Harry Kyler
Harry Kyler, Camden Police Detective
HARRY KYLER was born on May 2, 1890 in Camden, New Jersey to Benjamin F. and Margaret Kyler. His father was born in Pennsylvania, his mother was a native of Northern Ireland. He served in the United States Navy in the late 1900s and early 1910s. It is known that he was a member of the crew of USS Bainbridge DD-1, stationed at Cavite in the Philippines, at the time of the 1910 Census. He returned to Camden and married Martha Kearney at the age of 23. By 1920 Martha had born three children, daughters Martha and Margaret, and son Harry Kyler Jr. Another daughter, Betty, would come in the late 1920s.
Harry and Martha Kyler first appear in Camden City directories in 1916, living at 236 Milton Street in North Camden, he was then working as a rigger, most likely in one of the nearby shipyards. He was appointed to the Camden Police Department on April 12, 1917. The family was then living at 220 Bailey Street. He appears to have left the police force after a few months to take a higher paying job in one of Camden’s shipyards. City Directories have him working in the shipyard and living at 200 Bailey Street as late as 1922.
In 1922 Harry Kyler returned to the Camden Police Department. He and his family are listed at 3225 Mount Ephraim Avenue in the 1923 Directory. By the time the 1924 edition was compiled, they had moved to 329 Grant Street in North Camden. The Kylers lived on at that address to at least 1956, and most likely for a few years afterwards.
By 1928 Harry Kyler had been promoted to detective. After 33 years of distinguished service, Harry Kyler retired on pension in 1955. Harry and Martha Kyler moved to Williamstown, New Jersey in 1962. He passed away on December 27, 1974 and was buried at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, New Jersey.
World War I Draft Card
Harry Kyler — World War I Draft Card
G.O.P. Ward Boss Is Fined After Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
A Republican committeeman in the Seventh precinct of the Second Ward, this morning paid a fine of $100 in police court after he had been adjudged guilty of maintaining a disorderly house.
Eight others arrested with Philip McDonald, 35 years old, 919 Market street, and including James Lightfoot, 41 years old, 822 Kimber street, a precinct committeeman in the same ward, and an inspector in the city water department, had their sentences suspended for lack of evidence.
The hearing before Judge Bernard Bertman…
Funeral for Stehr to Be Held Saturday
Camden Evening Courier —
FUNERAL FOR STEHR TO BE HELD SATURDAY
City in Mourning as Rites are Planned—Burial Will Be in Harleigh
With the city in mourning today, funeral arrangements were being completed for Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr, who died yesterday in Cooper Hospital. Hundreds of friends will view the body in state tomorrow between 7 and 10 p. m. at the Schroeder Chapel, Broadway and Royden streets. Many others will attend the funeral services, which will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the chapel.
Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery.
A list of honorary pall bearers was compiled today, as well as the police escort. The police stations in the four city districts were draped in black and flags were at half-mast today, and will remain so for 30 days.
The pallbearers will be Lieutenants Ralph Bakely and George Ward; Sergeants George Nowry and Frank Truax; Policemen Thomas Cheeseman and Harry Kyler.
Honorary pallbearers are Sergeants Herbert Anderson and John Skolski; District Detective Archie Reiss, Policemen John Kowal and Clarence Phifer, and Donald Swissler, clerk of the chief’s office.
There will be a guard of honor formed by the mounted squad of the police department which will be changed every two hours while the body is viewed. Funeral arrangements are in charge of Lieut. George Ward.
The police of the city will view the remains Friday at 7.30 p. m. at the funeral parlors.
Mrs. Anna Stehr had been at the bedside of her husband constantly since he was stricken Thanksgiving Day. Yesterday nurses assured her her husband’s condition was unchanged and she was making Christmas purchases at Chief Stehr’s request when he died. Condolences were being received by Mrs. Stehr from many city and county officials as well as legions of friends. Deputy Public Safety Director Charles V. Dickinson and Captain Arthur Colsey, police chief clerk, were to convey to Mrs. Stehr today the official condolence of the city.
A letter of condolence was sent to Mrs. Stehr today along with a resolution adopted by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Camden Local No. 35. The letter read:
“It is with heartfelt regret and with deepest sympathy that we offer condolences to you in this hour of bereavement. The sudden action of the Almighty in plucking this noble man from our midst has overwhelmed us with sorrow and regret that words alone cannot express. This, however, being the desire of the Lord, we feel that the benevolent performance of our beloved chief so ably executed upon this humble earth, will be amply rewarded in a celestial sphere not made by man.
“We sincerely trust, we, his brothers and friends, have lessened your grief in this, our expression, of what your faithful husband has meant to us, the members of the P. B. A. as well as yourself.
“Respectfully yours, “CLIFFORD A. FLENNARD, “President.”
The resolution declares: “Whereas this local feels that it has sustained a severe loss in the passing of its greatest force for good, and “Whereas we deeply deplore his passing, “Be it resolved that it is the unanimous opinion of the membership of this organization that the death of Lewis H. Stehr, chief of police of the City of Camden, N. J., has caused great sorrow among us. His good deeds in life might well cause one to write a never-ending stream of eulogies but in this case we wish to call him and always think of him as a friend, a word that is applied to him whole-heartedly and in the fullest sense of the word. It is impossible to express to what extent we shall miss him but we shall always and forever remember Chief Stehr as a friend whose place made vacant by death will be very difficult to fill.
“Be it further resolved that Camden Local, No. 35, P. B. A., also wishes to extend its sympathies to Mrs. Stehr and to offer whatever assistance possible at this time of her bereavement and at any other time this organization may find it in its power to do so.
“Be it also resolved that we also extend our sympathies to his relatives and friends who are no doubt feeling his passing as deeply as we do so.”
Copies of the resolution were sent to Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone, Mrs. Stehr and the press. The resolution was passed at the regular meeting of the local yesterday. The resolution was signed by Flennard, the president, and Joseph Keefe, the secretary.
Chief George W. Black, secretary of the International Chief of Police Association, sent his regrets and letter of condolence to Captain Arthur Colsey and asking that a floral design be sent to the funeral at the association’s expense.
Mayor Price issued the following statement: “I was very greatly shocked to learn of the death of Chief Stehr. While I understood he was in a serious physical condition, I did not anticipate his death.
“Chief Stehr had devoted practically his entire lifetime to the service of the city, having entered the police department in his early youth, and is entitled to the commendation of his fellow citizens for his efforts in the public service.”
Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, when apprised of the police chief’s death, said: “The news of Chief Stehr’s death was a terrible shock. I feel a personal loss, as we were close friends. I knew him since I was a young boy, and our contacts in the past two years were most pleasant.”
Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin declared: “The suddenness of the death of Chief Stehr comes as a shock to those of his friends who were wishing him well in his illness. His passing naturally causes grief to those whose work brought them into close contact with him.”
City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman said: “The passing of Chief Stehr is a great loss to the community. We were all hoping that Chief Stehr was on the road to recovery and only several days ago when I inquired at the hospital, I learned that his condition was greatly improved. His sudden passing is a terrible shock.”
Pallbearers Named for Stehr Funeral
Camden Evening Courier Morning Post —
PALLBEARERS NAMED FOR STEHR FUNERAL
Body Will Lie in State Tonight—Burial Tomorrow Afternoon
Funeral arrangements were completed yesterday for Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr, who died Wednesday in Cooper Hospital following a heart attack.
