Introduction
IDA BURTON was born in New Jersey in February of 1873. It is quite possible that she is the same person recorded in the 1880 Census as Ida Jenkins, daughter of Kassie Jenkins, and granddaughter of Benjamin Jenkins, of 707 Kaighn Avenue. By April of 1892 she had taken up with William Randolph Whitler, alias Randolph Stokes. Both Ida and Randolph liked to drink, and apparently both had some anger issues. Randolph was arrested for assault at least five times, three of these being incidents where he took a knife or razor to Ida. Ida apparently was no shrinking violet either. Someone tried to poison her at a dance in 1896.
The 1897 City Directory shows Ida and Randolph Whitler at 624 Kaighn Avenue. They are not listed in the 1898 edition. Randolph Whitler was sent to state prison for assaulting his wife in 1898. By the spring of 1900 he was out of jail.
1899 and 1900 City Directories show Ida and Randolph were living together at 714 Sycamore Street when the Census was taken. They apparently had been married in 1892, although she apparently rarely used the Whitler name, as best as I can tell. A daughter, Jennie had been born prior to the 1895 State Census enumeration, but the identity of her father is unclear. She died prior to the 1900 Census being taken.
By 1902, with her husband staying in Philadelphia, Ida was living with a man named James Brown, of 337 Summit Avenue. According to Ida, she stabbed him to death with a bread knife after he tried to brain her with a chair. She then went to Philadelphia, where her husband briefly hid her, before going to Media, Pennsylvania.
Ida Burton was arrested in Media and extradited back to New Jersey for trial. In January of 1905 she was convicted of manslaughter and sent to prison for five years. Ida Burton was paroled on December 28, 1908.
Albert Holland Held for Selling Liquor to Minors
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On the strength of a statement by Ida Jenkins, a 17-year-old colored girl who was arrested by the Camden police for drunkenness, Saloon-keeper Albert Holland, of Sycamore street, below Seventh, was held yesterday for selling liquor to minors. Holland is a justice of the peace.
Stabbed His Wife
Philadelphia Inquirer —
And Is Afterwards Shot by a Hotel Keeper in Camden.
William Whitler, alias Randolph Stokes, of Sixth and Chestnut streets, Camden, stabbed his wife, Ida Burton, twice in the back about 6 o’clock last night. After being cut Mrs. Burton escaped, and Whitler ran into the Blue Anchor Hotel, 625 Sycamore street, and told Albert Holland, the proprietor, he wanted his wife. Holland, who was entertaining two young women, told him she was not there. Whitler began using insulting language, and Holland ordered him to leave the house.
Whitler then pulled out a knife and rushed at Holland, who ran down stairs into the bar-room, and as Whitler made a thrust at him he picked up a club and knocked him senseless.
A messenger was dispatched for an officer, but before he arrived Whitler regained consciousness and made another attack on Holland, who picked up his revolver and shot Whitler in the left cheek bone. The wound is not serious.
Holland went to the City Hall last night and surrendered himself. Whitler, who is wanted by the authorities in Philadelphia, for cutting a man on Hurst street about two years ago, was also arrested.
Mrs. Burton was in a dangerous condition last night having lost considerable blood from her wounds. All participants are colored.
Whitely Committed for Trial
Philadelphia Inquirer —
William Whitely, who stabbed his supposed wife, Ida Burton, and then attacked Justice Albert Holland, who shot him in self-defense, was committed for trial yesterday.
Fatal Heart Thumps
Philadelphia Inquirer —
While a Mob Chased a Prisoner a Spectator Fell Dead
Excitement Killed Harry Pease While Walking Along a Camden Street. The Man Who Caused the Commotion Now in Jail
The escape of a prisoner, a chase by a howling mob, and the sudden death of a spectator, created a sensation in the heart of Camden about 8 o’clock last evening.
Randolph Whitler, a colored man, had been committed to the county jail by Justice Drake, of South Camden, for assault and battery on Emily Vandyke. A special officer was deputized to take him to the jail.
THE PRISONER ESCAPES
The prisoner made trouble for the officer all the way to the jail. He had been dragged almost to the portals of the building when he suddenly wrenched himself loose from the officer’s grasp and started on a run up Sixth street.
