George Getley
George E. Getley was the son of George Thomas Getley and his wife, the former Laura Zane. An only child, he was born September 29, 1906 in Camden, New Jersey. The 1906 City Directory shows George Getley, a machinist, living at 629 Line Street in South Camden.
The 1910 Census shows George E. Getley and his parents living at 611 South 7th Street, near the corner of South 7th & Line Streets. He lived much of his life near this intersection. The Getleys were still at that address as late as 1913. By the end of 1913 the family had moved to 653 Line Street.
George Thomas Getley registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. He was working as a steamfitter and living at 653 Line Street when he registered for the draft that day. Sadly, he died shortly thereafter, very possibly in the world-wide influenza pandemic that ravaged Camden in the fall of 1918. The 1918–1919 Camden City Directory shows Laura Getley, the widow of George T. Getley, still residing at 653 Line Street in South Camden. Laura Getley and her son were still at that address when the Census was taken in January of 1920.
On March 1, 1928 George Getley was appointed to the Camden Police Department along with the following men, Francis Guetherman, August Riehm, William Schriver, Edward Shapiro, John V. Wilkie, Earl Wright, Edward Cahill, Marshall Thompson, Stanley Bobiak, Paul Edwards, Leon Feltz, Walter Vecander, Joseph Lack, Thomas Stanton, Otto Toperzer, and Frank Wilmot.
The 1930 Census shows George Getley and his mother living at 610 Roberts Street.
By the spring of 1933 Officer George Getley was assigned to motorcycle duty. He spent the bulk of his career in law enforcement in this capacity.
In 1934 George Getley married Leah Mae Mattison, the daughter of Camden policeman Walter S. Mattison.
The April 1940 Federal Census and the City Directory both show George and Leah Getley living at 337 North 38th Street in East Camden. His widowed mother was living at 705 Blaine Street and working as laundress at nearby Cooper Hospital. The census shows that two children had been born, Janet L., 4 and George E. Getley Jr., eight months.
George & Leah Getley’s marriage foundered shortly before the compilation of the 1943 City Directory. They had been living at 3272 Remington Street in East Camden at that time. Leah Mattison Getley remarried after 1946, moved to Pennsauken by 1954, and later moved to Texas.
The 1947 Camden City Directory shows George Getley had remarried and was living at 572 Raritan Street in East Camden with his second wife, the former Anna Mae Jamison.
George and Anna Getley returned to South Camden in the late 1950s and 1960s, making their home at 649 Line Street. Christine Hickman, who grew up on the block recalls the following:
He and his wife Ann lived at 649 Line Street and he used to come home with his motorcycle and sidecar, I guess on breaks or for lunch. I was about 12 or 13. I had heard he was sick when they moved and that is the year. My family moved in 1969. I loved them both and always thought of them when we moved away.
By the fall of 1969 they left Camden. The Getleys had moved to Cape May, New Jersey shortly before his death in November of 1972. Anna Mae Getley, last a resident of Berlin, New Jersey, passed away in October of 2003 at the age of 94.
Man, Robbed, Left in Road By Kidnappers
Camden Courier-Post —
Byron P. Cobb Beaten by Autoists; Roll of $4700 Taken
Byron P. Cobb, 62, the “Sun Doctor,” was kidnapped by three men early yesterday, beaten and robbed of $4700 before being tossed from a moving automobile in Farnham Park.
Detectives found him in a sub-conscious condition laying in the middle of River Drive, after a motorist had heard his moans and notified police.
Three South Camden youths, arrested for a motor violation at about the time Cobb was found, later were identified by the awning manufacturer as the ones who kidnapped and robbed him. They are Primo Fioravanti, 20, of 435 Division Street; Anthony Scanalvilli, 20, of 326 Division Street, and John Piliere, 19, of 1130 South 3rd Street.
All are being held on charges of kidnapping, atrocious assault and battery and highway robbery. They will be given a hearing today in police court. Later a charge of larceny of an automobile was placed against them.
