Introduction
Fred Klosterman
Fred Klosterman, 1955
FRED KLOSTERMAN was born Frederick Klostermann Jr. on September 13, 1900 to Frederick and Catherine Klostermann. His father was a cigar maker. By 1906 and through the early 1929, the family lived at 1148 Kaighn Avenue. By 1929, however, Fred Klosterman, who had worked as a plumber as early as 1923, had married and moved to 1255 Decatur Street, where he lived with his wife Victoria and their children, Frederick III and Catherine.
Tragedy struck in late December of 1929 when his father, Fred Klosterman Sr., who had been running a bar called the Campus Inn in West Berlin, New Jersey was discovered to have committed suicide.
Fred Klosterman, along with his brother Joseph, was heavily involved in the illegal lottery, or “numbers” racket, in Whitman Park and South Camden in the 1930s and 1940s. The Klosterman brothers were very active in Camden in the early 1930s. In the wake of a police crackdown on gang activity that occurred in the aftermath of the 1934 murder of Detective William Feitz of the Camden Police Department, the Klosterman brothers were sentenced to three-to-five-year prison terms by Judge Frank F. Neutze in 1934. He served 16 months before being released with his brother on parole in July of 1936. Joe Klosterman apparently quit the rackets after leaving prison.
Fred Klosterman appears then to have acquired control to the bar at 1050 Mechanic Street, which he operated as Club Cadix, named after a popular Philadelphia gangland haunt where bootlegger Mickey Duffy had survived an attempted hit.
After living above the bar, Fred Klosterman and his wife Victoria lived next door at 1048 Mechanic Street through the late 1930s. After being missed by a bullet fired through a window into his bar in November of 1939, Klosterman was seriously wounded outside his home on January 6, 1940. The shootings were rumored to have been the result of rivalry over territory between Klosterman and Mafia under-boss Marco Reginelli, who lived in East Camden, as both apparently were attempting to move into Atlantic City at the time. Fred Klosterman spent the next month or so recovering at West Jersey Hospital. His absence from the streets of Camden may have saved his life, as there were several more killings in Philadelphia and South Jersey over the next several weeks. No one was ever charged for the attempt on Fred Klosterman’s life.
The Klosterman family remained connected with the bar through at least 1947, at which time he was residing in Haddonfield or Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill) NJ. After leaving the bar behind, he became involved in the appliance business. He also remained in the gambling business, and was hit with a $10,000 fine in 1948.
Fred Klosterman was arrested in Philadelphia on October 21, 1955 and charged with conspiracy in attempt to bribe an IRS agent. By September of 1956 he was living on Crystal Lake Avenue in Haddon Township (Westmont) NJ, and managing an appliance store when in Ardmore PA. His trial on the conspiracy charge began that month. He was acquitted.
Fred Klosterman passed away in November of 1971. He last lived in Wayne PA. Victoria Klosterman passed in 1992.
COP SHOT AS HE QUIZZES AUTO BANDIT GANG
Camden Courier —
The bandits who made Fred Klosterman drive them to Gloucester early today after shooting policeman Robert Ward had varied ideas on recompense. “Let’s give him $500,” one bandit said as he pulled out a wad of bills that made Klosterman’s eyes bulge. “No, let’s give him five bullets,” chimed in another bandit brandishing a revolver that made Fred’s heart waver. They compromised by forcing a $5 bill into Klosterman’s hand and telling him to “beat it.”
Policeman Robert Ward is dying in the Homeopathic Hospital from a bullet wound below the heart and which was inflicted by a gang of seven Philadelphia “stick-up” men early this morning.
Two of the bandits later were captured hiding under a porch after all seven had escaped after their automobile had hit a fireplug and the engine had stalled.
The other five highwaymen held up an autoist and compelled him to drive them to Gloucester, where police now are trying to pick up their trail. The autoist is Fred Klosterman, 14 years old, 1123 Whitman avenue. One of the bandits held a revolver in Klosterman’s side during the ride from Camden to Gloucester. His life was threatened several times.
Shortly after their capture, the two men were taken to the hospital where the dying policeman identified Dillon as the man who had shot him. “The fellow on the left shot me,” Ward said as he pointed to Dillon. Both Dillon and Branin have police records in Philadelphia. Branin was in a shooting episode in Philadelphia two weeks ago. All the seven bandits are said to be members of the “Bailey gang,” one of the most notorious bands of criminals in the East.
Ward Shooting Thwarted Bank Theft, Cops Say
Camden Courier —
Police today declared the shooting of Policeman Robert Ward frustrated an attempt to rob the new bank at Westville.
Two of the seven bandits are being held in the city jail without bail while further arrests were promised in the early future by detectives working on the case. The arrests will cause a big sensation both in Camden and Philadelphia, police intimate.
Physicians at the Homeopathic Hospital, where Ward has been since he was shot down early Saturday morning, today said the wounded policeman has an even chance for recovery. It was at first thought that the bandit’s bullet had penetrated his left lung and that no hope was held for his recovery.
The shooting of Ward occurred on Sixth street near Everett street. With several companions he was in an automobile going south on Sixth. When he saw an auto parked in the darkness without any tail light he went to investigate and was shot down.
Facing Padlock, He Poisons Dog and Kills Self
Trenton Evening Times —
Inspecting a roadhouse on the White Horse Pike at West Berlin preparatory to clamping a padlock upon its entrance, United States Deputy Marshal George Geddis today discovered that the proprietor had committed suicide.
Word of the tragic find was communicated at once to Chief Deputy U. S. Marshal Woodbury B. Snowden, here, who had assigned Gaddis to close up the premises.
The roadhouse was known as the Campus Inn, the proprietor being Fred Klosterman. Judge Avis decreed that the place should be padlocked for a liquor violation only a few days ago. On the bed beside Klosterman’s body rested the inert form of his pet dog. The animal had been poisoned, apparently by the inn proprietor shortly before he placed the end of an old-fashioned German revolver against his own right temple and took his life.
Two suicide notes were discovered in the house. In both, Klosterman despaired of continuing his existence. One had evidently been written at least 24 hours before the suicide plan was carried out.
When Deputy Marshal Gaddis reached the place, he concluded that it was vacant, as full milk bottles stood upon the front doorsteps. As he was going from room to room to lock up the interior, he found the corpse in a second-floor bedroom.
