Introduction
Harry A. Stahl, Camden Police Department, July 1950
HARRY A. STAHL was born in Philadelphia PA on February 7, 1880. His parents had come to America from Nuremburg, Germany. From 1896 through 1904, Harry Stahl worked as a professional boxer. Fighting as a lightweight under the name of Young Starr and occasionally as Charles Starr, he compiled a record of 28 wins, 8 coming by knockout, 22 losses, and 9 no decisions.
After leaving the ring, Harry Stahl married Lucille Mayer when he was 25. The 1901 Census shows the Stahls living at 114 Marlton Pike, and that he was at the time operating a liquor store. He stayed connected to the boxing world. The 1910 Census shows that Frankie Klaus was staying with the Stahls. Klaus would go on to become the World Champion at middleweight in 1912 and 1913. On November 15th of 1917 Harry Stahl joined the Camden Police Department.
During World War I and at the time of the 1920 census, Harry Stahl lived at 445 Berkley Street with wife and mother-in-law Catherine Mayer. Also living with Stahls at the time of the census was sister-in-law Margaret Bean, and her son Otto. Harry Stahl’s brother-in-law, Otto H. Bean Sr., had been lost while serving with the United States Merchant Marine during World War I, when the SS Tuscarora was lost in December of 1917. Another brother-in-law, Otto Mayer, also a sailing man, was also residing with the Stahls.
By 1924 and through the time of the 1930 census, Harry and Lucille Stahl had owned a home and resided at 448 Henry Street in Camden. In October of 1933, former light-heavyweight boxer Sgt. Ray Smith, then a columnist for the Camden Courier and Post newspapers, reported that Frank Klaus had been in town to visit Harry Stahl.
The 1947 city directory shows Harry Stahl then living at 1509 Baird Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden. When he retired in July of 1950, Harry Stahl was living at 1513 Baird.
Harry Stahl applied for his pension in July of 1950, a mandatory retirement at 65 law having been passed covering police and firemen. His last day on the police force was August 31, 1950, when he retired along with Captain Samuel E. Johnson, Captain John T. Garrity, and Detective Frank Crawford.
Harry Stahl died sometime in the 1950s. His wife survived him, and had moved to Cramer Hill by 1959.
445 Berkeley Street
Harry Stahl lived in this home at 445 Berkeley Street in Camden NJ — Photo December 8, 2002
Harry Stahl’s Professional Boxing Record
Fighting as “Young Starr” and occasionally “Charles Starr,” Harry Stahl compiled the following record as a professional lightweight, 1896–1904:
| Date | Opponent | Opp. Rec. | Location | Result | Method | Rds. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904-06-16 | Willie Lewis | 4-2-0 | Broadway AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | TKO | 2/6 |
| 1904-04-22 | Billy Burke | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-12-19 | Eddie Cain | 4-4-4 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-11-03 | Charley Mulhall | 2-2-1 | Reading, PA | L | DQ | 5/10 |
| 1903-10-18 | Charley Mulhall | 1-2-1 | Washington SC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-10-03 | Jack Everhart | 21-11-2 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-08-22 | Jack Everhart | 20-10-2 | Arena AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-05-09 | Young Sandow | 7-3-1 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-03-07 | Frank Williams | 0-3-2 | Washington SC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1903-01-17 | Tommy Mowatt | 4-8-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1902-12-27 | Johnny Murray | 13-8-4 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1902-11-15 | Frank Williams | 0-2-1 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1902-10-25 | Harry Baker | 0-3-0 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 3/6 |
| 1902-09-20 | Tommy Mowatt | 4-5-2 | Central AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1902-08-02 | Billy Ranahan | 0-1-0 | Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 1/4 |
| 1902-05-03 | Tommy Mowatt | 2-5-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1902-03-22 | Jack Everhart | 16-8-2 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-11-09 | Charley McKeever | 22-12-5 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-09-07 | Tommy Murray | 6-4-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-06-15 | Frank Erne | 51-8-10 | Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1901-05-04 | Tommy Murray | 5-4-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-04-13 | Tommy Murray | 4-4-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-03-16 | Tommy Murray | 4-3-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-02-02 | Jack Everhart | 13-7-2 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1901-01-19 | Patsy Haley | 12-5-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-11-03 | Tommy Murray | 2-3-1 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-10-06 | Patsy Haley | 10-4-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-09-08 | Patsy Haley | 9-4-3 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-08-18 | Jack Everhart | 10-6-1 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-07-14 | Billy Dwyer | 4-5-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-06-09 | Jack Everhart | 9-6-1 | Central AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-05-19 | Jack Everhart | 9-5-1 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-04-28 | Young Sandow | 4-1-0 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-04-07 | Bill Dwyer | 2-5-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-03-17 | Billy Dwyer | 1-5-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 1/6 |