The body will lie in state tonight between 7 and 10 p. m. at the Schroeder Chapel, Broadway and Royden streets. The funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the chapel. Thousands of friends are expected to view the remains.
Burial will be in Harleigh cemetery.
A police escort and a list of honorary pallbearers was compiled yesterday. All police buildings in the city were draped in black and flags over municipal buildings were at half-mast and will remain so for 30 days.
The active pallbearers will be Lieuts. Ralph Bakely and George Ward; Sergts. George Nowry and Frank Truax; Policemen Thomas Cheeseman and Harry Kyler.
Honorary pallbearers are Lieut. Herbert Anderson, Sergt. John Skolski, District Detective Archie Reiss, Policemen John Kowal and Clarence Phifer and Donald Swissler, clerk of the chief’s office.
There will be a guard of honor formed by the members of the mounted squad. A fire truck will convey the flowers to the cemetery.
The police of the city will view the body at 7:30 p. m. tonight at the funeral parlors.
Members of the Sixth Ward Republican Club, of which Chief Stehr was an active member, will assemble at their headquarters at 7 p. m. and march to the funeral parlors. They will be led by John J. Breslin, president of the club.
Rev. Edward Weeks, pastor of the Union M. E. Church, Fifth and Mt. Vernon streets, will conduct the services.
Probe Started by Dickinson in Raid 'Leak'
Camden Evening Courier —
PROBE STARTED BY DICKINSON IN RAID ‘LEAK’
Men Fled $250,000 Still Before Cops Arrived, Deputy Learns
Baldwin Gave Clue to Giant Plant
Vast Amount of Rum Supplies Seized in North Camden
Major Charles V. Dickinson, deputy director of public safety, today started an investigation to ascertain how plans for a raid on a $250,000 North Camden distilling plant leaked out more than an hour before the raid was made late yesterday afternoon.
The inquiry to locate the “leak” was prompted by rumors that neighbors saw employes of the distillery running from the plant at Ninth and State streets an hour and 20 minutes before detectives and the police raided it. Major Dickinson, however, insists he and Lieut. George Ward were the only persons in the police department who knew the location of the plant prior to the raid.
Police believe the distillery to be one of a chain of such places operated throughout this state with headquarters in Newark.
The raid was the result of an investigation made by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin after he had heard rumors a large distilling plant was being operated in North Camden. Baldwin assigned Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, and other county detectives, to make a survey, and men were stationed near the plant.
When Chief Doran reported the results of the survey to Baldwin the prosecutor immediately notified Major Dickinson and ordered him to make the raid. Dickinson called in Lieutenant Ward and plans were made for descending on the plant.
A squad of detectives and patrolmen, led by Dickinson, raided the plant a few minutes before 4 p.m. It was the third raid on the plant within two years, Lieutenant Ward having seized a 1500-gallon still there on March 25, 1929, and federal prohibition agents confiscating $100,000 worth of alcohol distilling equipment about 18 months ago.
“If there was a leak, and if the employes and operators were tipped off, I would like to know how it happened,” Major Dickinson said today. “As soon as I heard of this distilling plant I called Lieutenant Ward into my office and we made arrangements and completed plans to raid the place immediately. The plans, however, were not completed until 3 p.m. about an hour after I was notified of the existence of the plant.”
“All arrangements were made by telephone and there could not have been anyone, to my knowledge, who knew the plans. Detectives and patrolmen were told to assemble at the First District police station. They were not told where they were going or what for. Ward and myself were the only ones in the police department who knew the location of the plant.”
The raiders seized 915 gallons of alcohol in 53 five-gallon cans and 12 50-gallon drums, 1500 pounds of brown sugar, 400,000 gallons of mash, 12 bags of white powder and one bale of hops.
Five steel tanks, each of 80,000 gallons capacity, two stills of 50,000 gallons capacity each, one 3000-gallon still, several large wooden tanks, thousands of feet of piping and coiling equipment were found in the plant. The steel tanks had been built in, a section of one floor having been removed to make room. The plant was located on four floors, the fermentation tanks being on the top floors and pipes arranged so that the products could be “worked down” to the first floor tanks where the alcohol was put in five-gallon cans for shipping.
Baldwin called the plant the largest illicit distillery in the United States and said he believed it to be operated by a big liquor ring. He believed it took several months to install the extensive equipment, which was new. An elaborate system of signal alarms, secret telephones, tunnels for hurried exits and arrangements for lookouts two blocks from the plant were found.
All of the equipment, as well as supplies for the plant, were taken there by boat, Baldwin believes. Arrangements had been made for emptying the mash into Cooper River. The entire plant was surrounded by a high fence.
Dickinson said he believed the plant had been in operation not more than 10 days as the valves, turnhandles, spigots and brass work showed little signs of wear. Preparations had been made against a possible raid. Dickinson learned after visiting the plant, as the names on shipping labels had been torn so they were not readable. Tar paper had been placed over the window. Names had been removed from the lunch boxes of workmen.
Large packing boxes such as used for the shipment of radio and phonograph sets were used to hide the machinery and also for shipping the cans of alcohol.
The stills and steel tanks were dismantled by acetylene torches, the mash and chemicals were dumped in Cooper river and the alcohol was taken to city hall. The alcohol probably will be turned over to hospitals and charitable institutions.
Dickinson and Baldwin are making surveys today to ascertain, if possible, who leased the building. Nearby plant owners and neighbors will be questioned.
The building for many years was headquarters of the old Highland Worsted Mills and extends from Ninth street to the Cooper river; on State street, and runs back about a half square to Moore street.
Yesterday the buildings were empty when the big squad of cops swarmed into the place. The lunch baskets of several employes were found on tables in the room and there were other evidences of a hasty exit having taken place. There were rumors that a “tip off” had been given the men in the building, and it was reported they were seen to rush from the building a few minutes before the arrival of the raiders.
The raid, observers recalled, bears every indication of paralleling that on Chestnut street, near the second district police station, on October 22 when a $200,000 distillery was uncovered. Of nine men arrested there, six were fined $300 each and three were dismissed yesterday. Their attorney declared the men were merely employes and that the “owners have skipped out, leaving these men in the middle.”
The raiders entered the building through a tunnel on the banks of Cooper river. The tunnel ended under the building with a trapdoor giving ingress to the basement of the distillery.
None of the stills was in operation. Warm storage tanks containing mash indicated that two stills had been in operation recently. Three huge storage tanks reaching to the third floor had a total capacity of 240,000 gallons. It is estimated that the distillery had an output of about 500,000 gallons of alcohol per day.
The raiders in addition to Deputy Director Dickinson and Lieutenant Ward included Sergeant Walter Mattison, Sergeant Jeff Kay, Detectives Howard Smith, Alfred Shires, Harry Kyler, Archie Reese, and Patrolmen Walter Smith, Alfred Shires, Harry Cattell, Earl Rider, Charles Smith, a second patrolman of the same name, John Toll, John Taylor, Frank Carle and Oscar Thompson.
Del Duca Guilty as Operator of Disorderly House
Camden Courier-Post —
DEL DUCA GUILTY AS OPERATOR OF DISORDERLY HOUSE
All Male Jury Convicts ‘Gyp’ After Deliberating 45 Minutes
GIRL TELLS EXPERIENCES
An all-male criminal court jury yesterday found Arthur “Gyp” Del Duca guilty of operating a disorderly house.
