Introduction
George Cable was born George Frederick Kappel in New Jersey around 1866, the son of Frederick and Lizzie Kappel. The family was known in city directories and newspapers into the 1890s as “Cable.”
The 1878–1879 and 1879–1880 Camden City Directories shows the Cable family at 530 North Front Street. George Cable had gone to work by 1879 as a spinner in one of Camden’s textile mills. The 1880 Census shows the Cable family, which included younger sisters Lizzie and Amelia, were living at 538 French’s Court, a short street that was in the 400 block of Sycamore Street. The family moved back to 530 North Front Street by the middle of 1882.
George Cable is listed in the 1884–1885 and 1885 City Directories at 538 North Front Street. The 1887–1888 Directory shows him living at 5 England Place. George Cable was worked as an extra man with the Engine Company 2 of the Camden Fire Department in 1887. When the 1888–1889 Camden City Directory was compiled, George Cable had been appointed to the Camden Police Department. He was then living at 523 North Front Street. The 1890–1891 and 1891–1892 City Directories indicate that George Cable was living at 108 Birch Street. The 1892–1893 Directory shows George Cable had moved to 609 North Front Street.
In 1895 George Frederick Kappel appears to have stopped using the “Cable” spelling once and for all, although the newspapers continued to use the “Cable” spelling on occasion. For further information about him, his family, and career, click here.
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Philadelphia Inquirer —
Joseph J. Hubb, driver of an ice wagon, was arrested by Policeman Cable yesterday for obstructing the highway.
By His Victim’s Bedside.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Dying Man Identifies Andrew Eckert as His Murderer.
Camden is likely to have three murder trials at the next term of court. The third and last victim is Thomas McDonough, of Eighth and Mountain streets, this city, who was stabbed at Beideman’s station, which is on the outskirts of Camden, on Monday evening last. The man who is accused of having done the cutting is Andrew Eckert, of Port Richmond.
About 8 o’clock last night word was received at the City Hall, Camden, that the injured man, who had been removed from his home to the Pennsylvania Hospital, would die before morning. The police of this city also suggested that the prisoner be brought across the river at once and taken before the dying man to see if he could identify his assailant. This suggestion was communicated to Sheriff Baird, who at once went before Judge Hugg and sought his advice about taking the man out of the State.
Judge Hugg informed the Sheriff that as the prisoner was in the custody of the Camden county authorities he would take him to Philadelphia.
Acting under the judge’s instructions the Sheriff procured a cab, and with Mayor Pratt, Policeman Cable, of the Camden police force, and Magistrate Kerswell, drove to the County Jail.
The prisoner was then handcuffed and driven on board a ferryboat. After crossing the river the cab drove to the Central Station. There the officers and prisoner disembarked and the accused man was taken before Chief of Detectives Wood.
Detective Hulfish was detailed to assist the Camden officers. The officers and prisoner then went to the Pennsylvania Hospital.
They were met at the hospital by Magistrate Eisenbrown. They then proceeded to the bedside of the dying man, when the latter made the following dying declaration:
Thomas McDonough, who being sworn according to law, doth depose and say that on or about August 5, 1889, at Beideman’s station, State of New Jersey, deponent was cut and stabbed in the abdomen with a knife or sharp instrument by one Andrew Eckert, and deponent verily believes he will die from the effects of said cuts or stabs.
Magistrate Eisenbrown swore him to this statement and he made his mark over his signature. The witness to the statement was Detective Hulfish. The dying man’s wife and his sister were at his bedside most of the night. The prisoner never spoke a word throughout his journey.
A Policy Den Raided
Camden Post —
Hall Officer Stackhouse and Policeman Cable Catch Harriet Smith Selling Slips. A Companion Captured Also.
A raid was made by Hall Officer Stackhouse and Policeman Cable this morning on the policy den on Tenth street below Federal. They captured Harriet Smith, the widow of “Policy Bill” Smith, and James Brown.
The visit of the officers of the law was sudden and entirely unexpected upon the part of the inmates of the house. A panic ensued and a wild dash was made to hide the tell-tale articles used by policy sellers. It was useless, however, and the officers gathered in the books, slips, writings, drawings and a quantity of the other paraphernalia of the business.
The prisoners and the goods were carried off to the city hall. The accused waived a hearing and entered bail in $500 each for trial.
