Garfield S. Pancoast

GARFIELD S. PANCOAST was born in December of 1880 to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pancoast. When the Census was taken in 1900 he was living with his widowed father and younger brother Cleveland Pancoast at 323 Wood Street in Vineland NJ.

Garfield Pancoast practiced law in the Camden area, and by January of 1920 was serving as a Judge in Camden, a post he held into the 1930s. The 1920 Census shows him and his wife, the former Fannie Rood, living at 207 Graisbury Avenue with a daughter, Dorothy, 7, and son Garfield Siebert Pancoast, 5. The family moved to a newly constructed home at 234 Morse Street in East Camden in the 1920s. They were still living there as late as February 1933.

In 1919 Garfield Pancoast served as Exalted Ruler of Camden Lodge 293 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

Garfield Pancoast remained on Camden’s bench as late as July 1934. The Pancoast family had left Camden by 1947. Garfield Pancoast was living at 5120 Greene Street in the Germantown section of Philadelphia when he died in his sleep on November 20, 1947. He was buried at Siloam Cemetery in Vineland NJ.

Fate and the heavy wheels of a bus turned to tragedy a surprise planned by Arthur Hickman, 45, of 2021 Howell Street, for the wife he had not seen for five weeks.

Returning unexpectedly last night from Auburn N. Y., where he had been working as an asbestos pipe coverer, Hickman was but a few blocks from his home when he was struck by a bus and killed instantly. The tragedy occurred on Twenty-seventh Street, between Howell and Thompson Streets.

Hickman had written a letter to his wife, Lottie, telling her that his work soon would be finished and that he expected to arrive here Saturday. The work, however, was completed earlier than he had expected and Hickman arrived in Camden last night.

He left a bus at Twenty-seventh and Howell Streets and stopped for a moment at the home of a friend nearby. Shortly after 6 p. m. he stepped from the curb and ran across Twenty-seventh Street in the path of a Schultz Pennsauken-Philadelphia bus. The front right wheel passed over his head. Identification was made possible only through papers in his pockets and his suitcase.

William Renfrey, 24, of 2936 Cramer Street, driver of the bus, was held in $1000 bail on a charge of manslaughter by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.

Hickman was well known in Camden as a pigeon fancier. Beside his wife, he is survived by a son, Joseph, 24, attached to the aviation corps at Honolulu.

Three Proprietors Assessed $100 Each! Two Disorderly Houses and Restaurant Hit

A weekend of raiding in which 59 men and women were arrested in two disorderly houses, and a restaurant dispensing beer enriched the coffers of the Camden city treasury yesterday by $1005.

Proprietors of the three establishments were fined $100 each by Judge Garfield Pancoast on charges of violating the city disorderly act. An inmate of one of the disorderly houses was sentenced to three months in jail, having ignored a warning to leave town.

The raid on the Blue Hour Luncheonette, 1282 Liberty street, early Sunday in which 43 were arrested is said to have been the largest of its type in the city in more than a year.

Frank Kerr, 40, proprietor, pleaded guilty to charges of violating ordinance 422, while Parker McGonigal, of 1240 Morton street, facing similar charges, said he only worked in the establishment and received a suspended sentence.

Security of $10 was returned to Florence Williams, 22, of 312 North Third Street; Teresa Kelly, 21 of 3013 Constitution Road, and Charles Mengalie, 24, of 314 Stevens Street, who proved that they had not been in the restaurant but were picked up on the street outside.

Thirty-eight others required to post $10 for appearance as material witnesses forfeited their security.

The disorderly houses raided were located at 818 and 1219 Locust Street.

Two colored women and six white men were arrested in the first establishment and three men and five women in the second.

Pearl Williams, an inmate of the establishment at 818 Locust street, was sentenced to three months in jail, while Mary Young, proprietress, and Leona West, proprietress of the second establishment, were each fined $100.

All of the men arrested were either fined $25 or forfeited securities of $25 each.

