a closed room in a hotel in Camden early yesterday, a man’s voice exclaimed: … Miller, who was accompanied by Edward Langley, a Somerdale, N. J., machinist, did not break in the door, but subsequently Frederick Dodd, a plasterer, aged 37 years, of 581 Line street, and Mrs. Catharine Langley, wife of the sleuth’s companion, emerged. Both were placed under arrest. At a subsequent hearing before Recorder Stackhouse they were committed to jail in default of $500 bail on a misdemeanor charge preferred by Langley.
As the woman was being led to the detention room she walked up to her husband and said: “I am going to make a charge against you,” and she was led away after considerable difficulty.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CAMDEN NEWS NOTES
(Accounts of accounts of estates, divorce proceedings, arrests, and news items from Camden, including: a fall from a landing at New York Hotel on North Twenty-fifth street; a mother of the right shoulder and arm injured in the Cooper Hospital; nurses asked to assist in treating horses at Rankin, 14 years old; police summons; Mrs. Rachel Dillio Lawrence of West Philadelphia accused of cruelty; the assignment of Guardian of the son; David M. Dillio, of 1564 Hazel street Camden, and John Rankin, of Philadelphia, formerly of French street; and probate notices.)
World War I Draft Card
Named: WWI Draft Registration Card, Frank H. Miller, 443 Broadway, Camden, N.J., Born May 12, 1879, State Detective, and Registered September 12, 1918.
(untitled — Warren Avenue arrest)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On charges of misconduct, Ralph Hartman, 35 years old, of 318 Warren avenue, Camden, and Anna Black, 36 years old, of Fortieth street above Market, this city, were arrested in the Colonial Hotel, Fifteenth and Cherry streets late Saturday night by State Detective Frank Miller, of Camden. The warrant was issued at the instance of the wife of Hartman. The accused were held in $300 bail each by Magistrate Dugan, in this city. Mrs. Hartman is suing for divorce.
Policeman's Wife Taken in Apartment
Camden Courier-Post —
Arrested With ‘Other Man’ in Phila. on Charge of Officer Here
Arrested together in a Philadelphia apartment after detectives had broken in, Mrs. Anna McTaggart, 45, wife of a Camden policeman, and Louis Lafferty, 50, were held in $500 bail each, for a further hearing on charges of misconduct.
The couple were arrested on complaint of John McTaggart, 42, of 1710 Broadway, who has been a member of the Camden police department for the past 16 years.
McTaggart then retained Detective Frank H. Miller, who said he traced the couple to Baltimore and finally to 6507 Elmwood avenue, Philadelphia. Last midnight, Miller and McTaggart entered the apartment, and Miller took them into custody. They were arraigned before Magistrate Hamburg, who held them for a further hearing.
The Camden officer stated that he has already instituted a suit for divorce in the Chancery Court. The McTaggerts have been married eight years, and have no children.
Couple Arrested After 24 Hour Vigil
Camden Courier-Post —
Fight Interrupts Hearing; Estranged Husband Has Apartment Watched
Arrested last night as they left an apartment at 727 Penn street, Rayfield Hartman, 38, of that address, and Mrs. Jean Everett, 35, of 111 East Franklin Avenue, Collingswood, were held in $300 bail on statutory charges by Justice of the Peace Frank Sheridan.
The couple was arrested by Detective Frank Miller, who had kept a watch on the apartment for 24 hours, at the request of the woman’s estranged husband, Harry Everett, formerly of Euclid Avenue, now of Montgomeryville, Pa.
Hartman and Mrs. Everett first were arraigned before Sheridan in the Federal building. Both had been drinking, according to Sheridan, and Hartman attempted to hit Miller. Sounds of the fight reached post office employees downstairs and they ran upstairs with drawn pistols, believing a holdup in progress.
Sheridan committed the couple to the county jail until they became quiet, when the hearing was held at Sheridan’s home, 941 Elm Street.
Two months ago Mrs. Everett was fined $200 for drunken driving in Gloucester, and in 1930 she was fined $75 for possession of liquor after a raid on her home by Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran.
Camden Man Honored at Sleuths' Meeting
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey City, June 3.—Frank H. Miller, of Camden, was re-elected for a third year, captain of the New Jersey state detectives at the sixty-second annual meeting of the association held yesterday at 76 Montgomery street. Roland C. Bowne, Sr., was elected chief of the organization for the ensuing year.
The organization was chartered on April 4, 1871. There are 25 members who have state police authority over the entire state.
Miller has operated an agency in Camden 20 years. Prior to that time he was with the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
N.J. Sleuths Re-Elect Frank Miller Captain
Camden Courier-Post —
Frank H. Miller, 443 Broadway, yesterday was re-elected captain of state detectives at a meeting of the New Jersey State Detective Association at Jersey City. R. C. Bowne, Trenton, was re-elected chief and Walter S. Le Tourneau, Jersey City, secretary.
Miller is beginning his sixth term as captain. His is the oldest agency in Camden and reports that the association showed that in 22 years existence he has lost only three cases.
Man Charges Wife with Kicking Him
Camden Courier-Post —
Wins Divorce Plea After Telling of Tryst With Camden Storekeeper
A man who charged his wife with intimacy with a Camden storekeeper yesterday won a recommendation for divorce at a hearing before Advisory Master William B. Knight in Chancery court.
The petitioner, Walter Brannock, of 461 Haddon avenue, accused his wife, Rita, of 439 Stevens street, of desertion.
The original suit was brought by the wife, but she failed to appear in court to contest her husband’s counter action.
Brannock told the court he was married March 31, 1935, and his wife became abusive, often kicking him. Finally, he charged, she deserted him.
On July 22, 1937, Brannock testified, he and Frank Miller, a private detective, went to the Stevens street house and found Mrs. Brannock and William Sheehan, storekeeper at Newton and Trenton avenues, occupying a room.
Camden Man Arrested with Girl in Phila.
Camden Courier-Post —
Alvin Hagerman, 42, of 2966 River avenue, who conducts a fish and oyster business at Dock and Water streets, Philadelphia, was arrested at 3.30 a. m., yesterday with Miss Martha Steffin, 23, of 400 Newmarket street, Philadelphia, on statuatory charges.
At a hearing before Magistrate Joseph McDevitt, Sixth and Locust streets, Hagerman and the girl were held in $500 bail for a further hearing.
Frank H. Miller, a private detective, testified he discovered the couple together at the oyster house. Mrs. Elsie Hagerman, wife of Hagerman, said her husband had refused to break off friendly relations with the Steffin girl and she engaged Miller to obtain evidence against them.