The jury deliberated only 45 minutes before reaching the verdict, his counsel, Judge Austin H. Swackhammer set bail at $5000 pending sentence, and when Del Duca was unable to post the amount, remanded him to jail.
The state rested at 12:30 p.m. Del Duca then went on the stand in his own defense and made a sweeping denial of the charges. He admitted owning the house, but said he rented it to two men known only as O’Neill and O’Brien.
The state produced a surprise witness who testified she was an inmate of the establishment and that Del Duca was her boss.
The girl, Josephine Comatis, 25, of Philadelphia, described in lurid detail her life in the house at 674 Fairview street, which was raided by the police June 29 after two sailors reported they had been robbed in the place by bandits.
Cross examination by James Russell Carrow, attorney for Del Duca, served to show the young woman’s story.
Walter Smith and Harry Kyler, city detectives who assisted in the raid, told the court how they found a man and a woman as Dorothy Davis in a second-story bedroom.
Del Duca was not in the house when it was raided, but a warrant was issued for his arrest and he surrendered the next day.
Camden Courier-Post — June 6, 1932
Named: Benson Street, Kerr’s Chickery, Frank Schubert, Walter Smith, John Trout, and Harry Kyler.
Camden Courier-Post — November 3, 1932
THIEVES FOILED IN ATTEMPT TO ROB SEARS, ROEBUCK STORE
Two Youths Believed to Have Plunged in River to Escape Police; Shots Fired as They Elude Pursuers
Surprised in the act of forcing their way into the Sears-Roebuck store at Bridge boulevard and Federal street, two youths escaped last night amid a burst of bullets.
Chased by an attendant of a nearby service station, the pair fled across the boulevard and were lost in the swamp along the Cooper river. Police believe they swam the river to escape.
Humphrey Toomey, 60, of 1640 South Sixth street, outside watchman of the Sears store, discovered the youths attempting to pry open a window on the north side of the building—the same window through which entrance was gained several months ago when several hundred dollars worth of merchandise was stolen.
The window is ten feet above ground. One youth was standing on the shoulders of the other, and had succeeded in removing the wire screen.
Toomey blew his police whistle, attracting the attention of Frank McClernan, of Clementon, a gas station attendant, who ran to the scene as Toomey fired one shot after the disappearing marauders.
Handing his revolver to McClernan, Toomey asked him to chase the youths. McClernan fired all four remaining bullets in the weapon after the rapidly disappearing pair, and chased them to the bank of the river where he lost them.
Meanwhile, an alarm had been sounded by Toomey, and a detail of police, headed by Lieut. Herbert Anderson, arrived and joined McClernan in the search.
McClernan said he did not think he had wounded either of the youths, who were described by Toomey as being between 16 and 20 years old. Darkness, Toomey added, made it impossible for him to describe them any further.
Although there is no electrically operated burglar alarm system in the Sear’s store, there are two watchmen—one inside and the other outside.
The detectives who aided in the vain search are Robert Ashenfelter, Walter Smith, John Trout and Harry Kyler.
Four Storekeepers Are Fined for Beer
Camden Courier-Post —
One Pays $200, others Assessed $25 Each for Not Having Licenses
Four Camden storekeepers were fined by Judge Pancoast in Camden Police Court yesterday charged with violating the city’s temporary beer law by selling the amber fluid without licenses.
Those held and their fines were as follows:
Antonio Ardoni, of 656 South Third Street, grocer, fined $200, the maximum; Abe Barton, of 232 South Eighth Street, fined $25; Max Marker, of 228 Linden Street; fined $25, and Barney Masso, of 554 Royden Street, fined $25.
In addition three women storekeepers were arraigned and warned on informal complaint, also charged with illegal sale of beer.
All the men were arrested, District Detective Harry Kyler said, by investigators who went into the shops and made purchases of bottled beer while he stood on the opposite side of the street.
Ardoni denied selling the beer and said he never had any beer in his shop. Judge Pancoast said he preferred to believe the police.
Barton pleaded guilty.
Marker said he had purchased the beer for his own use but had been persuaded to sell some.
Masso declared he would go out of the beer business permanently.
“I don’t blame these storekeepers as much as the beer distributors,” said Judge Pancoast. “The distributors are supposed to check up on who has licenses before they wholesale their product.”
The names of the women warned by Judge Pancoast were not revealed.
2 Arrested as Police Seize Still in Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Samuel Thompson, 70, and his brother, Henry, 57, of 433 Riley Street, were arrested late last night when police raided their home and seized a 150-gallon still and a quantity of mash.
They were held for violation of the city disorderly house ordinance and will be arraigned in police court today. The raid was made by Lieutenant Herbert Anderson and Detectives Walter Smith, John Trout and Harry Kyler.
10 Youths Arrested in Dice Game, Freed
Camden Courier-Post —
Ten youths arrested early yesterday at Third and Royden Streets by District Detective Harry Kyler, on charges of shooting craps, were warned by Police Judge Pancoast to quit gambling on street corners. They then were given suspended sentences. The youths promised Judge Pancoast they would not hang around the corners in the future.
They gave their names as: Alfred Basili, 16, of 224 Royden Street; Joseph Tragno, 16, of 312 Stevens Street; Samuel Rizzo, 14, of 327 Benson Street; Frank Galucci, 19, of 213 Washington Street; John Galucci, 16, of the same address; Armond Muzzo; 18, of 225 Beckett Street; Frank Vaugley, 18, of 203 Royden Street; Tony Chico, 20, of 607 South Third Street; Arthur Aguessini, 19, of 447 South Third Street, and Albert Salamini, 23, of 613 South Third Street.
2 Men, Woman Seized in Raid on House
Camden Courier-Post —
Two men and a woman were arrested by police in a raid Saturday night on an alleged disorderly house at 610 South Second street. Freddy M. West, 34, and Mattie Watson, both of that address, were held in $500 bail each. West was charged with being the proprietor, and the Watson woman held as a material witness, along with Thomas R. Bunting, 62, of 560 Highland Boulevard, Gloucester. The raid was made by Lieutenant Herbert Anderson and Detectives Walter Smith, John Trout and Harry Kyler. The defendants will be arraigned in police court this morning.
Rodgers, Ex-Boxer Nabbed Again in Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
Whisky and 65 Bottles Also Seized by Cops in Segal Street Speakeasy
Modest Moonshinery Found in ‘Empty’ House
James “Jimmy” Rodgers, 28, former boxer, fell into the hands of police again last night when they raided a speakeasy at 1000 Segal Street, allegedly operated by him.
One gallon of whisky and 65 pint bottles were confiscated by the raiders, who were led by District Detectives Walter Smith, Marshall Thompson and Harry Kyler.
Three others were arrested. One of them, James Greer, 35, of 332 North Second street, placed a charge of possession of stolen goods against Rodgers when police unearthed some articles stolen from Greer two months ago.
Others arrested were Thomas Spencer, 33, of the Segal Street address, and John D. Wood, 35, of 928 Kimber Street.
Rodgers has fallen afoul of the law on numerous occasions. He has been arrested several times for operating speakeasies. He was also arrested as a material witness in the “Shooey” Bonner murder two years ago.
He will be given a police court hearing today.
Detectives raided a vacant dwelling at 225 Chestnut Street last night and seized a “moonshine” plant consisting of two stills, 36 barrels of mash and oil and gas stove cookers.
