Introduction
Frank Wilmot
Frank A. Wilmot was a Camden police officer in the 1930s. He was accused of corruption in 1934 and was cleared of all charges.
Frank Wilmot was the son of Franklin and Eleanor Jane Wilmot. His parents married in September of 1887. The Wilmots moved to 1622 Fillmore Street in Camden’s Eighth Ward around 1894. Eleanor Jane Wilmot was an active member of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Broadway and Ferry Avenue, and was well known in her neighborhood.
Frank Wilmot attended the Mickle School at South 6th & Van Hook Streets. On March 1, 1928 Frank Wilmot was appointed to the Camden Police Department along with the following men: Francis Guetherman, August Riehm, William Schriver, Edward Shapiro, John V. Wilkie, Earl Wright, Edward Cahill, Marshall Thompson, Stanley Bobiak, Paul Edwards, Leon Feltz, Walter Vecander, Joseph Lack, Thomas Stanton, Otto Toperzer, and George Getley.
Frank Wilmot was sworn in as a Camden police officer in June of 1928, and was still on the job when he passed away in July of 1962.
Apology to Frank Wilmot
Camden Daily Courier —
Then comes an apology—an apology to no less a little gentleman than Frank Wilmot. A bright-red-headed little fellow whose very eyes beam with the spark of manhood; whose every action forecasts a “master of men.”
In publishing Frank's name Friday it was distorted to such an extent that Frank himself could not recognise it. It was Frank who won second place in the hundred yard dash for Juniors at Third and Erie streets Thursday, and who performed so splendidly in other events. Frank also won second place at the big-door meet held at the Y.M.C.A. in early Spring, but the little fellow's name was omitted at that time entirely. Let us hope this does not occur again. Frank is known at the Mickle School as the “Two-Headed Boy” and he merits the name.
Funeral of Eleanor Wilmot
Camden Daily Courier —
The congregation of the Church of the Sacred Heart, especially young members of the parish, were deeply grieved to learn of the sudden death of Miss Emma Veronica Wilmot, daughter of Frank Wilmot, of 1622 Fillmore Street. Miss Wilmot was but 20 years old. She died from an attack of heart disease after but one day's illness. She was a member of the Sodality Society of the Church of the Sacred Heart, and among her confessors her death is especially sadly felt. On Thursday morning at 9:30 o’clock high mass of requiem will be solemnized for the repose of her soul in Sacred Heart Church. Father William Fahey will be celebrant. Rev. Lenon Lesinowski, deacon; Rev. John J. West, of Hopewell, sub-deacon. The music of the mass will be furnished by Thomas Kirk and William M. McGrath. Interment will be made in Calvary cemetery, the obsequies to be in charge of Funeral Director Joseph Hayes.
Thumb Prints Clash in Dual Personality of Cop Applicant
Camden Courier-Post —
Mental Mr. Wilmot and Physical Mr. Wilmot Differ Some
The physical Frank Wilmot would be a Camden policeman, he is. To ridicule about that. The physical Frank Wilmot has taken the written civil service examinations, has a record that over his competitors, rated A and B by Civil Service Commissioner, but put in order here, has mixed all up.
The physical Frank Wilmot lives at 1622 Fillmore Street. He has taken the examinations that a different set of interrogatives put the mental Mr. Wilmot put down a different mental in his handwriting, so mixed up in his military record.
The physical Frank had conferred with him. But something Wilmot put revealed anything about Frank Wilmot but it rumored three might be other Frank Wilmots. He entered the investigation. His aids are looking for his presumable, he meant the one who would have appeared to be Frank Wilmot.
300 Police Officials of State Meet Here
Camden Courier-Post —
78 Departments Represented at Benevolent Association Session
More than 300 state officers and delegates representing 78 New Jersey police departments were present yesterday at a meeting of the State Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association at Tenth Street and Kaighn Avenue yesterday.
All state officers were present at the afternoon meeting, including State President Dennis Byrne, of New Brunswick; First Vice President Henry Miller, of Rahway; Second Vice president, August Harasdzira, of Garfield; Recording Secretary Michael McKeever, of Trenton; Financial Secretary Thomas Higgins, of West Orange, and State Treasurer William Mallon, of West New York.