One of the notes was addressed to Klosterman’s two sons, who live in Camden. It read: “Joe and Fred—When you find this, I won’t be here any more. I don’t know what I am doing. I am tired of living any more. I do not want to be buried. I want to be cremated. Murder. Fred.”
The use of the word “murder” caused State Police from the Berlin station to make a careful check-up, before they reached a conclusion that the death was a clean-cut case of suicide. The weapon used was found beside Klosterman’s body.
The second letter read as follows: “I take my life. I’ve got nobody in this country. Tomorrow I shoot myself. I don’t want to live on anybody.”
One of the letters had been written upon the stationery of a son, Joseph Klosterman, of 1148 Kaighn Avenue, Camden. The second son, Fred Jr., lives at 1255 Decatur Street in the same city.
Mysterious Piece of Paper' Enlivens Numbers Trial Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Judge Shay Enjoys Verbal Tilt Between Gotshalk and Walter Keown, But It Fails to Enter Into Evidence
A mysterious piece of paper yesterday precipitated a verbal battle between Assistant Prosecutor William C. Gotshalk and Defense Attorney Walter S. Keown upon opening of the trial of Joseph and Fred Klosterman on charges of number writing. They were placed on trial before Judge Samuel M. Shay and a criminal court jury.
Acting Lieutenant Louis Shaw, of the city detective bureau, testified of a raid on the Klosterman saloon at Mechanic and Green streets and an adjacent house at 1312 Green street. The witness identified a brief-case containing numbers slips and also a postal card addressed to “F. Klosterman.”
When Shaw was turned over to Keown for cross-examination, the defense counsel reached into the case, pulled out a piece of paper and asked how it had gotten into the bar. When Shaw said he had put it there, Keown declared:
“Well, put it into your pocket. It has nothing to do with this case.”
Shaw refused, whereupon Keown rolled it up into a ball and put it in his own pocket. At this, Gotshalk angrily demanded to see the paper, but Keown declared that “you can’t see this until after the jury has gone out.” When Gotshalk insisted, Keown said he would give it to Judge Shay. He threw it on the judge’s desk, but Judge Shay, who was smiling broadly, made no move to take it. Gotshalk then reached out to get the paper, but Keown was quicker retrieving it and placing it in his pocket again.
“What right have you to take a state exhibit and place it in your pocket?” Gotshalk queried heatedly. “I want that paper.”
“I’ll show it to Judge Shay,” parried Keown.
“I don’t want to see it,” laughed Judge Shay, as Keown paced around the courtroom, followed by Gotshalk.
“It has nothing to do with this case,” repeated Keown.
And there the matter stood.
Shaw testified that he, Detective Clarence Arthur and Patrolman John Kaighn entered the saloon December 10, and went out the back door. They followed a path to the Green street house, broke down the door and found Henry Pogrozewski, 17, and his mother burning numbers slips in a stove. Shaw said he recovered a half basket of slips.
Shaw and Arthur also declared that they found a bell in the house and that it was connected to a push button in the saloon, allegedly for an alarm.
Mary King, deputy city clerk, testified that at the time of the raid the license for the saloon was in Joseph Klosterman’s name.
Shaw’s testimony was corroborated by Arthur and Kaighn. Shaw was then recalled to the stand and related that as the three detectives went from the saloon to the other house, the Klosterman brothers followed them and demanded to know “why the dicks are always picking on us.”
The case will be resumed this morning.
KLOSTERMAN BOYS FOUND GUILTY IN NUMBERS CASE
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Brothers Released in Bail Awaiting Sentence
‘THEY ARE BIG SHOTS,’ PROSECUTOR DECLARES
Both Defendants Deny Connection With Raided Saloon
Joseph and Fred Klosterman were convicted in Camden Criminal Court yesterday of operating a numbers racket.
A jury returned a guilty verdict against the two South Camden sportsmen-brothers at 6:25 p. m., after deliberating only a short while.
Both were in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, but were allowed to depart under bail pending sentence later by Judge Samuel M. Shay.
Judge Shay delivered his charge to the jury after denying motions by Walter S. Keown, defense counsel, first to quash the indictment on grounds that its language was faulty, and second, to direct a verdict of not guilty for lack of evidence.
Called ‘Big Shots’
The two brothers were characterized as “big shot numbers barons” by Assistant Prosecutor William C. Gotshalk in his closing argument to the jury.
Referring to a woman and her son, who were burning numbers slips when raiders entered the establishment, Gotshalk said:
“They might ask us why we don’t have that woman and her 17-year-old son on trial here. When the police make an arrest the public wants to know why we don’t get the big shots. Well, here they are,” pointing at the Klostermans. “Here are the big shots,”
The Klosterman saloon, Mechanic and Green Streets, was raided December 10 by city detectives who testified Tuesday they followed a footpath to an adjacent house at 1312 Green Street. They broke down the door and found a woman and her son burning numbers slips. Acting Lieutenant Louis Shaw, of the city detective bureau, testified he recovered some of the slips and also found a brief case containing numbers slips and a post card addressed to “F. Klosterman.” Detective Clarence Arthur and Patrolman John Kaighn corroborated Shaw’s testimony.
Says He Was Visitor
The defense opened with Joseph Klosterman on the stand. He testified he had nothing to do with the saloon when it was raided, but merely happened to be in there for a drink when the raiders entered. He said he had owned the saloon for three and a half years but sold it last July for $100. He never had any connection with the Green Street house, he declared. He is now a plumber, Klosterman averred.
When Assistant Prosecutor Gotshalk asked him if he had ever been convicted of crime, Keown asked that the jury be withdrawn as he wanted to make another motion. Court then recessed.
When court resumed Mrs. Anna Pogroszewski, of the Green street address, took the stand. She testified the Klostermans were not connected with her home in any manner. She testified she had rented a room to a man named “Tommy” and all the numbers apparatus was his. When he moved out, he left the slips and adding machines there, she said, and she had cleaned out his room and was burning the papers when the raiders arrived.
Fred Klosterman, who resides at 1255 Decatur Street, denied he was a “numbers baron” and said he merely “happened” to be there on the day of the raid. Under cross-examination he admitted having pleaded guilty to slot machine charges in June of last year.