Cobb, who for many years operated an awning manufacturing shop at Fifth and Royden Streets, told police he met the three who robbed him in a restaurant near Broadway and Kaighn Avenue. He said he bought them food and in return they offered to take him to his home in their automobile. This was shortly before 2 a.m.
He said two of the men were dressed in brown suits and the third wore a “greenish blue suit.” All wore light hats.
As soon as he entered the machine, Cobb told Detectives George Zeitz and Leon Branch, who found him in the park, someone hit him over the head.
Two of the men then went through his clothing and took the $4700 from his pockets. He told police that he drew the money from his bank yesterday and intended to pay off a mortgage on a property today.
The men held Cobb, he told police, until they reached Farnham Park, where he was tossed out of the machine as the driver slowed up.
A few minutes after 2 a. m., William P. Tyler, of 1493 Greenwood Avenue, driving past the park, heard someone shout “murder” several times. He hurried to a telephone and called police headquarters.
Found In Roadway
Detectives Zeitz and Branch searched the section where Tyler had heard the shouts. Then they drove down through River Drive, where they discovered Cobb lying in the middle of the roadway.
The injured man was taken to Cooper Hospital where he was revived, and then to detective headquarters.
Meanwhile Motorcycle Patrolmen George Getley and Earl Stopfer stopped a car at Mt. Ephraim and Ferry Avenues, which had aroused their suspicions as it sped down Mt. Ephraim Avenue.
Piliere was driving the machine and could not produce either a registration card or driver’s license. He said he had borrowed the car from a man he knew as “Pete.”
The car was claimed yesterday by Pietro Tocco, 35, of 717 South Fourth Street. He told Zeitz and Branch the car had been stolen from in front of his home “sometime around 2 a. m.” yesterday.
Piliere and his pals were taken to police headquarters where the former was booked on a motor-vehicle charge. When police found two pieces of rubber hose in the rear of the machine, all three were taken to detective headquarters.
There Cobb identified them as the three who had robbed him. He pointed out Fioravanti, the only one with a previous police record, as the man who hit him on the head.
Police held all three without bail for the hearing before Judge Pancoast.
At the Cobb home yesterday, Mrs. Byron P. Cobb said she knew nothing about the holdup. She said Cobb “appeared to have a headache when he got up,” but failed to mention anything was wrong and left the house before her return from church.
All of the suspects deny the robbery. They said they took a friend to his home in Woodlynne and were en route to their homes in Camden when arrested.
Piliere told Detectives Zeitz and Branch that he “borrowed the car from his uncle,” whom he only knew as “Pete.”
Byron P. Cobb and Primo Fioravanti
Camden Courier-Post —
Byron P. Cobb and Primo Fioravanti
Jobless Men Aid Police to Trap Suspects
Camden Courier-Post —
Surround House in East Camden and Prevent Escape of Two
Surrounding a vacant house at 331 Boyd Street which two alleged thieves had entered, a group of unemployed men yesterday cut off every avenue of escape until police arrived.
The men, who were found hiding in a second floor closet, police said, gave their names as Barney Runyon, 26, and William Newcomb, 22, both of 2301 Mickle Street.
A telephone call to the home of Patrolman Earl Stopfer, of 226 Boyd Street, by a resident in the vicinity of the vacant house, informed Mrs. Stopfer that two men were in the house. With her husband on desk duty at city hall, Mrs. Stopfer went to the home of Lieutenant Nathan Petit, 320 Boyd Street, but he was out. She then sent a group of unemployed men working on community gardens in the rear of her home to the scene and telephoned police.
The unemployed men were circled about the house when a patrol crew, under Patrolman George Getley arrived. The two men already had dismantled plumbing fixtures, Getley said. They were committed in default of $500 bail each for a hearing in police court this morning.
Man Held in Threat as Woman Faints
Camden Courier-Post —
Landlord, Seeking Rent, Denies He Intended to Shoot Tenant
Residents along the 900 block on Howard Street were thrown into a turmoil at 9:15 a.m. yesterday by a reported shooting, after a woman, screaming for help, ran from her home and fainted on the street.