Police work used in various cities was discussed. Plans were made for the state convention in Wildwood September 14, 15 and 16. Everett Joslin, Herbert Bott and George Weber were named local delegates to represent the local union, No. 35 at the Wildwood convention.
Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr welcomed the delegates. A telegram of welcome was read from Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone, who is in Washington.
The committee in charge of yesterday’s meeting consisted of Clifford Flenard, president of Local No. 35; Stanley Wirtz, Edward Cahill, Frank Wilmot, John McTaggart, James McTaggart and Howard Henery.
2 Suspects Nabbed in Theatre Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
Two South Camden men were arrested early today on suspicions of robbing the Lyric Theatre, Broadway and Mt. Vernon Street, where a safe was forced open and a radio receiver stolen.
The men under arrest gave their names as John Lockwood, 28, of 246 Kaighn Avenue, and Martin Ward, 34, of 400 Liberty Street.
Police Sergeant Walter Mattison and Patrolman Frank Wilmont [sic] arrested the men at 2:30 a.m. at Fourth and Liberty streets. Ward’s pocket yielded $53 in change, according to Mattison.
Abraham Franks, manager of the theatre, reported the robbery. He said that a ladder was used to reach a second floor fire escape, where a door was forced open. Lockwood and Ward are being held pending further investigation.
Broadway Store Damaged by Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
S. Lester Estimates Loss at $20,000, Chiefly Due to Smoke
A two-alarm fire early today at the Broadway store of the Lester Clothing Company, with Dr. I.S. Siris’ office on the floor above, caused damage estimated by S. Lester, one of the owners, at $20,000. The fire started in the basement, according to the police and firemen.
The building is in the heart of the downtown business district. For many years it was known that adjoining structures would suffer from the firemen's operations were fearing a serious loss, but the actual loss to the Lester building.
The building alarm, which was transmitted by Patrolman William McGrath and Patrolman Frank Wilmot, who attracted Patrolmen William McGrath and hundreds of persons notified by the discovery by which the alarm came.
Girl, 15, Accuses Youth
Camden Courier-Post —
Albert Karge, 20, of 705 Blaine Street was arrested by Patrolman Frank Wilmot last night charged with a statutory offense against a 15-year-old South Camden girl.
The charges were made by the girl’s father. Karge will be given a hearing in police court today.
Man Found on Street Skull Feared Broken
Camden Courier-Post —
Suffering from a possible fractured skull, John Rodford, 24, of Kaighn Avenue, was found unconscious at Second and Sycamore streets last night by Detectives Thomas Cheeseman and Policeman Frank Wilmot.
The police believed him to be drunk when they took him to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital at 9 p.m., but early today when he failed to regain consciousness, hospital authorities expressed the belief he had a fractured skull.
Detective Cheeseman said he learned Rodford had engaged in a drunken brawl with several other men who are being sought.
Lieut. Bakley and 11 Police Suspended in Feitz Inquiry
Camden Evening Courier —
3 Sergeants Included in List Set Down by Chief Colsey
JUSTICE LLOYD JOINS PROBE INTO MURDER
Chief of Police Arthur Colsey at noon today announced the indefinite suspension of Lieut. Ralph Bakley, commander of the Second district of Camden police, and 11 other policemen in connection with the investigation into the killing of Detective William T. Feitz.
The full list of those suspended is as follows:
Lieut. Ralph Bakley, Sergt. John Garrity, Sergt. Walter Mattison, Acting Sergt. Edward Leonard, Sergt. Richard Cornog, Policemen George Weber, Joseph Leonhardt, Leon Branch, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmot, John Houston and Vernon Jones.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd today entered the investigation into the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz in an alleged South Camden disorderly house Sept. 2.
The jurist, upon returning from his Summer vacation at Seaside Park, called an immediate conference with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando of Camden county and Police Chief Arthur Colsey of this city.
Although no confirmation could be obtained officially, it was learned from authoritative sources that Justice Lloyd would take up the charges made earlier in the week by Prosecutor Orlando that graft and corruption exist in the Camden police.
May Probe Suicide
The jurist was also expected to delve into the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Emma Heisler, who met her death as the operator of the disorderly house where Feitz met his death at 243 Sycamore street.
Mrs. Heisler, who was detained in the Camden detective bureau at the order of Detective Lieutenant George Ward instead of being locked up, jumped from a fifth floor window of Ward’s office September 4 while two detectives assigned to guard her were nearby.