The place had been under observation by Detective Vernon Jones for two weeks.
No one was inside when Jones and Patrolmen George Hemphill and John Houston entered. A 50 gallon still was on the second floor and a 35 gallon still on the first floor.
Jimmy Rodgers Is Given 180 Days
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Boxer Jailed on Speakeasy Charge, Held on Stolen Goods Count
James “Jimmy” Rodgers, 28-year-old former boxer who on numerous occasions has run afoul of the law, was sentenced yesterday to serve 180 days in the county jail for operating a speakeasy at 1000 Segal Street.
In addition, he was held without bail by Police Judge Pancoast on a charge of possession of stolen goods. The goods were identified by their owner, James Greer, 35, of 332 North Second Street, who was in the speakeasy when police raided it Monday night.
Greer turned state’s evidence against Rodgers in police court yesterday, and for a reward, received a suspended sentence.
District Detective Harry Kyler, Marshall Thompson and Walter Smith raided the speakeasy and confiscated 65 pints of whiskey in bottles and a gallon of whiskey in a jug. Kyler testified Rodgers was not there when the raiders entered the place but appeared later and was arrested.
3 Others Nabbed
Three others were arrested in the place. These were Greer, Thomas Spencer, 33, who gave the speakeasy as his home address, and John D. Wood, 35, of 928 Kimber street. Spencer has been arrested approximately 75 times, the police said.
The detectives, when searching the premises, found a suitcase filled with shoestrings, collar buttons and other merchandise. Greer identified the case and its contents as having been stolen from his car when it was parked on Segal Street near Front some time ago. He lodged the complaint of possession of stolen goods against Rodgers.
Rodgers was arraigned on three charges, including the stolen goods count. The other complaints were that he sold beer without a license and violated Section 422 of the city ordinances which prohibits disorderly persons to congregate on the premises.
Rodgers pleaded not guilty on all three charges, and told the court he had “nothing to say.” He was fined $200 on each of the charges of violating Section 422, and selling without a license, and when he did not pay, he was sentenced to 90 days on each of the two counts. He was committed to the county jail without bail on Greer’s complaint of possession of stolen goods.
Greer testified that he had purchased liquor in Rodgers’ place several times, as late as last night. Greer’s sentence was suspended.
Spencer Refuses to Talk
Spencer refused to testify against Rodgers. He said he did not know “what was going on there” and that he was there painting.
“You won’t be painting there for 90 days,” retorted the court in pronouncing sentence.
Wood, the other man arrested in the place, did not appear in court and forfeited $10 security he had posted after the raid.
Rodgers has been arrested several times for operating speakeasies. He was also arrested as a material witness two years ago in the murder of William “Shooey” Bonner.
Spencer was arrested so often when he resided in Gloucester that he became known as “Gloucester’s Peck’s Bad Boy,” the police said. Since moving to Camden he has been arrested nearly 50 times, police stated.
The majority of his arrests have been on charges of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, but in 1925 and in 1926, he was arrested on a charge of larceny of automobile. Again in 1929 he was charged with non support, when he was ordered to pay his wife $10 weekly. Back in 1916 he was arrested on a charge of stealing a gold watch.
Two Players Wounded as 2 Bandits Hold Up Card Game on Penn St.
Camden Courier-Post —
Robber Fires as Victims Attack Him with Chairs; One Player Reports $487 Loss
Dum-Dum Bullet Hits Both Injured
Two men were shot and one of them seriously wounded last night in a holdup of a card game in which two masked and armed bandits escaped with more than $600, taken from five players in the game, police said.
The robbery was at the home of Samuel Ermelious, 46, and his wife, Mabel, at 725 Penn street. The men shot were Angelo Naglas, 38, of 1110 Langham avenue, a restaurant worker and father of 13 children, and Ross Pandeladis, proprietor of a restaurant at 6846 Market street, Philadelphia.
Both were wounded by a single “dum-dum” bullet—soft-nosed and built to spatter in contact with a target—fired from a six-chamber .38 calibre revolver. The gun was recovered at the scene.
Man Badly Injured
Naglas was reported in dangerous condition at Cooper Hospital from loss of blood. A portion of the soft bullet severed large blood vessels in his upper left arm. Pandeladis fled to Philadelphia and was admitted to Jefferson Hospital. The extent of his wounds could not be determined immediately by police.
Several business men were in the game and admitted playing poker, according to Detective Sergeant Joseph Carpani. The shot was fired while the group of men in the Penn street house were swinging chairs at the head of one of the bandits.
Victims Deny Gambling
Naglas, Ermelious and Mrs. Ermelious are restaurant workers. Also victimized in the hold-up were several business men. The hold-up victims said they had dropped in for a sandwich, but later admitted they were playing poker, Carpani said.
County Physician David S. Rhone yesterday ordered Coroner Franklin P. Jackson, 3rd, to conduct an autopsy, and the coroner’s inquest will be held as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Luigi Tortu, 21, of 426 Line street, one of three persons arrested Monday for questioning concerning the holdup, was released.
Coroner's Quiz Ordered in Holdup Victim's Death
Camden Courier-Post —
County Physician David S. Rhone yesterday ordered Coroner Franklin P. Jackson, 3rd, to conduct an autopsy, and the coroner’s inquest will be held as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Luigi Tortu, 21, of 426 Line street, one of three persons arrested Monday for questioning concerning the holdup, was released.
Coroner Jackson will confer with the prosecutor’s office today in regard to the inquest, it was learned, and an effort will be made to start the procedure at once. The last coroner’s inquest held in Camden county was in 1933, in the death of Thomas Timothy Sullivan, and previous to that none had been held in 25 years.
The funeral of Malagas, father of 13 children, was to be held at 3 p.m. today at his home, 1110 Langham avenue, and at the Schroeder home, 715 Cooper street. However, Coroner Jackson said that if it is found necessary, the body will be held.
Coroner Jackson refused to give a certificate of death until the chemical test of Malagas’ brain is made by Philadelphia experts. Dr. Rhone sent the organ away Monday after performing an autopsy, and said a report may not be ready for 10 days. He refused to disclose result of the post-mortem at this time.
Relatives Discover Victim on Floor; Probe Is Ordered
Camden Courier-Post —
Wife of School Janitor Failed in Suicide Try 2 Weeks Ago
CERTIFICATE WITHHELD
A South Camden woman who, police said, attempted suicide two weeks ago, was found crushed to death beneath a piano in her home shortly before noon yesterday.
She was Mrs. Effie Reed, 45, of 1726 Ferry avenue. Her husband, Charles Reed, is employed as a janitor at the Camden High School.
After questioning members of the family and examining the piano, which weighs more than 1500 pounds, Detectives Joseph Carpani and Harry Kyler said they were convinced the woman’s death was accidental.
A report to that effect, they said, will be made to Coroner Ernest Larossa, who withheld a death certificate until the accident theory was established.
Carpani said the piano was “extremely top-heavy” and that it could “easily be toppled over by the push of the hand.”
It was the theory of the detectives, supported by questioning the family, that Mrs. Reed had moved the instrument from against its customary position so she could use a vacuum cleaner on the portion of a rug it covered.
After she had moved it about eight feet, it is believed it fell back and pinned her to the floor. She was killed instantly, in the opinion of Doctor Larossa.
She was found by her daughter, Regina, 18. The latter, who has been ill, said she heard a crash and coming down from her second floor bedroom, saw her mother pinned under the piano.