The police arrested Charles Bensley, 73, of 936 Howard Street, charged with threatening to kill Mrs. Anna Morgan, 55, of 934 Howard Street, and carrying concealed deadly weapons.
A few minutes later Police Judge Pancoast held Bensley without bail for the grand jury. He admitted having the pistol at the hearing, but had denied possession of the weapon when first arrested.
“Were you going to shoot her?” the court asked.
“No,” Bensley replied, “I don’t know what made me do this, I think I’m half-crazy. I own the house and wanted to collect the rent or make her move.”
When Motorcycle Patrolmen Russell Young and George Getley arrived in front of Bensley’s home, 100 neighbors were crowding the street outside.
Bensley, they said, eluded them and ran out the front door after pretending to make for the back. He was grabbed by August Hasher, 41, of 217 Erie Street, a bystander.
Meanwhile, a motorist had taken the unconscious Mrs. Morgan to Cooper Hospital when she fainted in front of her home. She was questioned at the hospital by Detectives Clifford Del Rossi and George Zeitz.
The detectives quoted Mrs. Morgan as saying that Bensley, who owns the house in which she lives, came into her home this morning to talk about rent which was two months overdue.
“He asked me,” she said, “if I had received a court notice to move, and I said I had, but was waiting for an eviction notice.
“Then he said, ‘Well, I’m going to take the law in my own hands,’ and with that he pulled out a pistol and began brandishing it. I ran out the front door calling for help and then I fainted. That’s all I remember.”
Bensley admitted asking Mrs. Morgan to move out. The police found a 38-caliber revolver and a box of bullets hidden behind a rafter in the cellar of his home, they said.
Third Suspect Seized in Holdup at Cemetery
Camden Courier-Post —
Chester Mignogna, 23, of 429 Stevens street, was arrested Saturday for complicity in a holdup of Jacob Mutzer, 62, of 417 Carteret street, on June 16. He will be arraigned in police court today.
Patrolman George Getley made the arrest on complaint of Detective Clifford Carr, investigating the case. Two others were arrested recently and held for grand jury action for the robbery. They are Michael Meloni, 22, of 312 South Fourth street, and Dominic Vizzone, 25, of 316 South Fifth street.
Mutzer said three men offered to give him a ride home late one night as he was standing at Broadway and Benson street. He said they took him to Evergreen Cemetery where they beat him and stole his watch and $60 in cash. Meloni was arrested first and Vizzone a few days later.
M.F. Middleton Felled by Gas In House Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Former City Commissioner Found Unconscious in Old Home
With gas flowing from a pipe detached from a gas range, former City Commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., was found unconscious in the kitchen of his former home at 538 Cooper Street early Saturday night.
Middleton was reported last night to still be in a critical condition at West Jersey Hospital, where he was taken. The Camden Fire Department First Aid Squad worked over him for an hour at the house in a vain effort to revive him.
Middleton, a former president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and one time city councilman, was found by a son, C. Barry Middleton, and a friend, John Williams Rossell, who lives with the Middletons on Laurel road, Moorestown. Middleton was clad in overalls and two large pipe wrenches were lying on the kitchen floor near him.
Young Middleton said his father told his family he intended to take up some linoleum in the kitchen of his former home. Middleton first went to his office Saturday and then to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to a service. From there he was traced to his former home, which is owned by him.
When Middleton failed to return home for dinner at the usual time Saturday his son and Rossell decided to search for him. When young Middleton discovered his father’s plight he notified police. Patrolmen Frank Cavallo, Henry Lutz, Walter Vecander and George Getley responded in radio cars and gave first aid until the fire department squad arrived.
The firemen worked on the former commissioner one hour with an inhalator before ordering his removal to the hospital, where they continued to work on Middleton for another hour but were unable to revive him. Hospital physicians continued working on him without success. They said his condition was critical.
Gas Man Called
At 4 p. m. Saturday the family living next to Middleton’s home telephoned Public Service that gas was coming from the house. Public Service sent a man to investigate but he was unable to get into the house.