FEITZ'S KILLER KNOWN TO BLAIR, COLSEY SAYS; 3 HELD IN NUMBERS DRIVE
Camden Courier-Post, Evening Courier —
1 ADMITS GUILT AND POLICE SAY LINKS OTHERS
Klosterman Named by Man Found With Slips On Him After Arrest
3 ‘BIG BANKS’ INVOLVED IN MOVE TO CLEAN UP
Others Must Face Trial; More Arraigned and Bonds Fixed by Court
While Camden County authorities were collecting evidence to present to the new Grand Jury when it convenes next Thursday afternoon to open its extraordinary probe into vice and crime, Camden today pressed their drive on gambling in this city.
Three men, one of whom police declare is a “numbers” bank operator here, were held under bail to await the action of the Grand Jury by Judge J. Harry Switzer when arraigned in Police Court.
The alleged “numbers” baron is Joseph Klosterman, who gave an address of 1400 Mechanic Street. He was held in $3000 bail for the Grand Jury on a charge of operating a “numbers” Lottery.
Held in $2000 Bail
Albert Young, 41, of 519 North 2nd Street, was held in $2000 bail and remanded to the Grand Jury action on a charge of possession of numbers slips. He entered a plea of guilty when arraigned before Judge Switzer.
Walter Hart, 25, of 1245 Thurman Street, who was taken into custody at 9:05 AM today by police after Young revealed he passed over his numbers slips between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM daily, was held in $5000 bail on a charge of operating a “numbers” lottery. He pleaded not guilty to the complaint which was signed by City Detective George Zeitz.
After arraignment the three “numbers” suspects were taken from court to detective headquarters where they were photographed and fingerprinted.
At the hearing of Klosterman, Detective Zeitz testified that he and his brother Fred were each fined $500 on May 23 last in lieu of serving a six month jail sentence which had been imposed July 21, 1933 by Criminal Judge Shay after having been convicted of operating a “numbers” lottery.
The detective further testified that he had statements from five other persons, one of whom was Young, arrested in connection with the gambling drive, who stated that they worked for the “Klosterman brothers numbers bank.”
Besides Young, the others, all of whom are under $2000 bail each for grand jury action, include Frank Kulczynski 26, of 1100 Orchard Street, Charles Simonin, 35, of 709 Fairview Street; Mrs. Mary Angelio, 26, of 600 Line Street; Harry Koron, 42, of 1528 Mount Ephraim Avenue, and Leon Yaroch, 39, of 612 Kaighn Avenue.
Klosterman was taken into custody yesterday by Police Lieutenant Walter Welch, of the Second Police District, on a warrant signed by Zeitz. Young was picked up Sergeant Edward Hahn and Patrolman Ralph Cline.
The Klosterman brothers’ “numbers bank,” according to Detective Zeitz, was located at Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Mechanic Street.
A “number” bank fugitive, Joseph Cheak, 32, colored, who lives on 10th Street near Kaighn Avenue, is lodged in the Camden County jail awaiting court action. He was arrested in Philadelphia yesterday and brought here to face an indictment returned against him two weeks ago by the Camden County Grand Jury.
Chief County Detective Lawrence T. Doran disclosed that Cheak is known as the operator of the “colored numbers bank” in South Camden.
While police and detectives were scouring the city to learn whether or not the warning issued 36 hours ago to all proprietors of gambling houses to close down and stay closed was being enforced, Mayor Stewart was continuing the questioning of police officials and detectives at his City Hall office.
Data on vice and crime conditions was sought by Mayor Stewart.
TENTH ARREST MADE HERE IN NUMBERS QUIZ
Camden Courier-Post, Evening Courier —
1 ADMITS GUILT AND POLICE SAY LINKS OTHERS
Klosterman Named by Man Found With Slips on Him After Arrest
3 ‘BIG BANKS’ INVOLVED IN MOVE TO CLEAN UP
Others Must Face Trial; More Arraigned and Bonds Fixed By Court
Campaign Against Writers Pushed With Feitz Probe
ALLEGED ‘BARON’ IS HELD IN BAIL
Mayor Pledges Aid of Camden Cops to State on Illicit Liquor
Arrests in the numbers racket in Camden continued today simultaneously with the continuation of the inquiry into the murder of City Detective William T. Feitz Jr.
With the Feitz slaying probe in its eleventh day— the detective was slain September 2 at 243 Sycamore Street, an alleged disorderly house— city and county authorities were still questioning witnesses in an endeavor to obtain sufficient evidence to name the murderer or murderers.
The arrest this morning of Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman Street, as a numbers writer, brought the total of those apprehended this week in the numbers racket to 10.
At the same time Police Judge J. Harry Switzer held Fred Klosterman, 33, of 1050 Mechanic Street, in $5000 bail for the grand jury on a charge of operating a numbers game.
Klosterman’s brother, Joseph Klosterman, 35, of 1400 Mechanic Street, was released in $3000 bail yesterday by Judge Switzer on a charge of operating a numbers lottery.
The Klostermans, according to police, are among the topnotch numbers barons of the city. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
No Testimony Taken
Fred Klosterman surrendered voluntarily yesterday afternoon when he learned that police were seeking him as an alleged numbers operator.
He was arraigned in police court today on complaint of George Zeitz, a city detective, who charged him with operating a numbers game. Police did not reveal where Fred Klosterman allegedly operated.
There was no testimony taken at the hearing of Fred Klosterman. His bail bond was signed by John Zubien. Police say they do not know Zubien’s address. Mrs. Anna Bubnoski, of 1426 Mount Ephraim Avenue, posted the $3000 bail for Joseph Klosterman. Zeitz also had made complaint against him.
Fred Klosterman surrendered yesterday, according to police, after a defendant in police court testified that he was employed at an alleged numbers bank operated by Fred Klosterman. Zeitz swore to a warrant for Fred Klosterman’s arrest based on the police information, he said.
Hearing Tomorrow
Smith, who was arrested by George Clayton, a policeman, will be given a hearing in police court tomorrow as an alleged numbers writer.
Meanwhile no disposition was made in the case of Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 42, who was arrested yesterday on a charge of operating a still at a double dwelling at 3404 Rosedale Avenue. Police Lieutenant John Potter said the woman admitted operating the still.
A man said to be a brother of Mrs. Schwartz fled in his undershirt at the time of the raid, as Sergeant Edward Hahn and Policeman Joseph Keefe were making the arrest and seizure. The seizure included 13 barrels of alleged mash, a stove, one cooler, three gallons of liquor, and a 75 gallon still. Police reported that one of two cars without license tags which had been parked in front of the house disappeared later.