Screams of the daughter attracted a neighbor, William Hunter, of 1722 Ferry avenue, and his wife, Mary. They, with the aid of an unidentified milkman struggled for 15 minutes to lift the piano sufficiently for Mrs. Reed’s body to be extricated.
During the struggle, Mrs. Hunter lost her grip on the instrument and her hand was mangled so badly that part of a finger had to be amputated at West Jersey Hospital.
Police took the body of Mrs. Reed to the West Jersey Hospital morgue where Dr. Larossa said an autopsy would be made later today.
Carpani said that when he and Kyler first went to the home they were told by Reed and his daughter, Regina, to “get out, it was all an accident.”
“We don’t want anything in the newspapers,” Reed was quoted as saying. “We have had enough notoriety.”
It was evident he referred to the alleged attempted suicide of his wife and daughter December 28 when they were found unconscious in the kitchen of the home and the jets of a gas stove open.
They were revived and on January 4, they were arraigned in police court on attempted suicide charges. The complaints were ordered filed by Police Judge Gene R. Mariano, however, after Mrs. Reed admitted she had written two suicide notes.
The first policemen to reach the Reed home today were Sgt. John Garrity and Patrolman Louis Prucella, sent there in a radio car after an unidentified man called headquarters and shouted: “Send a patrol wagon to 1726 Ferry avenue. There’s something wrong there,” and hung up.
Death Beneath Piano Classed as Accident
Camden Courier-Post —
Detectives yesterday turned over to Coroner Ernest Larossa a report that the death of Mrs. Effie Reed, 45, of 1726 Ferry avenue, who was crushed beneath a piano Tuesday, was “entirely accidental.”
Coroner Larossa requested “a complete investigation” when the woman was taken to the West Jersey Hospital and found to have a crushed head. He said he ordered the probe when police told him that Mrs. Reed and her daughter, Regina, 24, attempted to commit suicide Dec. 1.
Detectives Harry Kyler and Joseph Carpani, who made the investigation, said the piano was “extremely top-heavy” and could “easily be toppled over by the push of a hand.” It was the theory of the detectives that Mrs. Reed had moved the piano from the wall so she could use a vacuum cleaner. They expressed the belief that the piano toppled over while she was pulling it back to its original position. Dr. Larossa conducted an autopsy Tuesday and issued a certificate of accidental death yesterday.
2 Girls, Youth Held in Probe of Fatal Card Game Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
2 GIRLS, YOUTH HELD IN PROBE OF FATAL CARD GAME HOLDUP
Arrests in Delair and Here Follow 14-Day Hunt for Dum-Dum Bandit
Two girls and a man are held in communicado by the Camden city and county police, pending an official examination of the brain of Angelos Malagas, a restaurant cook. Malagas died in Cooper Hospital on Sunday, 13 days after he had been the victim of a holdup and alleged assault.
Malagas was one of the victims held up in a card game at 725 Penn street on January 11 and died after making a valiant fight for life.
The three prisoners are Luigi Tortu, 21, of 426 Line street, Camden; the Wills girl, Das street, Delair, and Evelyn Buffa, 18, of 810 Florence street, Camden. Tortu was arrested yesterday in Delair as he was keeping a “date” with the Wills girl. He was seized by Detectives Harry Kyler and Thomas Murphy, of the city detective bureau, and James Mulligan of the county staff.
Second Girl Arrested
The Wills girl also was arrested and after the pair were questioned the sleuths came to Camden where they picked up Miss Buffa.
None of the detectives last night would give an inkling as to the reason for holding the prisoners “on ice,” or if any charges would be preferred against them.
Meanwhile Coroner Franklin P. Jackson III refused to give a certificate of death until the chemical test of Malagas’ brain is made by Philadelphia experts. Dr. Rhone, county physician, sent the organ away yesterday, after Dr. Rhone had performed an autopsy. Dr. Rhone refused to disclose result of the post-mortem at this time.
Malagas’ funeral will be held from his home, 1110 Langham avenue, at 3 p.m. the next day, and from the Schroeder home, 715 Cooper street. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial Park.
Hunted for 13 Days
Thirteen days’ hunt for Tortu came to a climax yesterday when the detectives learned that the young man was calling frequently on the Wills girl at her home. Armed with this information they went to Delair, posted themselves in the vicinity of the Wills’ home and waited for their quarry.
They were there a short time when Tortu appeared and was arrested immediately. The Wills girl and her friend, Miss Buffa, are said to be held as material witnesses, but the detectives refused last night to tell where they were detained.
Two men were identified with the holdup, according to the victims’ story told to the police. A search by the police of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware for the fugitive, who is believed to have severed Malagas’ arm with the “dum dum bullet” has been in progress since the crime was committed.
Also wounded in the hold-up was Ross Pandeladia, 37, owner of a restaurant at 6846 Market street, Philadelphia.
Police do not have the identity of the bandit who accompanied Malagas’ assailant. The fugitive suffered a beating about the head with the pistol which was said to have been used on Malagas. Police recovered the weapon at the holdup scene.
The house occupant of the place, Samuel Ermilios, told police he invited friends to the house for a friendly game, and that when the bandits entered shortly after midnight he and his guests were ordered to line up against the wall and throw their money on the table. More than $600 was taken.
As one of the bandits reached for the money the players struck him over the head with a chair and a struggle ensued. The pistol was discharged during the struggle.
Eight material witnesses arrested after the holdup will be recalled to the office of Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando and re-examined. They are Pandeladia, George Summers, 46, of 2592 Baird avenue; Samuel Bosco, proprietor of a Broadway barber shop; George Caras, 45, of 581 Mickle street; Michael Dandrea, 47, of 1667 Norris street; George Matros, and his wife, Annie, living at the Penn street address, and Mrs. Ermilos.
Tortu was arrested late in December, 1937, when detectives took four suspects whom the police sought to identify with various holdups committed in South Jersey during the latter part of last year.
Tortu then gave his address as 426 Line street. Arrested at the same time was a girl who said she was Evelyn Buffalo, and who gave the address, 322 Penn street, as her home. It was at the Penn street house that the suspects were arrested.
Others captured at the time were Frank Luggi, 21, 322 Penn street; Nicholas Dandrea, 27, of 529 Line street, and Frederick Gasperone, who gave a false address when he was booked.
Justice of the Peace George Wilkinson of Stratford, held Luggi, Gasperone and Dandrea for the grand jury, on the charge of breaking into the garage of Albert Weston at Stratford on Thanksgiving. Tortu was discharged.
Inquest Set Today in Gambling Death
Camden Courier-Post —
Jury List Prepared for Coroner’s Action in Holdup Fatality
The coroner’s inquest to decide the cause of death to Angelos Magalas, Greek chef, who was shot during a card game holdup at 725 Penn Street on January 11, will be held today at 10 a. m.
Coroner Franklin P. Jackson III, of Collingswood, will conduct the inquest and will select his jury of 12 from a list of 15 persons prepared by the office of County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando.
Detectives already have subpoenaed 20 witnesses for questioning at the inquest, including players who were the victims in the holdup and three Camden physicians who attended Magalas prior to his death.
The witnesses will include Samuel and Mabel Ermilios, tenants of the Penn Street house where the holdup occurred; George and Annette Mastros, who room at the house; Samuel Bosco, Broadway barber; George Summers, Ross Pantel, Michael D’ Andrea, and William Caras, who according to police were participants in the card game.