The establishment at 1219 Locust Street, raided late Sunday night by Sergeant Frank Truax and detectives is said to be the most luxurious of its kind found in this city.

Lads, 11 and 10, Charged by East Camden Woman With Taking Purse and $725 Diamond

Charged with the theft of a $725 diamond ring, two small boys were ordered held for Juvenile Court by Police Judge Pancoast yesterday. One of the boys, William McGinnis, 11, of 2639 Carman Street, had been released from the county detention home last Thursday on probation by Judge Shay. He had been one of six boys held in connection with a series of nine robberies in East Camden.

The other boy is John Auletto, 10, of 2824 Howell Street.

Mrs. Catherine Tydeman testified the pair had come to her apartment at Twenty-eighth Street and Westfield Avenue Thursday afternoon and told her she was wanted on the phone. Returning, she saw the two boys leaving her apartment, and a short time later she discovered that her pocketbook containing a $725 diamond ring was missing. District Detective William Hurlock arrested the pair at the Garfield School. He said he found the ring in their possession.

Parents of the McGinnis boy pleaded for him before judge shay last Thursday and said he was “backward” because of a fractured skull he had suffered in an accident.

Damage in Fire at Sixth and Bulson Streets Estimated at $45,000

Four Men Risk Lives to Save Two Horses — Boys Believed by Police Probers to Have Been Smoking, in Building

Three boys are being held and two others are sought in the investigation of the $45,000 fire which today destroyed the warehouse of Sitley & Son, wholesale hardware, roofing material and grain dealers at Sixth and Bulson streets.

The three boys were ordered held by Police Judge Pancoast after authorities expressed belief that the three alarm fire was caused either by thieves or boys smoking cigarettes on the premises.

Two of the youths admitted they stole coal from the plant’s siding last night, while the third confessed that he, and two other boys were in the plant last evening. He said his two companions, who are expected to be arrested this afternoon, were smoking.

One fireman was slightly hurt when he ran a nail into his foot, while other firefighters narrowly escaped injury when the roof of the blazing building collapsed.

A dense fog, rain, great clouds of thick smoke and intense heat all hampered the firemen, and rendered them practically helpless for more than three hours. When the blaze was finally under control at 8:00 a.m., only the blackened and buckled walls remained standing.

Practically the entire stock was lost, but through the courage of four men including two policemen: a team of terrified horses and three trucks were saved from the blazing stable.

Twenty employees were temporarily deprived of work.

Discovery of three rolls of wire fencing on nearby railroad tracks and the presence of two men near the premises when the blaze was discovered led Fire Chief Thomas Nicholas to believe thieves had thrown a cigarette near some flammable material.

The arrested boy is John Brodzik, 1927 Fillmore Street.

Two other youths, John Hadyniak, 16, of 685 Ferry Avenue, and Anthony Parraine [Piraino—PMC], 11, of 2026 South Seventh Street, arrested on a charge of stealing coal from the Sitley siding last night are also being held. They declare they were not in the plant.

In addition to the smoke and heat firemen were further hampered by the fact that two railroads pass the building. Many of the hose lines had to be stretched over the tracks, so that in order to prevent passing trains from cutting the lines, holes were dug under the tracks and the lines run through the excavations.

Horses Rescued

The four rushed into the stable, broke down the door, and led out the two horses, which several times attempted to run back into the flames. The men also drove three trucks out of the place before they were driven away by the dense smoke.

The building occupies a plot about 300 feet square and comprises several one and two-story sections. There was formerly a grain elevator on the site belonging to the Sitleys, but it was destroyed by fire more than a decade ago and never rebuilt. On the south side of the plant are the Atlantic City Railroad tracks, and on the east side the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad lines.

Flames Spread Rapidly

Believed to have started either in the stable or at the extreme northern end of the plant, the fire quickly swept through the entire building. Rolls of tarred paper and bins of grain were quickly consumed, throwing out huge clouds of smoke.