Young Middleton and Rossell said they reached the house at 6.17 p. m.
While he was a member of the first city commission Middleton was director of finance but never missed responding to all alarms of fire. He was a member of the fire committee while serving in City Council as a member from the Second ward. In that capacity he also answered all alarms.
Members of the Firemen’s First Aid Squad responding to the call were Deputy Chief William R. Harring, Hosemen Christopher Moll, William Spencer, Harry Haines, Russell Anderson, William Harry Deitz and Nelson Andrews.
City Detectives Benjamin Simon, Joseph Mardino and William Marter are investigating the cause.
5 Accused Cops To Ask Rhone for Full Exoneration
Camden Courier-Post —
Claim Falsifications Of N. J. Work Record In Overpass Case
Director of Public Safety Rhone soon will be asked to “completely exonerate” five of eight Camden traffic officers who have been accused of accepting pay from the state for traffic duty at the Baird boulevard overpass during their regular city hours.
State Senator Wallace made that announcement today on behalf of Sgt. Anthony Skolski and Traffic Patrolmen Charles Hance, Martin Nelson, George Getley and Everett Joslin.
Wallace said he would base his appeal to Dr. Rhone on testimony produced at a preliminary hearing held yesterday on orders of Dr. Rhone for all eight men, including Captain Nathan Petit, and Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander.
“There is no question that the payroll records which were the basis for the accusations against the five men I represent, were falsified,” Wallace said. “Sergeant Wilson, who kept the records admitted frequently in his testimony yesterday the records were ‘mistakes, errors and not based on actual time put in.’”
‘Charges Groundless’
“The whole hearing proved without doubt that the charges against the five men were groundless and I will ask Dr. Rhone to make a public statement that the records were falsified and these five men were blameless and not guilty of accepting state pay for work on city time.”
Wilson admitted at the hearing he did not pay the traffic men the full time recorded for them on the overpass payroll records. He was asked by Assistant City Solicitor Goldman:
“Then it comes down to the fact that the men in the traffic bureau only worked on their off hours. That the reports are mistakes. They only received the money to which they were entitled. You got more money than they were entitled to but you won’t tell us where that money went to, is that correct?”
“Yes,” Wilson answered.
Wilson said the hours marked on the payroll were a mistake and that they had been listed “at random” because “a man doesn’t have much time to himself on such a job.”
Asked by Goldman if he would care to reveal where the additional money went, Sergeant Wilson replied:
“No. I would not.”
Petit and Wilson both testified they worked 77 hours some weeks at the overpass scene, but insisted this was in addition to their regular 48 hours on city time.
The testimony was presented before Rhone and Goldman with Deputy Director Edward C. Garrity and Police Chief Samuel E. Johnson attending. A stenographer from Dr. Rhone’s office took notes. Newspapermen also were present but only one policeman was allowed in Dr. Rhone’s office at one time.
On behalf of the five men he represented, Wallace said:
“I represent these men and they are here for the purpose of having me make a statement and offer our cooperation to the director and deputy director in the investigation of this matter,” Wallace said.
“We did not anticipate there would be any hearing or that there would be questioning by the city counsel or that the statements would be taken by a stenographer. We have no objection to that except we did not receive the payroll sheets referred to here until a short time ago and we have been unable to determine who kept those payrolls. We have not had sufficient time to make a check of them.”
Worked on Own Time
“The statement of each man is the same. They were asked to do this work by Capt. Petit. They were paid by Sergeant Wilson. They didn’t sign any payroll sheets or checks and they were paid in cash. At no time did they receive money for work at this project for the time when they were supposed to be doing city duties. They did work on their off hours and were paid.
“They did not work such hours as have been stated in the press and they did not receive the compensation also published. At no time did they receive money for work during city hours. These men have daily reports from pull boxes and other records showing they carried on their public duties. These are records over which they had no control and were kept by someone else.”
Hold Duty Record
“They also have records in their own handwriting such as tags and summonses which were issued by them to motorists and will show the time when they were in various parts of the city doing traffic work.