The officer gave chase. The cry of “stop thief!” was raised by people on the sidewalks, and they joined in the pursuit. The fugitive ran up Sixth street to Market, down that business thoroughfare to Fifth and turned down Fifth street. By this time several hundred men and boys had joined in the chase.
Half way between Market and Arch streets stands No. 2 Police Patrol House. The officers ran out and helped secure the fugitive, who had been intercepted by Constable Price. Whitler was taken to the jail, followed by a howling mob.
A SPECTATOR DROPS DEAD
Harry Pease, a middle-aged man, was walking along Fifth street below Market when he heard the commotion. As the fugitive and the crowd came rushing down upon him he became greatly excited and suddenly reeled and fell to the sidewalk.
He was carried into the police patrol house, but before a physician arrived he was dead. Death was presumably due to heart disease.
THE BODY SENT HOME
Coroner Jefferis, who was near-by, viewed the body and ordered it removed to the home of the deceased at Cramer Hill.
Pease leaves a large family. He was Grand Secretary of the Legion of the Red Cross and was a member of other secret societies.
Poisoned at a Cake Walk
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Ida Burton, colored, while attending a cake-walk in the Seventh ward, Camden, on Thursday night, drank a glass of beer containing a poisonous drug. She soon felt the effects of the poison but Policeman Paynter administered an emetic, which probably saved her life. How the deadly drug got into the glass is a mystery.
Woman Slashed With a Razor
Philadelphia Inquirer —
TAYLOR SHOT TO KILL HIM
Camden Daily Telegram —
EXTRA!
Sumner Derrickson Dangerously Wounded During a Row.
THEY FOUGHT OVER A WOMAN
The Participants All Had Their Guns and Knives Ready to Murder.
CAPTURED AFTER A HARD CHASE
The Man Who Did the Shooting Ran from Seventh and Sycamore Streets to the Federal Street Ferry With an Excited, Yelling Mob at His Heels—A Ferryboat Held Until the Police Arrived and Took the Fleeing Man Into Custody—The Wounded Man and His Brother Known as Bad Men.
Robert, alias Charles Taylor, colored, made a desperate attempt last night to murder Sumner Derrickson. Taylor is locked up at the City Hall and Derrickson is at the Cooper Hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen. The doctors there say that Derrickson is resting easily to-day and that he is in no immediate danger of dying. Taylor claims that he shot Derrickson in self defense.
ROW OVER A WOMAN.
The shooting was the outcome of jealousy. Taylor and Charles Derrickson and the latter’s brother, Sweeney Derrickson, were gambling in a house on Baxter street, between Ann and Seventh streets. A dispute arose and Taylor says that the Derricksons, who are known as bad men, chased him from the house. Sumner Derrickson, Taylor says, had a gun, and Sweeney Derrickson had a knife. At Seventh and Sycamore streets Taylor states that he found his pursuers were pressing him too closely. He turned as he ran and drawing his pistol fired at the two men. The bullet struck Sumner Derrickson in the abdomen and he fell to the ground with a groan. Sweeney stopped to look after his wounded brother and Taylor continued his flight.
SURGEONS FOUND THE BALL.
The wounded man was taken to the Cooper Hospital where the surgeons found the bullet had taken an upward course and lodged beneath the skin in Derrickson’s chest. The ball was extracted and Derrickson was made as comfortable as possible for the night.
The news of the attempted murder spread rapidly and the police were notified at once. An alarm was sent throughout the city and every effort was exerted to capture Taylor who had fled from the scene of the shooting as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran down to Kaighn avenue with the evident intention of taking a ferryboat to Philadelphia where he lives. The crowd that followed him, however, prevented Taylor making his escape in that direction. Like a hunted animal he turned up Second street toward the northern section of the city. The crowd increased each moment and the excitement of the chase became intense.
EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE.
Policeman Fitzsimmons joined the throng which by this time was yelling “Catch the murderer” and “Lynch him.” People who were retiring threw up their windows in alarm thinking that the police and the crowd were in pursuit of another man suspected of the double murder of Mrs. Zane and Mrs. Shaw of week ago. The chase grew hot along Second street, but Taylor proved himself fleet of foot and reached the Federal street ferry in time to catch the 10.45 p. m. boat.
POLICE CAPTURE TAYLOR.