Two more alarms were sounded for additional apparatus, but it was not until 7:30 a.m. that firemen could enter the building. Meanwhile, about 50 hose lines were stretched to the building and water continually played on the fire. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna arrived and increased the water pressure five points at the pumping stations to keep a water supply to feed the hose lines. Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr also sped to the fire.

A touch of tragedy was added when Thomas Mills, 70, of 431 Viola Street, employed by the Sitleys for 40 years as a packer, arrived. The elderly workman burst into tears when he saw the flames, and sobbed that he was now out of work and had a family to support.

Finally, about 8 a. m., firemen had the blaze under control, after the roof had caved in. Only the walls stood, but several times they threatened to collapse.

The owners, Frank B. Sitley, Sr., of Woodbury, and his son, Frank B. Sitley, Jr., arrived, but declined to estimate their loss. However, police and firemen fixed an approximate damage of $25,000 to the building and $20,000 to the stock.

Lieutenant Frost found three rolls of wire fencing which had been taken from the building. They were lying on the Reading Railroad tracks, apparently dropped by thieves when police arrived.

Young Brodzik was arrested at 8:00 p.m. yesterday by Special Officer John Stevenson, who turned him over to Patrolmen Smith and Rieh. The youth was charged with suspicion of having broken into the place, and is alleged to have first denied being in the building, but later admitted that he and two other boys crawled through a basement window.

The boy declared that he neither smoked nor stole anything, but said that other boys had smoked. He refused to divulge their names.

Hadyniak and Perraine were arrested last night and charged with theft of coal from the siding. Brodzik declared those two were not the boys who were with him last night.

All three were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in police court this morning and held without bail pending investigation.

Philadelphia Driver Jailed On Charge of Intoxication After Crash at Broadway and Market

Convicted of drunken driving and driving without a license, Richard R. Pattinson, 21, of 5230 Harlan Street, Philadelphia, was sent to jail for 40 days by Judge Garfield Pancoast in police court yesterday in default of a $220 fine on the first charge and a $50 penalty on the second.

Making a left hand turn into Market Street from Broadway shortly after midnight, Pattinson’s car struck the car of Robert Brest, 33, of 1476 Kaighn Avenue. The tire and outer portion of the right front wheel on Pattinson’s car, which has disk wheels, were torn off. The car continued to “limp along,” according to the police, to Fifth and Market Streets, where a collision with the automobile of Harold Gondolf, 3001 Fenwick Road, was narrowly averted.

Gondolf had Pattinson arrested and examined by Dr. Charles T. Ley, who pronounced the man drunk. No one was injured in the collision with the Brest machine.

John “Jackie” Hindle, 28, of 2277 South Seventh Street, one-time boxer and former policeman, was sent to jail in default of $500 bond by Judge Pancoast in police court yesterday to ensure the payment of a $15 weekly support order for his wife, Helen, and three children.

Mrs. Hindle lives at 924 Tulip Street. She testified she had received no money for several weeks. Hindle said since he lost his job as a policeman about a year ago he had been unable to obtain work.

Counsel for Henry Luellowitz, 28, of Los Angeles, who was arrested here last June after posing as Floyd Gibbons, will seek his freedom from the county jail today in application for a writ of habeas corpus before Judge Samuel M. Shay.

Frank Lario, attorney representing Luellowitz, said yesterday he would seek the writ on the ground there is no proof that his client aided and abetted in the escape of Albert Rumford, alleged bandit, from the jail several weeks ago. Sheriff E. Frank Pine charged Luellowitz sang and made other noises near Rumford’s cell to prevent jailors from hearing hacksaw blades the fugitive used.

Luellowitz was ordered by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast to pay $100 fine or spend three months in the county jail for posing as Gibbons, the famous radio entertainer. Luellowitz has been in the jail since June 13. His term on the city charged ended September 12, but there are two detainers against him, one placed by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin on Sheriff Pine’s charge, and the other from Connecticut, where he is charged with failing to pay a hotel bill.

Pleading guilty to attempting to end her life by drinking poison, Sarah Turner, 17, of 338 Lansdowne Avenue, was given suspended sentence by Police Judge Pancoast yesterday.