| 1900-02-03 | Jack Everhart | 7-5-1 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1900-01-27 | Billy Dwyer | 0-4-2 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 3/6 |
| 1900-01-13 | Jack Everhart | 7-4-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | NC | NC | 3/6 |
| 1900-01-06 | Jack Everhart | 7-4-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | NC | NC | 2/6 |
| 1899-12-16 | Willie Smith | 2-3-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-11-25 | Tommy Murray | 0-3-1 | National AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-10-21 | Jack Everhart | 6-4-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-09-23 | Charley Hitte | 5-1-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-05-20 | Jack Bennett | 6-1-3 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-05-13 | Kentucky Rosebud | 0-2-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-02-25 | Elwood McCloskey | 2-4-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-02-11 | Elwood McCloskey | 2-4-0 | Quaker City AC, Philadelphia, PA | NC | NC | 3/6 |
| 1899-02-04 | Kentucky Rosebud | 0-1-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-01-14 | Kentucky Rosebud | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-01-09 | Joe Zimmerman | 0-0-0 | Oxford AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1899-01-07 | Tim McDermott | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1898-12-31 | Whitey Lester | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1898-12-24 | George Holland | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1898-12-19 | Adam Ryan | 0-0-0 | Oxford AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1898-12-10 | Waddy Miller | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 3/6 |
| 1898-11-30 | Johnny Woolam | 0-0-0 | Nonpareil AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1898-11-19 | Kid Krause | 0-0-1 | Quaker City AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1898-10-15 | Leslie Pearce | 3-2-4 | Quaker City AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 3/6 |
| 1897-02-27 | Tom O’Donnell | 2-0-0 | Art Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA | W | TKO | 2/4 |
| 1897-02-20 | Mike Jones | 0-0-0 | Art Club, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1897-02-13 | Matt Mullen | 0-0-0 | Art Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA | W | DQ | 4/4 |
| 1897-01-27 | Kid McGlone | 0-0-1 | Tuxedo AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | PTS | 6/6 |
| 1897-01-23 | Kid McGlone | 0-0-0 | Southwark AC, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 6/6 |
| 1897-01-02 | Young Foley | 0-0-0 | Art Club, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1896-12-26 | Kid Hanlon | 0-0-0 | Art Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA | W | KO | 2/4 |
| 1896-11-13 | Joe Golden | 0-0-0 | Art Club, Philadelphia, PA | L | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1896-09-28 | Tim Callahan | 0-0-0 | Caledonia AC, Philadelphia, PA | W | NWS | 4/4 |
| 1896-04-11 | Sammy Callahan | 0-1-0 | Globe Theater, Philadelphia, PA | D | NWS | 4/4 |
NWS = Newspaper decision • KO = Knockout • TKO = Technical knockout • PTS = Points • DQ = Disqualification • NC = No contest • D = Draw
Coming Boxing Bouts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Cleary and Williams Come Together at the National A. C. To-night
There should be some stiff milling at the National Athletic Club, Pennsylvania Hall, Eighth and Christian streets, to-night, that is, if judgment can be based upon the card. With one exception all the boys are known to be willing boxers and the exception, Harry Ramsey, of Washington, comes here with an excellent reputation. The chief interest of course will centre upon the wind-up between Tom Cleary, of this city, and Jack Williams, of New Orleans. There is no question of the skill or the gameness of either. It should be an exciting bout from end to end, with a likelihood of something dropping before the expiration of the six rounds. The semi wind-up will bring together Gus Gardner, the Fighting Dutchman, and Joe Sullivan. They should make a merry mill of it. From a local standpoint the special interest centres about between George Walker and Jack Rice appeared. Just as much interest is the wind-up itself. The rivalry between them has been keen for some time past, and to-night it is expected that the question of supremacy will be settled once for all. Tommy Collins and Jack Meeker and Harry Ramsey and Dave Holly will furnish the preliminaries. If Ramsey makes good the reputation which has preceded him he will give Holly quite a battle.