Lost His Prisoner
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Philadelphia Burglar Was Too Much for a Camden Policeman.
Among a crowd of passengers who stepped from a ferry-boat at Market street, Camden, at late hour last night [sic], was a man who was immediately recognized by Officer Cable as Harry Hugson, a well-known burglar. The officer promptly nabbed his man and started with him to the City Hall. They had gone but a short distance when the prisoner threw away some burglar tools and a candle which he had been carrying in his pocket.
Officer Cable was unwilling to allow such valuable bits of evidence to be lost and stooped to pick them up. At the same time Hugson suddenly remembered that he had important business in another section of Jersey and promptly shot out Market street. Officer Cable was dazed for an instant and then drew his revolver and fired six shots after the flying burglar, one of which he believes took effect. But the man escaped.
Mania for Assaulting Women
Philadelphia Inquirer —
While Miss Lillie Miller, of North Camden, was on her way home on Saturday night, she was assaulted by an unknown man, who struck her several times and then ran. Miss Miller gave Policeman Cable, of the First ward, a description of the man, and the latter subsequently saw a well dressed man acting suspiciously around Front and Market streets. The officer had been watching the man a few minutes when a lady, named Mrs. Frank O’Neil, came along. The man stepped out from behind a tree box and dealt her two terrific blows in the face. Officer Cable captured the man and took him to the City Hall. He proved to be Frank Humphreys, a clerk. He will have a hearing to-day.
Camden’s Latest Murder Mystery
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Carrie Humphreys’ Body Found in the River.
A Scream, a Splash and Two Men Are Seen Running.
Police Officials Puzzled as to the Cause and Busy Running Out Clues—Sketch of the Early Life of the Woman.
The body of a handsome young woman, believed to be Carrie Humphreys, of Wood street, above Eighth, was found in the mud alongside the dock at Morris & Mathis’ shipyard, at Cooper’s Point, early yesterday morning, and certain circumstances connected with the case indicate that the police authorities across the river have a good-sized mystery to wrestle with.
While Thomas Holland, a riverman, was at work in a spar yard adjoining the shipyard shortly after 6 o’clock, he discovered a woman’s hat, gloves, pocketbook and handkerchief on a pile of logs at the water edge. Policeman Cable was notified and a search was begun along the adjoining wharves for the owner of the articles. The tide was going out and in the shallow water the men discovered the object of their search.
The body was that of a woman, aged from 21 to 25 years, with regular and handsome features, and long, blonde hair. It was attired in a black Jersey, black cashmere skirt, navy blue stockings and buttoned gaiters. One wrist was encircled by a bracelet and rhine stones in gold settings were in the ears. Near the body was a caba containing a change of underclothing and a pocketbook.
In the pocketbook were a card of J. Cyrus Edenborn, modiste, 1620 North Eighth street, Philadelphia, and a bill of Edenborn’s for dressmaking, made out to Blanche Humphreys. There were also two Walnut Street Theatre checks of May 12, two watch club tickets and three pennies.
The body was but slightly affected by the water and appeared to have been immersed but a few hours. At the morgue an examination was made and several bruises were found on the lower limbs.
A NEIGHBOR’S STORY.
Shortly after the news of the finding of the body had been circulated in the neighborhood Mrs. Margaret Coalmeirer, who lives at 826 Beach street, stated that about midnight she heard a woman’s voice coming from the direction of the wharf. She looked out of her window and saw two men talking with a woman. The latter appeared to be arguing with her companions.
Suddenly she heard the woman cry “Oh, don’t,” the sound of a struggle reached her ears and the men disappeared. There is one point in Mrs. Coalmeirer’s story which is of great importance in regard to its bearing on the discovery of the body. The woman she saw was quite stout. The drowned woman is of slender build.
Detective Warner went on the case with another official. Charles Simkins, a deck hand on the Vine Street Ferry, stated that two men and two young women went over on the boat about 11 o’clock and the men came back ‘without’ the women some time later. Miller and his companion came to Philadelphia during the afternoon and after consulting Chief Wood started uptown with Detective Donaghty to investigate the circumstances of the girl’s departure from this city. They found that she had been learning the trade of dressmaking at Edenborn’s establishment, and that she had been frequently seen with a young man known as Harry Sparkle, who boarded at the Hotel Plunkett, Eighth and Spring Garden streets. At the hotel they were informed that Sparkle no longer boarded there.