Cops to Aid State
Strict cooperation with the State Alcoholic beverages Commission in the detection, closing up, and prosecution of speakeasies is being given by the Camden Police Department.
That statement was made today by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who is the director of the department of public safety, and came as a result of an interview which Howard B. Dyer, an investigator with the state beverage commission had with the mayor. Dyer was formerly deputy city clerk.
“Dyer came in and asked for the cooperation of the police department,” said Mayor Stewart, “and I told him we would cooperate fully.”
The state alcoholic beverage commission, through its investigators, has been busy in running down speakeasies, stills and other illicit liquor practices.
Where Police Seized Still, After Year’s Operation — This double dwelling, at 3404 Rosedale Avenue, was the scene of a still seizure early yesterday, after it had been operating for one year, according to a neighbor. The occupant, Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 48, was arrested and admitted she operated the plant, according to Acting Lieutenant of Police John Potter. A man said to be a brother of the woman fled in his undershirt, while Sergeant Edward Hahn, recently transferred to Third District duty from the traffic division, and Patrolman Joseph Keefe were making the arrest and seizure. Eleven barrels of mash, a stove, one cooler and three gallons of liquor were seized with the 25-gallon still in the house, police reported. One of two cards without license tags, which were parked in front of the house when raided, disappeared later.
STORE BANDITS TO BE QUIZZED IN CHESTER ON FEITZ MURDER
Camden Courier-Post, Evening Courier —
Material Witness Will View Suspects Caught by Camden Sleuths
BRICKNER QUESTIONED BY COLSEY ON HOLDUP
Police Order All Persons Arrested to Face ‘Line Up’ in Slaying Probe
Seven men and women held by Camden as police as material witnesses in the murder of Detective William T. Feitz two weeks ago in an alleged South Camden disorderly house will look over two men arrested in Chester PA after a store holdup here.
This was announced today by County Detective Lawrence T. Doran, who is directing the investigation for Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando.
At the same time, Chief Doran disclosed that after a conference with Police Chief Arthur Colsey, orders were issued that every person arrested in Camden, whether the charge is trivial or serious, will be placed in a police “lineup” and the material witnesses will face them to see if any of Feitz’s killers are among them.
Chief Doran was not sure whether the Camden County authorities would be able to bring the two robbery suspects to Camden because they are also wanted in Pennsylvania for almost a score of other holdups and burglaries.
Will Visit Chester
In the event that Chester authorities will not turn the two men over to Camden detectives, the witnesses will go to Chester to examine them, Chief Doran said.
Those held in Chester in connection with the holdup Wednesday night of the candy store of Michael Guzik at 1301 Sheridan Street identified themselves as Peter Muraska, 10, of 342 McDowell Street, and Ray Tuttle, 30, of 2529 West Ninth Street, both of Chester.
While neither Chief Doran nor Chief Colsey believe Muraska or Tuttle may be implicated in the murder of the detective because they are not known to be killers, both declared the suspects will be questioned as to their whereabouts at the time Feitz was shot to death.
“We are letting nothing slip through our fingers at this stage of the investigation” Chief Doran said. “There is a bare possibility that either of these two suspects may be implicated or have some knowledge that would be useful to us in solving this crime.”
While negotiations were under way between Camden County authorities and Chester police to bring the suspects here, Chief Colsey was making inquiry into the actions of Patrolman William Brickner during the holdup.
Questioned by Colsey
Brickner was summoned to Chief Colsey’s office at City Hall today to explain why he had rushed from his home at 1263 Chase Street to the scene of the holdup when told by neighbors that it was taking place and then gave his gun to his son Elmer so he could watch the place so he the policeman could telephone police headquarters for help.
According to Guzik, the proprietor of the store, the bandits were in his store 30 minutes. They locked the doors behind them and gagged Guzik and guarded his wife, Blanche, and her sister, Mary Pitura, 18.
The bandits broke open a trunk from which they took $100 in pennies, $30 in scrip, and $4 in silver. Guzik said the pennies represented his profit in a penny vending machine over a period of time.
It was while Guzik was left alone that he shouted from one of his windows and neighbors called Brickner who was at home and off duty. His son Elmer, fired one shot at the fleeing car before the patrolman came back from telephoning for help.
Several numbers of the license plates on the bandits car were covered with tape but one of the youngsters in the neighborhood succeeded in pushing aside the tape and getting the complete number which was turned over to police. Yesterday Detective Lieutenant Ward, accompanied by Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner and Detective Joseph Carpani went to Chester and made the arrests.
The car, which carried Pennsylvania tags, was listed in the name of Archie Hendrickson of Morton Avenue, Chester, police said.
Mickey Blair Admits Visit to Heisler Home on Fatal Night
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, September 14, 1934 — Mickey Blair, William T. Feitz, Roy R. Stewart, George Ward, Arthur Colsey, Samuel P. Orlando, Fred Klosterman, Joseph Klosterman, George Clayton, Crawford Smith, Walter Welch
Police Admit Feitz Slaying Is ‘Mystery’
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, September 15, 1934 — Mickey Blair, William T. Feitz, Roy R. Stewart, Frank T. Lloyd, George Ward, Arthur Colsey, Samuel P. Orlando, Fred Klosterman, Joseph Klosterman, Lawrence T. Doran, Crawford Smith
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 us 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.
Blair Forces Showdown in Feitz Murder
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, September 18, 1934 — Fred Klosterman and the Feitz murder case.
Judge Neutze Decrees Prison Sentences to Replace Fines
Camden Courier-Post —
Judge Neutze Decrees Prison Sentences to Replace Fines
Judge Neutze Decrees Prison Sentences to Replace Fines
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.
"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, warning on vice and crime, will present the 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 by Police 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."
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.
Stewart to Present Feitz Murder Report
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Courier-Post, September 22, 1934 — the Feitz murder report and Fred Klosterman.
2 More Arrested in Numbers War
Camden Courier-Post —
2 More Arrested in Numbers War
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 "highups."
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 Schmid 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 "highup" 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 12 of the defendants hauled 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 Pointkowski, 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 business over four years, working for the Klostermans, and should go to the state prison."
"Whenever 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 —
Santa' Pays Fines of Numbers Pawns
'Santa' Pays Fines of Numbers Pawns
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 Klosterman 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 jail.