Champion Terry McGovern is pulling off extra pounds to meet Elwood McCloskey at the Penn Art Club next Monday night. The other Mac is doing all sorts of stunts at the Pythian Club and is visited daily by a host of admirers, who take great interest in his work. The veteran is already within hailing distance of the required number of pounds and states that he was never better physically in his life than he is at the present time. Both Flanagan and Dougherty, who will meet upon the same night, are working faithfully to get to the required weight of 110 pounds.
Jack Everhart will not have to go away from Philadelphia without being accommodated with a fistic encounter. He came here with Jack McCormick looking for scalps, and it was at first thought by Jack that he would have to leave without a fight. Young Starr, however, has stepped into the breach and the two will meet this evening at the Nonpareil Club as the wind up of a show that will be first class in every respect. The semi wind up will be between Dan McConnell and “Kid” Krause. For the introduction, Eddie McCaffrey and “Snapper” Ack will mix things. Jack Woolam and Billy Devine will follow and then Milo, the strong boy, will face “Reddy” McDonald, of Shenandoah.
Coming Boxing Bouts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Owen Ziegler and Jack Bennett at the Penn Art Monday Night
Manager McCarthy has finally settled upon Jack Bennett to meet Owen Ziegler in the wind-up at the Penn Art Club, Twentieth street and Montgomery avenue, on Monday night next. They appeared at one of the early shows of the club, and put up a go that was worth traveling miles to witness. It was a corking good bout from end to end, and so fast did the boys travel that at the conclusion the spectators were almost evenly divided in their opinion as to which of the two had the better of the exchanging. Though their styles are materially different—Bennett depending upon his exceptional quickness to land a punch and escape return, Ziegler upon his willingness to take a punch in order to get in one—they invariably put up a bout that appeals to the spectators. The wind-up will be between Ed. Denfass, who has a big following here, and Harry Fisher, of Brooklyn. Denfass demonstrated in his bout with big Jack McCormick his ability to give away weight, and that at the same time to render a good account of himself. Fisher is a middleweight of ability, and is well calculated to bring out all there may be in Denfass. The Ritchie Brothers will appear in the preliminaries. Clarence will be stacked up against Eddy Leauy, who has not appeared here for some time, and who will be called upon to redeem himself, and Clarence will try conclusions with Lew Bysell. It is a well balanced program.
Spectators always get a run for their money at the National Athletic Club, Eighth and Christian streets, and they should get a particularly good run to-night, when Jim Maloney, the champion lightweight of Ireland, and Jack Cooney, of Cincinnati, appear in the wind-up. Maloney has appeared here twice, and on each occasion he has delivered the goods. Cooney is well thought of in the western country, and is highly recommended by Tim Callahan, of this city, the latest of his customers. If anything then Cooney must be all right. There can be no question about the merit of the semi-wind-up. Both Paddy Donovan and George Walker have repeatedly demonstrated their ability in boxing stunts and when they get together this evening a rattling good exhibition may be looked for. The preliminaries also promise to be good. Bob Smith will collide with “Kid” Decker; Eddie Rogan will try conclusions with Johnny Eagan, and Jack Ashton and John Henry Johnson will come together. A good night’s sport is assured.
The weekly boxing show of the Central Athletic Club, 1913 Market street, takes place to-night, and the program arranged is a strong one. The wind-up will be between Jim Burke, of Brooklyn, and Dan McConnell, of Camden. Burke is becoming a strong favorite in this city by the stiff contracts that he put up with Cooney, Adams and Cooney. Dan McConnell has long been known to the sporting public as a game and determined boxer. The semi-wind-up will bring together Charley Collins and Billy Hanlon. The show will open with Bob Foster and Young Preston. They will be followed by Ike Stone and Peter King. The third will bring together George Krall and Tom Burkett.