The progress of the police investigation into the killing of Feitz, whom police declare was shot when he surprised three bandits in the act of holding up 30 inmates and patrons, will be presented by both Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey.
Mickey Blair to Give Up
Mickey Blair, a boxer whose real name is Michael Tenerelli, 25, who has been living in New York City, but whose Camden address is 833 South Fourth street, is to be surrendered to Camden police for questioning in connection with the murder of Feitz.
He has been sought by detectives for grilling since a few hours after the shooting of Feitz.
His attorney, Edward V. Martino, of 540 Cooper street, notified Chief Colsey today that he would surrender Tenerelli or Blair to the police in Camden at 1 p.m. today.
“Mickey knows absolutely nothing about the killing of Feitz,” Martino told newspapermen. “Learning through a friend that police were seeking him for questioning, he called me Saturday night and asked me to ascertain the facts.”
“I learned that police wanted to talk to him and telephoned him to that effect in New York City where he has been staying for the past few weeks. He later called me back and told me that he would be in Camden at 1 p.m. today.”
Martino revealed that Tenerelli or Blair said he had been in Camden prior to the killing of Feitz and also on Labor Day, the day following the shooting of the detective. He was here to attend the funeral of a brother-in-law, Martino said.
Neither Chief Colsey nor other police or detective officials would comment upon what they hoped to learn from Tenerelli that might bring to early an arrest of the killers and lead to the arrest of the killers.
Prosecutor Orlando at the conference with Justice Lloyd in his City Hall-Court House offices, was to present a complete report on the murder of the detective together with statements obtained from all persons who figured in the crime.
Will Probe Numbers
Prosecutor Orlando stepped in and assumed nominal charge of the investigation last Thursday when he ordered police to submit to him all reports and statements of witnesses. However it was learned that the police are still directing the search for the killers.
The conference between Justice Lloyd, Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey comes on the eve of swearing in the September Grand Jury tomorrow at which time the grand jurors will be ordered among other issues to probe into the “numbers” racket in Camden county.
Grand Jury Vice Probe to Be Ordered by Lloyd; Stewart Quizzes Cops
Camden Evening Courier —
FEITZ MURDER, CITY GRAFTING TO FACE INQUIRY
Action Follows Parley With Orlando and Mayor on Conditions
MORE SUSPENSIONS OF POLICE INTIMATED
Reports around Camden police and detective headquarters today were to the effect that Lieutenant George Ward was on “his way out” as head of the Detective Bureau.
Dissatisfaction with the manner in which both police and detectives have handled the investigation so far into the Feitz murder will result in Mayor Stewart, director of public safety, ordering a change in detective chiefs today, as it was authoritatively learned.
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, commander of the First Police District, will succeed Lieutenant Ward as it was reported, the latter being sent back to that police precinct which he formerly commanded.
“A sweeping investigation of all phases of crime” in Camden County, will be the first order given the new September Grand Jury today after it is sworn in at Camden Courthouse by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
That was the decision reached by Justice Lloyd after three hours of separate conferences with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, of Camden County, and Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety. During the conferences held in Justice Lloyd’s offices at City Hall-Courthouse, the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz, alleged graft and corruption in the Camden police department and protected vice were thoroughly discussed.
Today, Mayor Stewart, who has inaugurated his own personal investigation of existing conditions in the police department, continued to question and take statements from police officials, patrolmen and detectives. Twenty-three patrolmen were ordered before the mayor yesterday in addition to the 12 others who were indefinitely suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey.
Tenerelli Quizzed
Michael Tenerelli, 25, also known as Mickey Blair, former Camden lightweight boxer, was still being questioned at police headquarters in connection with the murder of Detective Feitz. Tenerelli who surrendered to police here yesterday after returning from New York, is booked as a material witness and on a charge of conspiracy in a robbery. Both charges were ordered placed against Tenerelli by Prosecutor Orlando who has assumed direct charge of the investigation. He is being held without bail.
Seven other men and women taken into custody by police after the shooting of Feitz in the alleged disorderly house operated by the late Mrs. Emma Heisler at 243 Sycamore street were to have been arraigned in Camden Police Court today on orders of Prosecutor Orlando and then turned over to the county authorities. Bail, Prosecutor Orlando declared, would be “sufficiently high” to insure their appearance in court.