The girl was arrested after she was treated at Cooper Hospital. She told Detective Ben Simon she drank the poison because she was jealous of her sister. William Harrity, 24, of 409 Senate Street, Sarah’s sweetheart, was held as a material witness but was released today when he said he knew nothing of the quarrel between the sisters.

Salvatore Bonimassa, 13, of 410 Royden Street, who was arrested Sunday night when he appeared at police headquarters and appealed for a place to sleep, was released in the custody of his parents yesterday by Judge Garfield Pancoast in police court.

Salvatore left his home as usual Thursday to go to school, but instead disappeared. Parents gave a description of him to police and when he appeared at headquarters he was recognized and promptly arrested.

Judge Pancoast told his parents that if the boy does not behave he will commit him to jail.

Charged with driving while drunk, Clarence Lefferts, 40, of Hatboro, Pa., was sentenced to 30 days in jail yesterday by Judge Garfield Pancoast in police court in default of a fine and costs of $220.

Lefferts collided Monday at Ninth Street and Kaighn Avenue with the Second district patrol wagon, driven by Patrolman Oscar Probst. He was pronounced intoxicated by Dr. Garnett Summerill.

A dull session of Camden traffic court was the order last night when only six of twenty-eight offenders appeared, five of whom were fined and the other case dismissed. The balance forfeited security.

The business of the court was so light that even Judge Garfield Pancoast remained away. Court Clerk James E. Smith acting in his absence.

Those fined included three truck drivers, Harry Jones, Brace Road, Delaware Township; Edgar Roop, Oak View, Pa., and Charles R. Flack of Atlantic City. They were charged with overloading their vehicles by motor Vehicle Agent Howard C. Wilson. A fine of $100 was imposed on each man. John E. Fernsler, 18, 145 Westmont Terrace, Collingswood, paid a $5 fine for speeding while Richard Batten, 19, of 522 Ridgeway Street, Gloucester, was fined $3 for passing a red light.

Dad Who Took Her Rejoins Mother; Anna Loses Home

When the girl whom he is charged with having attacked was unable to leave the hospital and appear against him yesterday, Frank Manfredi, 22, of 301 Chestnut Street, who fought under the ring name of “Frankie Mack,” was released from jail under $1500 bail by Judge Pancoast in police court for a further hearing next Thursday.

Judge Pancoast explained he had consulted Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin, who gave him permission to release the defendant in bail. It is expected the girl, Marie Romaine, 17, of 2842 Constitution road, Fairview will be able to leave West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital before the hearing.

In her complaint to the police, Miss Romaine said she went with Manfredi to “Mack’s Cafe,” conducted by him at the Chestnut Street address, and that he attacked her there last Saturday.

Young Girls Accuse Married Man of Attacking Them in Bungalow

Three pretty girls, a married man and two youths were arrested last night on charges growing out from an extended whoopee party in a Blackwood Terrace bungalow.

Two of the girls, all of whom are related, are said to be runaways from Philadelphia. One of these and a Camden schoolgirl charge they were attacked by the married man.

The girls gave their names as: Julia Barkowski, 17, of 923 Florence Street, Camden; Mary Holod, 16, and her stepsister, Vera, also 16, both of 1325 Tyson Street, Philadelphia. Both Julia and Mary allege they were criminally assaulted early last week by Samuel Read, 31, who gave his address as 2847 Congress Road, Camden.

Linked as material witnesses in the case are John Barwick, 19, of 543 Fairview Street, and William Murdock, 19, of 548 Gordon Terrace, Camden.

According to the story gathered by Police Sergeant John Skolski and Patrolman John Larson, the three girls were strolling along Broadway on the night of October 12, when they were “picked up” by Barwick and Murdock, in an automobile. The girls related they were taken to a bungalow in Blackwood Terrace where they said they met Read. The two youths then left, they said.

The Barkowski girl and Mary Holod allege they were attacked by Read while Vera Holod told police she averted assault by fighting.