All of the men were held as material witnesses in the shooting when arraigned today before Police Judge Gene R. Mariano.
Other witnesses will include Dr. Paul Mecray, Dr. A. S. Ross and Dr. Edwin R. Ristine and Miss Sophia MacAfee, a Cooper Hospital nurse. Police who will testify include Detectives Thomas Murphy, Harry Kyler and William Boettcher and Patrolmen Richard Powers, Frank Clements, George Nicktern and Sergeant Jack Deith.
The jury will be selected from Guy Clokey, Collingswood; Lawrence Ball, Haddonfield; Howard Friant, Collingswood; Harry Chew, Collingswood; Sig Schoenagle, Camden merchant; Raymond Hanly, real estate broker; Benjamin Brest, Raymond Worrel, John Eby, all of Camden; William H. Lorigan, Merchantville; David B. Robinson, Collingswood; Rev. James Pemberton and John McGowan, of Camden, Earl Jackson, of Collingswood and Morris B. Clark, of Haddonfield.
Coroner Jackson refused to give a certificate of death until the chemical test of Magalas’ brain was made by Philadelphia experts. The result will not be revealed until the inquest.
Assistant Prosecutor Isaac Eason and County Physician David S. Rhone gave it as their opinion that Malagas died of natural causes rather than the bullet wound. Coroner Jackson then ordered an inquest to be held.
Police are searching for Frank Luggi, 21, of 322 Penn Street, who they say was one of the holdup bandits and the one who fired the bullet that struck Magalas.
The last coroner’s inquest held in Camden county was in 1933, in the death of Thomas Timothy Sullivan, and previous to that none had been held here in 25 years.
Sullivan was 57 years old and lived at 401 State Street. He was employed as a detective by the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was found shot to death in a shack in the railroad yards on August 28, 1933.
At that time, County Physician Edward B. Rogers issued a certificate of death that Sullivan had committed suicide. The decision of the county physician enraged members of Sullivan’s family and they demanded an inquest.
The inquest was ordered by then Coroner Arthur H. Holl, who presided. All the evidence in the case was presented to the jury of 12 men, and after deliberating for less than an hour, they returned a verdict that Sullivan had been murdered by persons unknown.
Malagas, the father of three children, lived at 1110 Langham Avenue. He was shot when several armed bandits held up a card game and he died several days later.
$100 in Gems Stolen From Apartment
Camden Courier-Post —
Theft at 418 Broadway Reported to Police; Other Homes Robbed
Two garages and several homes were entered over the weekend by thieves who escaped with cash, jewelry and other articles.
Theft of jewelry valued at $100 and a $5 note were reported to police last night by Mrs. Bernard Heidrich, of 418 Broadway. Mrs. Heidrich told City Detective Harry Kyler she and her husband returned home after an absence of nine hours and discovered a door leading to their second-floor apartment had been jimmied. Among the articles reported stolen were a bracelet, a brooch and a ring.
Kyler reported an attempt had been made to gain entrance to the office of Dr. C. C. Eppleman in the same building. A panel was forced in a door, Kyler said.
Walter T. Ridgeway, of 924 Penn Street, reported the theft of a heater and radio speaker from his automobile while it was parked in his garage on Twelfth Street near Lawrence. Ridgeway said the lock on the garage had been forced.
Jacob Fine, of 1700 Master Street, told police three boys walked into his store and escaped with 10 cartons of cigarettes.
Jennie Finkel, of 2615 Westfield Avenue, said $25 had been stolen from a bureau drawer in her apartment. No marks of forced entry could be found.
The lock, key, auto jack and two one-gallon cans of anti-freeze were stolen from a garage used by George Firth, 540 Stevens Street, Firth told police. The articles were valued at $5.
Youth Snatches Handbag
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Anna Beachwood, of 524 North Eighth street, reported to Acting Detective Harry Kyler her handbag was snatched by a youth as she was walking with a woman friend on Seventh street near Fern last night. The thief ran east on Fern street. Radio car squads searched the neighborhood. Mrs. Beachwood said the bag contained about $1 in change.
Phila. Bound Passenger Charged With Fraud Here and in 2 Towns
Camden Courier-Post —
Arrested on a Philadelphia-bound bus Saturday night, William Epstein, 35, of 1021 Clinton street, Philadelphia, is being held by local police for passing worthless checks in Camden, Collingswood and Bridgeton.
Bridgeton police notified City Detective Gus Pfleiderer that Epstein boarded a bus for Philadelphia after giving a worthless check for $25 to Mrs. Martha Bowen, a storekeeper, of 80 Commerce street, Bridgeton. Pfleiderer met the bus at Broadway and Market street at 7.30 p. m. and arrested Epstein.
Later Epstein was identified by Miss Eleanor Jaeckel, florist, of 3702 Westfield Avenue, as a man for whom she cashed a worthless check for $16.50 on February 19. Nathan Bushman, 201 Broadway, told police Epstein gave him one for $13.50 last week. Collingswood police notified Pfleiderer that Epstein passed a bad check for $10 last week on Arnold Weiss, merchant, of 700 Haddon avenue, Collingswood.
City Detective Harry Kyler said Epstein has served three years in the Eastern Penitentiary, Philadelphia, for the same offense.
Pfleiderer said Epstein admitted passing bad checks here.
Trenton Evening Times — December 28, 1938
Transfusion Rallies Girl Shooting Victim
CAMDEN, Dec. 28 (AP).—Miss Florence Gottwald, 26-year-old radio factory worker who was shot 10 times, police said, by a suitor she spurned, was described by hospital attaches today as “much improved” after a blood transfusion.
They said, however, that her condition still was serious.
Police meanwhile arranged a hearing for Emil Mascher, 46, 2 WPA worker, who, Detective Harry Kyler said, admitted shooting the girl as she stepped from a friend’s automobile in front of her home Monday night.
The detective quoted him as saying he brooded because Miss Gottwald did not return his love, and particularly over the rejection of his Christmas gift—a box of candy.
Police Seeking Hidden Motive in Bar Slaying
Camden Courier-Post —
Doubt ‘Brawl’ Explanation in Fatal Bellmawr Shooting of Andrew Scarduzio
COUNTY DETECTIVE CHIEF ORDERS MORE QUIZZING
Police sought a “hidden motive” for the slaying early Sunday of Andrew Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, in a Bellmawr taproom.
Little credence was given to the story that the shooting occurred during a brawl which followed the barring of three men from the taproom at 5.30 a. m.
County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran today ordered the questioning of two women, one a resident of Camden, who were at the establishment when the shooting occurred.
Doran also ordered further questioning of Dale Rose, proprietor of the saloon where the shooting occurred, on the Black Horse pike, at Bellmawr.
A third man was taken to City Hall early today for questioning by police, but whether he was held was not disclosed.
He is Joseph Romanowski, 28, of Mt. Vernon street, near Orchard street. According to Doran the latest man questioned denied he was present at the time of the shooting of Scarduzio, but was there two hours before when there was an argument over who was to pay for the drinks.
Romanowski was taken into custody in a tavern near his home by Detective Sergeant Thomas Murphy.
Police said the only criminal record against Romanowski was an arrest 10 years ago for carrying concealed deadly weapons. Disposition of the case is not on record.