However, there were no appearances of material witnesses or others in the Feitz investigation before Judge J. Harry Switzer in Camden Police Court during its session today and it was unofficially reported that the prosecutor had changed his plans.
Police Chief Colsey warned all detectives and patrolmen in the department that further suspensions will follow justified complaints of vice anywhere in the city limits if it can be traced to police neglect.
Chief Colsey also admitted that the 12 patrolmen and detectives suspended yesterday on his orders, will receive no pay as long as their suspensions last.
In addition to Lieutenant Bakley, Sergeant Cornog and acting Sergeant Leonard, the other suspended include Sergeant Walter Mattison of police headquarters; Sergeant John Garrity, District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was with Feitz when he was shot; Patrolmen Leon Branch, George Cheeseman, Frank Wilmot, John Houston and Vernon Jones, all attached to the Second district station.
Interviews Police
Three of the suspended officers, Mayor Stewart revealed, were interviewed yesterday. They are Lieut. Ralph A. Bakley, commander of the Second Police District or Division “H” in which territory the alleged disorderly house existed where Feitz was fatally shot; Sergeant Richard Cornog; Edwin Andrews, Winslow township; Joseph Dougherty, 140 Prospect avenue, Merchantville. William Tomlinson, Glendale, Voorhees township; Edmund S. Stafford, 546 Stevens street; Harry Buffington, 123 East Clinton avenue, Oaklyn; Samuel A. Dobbins; Charles H. Thatcher, 129 Kendall boulevard, Oaklyn; Richard S. Thompson, East Zane avenue, Collingswood; Benjamin F. Stemmer, 420 Third Avenue, Haddon Heights; Horace J. Harvey, 721 Amherst avenue, Audubon; H. Cox, Evesham avenue, Voorhees township; John P. Boyer, 418 West Boyer boulevard, Glenwood; John W. Underwood, 801 Cumberland street, Gloucester; Clarence Alloway, Blackwood; Charles A. McWilliams, Blackwood; Louis G. Clark, Barrington; Albert J. Cline, 18 East Crystal Lake avenue, Westmont; Robert Bushbeck, First avenue, Pine Hill; Harry Burkhardt, Bell Road, Mt. Ephraim; George Schuster, 225 Woodland terrace, Collingswood; Chesley L. Hutchins, 711 Market street, Gloucester and Otto Vierling, Evergreen avenue, Runnemede.
The order of Justice Lloyd for a wide grand jury probe of crime followed upon a decision he made 10 days ago to have the same body open an investigation into the “numbers” racket in Camden city and county. At that time he declared he did not believe any graft or corruption existed in the Camden police department and was skeptical of the operation of the lottery game here.
Tenerelli was identified, Colsey said, as a frequenter of Mrs. Emma Heisler’s disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street where Feitz was fatally shot. Instead of being locked up, however, he was booked as a material witness on the fifth floor window of Ward’s office September 4 while two detectives assigned to guard her were nearby.
Unlike Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death after 60 hours freedom in the detective bureau, Blair was slapped without bail into the “cold storage” or incommunicado cell in the bureau.
Blair, after surrendering to Colsey, was sent to the “downstairs” jail and kept there until about 4 p.m., when he was questioned for about an hour and a half by Prosecutor Orlando and Colsey.
Blair denied all knowledge of the murder, Colsey said, after the grilling ceased, but added that two inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s house, whom he would identify, named Blair as one of several men who had come several times to Mrs. Heisler’s place, attempted to extort money from her and, failing, had “held up the place” or a “shake-down.”
This coincided with the statement of Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, on the day Feitz was killed, that the place had been held up several times, and Mrs. Heisler, because of the nature of her occupation, would not report the holdups.
Prosecutor Orlando, subsequently, had stated that Feitz met death in an attempt to block a “shake-down” holdup of the place.
Boxer Is Identified
Both the inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s place, held incommunicado, looked at Blair in the new detective bureau “lineup” room and identified him as a shakedown visitor, but said he was not in the house on the night of the murder, Colsey said.
The chief then was asked if he believes friends of Blair staged the fatal shake-down and killed Feitz, as alleged.
“That’s what we want to know. We don’t know yet. But we are getting somewhere and will solve this case.”
The two inmates of the Heisler house were brought back to the lineup room a second time, took another look at Blair through the screen that made him a “high-lighted” figure and prevented him from seeing them and reaffirmed their previous statements, Colsey said.