Collector Andrew Frazee had been notified of the attempted murder and recognized Taylor as the man wanted. He instructed Gateman William Barnard to hold the boat while he sent word to the police that Taylor was at the ferry. The patrol wagon was sent there in a hurry.
In the meantime Policemen Al. Myers and George Cable had arrived and Policeman Fitzsimmons arrived a second later almost winded by his long run. Two respectable colored porters were taken into custody at first, but the policemen soon discovered their mistake and found Taylor crouched up in one corner of the boat. Policeman Fitzsimmons recognized Taylor by a scar on his neck and quickly grabbed him by the throat. The fellow made no resistance and was taken to the waiting patrol wagon by the three officers. Here he was hustled into the vehicle and sent to the City Hall. When arrested the revolver with which the shooting was done was found in Taylor’s pocket, but that individual had cutely reloaded the empty chambers as he ran so as to destroy what evidence there was against him.
Derrickson, brother of Sumner, was formerly of the firm of Reed & Derrickson who several years ago ran the notorious negro resort known as Olive Park where John Hill, a colored youth, shot Joseph Dodson, also colored. Hill afterwards was hanged for his crime and the police broke up the den where the tragedy occurred.
TAYLOR GIVEN A HEARING.
Taylor was given a hearing this morning by Mayor Westcott. The complaint was made by Lieutenant John Foster and accused Taylor of assaulting, shooting and attempting to kill Derrickson. Lawyer Jackson appeared for the defendant.
Edward Fortie, one of the men who was with Derrickson when the shooting occurred, stated that he did not see the first shot, but when the second and third shots were fired Taylor was starting down Kaighn avenue. Fortie and Jordon, with Derrickson, then started to run.
Ida Burton said she saw Taylor and Lawrence Anderson talking at Seventh and Baxter streets. Taylor went slowly toward Derrickson and suddenly pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired point blank at his victim. When questioned by the Mayor she said she saw all of the shots, but when cross-examined by Lawyer Jackson she denied having seen the firing of the first shot.
Aubrey Thompson, who was about fifteen yards distant, said he saw the first shot fired at some one setting back of the station at Seventh and Kaighn avenue. He then saw Taylor go down Kaighn avenue.
Several other witnesses were heard who said they saw the shots fired, but who were not positive as to whom they were directed at.
Policemen Al Myers and George Cable, who made the arrest, said they found the man on a Federal street ferryboat hiding behind an ash cart. Taylor said he had no revolver, but on the way to the City Hall Patrolman Golden found a 32-calibre revolver with three loaded chambers.
Mayor Westcott held Taylor to await the result of Derrickson’s injuries.
Taylor hails from Washington, D. C., and it was stated on good authority that he is wanted in Philadelphia and his native city for misdemeanors.
Camden Criminal Court
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Judge Armstrong yesterday sentenced Harry Darr, colored, to six months in jail for assault and battery and intent to kill William Brown, also colored. Randolph Whittler was given eighteen months in State Prison for cutting his wife with a razor. Michael Keefe and James Kilroy were found guilty on charges of assault and battery on each other, and will be sentenced on Friday.
Over in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Randolph Whitler, convicted of murderous assault upon his wife, was taken to Trenton yesterday to serve an 18 months’ sentence.
1900 United States Census
1900 United States Census — Ida Burton
Killed in Camden
Omaha World-Herald —
By Associated Press. Camden, Nov. 8.—During an election row here to-night James Brown, aged 41 years, colored, was struck in the head with a club and died later in Cooper hospital. No arrests have been made.
Woman Struck Fatal Blow!
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Some Mystery in the Death of a Camden Negro
County Physician James and Coroner Litchfield, in Camden yesterday, held a post-mortem view of the body of James Brown, colored, who died at the Cooper Hospital Tuesday night as the result of being struck on the head with some blunt instrument. Death was due to hemorrhage of the brain. An inquest will be held to-morrow morning.
Brown, who was 41 years old and who lived at 337 Summit street, is believed to have received the fatal blow during an altercation with a woman. She has not yet been located by the police.
