Isaac W. Eason Sr.

ISAAC WILLOUGHBY EASON SR. was born in Virginia in 1870 to Isaac and Narcissus Eason. His father was a farmer. Isaac W. Eason graduated with a B.A. degree from Randolph Macon College in 1893, and his LL.D. from Washington & Lee University in 1895. He married soon after, and a son Isaac W. Eason Jr. was born in 1905.

Isaac W. Eason served his country during World War I. The French government awarded him the Croix De Guerre for his World War I service.

He was trained as a lawyer, and at the time of the 1920 Census was working for the federal government and living with wife Elizabeth in Washington DC. At one point during his Washington years he served as Assistant Attorney General for the United States.

Isaac Eason had come to Camden by the fall of 1931. He served as assistant prosecutor for the City of Camden in the 1930s. In these years he resided at 226 North 2nd Street. In 1932, his son, Isaac W Eason Jr., who had trained as a chemical engineer, passed away.

Isaac Eason fell ill in 1943, and died on December 22, 1945 in Norfolk VA. He was buried in the Eason Family Cemetery on the site of the old family home in Norfolk County, now Chesapeake, VA. His epitaph reads “Love and Charity marked his life.”

A combined A. Harry Moore rally and social evening will be conducted by Democratic voters of the Eleventh Ward tonight at the Maennerchor Hall, Twenty-seventh Street below River Avenue.

Former Sheriff Joseph E. Nowrey, Mrs. Florence Melnik, Gene Mariano and Assembly candidates, Vincent de P. Costello, William French, Jr., and Frederick Stanton, will speak. Mrs. Lillian Pisko, committeewoman, will preside. Mrs. Anna Rush is chairman of the committee in charge of the affair.

Rallies in interest of Moore and other Democratic candidates will also be conducted in Collingswood and Lawnside tonight.

Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, state committeewoman; Ralph Wescott, Haddonfield freeholder candidate, and Gene Mariano will address the voters in Collingswood at a mass meeting to be held at the Independent headquarters, Lees and Haddon Avenue.

Isaac Eason, former attorney general of the United States; Rev. Robert A. Jackson and Albert Melnik, will speak at the Lawnside A. Harry Moore Club at the Lawnside fire hall on Warwick Road.

Former Bridge Official in Speech Asks Baird Seven Questions

Directing questions at David Baird, Republican candidate for governor, Samuel T. French, former president of the New Jersey Bridge and Tunnel Commission, last night attacked the sincerity of Baird’s campaign speeches.

French addressed more than 200 voters at the headquarters of the Woodrow Wilson Democratic Club, Atlantic and Louis Streets, in appealing for suffrage in the interest of A. Harry Moore, Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

“In a campaign speech at Plainfield on October 17,” French said, “Baird pledged himself to quick relief of the tax burden. In view of past events, I do not know what has come over Mr. Baird; I do not know what has changed his heart. He was a director of Public Service and the controlling power of the legislature when the legislature passed a bill, which relieved the Public Service of keeping the roadways and street surfaces in good condition between the rails on eighteen inches of either side. This resulted in a saving of millions of dollars to Public Service and put the bill in the hands of the taxpayers. Yet, Mr. Baird says conditions must be changed by a change of the taxation system. Is that the way to change taxation—by increasing it for the citizens and lowering it for the corporations?”

Asks Seven Questions

“If Camden County is where Mr. Baird derived inspiration for his Plainfield speech, I ask him to publicly answer these questions:

“First, what was the idea of buying the ground upon a portion of which is erected the county court house and city hall, when the city owned a plot of land much better located on which it would have been unnecessary to destroy property, which was paying into the city treasury annually approximately $70,000 in taxes?

“Secondly, why was it necessary to buy that whole tract of land and destroy all the tax producing property when the city only had use for less than 25 percent of it?

“Thirdly, from whom did the city purchase a large portion of this tract? Why was it necessary to build a city hall at the particular time? What was the total cost of the city hall and court house annex? And, of utmost importance, why was the contract price paid in full on or about December 1, 1930, when the work was only about 80 percent completed?

“Fourth, did Senator Baird approve of all the acts of the City Commission and the Board of Freeholders in the city’s and county’s activities in the purchase of all the land and the erection of the building?