“These records not only show the time but they show the man’s name and where it was he tagged the car. All these records have been turned into the department. We will be glad to compare our records and the alleged records of this contractor to show that regardless of the time shown in the record they did not work on city time. They were not required to use their motorcycles as it was all hand work, the mere turning of a light to relieve tie-ups and getting trucks through. They did wear their uniforms which they buy themselves with a small contribution by the city.
“Arrests were made at this project and will show the time these men worked there and that they were there to enforce the law and protect public property.”
“After examining the record will you be in a position to have the men come in and tell us where the discrepancies are?” Goldman ask [sic] Wallace.
Pledges Full Report
Wallace said he would, adding “we will make a full report so the case can be followed through. I would like to say in regard to Officer Hance he has a complete record of his work on this project and it shows he received only $289.75 while the payroll sheets as quoted in the newspapers said he received $469.50. He has a complete record of his pay and it shows he did not work there at any of the city time.”
In describing how he put in the time for the officers, Wilson told Goldman he tried to strike a “happy medium” by giving “an honest count.”
Both Petit and Wilson admitted that at no time did they ever tell Dr. Rhone, Garrity or Chief Johnson they were receiving pay for their work at the overpass.
When Wilson was asked to identify three men being carried on the payrolls, James Bishop, Joseph Weller, and Charles Howell, he said:
“All three of those men were sent to me for jobs by a political friend of mine. I gave them work at night.”
Later Wilson was asked to identify the “political friend.”
He declined, but admitted the man was not a resident of Camden.
Petit admitted that he made the original arrangement for the hiring of city policemen for the state highway work. He said he did so at the request of John Williams, local representative of the state highway department. He said Williams approached him, saying the state needed men for traffic control at the overpass and would pay them $1.35 an hour.
He said Wilson took over as “sergeant in charge” and that Wilson paid them in cash.
Wilson explained that he was too busy to keep a detailed account of each officer’s hours. He admitted that he was not at the overpass from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m., as he had filled out some of the time sheets.
Drew Lump Sum
Wilson also admitted that he personally received all eight policemen’s pay “in a lump sum—cash” from the contractor (who later was reimbursed by the state) and that he paid the other seven men. He also said under questioning by Goldman that he did not deduct any money from the men’s pay for withholding taxes.
Several times Wilson was warned by Goldman that anything he said at the examination could be used against him. Wilson said he would answer any question he felt would not incriminate him.
Petit entered a general denial of ever working on the overpass project on time for which he was paid by the city.
He said Wilson was in charge of the traffic detail at the project, and that he, Petit, had not seen any payrolls that Wilson allegedly made up for payment of the men.
At no time did he work continuously 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. as is indicated by the payrolls, Petit said.
Worked 77 Hours
Petit was unable to answer a question as to the total amount of money he earned on the project.
He was paid for the entire time, from April 26 to Sept. 6, he said, except for a period he was off sick with a back ailment from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16.
Petit further stated if the records showed he was paid for those two weeks they were wrong. Wilson testified the payroll records showed Petit was paid for the two weeks.
Petit was asked whether he delegated to Wilson the authority to run the project and pay the men. He said he did not give Wilson any special authority, but he was detailed there to be in charge.
As to the contract he had with the highway department representative, Petit said he was told the rate would be $1.35 an hour, and as far as he knew all the men were paid that rate for the time they worked.
Cops and Counsel in Dual Job Case
Camden Courier-Post —
—Courier-Post Photos
FIVE CITY TRAFFIC BUREAU MEMBERS are shown at top presenting their defense through counsel to Public Safety Director Dr. Rhone on charges they collected pay from state highway funds for working at the Baird boulevard overpass at the time they were required to be on duty for the city. State Sen. Bruce A. Wallace is at extreme right denying the charges for the five officers he represents. Standing with him from left are Sgt. Anthony Skolski, Patrolmen Charles Hance, George Getley, Everett Joslin and Martin Nelson. The lower photo shows Traffic Sgts. James Wilson and Walter Vecander, and Park Guard Anthony Palese waiting to be called.