The second man questioned and held in connection with the investigation is Joseph Lenkowski, 29. According to Dominic “Mickey” Hanley, bartender, who had an argument with five men over payment of drinks at 3 a. m., Lenkowski was one of them. Lenkowski is being held as a material witness.
Stephan Jaskiewicz, 22, a criminal registrant who came here from Pittsburgh in 1937, was held for investigation Sunday night.
Two other men are being sought. They are believed to have been members of the trio which forced its way into the Black Horse pike tavern, engaged in a free-for-all battle, fired seven shots from three guns and ran out.
Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, was shot in the groin and the ankle and died several hours later in West Jersey Hospital. The dead man was a brother of Nicholas Scarduzio, recently employed by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, to check parking law violations. Nicholas was a witness to the shooting.
Lenkowski, who was arrested yesterday, first broke into police records in May, 1931, when he was convicted of being one of four bandits who broke into the old Bridge Cafe at Front and Pearl streets. One of the bandits was killed by Policeman Everett Joslin. A jury convicted Lenkowski and on its mercy recommendation he was sent to Rahway.
When arrested by Chief Doran and City Detective Harry Kyler, Lenkowski gave his address as 535 South Eighth street. He was booked after being taken to Bellmawr for identification.
Draft Registrant Leaps 5 Floors to Death at City Hall
Camden Courier-Post —
Sleuths Vainly Try to Grab Florida Man Who Asked About Status
A 30-year-old Florida descendant of one of North Carolina’s blue-blooded families walked into police headquarters Saturday afternoon and asked them to check his status with a Florida draft board. Two hours later the man was dead, his crushed body lying on the Market street pavement of the City Hall after he leaped from a fifth floor window in the City Hall detective bureau. The jump was made before the eyes of three detectives all powerless to reach him in time.
Identified tentatively as Manly McDowell, he had told detectives he was living at the Dixie Hotel, Florida. He was dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital. The man’s head was crushed and his arms and legs were broken.
Detective Harry Kyler was walking through police headquarters in the City Hall basement, when Patrolman Marshall Thompson called his attention to McDowell’s request. The man wanted to know if any notifications had been sent out by the board to him lately, explaining that for the past several months he had been traveling in the South and had been out of touch with his local board.
Kyler took McDowell to the Detective Bureau and telephoned Miami police asking them to check McDowell’s draft status and his record. Kyler told McDowell to sit down until the return call was made. The detective told Acting Sergeant John Opfer about the man, then left to answer another call. On his return at 5.55 p. m, Kyler learned of the leap. Others besides Opfer in the bureau were Detectives Heber McCord and Clifford Del Rossi. All three said McDowell drank considerable water and smoked several cigarettes but gave no indication of contemplating suicide.
Opfer said McDowell sauntered over to the accident bureau to McCord and asked for a cigarette. McCord gave him one, then turned his back. After several puffs, McDowell put the cigarette on a filing case, leaped to the top of a table and out the window. Opfer saw the man ascend the table and yelled to McCord to stop him. McCord was too far away to grab him.
DelRossi, meanwhile, walked into the bureau just in time to see the man going out of the window. He also attempted to grab him.
Acting Desk Sergeant Frank Nelson had reported off duty a short time before and as he turned the corner of the city hall on the Market street side, he saw the man’s body on the pavement. Believing him to be a heat victim, or drunk, Nelson went over to investigate just as the police ambulance arrived.
Five minutes after the death plunge, the return call was made from Miami police which said McDowell was not wanted by either police or draft board. They said the draft board had been instructed to get in touch with Warren Steiffell, employed in the Brooklyn State Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., whenever they wanted to reach McDowell. Kyler later learned Steiffell had been inducted into the Army and stationed at Madison Barracks, Watertown, N. Y. A call to the barracks revealed Steiffell was on 48-hour leave.
Kyler contacted an aunt yesterday, Mrs. W. A. Leslie, of Morganton, N. C., who said McDowell’s only living close relative was a sister, Mrs. W. J. Verbeck, of Manlius, N. Y. Word was sent to the sister of McDowell’s death and she is expected to arrive here today to make positive identification.
Camden Courier-Post — February 22, 1942
DEFENDANT DENIES TAKING FRIEND’S $444
Harry Benzuk, 46, of Glover avenue, Mt. Ephraim, denied to Camden police yesterday he stole $444 from a friend of 20 years’ standing, but offered to give the friend $250 in defense bonds if the larceny charges were withdrawn.
Accusing Benzuk is Alex Slucareck, 59, of Mt. Ephraim avenue near the Camden Forge plant. He said Benzuk visited him on Feb. 14, grabbed the money from his hands and fled in an automobile. He could not report the theft sooner he said, because he was ill.
Benzuk was arrested Saturday night by Detectives Benjamin Simon and Harry Kyler. He will be arraigned in police court tomorrow.
World War II Draft Card
Harry Kyler — World War II Draft Card
Thieves Get $117 In Restaurant
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden police are searching for a thief who took $117 from a cash register in Everybody’s Lunch room, 511 Kaighn ave., Camden, some time between 8 P. M. Saturday and 2 A. M. yesterday.
Angelo Kascaturos, proprietor, who lives at 513 Kaighn ave., reported his loss to Detectives Clifford DelRossi and Harry Kyler when he found the register had been rifled.
Man Hangs Self In North Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Raymond J. Kuntz, 35, a worker for the Standard Tank and Seat Co., Front street near Pearl, was found hanging by a clothesline from a beam in the cellar of his home Tuesday by his sister and mother. Coroner Robert Blake listed his death as suicide.
Kuntz, who lived at 78 Vine street, was found by Mrs. Alice Martz, 603 North Front street, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Baldwin 235 Christian street, Philadelphia, after they failed to hear from him for several days.
Detective Harry Kyler said Kuntz left a note to his estranged wife, Florence, saying “you broke my heart when you left.” Mrs. Kuntz and the couple’s two daughters, Florence and Nancy, left last June, police said.
A younger brother, William P., 25, of 215 Bailey street, was drowned in the Delaware River last June. In his note Raymond asked to be buried next to his brother in Harleigh cemetery.
Other survivors are three sisters, Mrs. Charlotte Derocher and Mrs. Ethel Clark, both of Camden, and Mrs. Laura Mucci of Landisville.
Services will be held Thursday at 2 p. m. in the Blake funeral home, Haddon avenue and Division street. Burial will be in Harleigh cemetery.
Three Men Held Without Bail in Tavern Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Trio Nabbed at Shore Identified by Victim Of $2000 Theft Here
Three men suspected of the $2000 robbery of a Camden woman tavern owner last Friday were held without bail for further hearing by Judge Dzick today.
Dzick acted in compliance with a request by Detectives Marshall Thompson and George Ellis, who said the investigation was not complete. The three were arrested Sunday in Atlantic City.
Booked on charges of armed robbery were Stanley Slagle, 22, of 1408 Broadway; James J. Lenahan, 24, of 1734 Broadway, and Robert Sharp, 26, of 19 N. Johnson blvd., Gloucester.
Slagle was identified as a middleweight boxer, who started to fight last fall and appeared twice at a Philadelphia club.
Arrested at 2 a. m. Sunday the men were returned to Camden, where they were identified by Miss Mary Lynch, 44, who operates Lynch’s Cafe at 3rd and Erie sts. Charles Clark, 33, of 538 N. Front st., a patron who was slugged on the head with a blackjack, was able to identify Lenahan and Sharp as participating in the daylight holdup, according to Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy.