“Fifth, if Mr. Baird’s answer is ‘yes,’ to that question, then I ask him why were former Mayor Price and Commissioner T. Yorke Smith, dropped from the Republican ticket in the municipal election? If Mr. Baird’s answer is ‘no,’ then I ask him why were not the entire five commissioners dropped from the Republican ticket at the last municipal election, instead of making Price and Smith the goats?

“Sixth, I ask Mr. Baird if he offered objection to the selection of the site or the expenditures in connection with the enterprise?

“Seventh. I ask the Republican candidate for governor, believing as he says he does in his Plainfield speech that the spending orgy must stop: What would have been the saving to the taxpayers of Camden city and county if the new city hall had been erected at the Civic Centre instead of its present location?”

Praises Moore’s Record.

French lauded the record of A. Harry Moore, the Democratic candidate for governor, and charged the Republican state administration with “wanton expenditure and gross extravagance of the first water.”

“Property will be led to the point of confiscation if the Republicans are allowed to continue their orgy of spending,” French concluded, “and the only remedy in election of Moore with a Democratic legislature to support him.”

Thomas Madden also spoke at the meeting.

Democratic rallies were also held last night in three wards of the city and in Ashland.

C. Lawrence Gregorio, former assistant prosecutor, and David L. Visor spoke at the First Ward Democratic Club, 315 North Second Street; Firmin Michel and Frank Connors at the Tenth Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 822 North Eighth Street; Albert Melnik, Gene Mariano and John Crean, at the Ninth Ward Democratic Club, 543 Washington Street, and Isaac Eason, former assistant attorney general of the United States at the A. Harry Moore Club of Ashland, Burnt Mill Road.

Democratic speakers, urging suffrage in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and the local Democratic ticket, will invade seven political clubs in the city and county tonight.

County meetings, all at 8 p. m. and speakers are as follows:

First Ward Democratic Club, Gloucester, Mercer and Burlington streets, E. George Aaron, Firman Michel and Marie V. Kelly.

Pennsauken Colored A. Harry Moore Club, Magnolia and Scovel avenues, Merchantville, Dr. Clement T. Branch, Eugene Aumaitre and Albert Melnik.

Lindenwold A. Harry Moore Club, Garden Lake fire hall, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Leon Rose, Joseph Varbalow and Mrs. Florence Melnik.

Glendora A. Harry Moore Club, fire hall, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving, Gene Mariano, Samuel P. Orlando and John Crean.

Somerdale Democratic Club, fire hall, Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Edward L. Canning, Thomas Madden and John Delaney.

Fifth Ward Democratic Club, Fifth and Pine Streets, Samuel T. French, Rev. Robert A. Jackson, David L. Visor and Sabba Verdiglione.

Eighth Ward Democratic Club, 509 Ferry Avenue, Isaac Eason, Francis Homan, Charles Degnan and Judge Frank F. Neutze.

Candidacy of Moore to Be Expounded at Meetings in City and Suburbs

The campaign for A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local Democratic candidates, will be carried into six wards of the city and in seven communities of the county tonight.

All meetings and speakers are as follows:

Second Ward Democratic Club, 841 Market Street; Eugene Aumetre, John Crean, Vincent Gallagher, Leon H. Rose and Charles Woods.

Fourth Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 455 Berkley Street; Samuel T. French, Victor King, Thomas Madden, Leon H. Rose, gene mariano, Samuel P. Orlando and Rev. Robert H. Jackson.

Sixth Ward Democratic Club, Fourth and Walnut Street; Frank Connor, Albert Melnik and Thomas Madden.

Tenth Ward Democratic Club, Fifth and Vine Streets; Boyd Morrison, Joseph E. Nowrey, Charles Degnan and David L. Visor.

Seventh Ward A. Harry Moore Club, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue; Dr. Leroy Baxter, of Jersey City; Isaac Eason, Dr. Clement Branch, Rev. Robert H. Jackson, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving and Frank Suttill.

Eleventh Ward Democratic Club, 927 North Twenty-seventh street; Boyd Morrison, Firmin Michel, Victor King, Mrs. Bertha Shippen Irving.

Gloucester City Democratic Club, 308 Monmouth street; Boyd Morrison, Gene Mariano, Joseph Varbalow.