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, Delair, Burlington 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 donor's 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 —
PRISON TERMS FOR RENEGING WITNESSES IN NUMBER CASE
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 on 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 Wojtkowiak 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 and inaction in the numbers cases.
(Continued on Page Two)
Klostermans Identified as Numbers Kings by 5 Witnesses
Camden Courier-Post —
Klostermans Identified as Numbers Kings by 5 Witnesses
Klostermans Identified as Numbers Kings by 5 Witnesses
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 Kloster— (Continued on Page Fourteen)
GRAND JURY CLEARS NUMBER SUSPECTS
Camden Courier-Post —
Pair Suspected by Police as Having Succeeded Klosterman Brothers
Two men alleged by city and county authorities to have succeeded the Klosterman brothers in controlling the Camden numbers racket last Spring, were exonerated by the Camden county grand jury.
Those whose cases were “no billed” are Chester “Gassy” Szalinski, 30, of 1188 Chestnut Street, and Joseph Putek, 29, of 2955 Tuckahoe Road.
At the same time, the grand jury in its report to the County Clerk Charles S. Wise, failed to find an indictment against Robert Bloodworth, another suspect arrested in connection with the operation of lotteries in Camden.
After the trial of the Klosterman brothers, Fred and Joe, both of whom were convicted last spring of number charges, Szalinski was named by Police Chief Arthur Colsey as the “Sixty-ninth Street mobster who had taken over the Klosterman numbers play.” Every policeman in Camden was ordered to arrest Szalinski on sight.
The suspected numbers operator was arrested and later released in $1500 bail to await the action of the grand jury.
Putek was arrested last April after police had engaged in a sensational chase of 15 blocks after a suspected numbers pickup automobile at which they fired a number of shots, one of which struck a bystander.
Police allege Putek joined Szalinski in control of the Klosterman numbers game. Arrests of both men climaxed orders to county police authorities by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd and Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando to clean up the number racket in this area.
“No bills” were returned by the grand jury for Harry Hartman and John Burke charged with attempts and breaking and entry; J.G. Flynn, accused of being a fugitive from justice from Philadelphia; Ralph Latshaw, Anna Green, and Theodore Jones, statutory charges.
Hartman and Burke were held for the grand jury last month on charges they attempted to enter the Saloon of Mrs. Mamie Piraine, Republican county committeewoman from the Eighth Ward, at 1944 Broadway.
Numbers Suspect Blames Mother, 67
Camden Courier-Post —
NUMBERS SUSPECT BLAMES MOTHER, 67
NUMBERS SUSPECT BLAMES MOTHER, 67
Nabbed as Alleged 'Baron,' Man Tells Raiders Parent Runs 'Bank'
An alleged numbers baron who attempted to place the blame for his gambling activities on his 67-year-old mother, was arrested when county authorities raided a South Camden home.
County detectives, under Chief Lawrence T. Doran, also arrested Mrs. Constance Oslowski, the mother, after Frank Oslowski, 35, the son, had declared she was the operator of the bank, according to Doran.
The mother and son were arraigned before Justice of the Peace Charles Opperman, who held them each in $2500 bail for the Grand Jury.
Numbers slips totalling nearly $200, the day's play, were seized by the raiders in addition to several books on a Canadian sweepstake.
According to Doran, Oslowski formerly was a numbers writer in the old Klosterman "bank," and much of the play seized Tuesday formerly was backed by Fred and Joseph Klosterman, now serving sentences in Trenton state prison for their numbers activities.
Bail for the accused was furnished by John and Anna Bubien, of 1219 Mt. Ephraim avenue. Doran said Bubien also was the bondsman in the Klosterman arrest.
The raid was at Warsaw and Jackson streets, home of Mrs. Oslowski. Doran said he was about to arrest Oslowski when the latter told him he did not run the numbers, but that his "mother did."
FRED KLOSTERMAN HIT BY PUMP GUN FIRE
Camden Courier-Post —
Four blasts from a pump gun last night felled Fred Klosterman, convicted South Camden numbers baron and cafe operator, outside his Club Cadix, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street.
Also featured in this article: Ralph Bakley, Frank F. Neutze, Mary Kobus.
GUNMEN IN PHILADELPHIA MURDER COLOZZI IN NUMBERS WAR
Camden Courier-Post —
Westmont Victim Reported to Have Been Aide of Klosterman
SCARDUZIO DEATH TIEUP ALSO SEEN
A reputed employee of Fred Klosterman, Camden numbers baron, was shot and killed in Philadelphia last night in what police there believed was an inter-city fight for control of the numbers racket.
The dead man was Joseph Colozzi, 49, of Westmont, known in the underworld and police circles as a “cheap thief.”
While Captain John Murphy, of the Philadelphia vice squad, expressed belief the slaying of Colozzi and shooting last Sunday of Klosterman were related. County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran was working on another angle.
Visited Colozzi’s Home
Doran said Colozzi had been closely associated during the last 10 days with John Lenkowski, 22, a fugitive wanted here in connection with the murder of Andrew Scarduzio.
“Both of them were convicted of similar offences— thievery, and they apparently were hooked up together lately. I could not say whether either of them ever was in the numbers racket.”
Philadelphia police, however, seemed certain Colozzi was shot as a result of a new “numbers war.” They said they had information that the dead man apparently was in the employ of a Camden numbers bank.
Credence was given the report that local numbers barons are attempting to “muscle in” on the “Philadelphia play” when Irving Bickel, 34, who admits being friendly with Klosterman was arrested yesterday.
New Setup Alleged
Bickel, Murphy said, declared he had been contacting numbers writers in Philadelphia to inform them of a “new setup” and invite them to join.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Simon and Detective Edwin Mills questioned Bickel in Philadelphia yesterday and said he admitted “knowing Klosterman” but denied he worked for him.
Simon and Mills were in Philadelphia again today working on the Colozzi shooting to ascertain whether there was any connection between the slaying and shooting of Klosterman on Sunday. Simon said he would investigate to learn if the slain man ever had been in the employ of Klosterman.
A theory advanced yesterday by police that Klosterman had been shot by killers hired by Atlantic City gamblers brought on an expression of surprise from shore police.
Detective Captain Frank Feretti said he did not know of any gambling house near the Union Station in which Klosterman may have been interested. He said no request had “been made by Camden police for an inquiry at the resort.”