Camden Cops Hard Hit by Illness and Mishap
Camden Daily Courier —
Joseph Shreeve, Camden policeman and son of the late Isaac Shreeve, is recovering from a severe bilious attack. He is convalescing in the police and firemen’s ward of the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. In the same ward is Wright Cox, a special officer at the city hall, who is being treated for stomach trouble and sciatic rheumatism.
Harry Stahl, city jail turnkey, who recently broke a bone in his right wrist while wrestling with an unruly prisoner, will be able to report for duty soon. William Brower, an operator in the electrical bureau at the city hall, will also return to his post November 1. Brower was stricken with kidney trouble last spring.
Driver of Truck Held After Beer Is Seized
Camden Courier-Post —
Arrested on a federal charge of transporting and possession of beer, John Grost, 39, of 1603 Norris Street, was committed to jail without bail for a hearing before U. S. Commissioner Wynn Armstrong today.
The truck driven by Grost was stopped at Collings Road and the Black Horse pike by police, who found three half barrels of beer. In the machine with Grost was Bruno Skalowski, 16, of 1057 Everett Street, who was held as a material witness.
When the pair were locked up, Grost told Jailer Harry Stahl that “someone drove alongside of his truck and put the barrels in there.”
Champions I Have Known
Camden Courier-Post —
Joe Lynch, bantamweight champion of the world.
One of the few boxers who regained his title after once losing it, Joe won the title from Pete Herman, Herman in turn won it back from Lynch, then Herman lost the title to Johnny Buff, Johnny won the title from Herman in 1921, then in 1922 in New York Joe won the title back from Buff by defeating him in 14 rounds.
Sort of a ring-around-the-rosy affair, but through it all Joe came through untainted, a man who won and lost on the level, a square shooter who always gave his best.
I met Joe in London, England, in December, 1918; he was a tall, lanky kid, modest to a marked degree. Despite the fact that he was a product of the lower East Side in New York he possessed none of the so-called “wise guy” proclivities.
Joe was America’s bantamweight representative “over there,” where he was defeated by Jimmy Wilde. Joe was not one of our original American boxing team, but joined us early in December in London.
Too Much Herring
One of the big laughs of the tournament was after we had gone to Chatham Kent to train, after our workout on the first day. Imagine our surprise to have them feed us herrings, a bit of jam and a lot of tea. After the second day Joe came to me tearfully and exclaimed, “Geez, Sergeant, how can a fellow make weight on this kind of food? Here I’m to make 118 pounds on December 11 and I’ve eaten so many herring and drank so much tea that now I weigh about 119½. What am I going to do?” I told Joe not to worry and as I have already told you in a previous article I immediately got in touch with General Biddle, commander of the London area, who saw that we received American food from the commissary.
Joe worked much harder and on December 11 came in at the required poundage. He made several good fights abroad and impressed the boys with his skill and sportsmanship.
Joe was not a knocker out. He seemed a bit frail for such an occupation, but he could box. He had a corking left hand and an original way of delivering it. Joe used to have a small rubber ball in his quarters, and whenever the opportunity presented itself, Joe would take wallops at the ball. I watched him one afternoon and finally my curiosity became so aroused that I asked him, “What’s the idea?” “This sharpens my eye,” replied Lynch, and believe it or not, from then on that small ball became a part of my regular training regime, and I found that if you were able to hit a small object like a rubber ball, you would wildcats, with everybody standing and cheering. They called it a draw. It was a great fight, and a great decision. When asked if he remembered the fight, Jack smiled and replied, “Sure do, I was sore for two weeks, and believe me, that Lynch boy can hit.”
Much water has flowed under the bridge since those days. And often on memory’s ship we go back once again to those glorious days where fighters were fighters and wrestling was just a side line.
I missed seeing a great fighter last Saturday when Frankie Klaus, the Pittsburgh bearcat, who made his headquarters at Harry Stahl’s (Young Starr) place on the Marlton Pike, Frankie passed through Camden and paused for a visit with his old pal, Harry, who is now a jailer at Camden City Hall. Harry himself was a mighty sweet lightweight, quite a few years back. Harry tells the writer that Frank is still in Braddock, Pa., managing a few fighters and doing pretty well.