Say Woman Killed Negro
Philadelphia Inquirer —
An inquest in the case of James Brown, colored, who died at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, Tuesday night, as the result of being struck on the had [sic], was held by Coroner Litchfield yesterday. The jury brought in a verdict to the effect that Brown’s death resulted from a stab wound inflicted by a woman who has not yet been located. A warrant has been issued by Justice Schmitz charging her with killing Brown.
Jailed as an Accessory
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Philadelphia Suspected of Knowing Something About Camden Murder
Randolph Whittler, colored, who was arrested in Philadelphia and taken to Camden by Detective Cherry, was committed to the county jail by Justice Hellings yesterday on the charge of being an accessory after the fact to the murder of James Brown, colored, of 337 Summit street, Camden, election day.
The authorities declare that Whittler is the lawful husband of a woman who is charged with having cut Brown with a knife, from the effects of which he died. It is also claimed that soon after the cutting the woman fled to Whittler’s home in Philadelphia and that he harbored her and aided her to escape. She has not yet been arrested.
Requisition for Burton Woman
Philadelphia Inquirer —
County Detective Smith went to Trenton yesterday, where he procured requisition papers for Ida Burton, colored, who is wanted in Camden to answer a charge of causing the death of James Brown, also colored, who died election night from a wound in the head. The woman will be removed from Media, Pa., to Camden to-day.
Woman Charged With a Murder
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Homicide Case January 4
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Judge Garrison, in Camden yesterday, set January 4 as the date which the murder case of Ida Burton, who it is alleged, killed James Brown, will be tried. The man was stabbed to death last election night.
House of Murder Haunted
Illinois State Journal —
Negroes Say Strange Occurrences Happen Nightly in Building.
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 26.—Negroes in the vicinity of Eleventh and Penn streets, Camden, are firmly convinced the house at 337 Summit street, in which James Brown was recently stabbed to death, is haunted.
After dark not a negro will pass the dwelling.
Some have grown so timid they have left the neighborhood, seeking places where the midnight hours are undisturbed by shrieks and all manner of outlandish noises.
Since Brown met his death, for which Ida Burton was indicted last Friday, the colored residents avow there are nocturnal seances in the diningroom of the old building.
Every night, the shivering neighbors declare, they hear such sounds as the overturning of chairs and tables and the shrieks and groans of some one apparently in a death struggle. This interesting performance, they say, is concluded with a dull thud as though a body fell heavily to the floor.
Thus far no one has had the temerity to rent the place, and it has been vacant since election night, when Brown met his death.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
•• Supreme Court Justice Garrison will try the case of Ida Burton, accused of the murder of James Brown, next Monday.
Ida Burton Convicted
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Jury Returned a Verdict of Manslaughter
Ida Burton, colored, was tried before Judge Garrison in the Supreme Court in Camden yesterday for the murder of James Brown, also colored. At 9.40 o’clock last night the jury brought in a verdict of manslaughter.
It was testified by the defendant that she struck Brown on the head with a bread knife after he tried to brain her with a chair. Brown was stabbed on election night and died the next day in the Cooper Hospital.
Took Dead Man’s Clothes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Stole Suit in Which Corpse Was To Have Been Buried
Admitting he had taken the suit of clothes of a man whom his wife had killed, Randolph Whitler, colored, was sentenced to three months in the county jail by Judge Joline in Camden.
Whitler is the husband of Ida Burton, colored, convicted Monday of manslaughter in causing the death of James Brown. Mrs. Sophronia Brown, wife of the murdered man, sent a suit of clothes in which to bury her husband. Whitler appropriated them to his own use and the charge of larceny resulted.
Ida Burton Gets Five Years
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Ida Burton, colored, convicted of manslaughter for the killing of James Brown, also colored, was yesterday sentenced to state prison for five years, by Judge Garrison, in Camden.
Ida Burton Taken to State Prison
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Ida Burton, colored, who was sentenced to five years in State Prison by Judge Garrison, in Camden, for the murder of James Brown on election night, was taken to Trenton yesterday by Sheriff Somers.
Philadelphia Inquirer — December 29, 1908
Named: John Baynard, Howard Brown, W.H. Burke, Ida Burton, George P. Gardner, Mamie Lee, Reuben Holmes, William Martle, Samuel McKim, Floyd J. Miller, William Morton, William Davis, John W. Priestly, Antone Sederski, Raymond Waples, and Jeremiah Watson.