Atlantic City police said Patrolmen Adelmo Fidelli and Edward Shaw, acting on information from Camden detectives, nabbed Lenahan in the Nomad Club. Fifteen minutes later, other officers took Sharp and Slagle into custody in the Jockey Club.
Murphy said $600 of the stolen money was recovered on the men, in addition to $125 discovered in the apartment in the 1700 block on Broadway.
The detective captain said Detectives George Ellis and Marshall Thompson, who along with Detectives Harry Tracey and Sgt. William Kelly returned the suspects from the shore, had spent 43 hours without sleep on the trail of the bandits.
Murphy said the key to the capture was a license number obtained by Patrolman Oliver Morgan from an automobile seen near the scene of the holdup.
The car, Murphy said, had been stolen from John J. Hegar, 640 Federal st., a certified public accountant, who was unaware of the theft until after the car was recovered Saturday on 7th st., between Liberty st. and Kaighn ave.
Later Saturday, Murphy related, Detective Harry Kyler and Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley obtained information linking Lenahan to the job and, still later, the apartment in Camden was raided.
Discovered in the apartment, Murphy said, were a .45-calibre automatic and the cash, found hidden under a chair cushion.
Murphy said Lenahan and Sharp, under questioning Sunday night in Camden, admitted their part in the holdup. Slagle, however, denied knowledge of the crime, Murphy added.
Reconstructing the holdup and the trail of the gunmen, Murphy named Sharp as driver of the getaway car and said the men drove around the city and then later threw a shotgun and blackjack from the car.
Murphy said all have police records, Lenahan having been paroled in July from state prison after serving a term for grand larceny in Atlantic City. Sharp was released from state prison last year after serving a term for larceny of an automobile in Camden County and Slagle was released from the prison where he was sent for robbery, Murphy said.
Man Held for Jury On Forgery Charge
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with two counts of forgery, Joseph S. Parker, 28, of Pine st., near 2nd, was held today without bail for grand jury action by Municipal Court Judge Dzick.
Detective Harry Kyler accused Parker of forging and passing a $65 check on Cosmo Cianci, 215 Pine st., on Dec. 29 and a $91 check at a South Camden bank on Jan. 5.
Parker, who pleaded not guilty but did not testify, was committed to the county jail.
Bad Check Hearing Delayed to Thursday
Camden Courier-Post —
Municipal Judge Dzick today continued a bad check case against Raymond Bennett, 28, of 2816 Saunders ave., a painter, until Thursday on request of Detective Harry Kyler, who made the arrest.
Kyler said he wanted to make a further investigation. Kyler charged Bennett with passing three worthless checks, totaling $92, in a grocery and two taprooms in December.
Too Many Pay Checks Lead to Man's Arrest
Camden Courier-Post —
A laborer formerly employed at the Campbell Soup Co., was arrested Friday on charges of using phony badges to obtain pay checks of other employes.
Detective Harry Kyler said the man is James R. Taylor, 25, of 1315 N. Redfield st., Philadelphia. He was arrested at the plant near the pay line by Kyler and a company security officer, Donald Wisham.
Kyler said Taylor is charged with two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and five counts of forgery. Five checks totaling $285 were cashed by Taylor and an accomplice known only as “Skip,” Kyler said. The second man is still at large, Kyler said. Taylor was held without bail to await a hearing Monday before Municipal Judge Benjamin Dzick. Kyler said Taylor worked the scheme during January when he was employed at the plant. Taylor was laid off a week ago.
Detective Kyler Will Get Badge On TV Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Detective Harry Kyler will be awarded a “Badge of Service” during the “Badge 714” program on WCAU-TV (Channel 10) at 7 o’clock tonight.
Kyler will tell of his apprehension of a ring of thieves responsible for the stealing of $100,000 worth of goods.
Acting on the complaint of a Camden dry goods manufacturer, Kyler traced the loss of 3000 women’s dresses to the railway express office in Camden. As Kyler discovered more thefts, the original $20,000 loss grew into $100,000.
Kyler discovered that a part-time express worker was stealing goods off the station platform, and with 10 accomplices, was selling them to a Philadelphia outlet.
Kyler’s investigation resulted in the conviction of all 11 members of the gang. All pleaded guilty to a charge of grand larceny, and were sentenced to long terms in prison.
The “Badge of Service” presented to Kyler will be the sixth in a series awarded to law enforcement officers in the Philadelphia area.
Camden Courier-Post — January 3, 1957
Named: Harry Kyler, Manuel Yudenfriend, and Magnolia Avenue.
Ten Retired Camden Policemen Praised, Receive Gold Badges
Camden Courier-Post —
At Benevolent Group Dinner:
Ten retired members of the Camden Police Department attended a dinner Sunday night.
They received gold retirement badges and lifelong membership cards in the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association at the annual dinner of Local 35 in Kenney’s.
Their ages ranged from 52 to 65 and collectively they represented 327 years of service to the city.
“You have put in some 327 years and we must do more — make sure these youngsters can take over,” commented guest speaker County Judge Anthony C. Mitchell.
A. George Aaron, commissioner of police, who was toastmaster, said some of the retiring men and guests, “have given some long service.”
“We have one of the finest and hardest working police departments in the state,” he said. “I even think the public is now aware of that, with a new respect for the policeman today.”
Retiring in the year 1957–58 are: Insp. Walter E. Rowand, with 40 years; Det. Harry Kyler, 35; Sgt. John Stanton, 35; Det. Benjamin Simon, 34; Ptl. Samuel A. Corsella, 32; Sgt. Bernard Friedrichs, 31; Insp. Thomas P. Murphy, 30; Sgt. Marshall Thompson, 30; Det. Clifford Carr, 30; and Ptl. William Thorn, 20.
Joseph Anthony Skolski, in charge of the patrol division, was also presented with a gold card in a leather case for outstanding service, along with a lifelong membership.
Harry Kyler Sr., Retired Detective
Camden Courier-Post —
WILLIAMSTOWN — Services for Harry Kyler Sr., 19 Colorado Avenue, will be held 12 noon Tuesday at the John S. Bell Funeral Home, 420 S. Main St., Williamstown, where friends may call from 11 a.m.
Burial will be at the Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson.
Kyler, who died Friday at the Pine Crest Nursing Home, Sewell, was a retired Camden City detective. He served for 33 years before retiring in 1955. He was also a member of the Police Benevolent Association.
He is survived by his wife, Martha; three daughters, Mrs. Margaret Rudderow of Williamstown, Mrs. Martha Cuneo of Hammonton, and Mrs. Elizabeth McBreen of Somerdale; a son, Harry Kyler Jr., of Lindenwold; 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
KYLER — On December 27, 1974, Harry Sr. of 19 Colorado Ave., Williamstown, N.J. Husband of Martha E. (nee Kearney). He was a Camden City detective for 33 years, retiring 19 years ago and member of the Police Benevolent Assoc. Formerly of Camden, he was a local resident 12 years. Also survived by 3 daughters, Margaret Rudderow of Williamstown, Martha Cuneo of Hammonton, Elizabeth McBreen of Somerdale and a son, Harry Kyler Jr. of Lindenwold, 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral services Tuesday, 12 noon, from the funeral home of John S. Bell, 420 S. Main St., Williamstown. Interment Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson. Friends may call 11 a.m. to service time on Tuesday.