Colozzi was murdered at Eleventh and Carpenter Streets, South Philadelphia, last night. The top of his head was blasted by shotgun slugs to end a career in crime that extended over 30 years, with at least 30 arrests.
Colozzi’s body was found lying across the trolley tracks in a darkened section near the Bartlett Junior High School.
Police of the Seventh and Carpenter streets station a few minutes before received an anonymous telephone call that “there’s been a shooting at Eleventh and Catherine.” The caller hung up.
No One Sees Shooting
Homicide squad detectives under Acting Captain William C. Bugle rounded up a number of persons in the neighborhood but could locate no one who admitted he saw the shooting. That was what the police expected, for the section has been the scene of unsolved gang killings in the past.
Captain Engle admitted the possibility that Colozzi, may have been allied in some way with Jersey gamblers attempting to poach on Philadelphia territory, and had met sudden death for that reason.
Though Captain Engle described the murdered man as a “cheap thief” he wouldn’t deny the possible link to the threatened outbreak in a numbers war between rival operators as evidenced by the Klosterman shooting.
“I won’t say there’s a tie up, and I won’t say there’s not” said Engle. “We can’t tell, right now.”
Syndicate Under Way
But the story told Captain Murphy, head of Philadelphia’s vice squad, by a Camden man known to be a pal of Klosterman, put further credence in the rumored attempts at revision along the numbers front.
The man is Bickel of a hotel at Delaware Avenue and Market street, who yesterday was held in $1000 bail for a hearing next Tuesday by Magistrate Thomas Connor in Philadelphia’s central police court on suspicion of being connected with the numbers racket. He was picked up in Germantown.
Captain Murphy said Bickel admitted to him he was contacting various numbers writers for the purpose of having them pool their resources.
“He admitted verbally he had the names of several Philadelphia writers and that he was trying to line up the boys,” Murphy said. “He is trying to coerce them with a new numbers set-up. That will cause a revival of gang warfare.”
Although the murdered man was never known to have had theatrical connections police said he often boasted he was an entertainer in a New York cabaret.
Brother of Philadelphia Cop
The body of Colozzi, brother of a Philadelphia policeman, was identified by the officer’s wife at the Pennsylvania Hospital, Eighth and Spruce Streets. Five bullets had penetrated his skull.
Police said Colozzi lived at 113 Westmont Avenue, Westmont, since his last release from prison, some time during September 1939.
He lived with his wife Rose and most of their eight children.
In Colozzi’s pocket, when a police ambulance arrived at the scene, was a card bearing his name and the Westmont address.
He was one of two brothers of John Colozzi, whose police record was said to be longer even than Joe’s, and is being sought.
Police of Haddon Township said Colozzi was known to them only as an “innocent” junk dealer, who plied his trade picking up old car parts in and around the section.
Colozzi’s last brush with the law according to the Philadelphia police records, was last Spring when he was implicated in a dress robbery. He was freed in September after serving part of his sentence.
Meanwhile Camden city and county detectives continued their investigations into the pump gun shooting of Klosterman, who remained in critical condition at West Jersey Hospital.
Klosterman was shot down in front of his saloon at Mount Ephraim Avenue and Mechanic Street at 10:00 PM Sunday as he went to the street to drive his car to a garage. The would-be killer sped away.
Seldom In Jail Long
Colozzi had run afoul of the law since early school days, but he often boasted that “with all the friends I got, I can’t stay in jail long.” He invariably managed to regain freedom, only to renew his jostles with police.
The stiffest sentence he ever got was on December 13, 1934 when Judge Frank F. Neutze sent him and an accomplice to state prison for robbing a coat factory at 7 South 3rd Street four months before.
In passing sentence on the much arrested “Manayunk Joe,” Judge Neutze put aside pleas the prisoner was the father of eight children and sent him “up the river” for a term of six to seven years.
“You’re a typical criminal and a menace to the public” Judge Neutze said in a searing rebuke. “A light sentence won’t do you any good. Your record is one of the longest shown to me since I have been on the bench. You represent a type that is better off behind bars, for outside of prison you are a menace to the public. I’ll go the limit with you”
Obtained Police Badge
But Colozzi merely nodded, apparently thinking of which “friend” he would call on this time to get him out.
Previously Joe had established a second-hand tire shop on the White Horse Pike at Lindenwold and escaped serious penalty as police held a continuous club over his head for suspected escapades.
On one occasion he diverted his talents to another “profession”— extortion. By some means he obtained a police badge in Clementon township. A few months later he and several other members of the police department were rounded up for wholesale extortion of money from motorists and truck drivers.
Those were the days of Prohibition, and the White Horse Pike was a frequently used highway for passage of beer trucks between Philadelphia and Camden and Atlantic City and other sea shore points.
The extortion continued among other motorists most of them guilty of petty violations. There were times when Colozzi took “anything they had,” police said.
35-Year Police Record
Colozzi’s police record dates back to 1904, when as a child of 12 he was committed to the Glen Mills, Pa. Home for Boys for petty larceny. He served 19 months.
In 1909 he was given a two-month sentence in the Montgomery county jail at Norristown PA, after another conviction for larceny.
Then followed a series of brushes with the law, with Colozzi landing behind bars a dozen times, but invariably obtaining freedom before the expiration of his term.
The record continues: 1914, committed to Philadelphia County Prison, larceny, three months;
In 1915, for receiving stolen goods, Eastern Penitentiary, four years and six months;
In 1919, at Newark, larceny, sentenced to two to seven months and pardoned in December, 1920.
A 10-year stretch followed during which his name failed to appear on police records.
Acquitted of Charge
In 1929, State Police of the Hammonton barracks arrested him for extortion, but he was acquitted in Camden County Criminal Court May 30, 1930.
In 1930 he was arrested in Trenton for breaking and entering and sentenced to a year and six months in Mercer County jail.
In 1933 he was taken in custody by the U.S. Marshal at Trenton. No disposition of the case is listed.
Later in 1933, he was arrested for Larceny in Philadelphia, and no record is known further of the case.
Later the same year Camden police arrested him for attempted larceny. No disposition.
In October 1933, he was jailed by U. S. Marshals for violation of the Dyer Act, interstate transportation of a stolen auto, but was placed on five years’ probation.