Later in the day the detectives found their man. He said that he last saw the girl at Franklin and Vine streets on Monday night. She was accompanied by two men. He conversed with her for a short time and left her. He stated that the girl had frequently threatened to commit suicide and that he had once taken poison from her which she was going to swallow.
There is no charge against the man, and he agreed to go to Camden for the purpose of identifying the girl. Information obtained by the police later in the day was to the effect that the girl’s real name was Carrie, and that she came from Shamokin. No arrests have been made.
Odds and Ends of News
Philadelphia Inquirer —
William Sturer, a lad living at Front and Wharton streets, this city, was picked up by Policeman Cable in Camden yesterday, while pretending to have a fit. The lad said he was to have appeared before the grand jury, of this city, and that he was advised by friends to go to Camden and feign sickness.
TAYLOR SHOT TO KILL HIM
Camden Daily Telegram —
EXTRA!
Sumner Derrickson Dangerously Wounded During a Row.
THEY FOUGHT OVER A WOMAN
The Participants All Had Their Guns and Knives Ready to Murder.
CAPTURED AFTER A HARD CHASE
The Man Who Did the Shooting Ran from Seventh and Sycamore Streets to the Federal Street Ferry With an Excited, Yelling Mob at His Heels—A Ferryboat Held Until the Police Arrived and Took the Fleeing Man Into Custody—The Wounded Man and His Brother Known as Bad Men.
Robert, alias Charles Taylor, colored, made a desperate attempt last night to murder Sumner Derrickson. Taylor is locked up at the City Hall and Derrickson is at the Cooper Hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen. The doctors there say that Derrickson is resting easily to-day and that he is in no immediate danger of dying. Taylor claims that he shot Derrickson in self defense.
ROW OVER A WOMAN.
The shooting was the outcome of jealousy. Taylor and Charles Derrickson and the latter’s brother, Sweeney Derrickson, were gambling in a house on Baxter street, between Ann and Seventh streets. A dispute arose and Taylor says that the Derricksons, who are known as bad men, chased him from the house. Sumner Derrickson, Taylor says, had a gun, and Sweeney Derrickson had a knife. At Seventh and Sycamore streets Taylor states that he found his pursuers were pressing him too closely. He turned as he ran and drawing his pistol fired at the two men. The bullet struck Sumner Derrickson in the abdomen and he fell to the ground with a groan. Sweeney stopped to look after his wounded brother and Taylor continued his flight.
SURGEONS FOUND THE BALL.
The wounded man was taken to the Cooper Hospital where the surgeons found the bullet had taken an upward course and lodged beneath the skin in Derrickson’s chest. The ball was extracted and Derrickson was made as comfortable as possible for the night.
The news of the attempted murder spread rapidly and the police were notified at once. An alarm was sent throughout the city and every effort was exerted to capture Taylor who had fled from the scene of the shooting as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran down to Kaighn avenue with the evident intention of taking a ferryboat to Philadelphia where he lives. The crowd that followed him, however, prevented Taylor making his escape in that direction. Like a hunted animal he turned up Second street toward the northern section of the city. The crowd increased each moment and the excitement of the chase became intense.
EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE.
Policeman Fitzsimmons joined the throng which by this time was yelling “Catch the murderer” and “Lynch him.” People who were retiring threw up their windows in alarm thinking that the police and the crowd were in pursuit of another man suspected of the double murder of Mrs. Zane and Mrs. Shaw of week ago. The chase grew hot along Second street, but Taylor proved himself fleet of foot and reached the Federal street ferry in time to catch the 10.45 p. m. boat.
POLICE CAPTURE TAYLOR.
Collector Andrew Frazee had been notified of the attempted murder and recognized Taylor as the man wanted. He instructed Gateman William Barnard to hold the boat while he sent word to the police that Taylor was at the ferry. The patrol wagon was sent there in a hurry.
In the meantime Policemen Al. Myers and George Cable had arrived and Policeman Fitzsimmons arrived a second later almost winded by his long run. Two respectable colored porters were taken into custody at first, but the policemen soon discovered their mistake and found Taylor crouched up in one corner of the boat. Policeman Fitzsimmons recognized Taylor by a scar on his neck and quickly grabbed him by the throat. The fellow made no resistance and was taken to the waiting patrol wagon by the three officers. Here he was hustled into the vehicle and sent to the City Hall. When arrested the revolver with which the shooting was done was found in Taylor’s pocket, but that individual had cutely reloaded the empty chambers as he ran so as to destroy what evidence there was against him.
