George Jefferis

Motorcycle Patrolman, Camden Police Department
Died: September 5, 1951
Buried at: Locustwood Memorial Park

Patrolman George F. Jefferis, 54, veteran motorcycle officer, of 114 Terrace Avenue, died Wednesday in Cooper Hospital, where he was under treatment for injuries suffered last week in a collision of his cycle and an automobile. Coroner Blake said an autopsy would be conducted today.

Jefferis, a patrolman for 25 years, was admitted to the hospital August 29 with a fractured left ankle and a possible fracture of the left hip, suffered when his motorcycle and an automobile collided at Third and Penn streets.

The car was driven by Robert Collins, 20, of 6041 Clayton Avenue, Pennsauken Township.

Active U.S. Bond Seller

Jefferis was widely known throughout the city for his work during World War II with Patrolman Earl Stopfer, in the sale of $4,000,000 in war bonds, and for the past 16 years in guiding and instructing public and parochial school safety patrols. During that period the two men organized safety patrols in 38 schools with a membership of 1058.

The two patrolmen three years ago completed a colored, sound motion picture, “A Plan For Safety,” financed by the Atlantic Refining Co. Since then the film has been shown throughout the United States, Canada, Hawaiian Islands, and is now in England. The picture was filmed in Camden, with the two policemen and Camden schoolchildren as characters.

Veteran of World War I

Among the cities which have announced they have organized safety patrols along the lines shown in the picture are Vineland, Millville, Akron OH, Cincinnati OH, Springfield MA, Memphis TN, Washington DC, Bloomington IN, Salt Lake City UT, Topeka KS, Richland WA, Boston MA, Lancaster PA, Honolulu HI, and Toronto, Canada.

The film has been shown before hundreds of civic, social, and service groups, and parent-teacher associations. It relates various duties and requirements for school safety patrol members and shows them in correct activities in the event of fire alarms and drills, operation of children’s courts, holding of safety meetings, care of children on streets, and holding of program planning meetings.

Jefferis was a Navy veteran of World War I and a member of Camden Local 35, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, for 25 years. He completed 25 years in the police department in July.

On September 7, 1948 Jefferis also suffered injuries when his cycle was struck in the rear by an auto as he was cruising on Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

Jefferis is survived by his widow, Ida; a daughter, Barbara Ann, 15; his father Joseph, of 1152 Baring Street, a retired employee of the Delaware River Joint Commission, and a sister, Mrs. Gerard Tiedeken, wife of the city’s chief school attendance officer.

Services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. in the Murray funeral home, 406 Cooper Street, where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial Park.

One Goes to Jail in Default of Paying $50 Fine
60 Days for Tipsy Man

Two excuses offered by two men for the presence of beer in their stores failed to impress Police Judge Pancoast yesterday. One storekeeper went to jail for 30 days in default of a $50 fine and the other storekeeper was fined $200.

Charles Yatzus, 43, of 1036 Central Avenue, went to jail because he was unable to explain how he was able to purchase beer and whiskey when he was on the verge of becoming a charge of the city emergency relief administration.

After Lieutenant Ralph Bakley had testified beer and whisky were found in his store, Yatzus said he was expecting friends from Wilmington and had purchased the liquor for use while they were at his house. Then he said he didn’t have any money and was running a small store to keep from becoming an emergency relief charge.

Angelo Teto, 42, of 1024 South Third Street, insisted Earl Foy, 1016 South Sixth Street, came into his store to buy a bottle of root beer and not 3.2 beer. Foy, who said he was directed by Lieutenant Bakley to make a “buy” of beer at Teto’s store, testified Teto told his 11 year-old daughter to get a bottle of beer from the ice box. Before the deal could be completed, Foy said, Detective Vernon Jones entered the store.

Foy said Teto ordered his daughter to return the beer to the icebox, saying he recognized Jones. The beer, Teto said, was purchased for his own use. Teto insisted that Foy had asked for root beer and was to be served root beer. Judge Pancoast said he did not believe Teto’s excuse and fined him $200.

Because he refused to follow the friendly advice of a policeman and “go home to sober up,” Louis Schechtman, 48, of 2374 Broadway, is in the county jail today, beginning a 60-day sentence, in addition to paying a $25 fine.

He faces another hearing tomorrow on charges of selling beer illegally.

Schechtman, according to Motorcycle Policeman George Jefferis, was creating a disturbance at Broadway and Fairview Street yesterday. He became abusive when told to “go home and sober up,” Jefferis said, so he went to jail. Judge Pancoast sentenced him to 60 days on the charge of being intoxicated.

Robert Powell, 430 Stevens Street, a taxicab driver, filed a charge of disorderly conduct against Schechtman, alleging Schechtman refused to pay a taxicab bill of $12.35. The disorderly charge brought a fine of $25.

Lieutenant Ralph Bakley alleged Schechtman had been violating the temporary beer law of New Jersey by selling beer without a license. Judge Pancoast said Schechtman will be taken into court tomorrow morning for a hearing on the beer charge.