In July, 1934 he was arrested in Camden for breaking and entering and in December of the same year was sentenced to six to seven years in State Prison.
The last time he appeared in local police records was less than a year ago, when he was arrested on a detainer for violation of federal parole and sent to Mercer County jail. A few days later he was freed.
Club Cadix
Club Cadix, March 16, 2003 — 1050 & 1048 Mechanic Street; Fred & Victoria Klosterman lived at 1048 Mechanic Street when he was shot on January 6, 1940.
Shooting Laid to Gang Rivals of Klosterman
Camden Courier-Post —
SHOOTING LAID TO GANG RIVALS OF KLOSTERMAN
SHOOTING LAID TO GANG RIVALS OF KLOSTERMAN
Police Suspect Effort by Camden Man to Invade Phila., Atlantic City
NUMBERS BARON'S LIFE STILL HANGS IN BALANCE
Possibility that the pump gun shooting of Fred Klosterman was motivated by his ambition to broaden the scope of his activities to neighboring cities was probed by police last night as the South Camden numbers baron hovered between life and death at West Jersey Hospital.
City and county detectives at the end of a day's investigation concluded Klosterman was felled because he had attempted to poach on numbers territory in South Philadelphia and Atlantic City. The shooting took place in front of Klosterman's home at Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street Saturday night.
He asked authorities in Philadelphia and at the shore to be on the lookout for suspects in the shooting.
Reports will be made by surgeons at 10.30 a. m. today to determine if the three pellets that are endangering Klosterman's life, the most critical of which is one believed to be a pellet near his lung. A second slug fractured his left shoulder. The third lodged between the shoulder and his heart. Three blasts were fired by his would-be killer, who was whisked away in a fast-moving auto after mowing down Klosterman as he was about to put his machine in a garage for the night.
Phila. Racket Hit
The investigators pointed out that Klosterman's reported ambition to branch out in the numbers business was prompted by recent months when police cracked down on all forms of gambling. Among Murphy's manifold activities was a raid several months ago on a numbers bank in West Philadelphia in which Klosterman was known to have had an "interest."
The police alluded to the fact that all eight of the Atlantic City numbers operators indicted by the government for income tax evasion either have pleaded guilty or been convicted in Federal court here, thereby rendering the shore resort a temporarily barren territory in which Klosterman may have tried to force an opening. A half dozen others allegedly connected with Atlantic City numbers are awaiting trial on the government charges.
Klosterman Shots Laid to Gang Rivals (Continued from Page One)
The detectives recalled that two months ago a mysterious shot crashed through a window of Klosterman's saloon, the Club Cadix, at Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street, and broke a mirror behind the bar. This, they said, may have been intended as a warning to Klosterman from his enemies to "lay off" his reported ambitions, or else take the consequences against his own person as expressed Sunday night.
The show was still taking place after the cafe was closed and no one was in the place.
The police toyed yesterday with the theory that Klosterman "welched" on payoffs when the number "444" hit last Friday, but admitted the new motive was of more logical bearing.
A statement by Chief Lawrence T. Doran, of Camden county detectives, that the shooting was witnessed by a man walking along the intersection, yesterday failed to smoke out the man for questioning. Police said the man, whose identity is known to them, fell on his face on the pavement as the shots were fired.
Doran said he learned Klosterman was not found lying in the street by a neighbor, Alfred Giffins, as originally reported, but that the numbers operator jumped from his car and ran, bleeding, into his home at 1048 Mechanic street and cried to his wife, Victoria, that someone was trying to kill him. Mrs. Klosterman ran outside, the detective chief continued, and Giffins dashed to the house in answer to her screams.
The shooting climaxed a spectacular decade of numbers operation by Klosterman, who formerly was his brother's numbers partner. Both were paroled from state prison July 9, 1936, after serving part of five-year sentences imposed by the then Judge Frank F. Neutze, who lashed them for "paying politicians for protection." Besides the three slugs in Klosterman's body, he also was struck on the chin and upper lip, probably by pieces of wadding from the pump gun blast, or splinters of flying glass from his automobile, as the gunman rained shots in his direction.
15 Pay Fines of $43,000 in Gambling
Trenton Evening Times —
15 Pay Fines Of $43,000 In Gambling
CAMDEN, N. J.—AP—Fifteen persons accused of gambling or bookmaking were fined a total of $43,000 yesterday.
They were among 30 defendants indicted as a result of the campaign by Attorney General Van Riper growing out of charges of gambling and police laxity here.
Judge Rocco Palese fixed the fines and the 15 went directly to the sheriff's office and paid off.
The men were to go on trial before juries yesterday. Instead, their attorneys announced all decided to plead no contest.
Advertisement
The Argus, Camden NJ —
The Argus, Camden NJ, February 14, 1952 — Club Cadix advertisement. In light of the history of the bar, they were not kidding when they advertised “Where Good Fellows Meet”
Tax Agent Arrested in Bribe Fix Case
San Diego Union —
San Diego Union, October 22, 1955 — John R. Deeney Jr., Joseph Stafford Jr., Henry Carr, William Costello, John Gericke
Klosterman Trial Begins September 24
Camden Courier-Post —
Federal officials revealed today that Frederick W. Klosterman, 55, former Camden gambling kingpin and two other South Jersey men are due to go on trial September 24 in Philadelphia on charges of conspiracy to influence a U.S. Internal Revenue Agent.
Also involved in an alleged attempt to “fix” a tax fraud investigation against Klosterman are John R. Deeney, 34, of Belmont Avenue, Collingswood, and Joseph Stafford, 33, of Sycamore Street, Haddon Heights.
The date of the trial was announced by assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Lees, of Philadelphia, who will prosecute the federal case against Klosterman, Deeney, and Stafford.
Freed on $2500 bail
Lees said the trio have been free on $2500 bail each since their arrest last October 21, he said they have been indicted on conspiracy to bribe and that Deeney, a suspended income tax agent from the Camden office, has been indicted on an additional charge of violation of Federal Internal Revenue regulations.
Klosterman, who resides on Crystal Lake Avenue, Haddon Township, has recently been operating an appliance store in Ardmore PA. He formerly was operator of Club Cadix, Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Mechanic Street.
Klosterman was arrested in the cocktail room of the John Bartram Hotel, Philadelphia, in the act of passing $5000 to a supposedly cooperative agent, and the others were picked up by Federal agents the same day. They were indicted by the Federal grand jury in Philadelphia on January 26.