Return of the girls to the Barkowski home yesterday was followed by arrest of all six revelers. Mrs. Bertha Barkowski, mother of the Camden girl, summoned police. Read was lured to the house and placed under arrest and apprehension of the two youths was then made.

Julia was charged with being incorrigible by her mother. Police held Mary and Vera as runaways and as witnesses against Read. The Philadelphia girls are said to have been missing from home several weeks.

All are to be given hearings today before Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.

Judge Shay Calls Holding of Impersonator An Outrage

Declared to have been illegally detained in Camden County jail, Henry Luellowitz, 28, of Los Angeles, who posed as Floyd Gibbons, was ordered released yesterday by Judge Samuel M. Shay.

A writ of habeas corpus, served at the office of Sheriff E. Frank Pine, charged Luellowitz had been kept prisoner 46 days after his 90-day sentence had expired. The man was sentenced June 13, by Police Court Judge Pancoast, on a charge of impersonating the famed radio announcer after his arrival here by plane.

He was detained following expiration of his sentence, on a detainer from New Haven, Connecticut, where he was accused of having defaulted payment of a hotel bill.

According to Rocco Palese, assistant prosecutor, and Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran, Luellowitz was held in connection with an investigation of the escape from jail of Albert Rumford, 23, of Philadelphia. The latter cut his way from a cell adjoining Luellowitz last August 17.

Machine Was Hi-Jacked and Driven by Thieves He Claims; Pays Fine

Three men who attempted to hijack 100 gallons of alcohol which was later seized by the police, yesterday were blamed for a hit-run accident which resulted in the seizure.

Charles Alu, of Trenton, who was arrested on October 2 after the alcohol was found in his car, denied in police court yesterday he was operating the vehicle when it crashed into a truck, owned by Frank Salerno, of 446 South Fourth street. Two policemen found the liquor when the driver abandoned the car on Locust Street near Kaighn Avenue.

Alu testified that he had been driving along Fourth Street near Division when another machine pulled in front of him and stopped. Three men got out of the car and ordered him to leave his machine, he said. It was after they drove off in the car that the hit-run accident occurred, Alu stated.

William Helberson, a passing motorist, corroborated Alu’s story and said he helped to chase the three men who had taken the Trenton man’s car. Charles Cook, a fireman, also said that Alu asked him to help in the chase.

Police Judge Pancoast found Alu guilty and fined him $25, but suspended the sentence date, when Alu agreed to pay for the repairs to Salerno’s car.

At the time of Alu’s arrest on the liquor possession charges, a record book was found in his car. It revealed that he had done $40,000 worth of business through August, but through the operations of rival dealers had lost $4000. He is under $1000 bail on this charge.

One of the five children of Joseph White, a former Camden hotel proprietor, who have been county charges, found a home yesterday.

White, who lives at 517 Penn Street, was rebuked in police court by Judge Pancoast last week, for buying expensive clothing and wearing diamonds while his ten children were in need. Welfare workers said he failed to contribute to the support of the five children in homes here and in Trenton.

The recent hearing was a result of White bringing his 15-year-old daughter, Dorothy, into court as an incorrigible. The charge was disproved today in the opinion of Judge Samuel Shay, sitting in juvenile court. He granted the request of Dorothy’s married sister, Mrs. Catherine Graham, of Magnolia, to have the girl live with her.

Four Suspects Caught as Series of Weekend Robberies Keep Police Busy — Trio Held at Gloucester for Robbing Store at Westville Grove — Oil Stove Is Stolen

Loot valued at several hundred dollars was recovered and four men arrested over the weekend as many robberies were reported to police throughout South Jersey.

Three of the men arrested were captured in Gloucester when merchandise stolen from a Westville Grove store and garage was found in their automobile. The fourth man was arrested in Camden.

Those under arrest in Gloucester, are Joseph Rietsch, 47, of 1245 Palmer street; Joseph Dorman, 18, of 103 Chango street, and Charles Headley, 18, of 936 North Fourth street, all of Philadelphia.