Upon the suspension of the twelve members of the force and the installation of a new acting second district commander and new acting sergeants to relieve those suspended, Chief Colsey said he issued the following order to the entire department:
Calls for Cleanup
“All vice must be eliminated absolutely and entirely in Camden. This means all types of vice, including the numbers racket, gambling houses, disorderly houses, horse-race bookmaking speakeasies and everything else though it may not be specifically enumerated here.”
“In the future if any complaint of vice comes in, and is proved to be justified, and is attributable to negligence on the part of any patrolmen of police officer, immediate suspension or dismissal of the negligent officer of the force will follow without question.”
Chief Colsey also said he will recommend that bail of $2000 be set in all numbers racket cases in future, and that all arrested be held for grand jury action, except in cases where innocent players are brought in.
‘Prompted by Facts’
In making public the suspensions of the policemen, Chief Colsey said his action was “prompted by facts” uncovered during the course of his investigation.
In announcing the taking over of the murder investigation, Prosecutor Orlando said:
“As a result of my conference with Justice Lloyd it has been decided that the prosecutor’s office from this time on will take charge of the murder investigation.”
“In doing so, however, it does not mean that the city police will cease acting in the matter and will act with just as much zeal as is within their command in bringing about the apprehension of those responsible.”
“All murder investigations in Camden county will be under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office and at the same time through co-ordination of efforts of this office and the police department of the particular community where the murder takes place.”
“As far as developments are concerned, there is nothing new in the case except the arrest of Mickey Blair who was surrendered by his counsel and who is in the custody of the police until he is committed.”
Lieutenant Walter Welch in command of the Third Police District was assigned by Chief Colsey to replace Lieutenant Bakley and make the suspensions of all sergeants and patrolmen in the precinct immediately. Sergeant John Potter of the Third District was named an acting lieutenant to replace Lieutenant Welch as commander of that precinct.
Welch said he will instruct every patrolman in his new command that he must work in harmony with earnest efforts to stamp out vice. “If they do not do this,” Welch said, “I do not want them. They know what to expect if they fail to cooperate. My efforts will be directed to maintaining order without vice in the Second district, just as I have done in the Third.”
Bribery Charged by Grand Jurors
Camden Courier-Post —
BRIBERY CHARGED BY GRAND JURORS
26 Other Persons Named in 111 True Bills on Numbers
KLOSTERMANS TO FACE TRIAL
2 Speakeasy Owners Paid Hush Money, Graft Probers Hear
COLSEY DROPS ACCUSED MEN
A bumper crop of 111 indictments was returned yesterday by the September grand jury probing gambling against alleged numbers operators alone.
In addition, Mickey Blair, free on bail as a material witness in the murder of Detective William T. Feitz, was indicted at 26 individuals with craft and bribe-taking, and 111 wholesale indictments constituted the first visible results of the grand jury probe of vice in Camden in connection with the police vice graft probe conducted by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
Those indicted: Patrolman Thomas C. Cheeseman, 30 indictments; Patrolman Vernon Jones, 30 indictments; Patrolman George Weber, also known as “Bucky Weaver,” 20 indictments; Patrolman Frank Wilmot, one indictment.
All are attached to the Second district and were among those suspended from the force two weeks ago in connection with the Feitz inquiry by the Commission.
Looking on in court with Detective Frank T. Feitz on the night of September 2, were detectives George Ward and Samuel Mardino.
Cheeseman was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Emma Heisler and was shot through a city hall window while being used as a target to identify others.
Those indicted, with the exception of the six policemen, were among the 12 members of the force suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey two weeks ago in connection with vice connections with vice.
Patrolman George Weber is named in 20 indictments; jointly indicted with other detectives in numbers policy indictments; as having paid the policemen along with Patrolman Vernon Jones, in March. They are reported to have also been indicted on 29 separate counts of accepting policy payments.
Four of the six policemen indicted yesterday on charges of bribery. They are George Weber, (upper left) also known as “Bucky Weaver”; Frank Wilmot (upper right), Howard Fisher, (lower left), and Joseph Leonhardt, (lower right), who had been dismissed from the police department.
Franklin Wilmot
Camden Courier-Post —
Frank A. Wilmot, City Cop, Succumbs
Camden Courier-Post —