Two Called Go-Betweens
Deeney and Stafford were reputed to have acted as go-betweens in an attempt to bribe another special agent, James J. King, of Trenton, to “forget” tax liabilities against Klosterman. Stafford is a Camden insurance agent.
It was testified at a hearing following the arrests that Klosterman did not appear in the case until the final scene when waiting tax agents arrested him.
King said first contact was made in August 1955 when Deeney approached him in the Camden internal revenue office and said he had a problem to discuss. King said he talked to Deeney later that day.
Deeney, King testified, said he learned through a friend that Klosterman was anxious to get rid of the tax case, and was willing to pay $20,000–$30,000 to settle the tax liability, and $20,000 to pay King for his part in getting it settled.
Pretended Interest
King said he was shocked by them and the next day reported the conversation to Joseph DeMatteo, his supervisor. DeMatteo advised King to lead the operation on with a pretense of being interested.
When he did so, King asserted, he met Stafford and the supposed bribe delivery was arranged.
Before he went into the appliance business, Klosterman built up a long police record as a gambler in Camden and other sections of South Jersey. He was convicted in 1935 on a lottery charge. He served 16 months of a three-to-five year sentence and paid a $3000 fine.
Klosterman and his wife were operating the Club Cadix when he was cut down by shotgun blasts in front of the place on January 7, 1940. The identity of assailants was never established.
Betting Raid Sparked by Camden Mayor
Trenton Evening Times —
Thirty-two persons were arrested by New Jersey State Police in raids on alleged gambling spots in Camden. Asa Bushnell III, special assistant to Attorney General David D. Furman, said most of the 17 locations raided were numbers establishments.
State police, acting simultaneously, moved in on candy stores, bars and other establishments. Bushnell said pre-raid information was supplied by Mayor Alfred Pierce, who took office this year on a reform ticket.
Pierce, who helped plot the action and accompanied the raiders, said he by-passed his own Camden police “to prevent leaks.” He added he didn’t even advise the county prosecutor’s office.
“I can’t say what action I will take against anyone under my command,” Pierce declared. “But I strongly feel that where there is such widespread gambling activities, it has been permitted with some police knowledge.”
Among those arrested was Joseph Klosterman of Sewell, brother of Fred W. Klosterman, 57, who was cleared two years ago of a charge of attempting to bribe an Internal Revenue agent.
Klosterman and six others were ordered held on $5,000 bail each by Judge Julius Aklar of Camden Municipal Court. They face a hearing December 8 on charges of conspiracy.
Fred Klosterman: The Passing of a Numbers Kingpin
Camden Courier-Post —
WAYNE, PA. — Fred W. Klosterman, former South Camden numbers kingpin, is dead at the age of 71.
Though he lived in relative obscurity since his last arrest in 1964, Klosterman was a notorious character in south Jersey of the 1930s when he and his brother Joseph topped the list of the area’s numbers writers.
He survived three shotgun blasts in a 1940 assassination attempt. In 1935, he and Joe faced 32 years in jail and $24,000 in fines for operating a numbers racket during 1933 and 1934 in the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club, 1411 Mt. Ephraim Ave., and the Chez La Joy, a taproom at 1050 Mechanic Street. He managed to serve only 16 months and paid a $3,000 fine.
His last recorded brush with police came on Sept. 22, 1964, when he was arrested on a motor vehicle charge on Haddon Township’s Graisbury Avenue. The arrest would seem inconsistent if state police had not pointed out that he was parked near a house which had been the site of a gambling raid less than three hours earlier.
He died last Friday — some say of cancer, and others, of a liver ailment. At the time, he was manager of Miss Jeanne’s Crossroads Tavern near the King of Prussia Mall which he listed as his home address, according to police. At the tavern he was simply called “Mr. Kay.”
As early as ten years ago he still lived in Haddon Township, but his better known address was South Camden.
During the 1930s, the Klosterman brothers had compiled a list of arrests by Camden police — mostly on numbers charges.
In January 1935, the two brothers faced major prosecution. In the end they were acquitted when witnesses changed their testimony.
GOP Club
By March, however, they were back in Camden Criminal Court where they were found guilty on two of four indictments for operating a numbers racket at the Republican Club. This time, politicians were accused by the court of protecting the brothers, and police were warned to arrest other racketeers.
Fred Klosterman’s next appearance before the public in the newspapers was more spectacular and almost cost him his life.
He and his wife, Victoria, were operating the Club Cadix, Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Mechanic Street, at the time.
Klosterman was putting his car in his garage at 1048 Mechanic Street, next to his saloon, shortly after 10 p.m, on January 7, 1940, when someone cut him down with three shotgun blasts through the windshield. He was found by a neighbor lying in the street and taken to the hospital with wounds of the face, neck, and cheek. At first believed near death, Klosterman walked out of the hospital 31 days later.
Fails to Pay
Although the gunman was never found by police, they traced the shooting to Klosterman’s attempt to expand his numbers racket into Atlantic City. Still another report said that the saloon operator simply failed to pay off on bets.
Sixteen years later, the name Klosterman again made its appearance — this time, on bribery charges.
This time, a federal grand jury indicted him and two other South Jersey men for trying to bribe a U.S. Internal Revenue agent — known only as “Agent X” — in the cocktail room of the John Bartram Hotel in Philadelphia. Allegedly, the agent received $5,000 from Klosterman, who wanted to fix a $50,000 tax liability.
Even though the men were convicted, a U.S. Circuit Court cleared Klosterman two years later. It also accused Internal Revenue agents of “over-zealous tactics” of law enforcement and “engineering Klosterman’s arrest.”
Lottery Link
But the federal government won round after round against the Camden tavern owner in 1955 with tax liens. The first lien was for $30,000 and second for $201,239.
In 1957, Philadelphia police accused the Camden gambling figure of being linked with a $1.5 million lottery ring in Northeast Philadelphia.
Nothing came of the disclosure. But his brother, Joseph, reappeared in 1960 when he was convicted of operating a lottery in a Sheridan Street home. The conviction was overturned the following year.
Fred Klosterman’s last appearance on police blotters hardly suited his past. He was injured in a two-car accident in the Oaklyn section of the White Horse Pike in 1965. Hospital officials said he had a strained neck and told him to take it easy.