The loot found in their car consisted of automobile tires, cigarettes, safety razors, tubes and other articles. It had been stolen from the store and garage of George A. Fields, Delsea Drive, Westville Grove.

The three men were arrested by Patrolmen Walter Lane and William Fowler, who stopped their car because it had but one headlight.

Taken back to Westville the three men were held without bail for the grand jury by Recorder Charles H. Benner.

Held For Theft

When he walked down Federal Street with an oil stove Armstead Saunders, 56, of 314 Taylor Avenue, was stopped by the police Saturday night.

An investigation revealed he had picked it up as he passed the second-hand store of W. L. Ernest, 408 Federal Street, according to Patrolmen Walter Patton and Raymond Stark.

Saunders will have a hearing today before Police Judge Pancoast, on a charge of larceny.

James Josephson, 3320 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, a salesman for the Household Institute of New York reported the loss of two cases of aluminum ware and an investigation was conducted by Detective Sylvester McGrath. Upon information he entered the apartment alleged to have been tenanted by John Harrigan, of 1289 Dayton Street and found the merchandise. Harrigan is said by the police to have left the apartment. The goods are valued at $150.

William H. McMakin, of 119 West Pine Street, Audubon, reported to Detective Robert Ward that he was held up at Pine Street near Fifth on Sunday morning by three young men. They relieved him of his watch, valued $35, and his drivers license. McMakin was unable to describe the culprits.

William Harris, 53, of 1731 Fillmore Street, told Detective Clifford Carr he was relieved of his wallet containing $6.90 by an unknown man at Haddon Avenue and Copewood Street, Sunday morning. He described the man as being about 27 years old and wearing a light cap.

Thieves entered the candy shop of Jones Wilson, Park Boulevard and Kaighn Avenue, Saturday night and took three cartons of cigarettes, some candy and soda valued at $23.

Hair Clipper Stolen

Waclaw Hermanolski, 1322 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, reported to police that someone entered his barbershop through a rear window and stole an electric hair clipper, massage vibrator and $15.

A grocery store operated by Joseph S. Eskowitz, of 1022 Broadway, was entered early yesterday and the thieves took three dozen cans of malt syrup valued at $12. Detective Benjamin Simon discovered the burglar gained his entrance by cutting a pane of glass out of the back window.

Louis E. Barnes, 21, colored, employed by the police department to catch a colored man who has been reported preying on unemployed and collecting money from them in promise of a job, has informed police that such a man got away from him on October 24. He is known to the police and will be picked up, they said.

Barnes said the man being sought told him to give him $2.50 for a white coat and he would get him a job in the kitchen of the Cooper Hospital. When Barnes returned with the money the man had disappeared.

Boy and Girl Run Down While Playing In Streets Here — Three Drivers Held in Bonds of $5000 — Bus Rider Steps Into Path of Auto on White Horse Pike

Two Camden children and a 70-year-old Somerdale man were killed in more than two score of accidents in South Jersey over the weekend.

The dead are:

Dominic Nobilisse, 2, of 271 Mt. Vernon Street.

Beverly Israel, 4, of 415 Lansdowne Avenue.

James Hare, 70, of Crestwood Avenue, Somerdale.

For a third time an alleged love nest maintained by Mrs. Dorothy Fisher, 35, of 122 York Street, was raided last night by Frank H. Miller, private detective.

This time, Mrs. Fisher was arrested with John Goldberg, 35. At a hearing before Justice of the Peace Frank Sheridan they were held for a further hearing before Police Judge Pancoast.

The complaint was made by Frank Fisher husband of the woman. Fisher said he left his wife a year ago when he learned of her friendship for other men.

He recently sued for divorce, but withdrew the action. He announced he intends to enter suit again for divorce. They have one child.

Police Say Defendants ‘Butted in’ During Probe Into Accident

Two men were arrested yesterday by a Camden policeman, who charged they interfered with his investigation of an automobile accident at Ninth Street and Kaighn Avenue.