Youth Freed in Theft Through Workers’ Aid
Camden Courier-Post —
When fellow workers refused to enter a complaint, Anthony Carozza, 20, of 1021 Wolf street, Philadelphia, was released by Camden police Saturday, despite his admission he attempted a holdup hoax in an effort to filch $369.64 in weekly earnings from 12 RCA Manufacturing Company employes.
Harry Stahl, acting sergeant, said he freed Carozza. The youth confessed to detectives he cashed the paychecks and gave the money to a friend to hold for him in Philadelphia. He led detectives and aided in the recovery of the money, which was turned back to his intended victims.
4 Cops, 4 Firemen, Widow of One Win City Pensions
Camden Courier-Post —
Johnson, Garrity, Crawford, Stahl Retire Aug. 31
Four police officers and four firemen applied for pensions under the mandatory 65-year-old retirement law today. The applications, all approved by the police-firemen pension board, are in line with Commissioner Aaron’s order in December, 1948, advising chiefs of the respective services that state law requires retirement of all personnel who have reached 65. Police officers to be pensioned are Detective Capt. Samuel E. Johnson, 71, Capt. John T. Garrity, 65, Detective Frank Crawford, 69, and Patrolman Harry Stahl, 68. Fire department members include Deputy Chief Clarence Madden, 67, and Firemen John Prucella, 75; Spencer Smith Sr., 68, and Frank L’Esperance, 66. The eight men will retire Aug. 31, with each receiving one-half of the average annual salary of the last three years.
Also approved today was an application for a widow’s pension by Mrs. Carrie Bean, 1103 North Twenty-sixth street. Her husband, Patrolman Howard Bean, died June 8, eight days after being pensioned. She will receive $1000 annually. Captain Johnson, of 211 Elm street, is considered the dean of the police department, having served 40 years. Johnson, who will receive $2019 annually, was appointed in April, 1910, and was made a detective 10 years later. He was elevated to sergeant in November, 1928, and to lieutenant in 1930. One year after he was cited in 1942 by former Public Safety Director Mary Kobus, Johnson was raised to captain. He served as acting police chief from December, 1947, to December, 1949.
Captain Garrity will receive $1601 annually. He served as commander in each of the three city districts. Garrity was appointed in January, 1920; made sergeant July, 1930; lieutenant in 1940, and captain on June 30, 1944. He lives at 2515 Morgan boulevard. Following a “pep” meeting with city detectives Thursday, Aaron announced he had transferred Captain Garrity to his office for “special assignments.” Sgt. William Schultz was named acting captain to head the third police district to replace Garrity.
Crawford, of 578 Chestnut street, will draw $1501. He was named to the force in 1912 and resigned eight years later. In 1931 he was reinstated and received a promotion to detective status in 1942. He was cited by former Chief John Golden.
Stahl Appointed in 1917
Stahl lives at 1513 Baird avenue. After his appointment in 1917, he saw service in most departments of the bureau. He will receive an annual pension of $1401. Chief Madden, 2760 Mickle street, is serving as fire commander for the second fire district at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets. He was appointed July 1, 1910 and assigned to Engine Co. 5, Fifth and Arch streets. In 1922 he was raised to lieutenant, and six years later became senior captain. Madden was named battalion chief Nov. 21, 1944 and deputy chief on Dec. 16, 1949. Madden will receive about $2000, with the others drawing approximately $1358 annually.
Prucella, 919 Penn street, was sworn in on Nov. 1, 1911 and joined Engine Co. 5. Since 1933 he has been serving at No. 6 Engine Co., Front and Linden streets. Smith was appointed May 1, 1914 and assigned to No. 1 Engine Co., Fourth and Pine streets. He has been attached to No. 10 Engine Co., Ninth street and Morgan boulevard, since 1920. Frank L’Esperance, 604 Clinton street, is also a member of No. 10 Engine Co., where he has been attached since 1938. He was appointed June 6, 1918 and served with No. 5 and No. 3 engine companies.