Derrickson, brother of Sumner, was formerly of the firm of Reed & Derrickson who several years ago ran the notorious negro resort known as Olive Park where John Hill, a colored youth, shot Joseph Dodson, also colored. Hill afterwards was hanged for his crime and the police broke up the den where the tragedy occurred.
TAYLOR GIVEN A HEARING.
Taylor was given a hearing this morning by Mayor Westcott. The complaint was made by Lieutenant John Foster and accused Taylor of assaulting, shooting and attempting to kill Derrickson. Lawyer Jackson appeared for the defendant.
Edward Fortie, one of the men who was with Derrickson when the shooting occurred, stated that he did not see the first shot, but when the second and third shots were fired Taylor was starting down Kaighn avenue. Fortie and Jordon, with Derrickson, then started to run.
Ida Burton said she saw Taylor and Lawrence Anderson talking at Seventh and Baxter streets. Taylor went slowly toward Derrickson and suddenly pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired point blank at his victim. When questioned by the Mayor she said she saw all of the shots, but when cross-examined by Lawyer Jackson she denied having seen the firing of the first shot.
Aubrey Thompson, who was about fifteen yards distant, said he saw the first shot fired at some one setting back of the station at Seventh and Kaighn avenue. He then saw Taylor go down Kaighn avenue.
Several other witnesses were heard who said they saw the shots fired, but who were not positive as to whom they were directed at.
Policemen Al Myers and George Cable, who made the arrest, said they found the man on a Federal street ferryboat hiding behind an ash cart. Taylor said he had no revolver, but on the way to the City Hall Patrolman Golden found a 32-calibre revolver with three loaded chambers.
Mayor Westcott held Taylor to await the result of Derrickson’s injuries.
Taylor hails from Washington, D. C., and it was stated on good authority that he is wanted in Philadelphia and his native city for misdemeanors.
He Announces the Names
Camden Daily Telegram —
The Mayor Appoints the New Force To-day.
MANY OLD OFFICERS TAKEN BACK.
Some Surprise Manifested at the Mayor’s Appointment of Dodd Instead of Jones—This Afternoon All the Names Will be Announced.
The Mayor stated this morning to the newspaper fraternity that he would not announce his nominations for the police department until four o’clock this afternoon. It was expected that these would be announced this morning and in consequence there were a number of applicants for appointment on the force early this morning at the City Hall, hoping that the lightning would strike them.
Yesterday afternoon the mayor in addition to his nomination of Chief Dodd and Lieutenants Foster and Pettit appointed Frank Matlack, Jacob Woodsides, Alfred Hayden and John Dall, all of the Sixth Ward. The above were policemen under Mayor Westcott, before the Democratic Police Commission took charge of the Department.
Patrolman Griffin, Democrat, tendered his resignation yesterday to Mayor Westcott, to take effect to-day.
The appointment of Chief Dodd was quite a surprise to the public in general, as it was thought that Captain Jones would be named for the position. Many believed such an appointment would be in very good form, as Captain Jones’ knowledge of men and his military training would have made him a chief par excellence. The Mayor, however, probably thought that as Mr. Dodd had been so unceremoniously kicked out by the Democrats, it was nothing more than justice to again offer him the position which he had filled in a creditable manner for a number of years.
APPOINTED ON THE FORCE.
Mayor Westcott this afternoon made the following appointments:
First Ward—William E Cromly, George Cable, Henry R. Curtis, O. Glen Stackhouse.
Second Ward—Lincoln James, John Pratt, Samuel Bakley, Benj Middleton.
Third Ward—William Selby, Albert Myers, Edward Hartman.
Fourth Ward—Caleb Williams, Richard Golden, William Schregler, Ralph Bond.
Fifth Ward—William Harvey, Harry Mines and Oscar Weaver.
Sixth Ward—Jacob Woodsides, Frank Matlack, Albert Hayden and John Dall.
Seventh Ward—Josiah Sage, Henry Peters, Charles Lederman, Wm. Butts.
Eighth Ward—Alexander Alcorn, Chas. Leightenberg, Ferdinand Laird
There was no appointments made for the Ninth ward.