Richard Mayer, 28, of 373 East Gowan Avenue, Mt. Airy, Pa., and Joseph Meraglo, 23, of 1016 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, were fined $25 each by Police Judge Pancoast. Both were charged with disorderly conduct. Mayer also was charged with reckless driving.

Joseph Devlin, 42, of 1919 Mifflin street, Philadelphia, was held in $1000 bail by Pancoast to await the outcome of injuries suffered by a woman passenger in his car. The woman, who gave her name as Miss Jane Glenn, 36, of 2506 South Twenty-second Street, Philadelphia, is in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Doctors say her condition is not serious.

The accident occurred at 2:20 AM. Motorcycle Policeman Earl Wright and other policemen were at the scene in investigating, when an automobile flashed by. Wright in court said he blew his whistle and declared the car was unable to stop within 100 feet. Wright said he was questioning Mayer when Maraglo “butted in,” and stated, “I’ll get this fixed up tonight.” Wright testified he searched Mayer for a gun and Mayer replied, “I haven’t got it on me tonight.”

In court both Mayer and Meraglo said they were not speeding, and didn’t interfere with the officer.

Devlin was released for court by Detective Joseph Caputi. Devlin’s automobile was in collision with the car of Edward Kaligian, 30, of 1251 North Twenty-eighth street.

Pancoast Censures Man Who Thought He Could Dodge Trial in Court

Peter Sherer, 57, of 225 Mechanic Street, who aroused the ire of Police Judge Pancoast Friday by failing to appear in court, was fined upon his appearance Saturday after a bench warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Judge Pancoast issued the bench warrant after denouncing defendants who preferred to forfeit bail to appearing for trial.

Sherer, who had been arrested by Lieutenant Ralph Bakley when a raid of his home disclosed a still and 90 gallons of alleged whiskey and kummel, offered to explain why he was not in court Friday.

“Someone told me that I did not have to appear because I had posted $100 bail, and the case would be all over when I forfeited bail,” he said.

“It appears you have been misinformed,” Judge Pancoast said. “No defendant can close up a case in this court by merely forfeiting bond. We want bootleggers to know it is not just their money we want. It is their presence in court that we want, so they can be tried.”

Sherer pleaded guilty and Judge Pancoast fined him $100, saying the fine would be paid with the $100 bond he forfeited Friday.

Taylor Avenue Man Sent to Jail for 50 Days When Unable to Pay $50 Fine

Thomas Fleeyne, 54, of 515 Taylor Avenue, who was arrested when police raided his home, was sent to jail for 50 days in default of a $50 fine Saturday by Police Judge Pancoast. Fleeyne entered a plea of guilty to permitting disorderly persons to congregate at his home. He said he had been without work since coming to Camden.

Fleeyne’s wife, Margaret, 42, was unable to appear in court on account of illness, and her $25 bond was returned; Josephine Lorento, 30, of 350 Tree Street, Philadelphia, also held as a material witness, was freed when she said she had visited the house to see Mrs. Fleeyne.

Michael Bratses, 49, of 210 Market street, and Thomas Kretekos, 48, of 529 South Broad street, Philadelphia, were fined $25 each as inmates. John Kershaw, 32, of 515 Taylor Avenue, forfeited $25 bail when he failed to appear. The raid was made by Lieutenant George Ward, commander of the First district police, and Patrolman John Trout, on complaint made by Dominick Madden, 46, of 455 Haddon Avenue.

Two youths who pleaded guilty to stealing coal were sentenced to 30 days, and two others were sent to the detention home by Police Judge Pancoast Saturday. Frank Carroll, 16, of 750 Pine street, and James Hinson, 16, of 1810 Mulford Street, got the jail sentences and Percy Jones, 14, of 808 Kaighn avenue, and William Carroll, 15, brother of Frank, were sent to the home.

They were arrested by Patrolman William Taylor who said they had been stealing coal from a yard at Seventh and Pine Streets. The boys admitted taking two sacks of coal.