Magnolia A. Harry Moore Club, Evesham and Gloucester avenues; Firmin Michel, Edward L. Canning, John Delaney, Marie V. Kelley and Francis Homan.

Lindenwold Colored Voters’ Club, Blackstone Hall, Lindenwold, Eugene Aumetre, William Williams and Oliver Bond.

Somerdale Club, Whelen home, Somerdale road and Oggs Avenue; Marie V. Kelly, David L. Visor and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland.

Somerdale Democratic Club, Leone Hall, Warwick Road and Helena Avenue; Samuel P. Orlando, Aaron Heine, lawrence gregorio and E. George Aaron.

East Haddonfield Democrat Club, Crescent and Berlin Road; Edward L. Canning, Albert Melnik and Judge Frank F. Neutze.

East Haddonfield Improvement Association, Batesville, Delaware Township; Ralph Wescott, Judge Frank F. Neutze and Mrs. Florence Melnik.

More than five speakers from North Jersey will appear at as many meetings as possible.

Rallies in the interest of A. Harry Moore, gubernatorial candidate, and local candidates on the Democratic ticket will be conducted tonight in Ashland and in three wards of the city.

The meetings and speakers are as follows:

Sixth Ward Democratic Club, Fourth and Walnut Streets; E. George Aaron, Samuel P. Orlando, Royd E. Morrison, Charles Degnan and Sabba Verdiglione.

Third Ward A. Harry Moore Club, Third and Benson Streets: Samuel T. French, Orlando, Edward L. Canning, C. Lawrence Gregorio, Frank Homan and Anthon Ruffo, of Trenton.

Eleventh Ward A. Harry Moore Club, 927 North Twenty-seventh street: Aaron, Canning, Isaac Eason, Marie V. Kelly and Judge Frank F. Neutze.

Ashland Democratic Club, home of Ida May Heidrick, Burnt Mill road and Second Avenue: Thomas Madden, Leon H. Rose and Eugene Mariano.

Wife of Druggist Suing for Divorce Petitions Advisory Master

Mrs. Freda Brown, wife of Joseph E. Brown, druggist at Third and Market Streets, who is suing her for divorce, appeared before William J. Kraft, advisory master in chancery, yesterday and asked for maintenance for herself and their two children.

The hearing was adjourned until July 10 to give Brown’s attorneys an opportunity to prove his claim that Mrs. Brown is employed in Philadelphia at $18 a week.

Brown has entered suit charging his wife with infidelity and naming Dr. Alexander Ellis, 37, of 513 Broadway, as co-respondent. However, suit is not actually on file yet as Brown’s lawyers stated they have been unable to serve papers on Mrs. Brown.

Isaac Eason, attorney for Mrs. Brown appeared yesterday with a bill for maintenance. It set forth that the Browns were married at Elkton, November 23, 1923, and that Brown deserted his wife. In the petition, Brown is accused of getting his wife out of their home by a pretext and then refusing to allow her to re-enter. Eason stated he knew nothing about a divorce suit, as no papers have been served on Mrs. Brown.

C. Lawrence Gregorio and Grover C. Richman, counsel for Brown, stated that Mrs. Brown does not need maintenance as she has a job. Kraft asked if they could submit proof of this today, whereupon Richman asked for the adjournment, saying he could obtain such testimony by July 10.

Mrs. Brown’s address was given as 541 South Forty-seventh Street, Philadelphia. Their children, Gerald 8, and Dolores, 6, are in custody of their father.

CAMDEN NJ, March 14 (AP)— Everyone sighed with relief when Walter Baler, forty-three years old, was given a suspended sentence and left with the evidence.

He was accused of threatening to “blow up” Constable Edward Lewis of nearby Lawnside, with a stick of dynamite. As Assistant Prosecutor Isaac W. Eason displayed dynamite in evidence, it once nearly slipped from his hands.

As Barker, dynamiter for a contractor, was leaving, the prosecutor called:

“Here, take this with you.”

Baler calmly pocketed the evidence and walked out.

Judge Neutze Influenced by Restitution, Poor Health in Suspending Sentence

Nathan U. Katz, 44, former Kaighn Avenue real estate dealer, pleaded non vult yesterday before Judge Frank F. Neutze in Criminal Court to a charge of embezzling a total of $4586.27 from four building and loan associations he represented. He was given a suspended sentence of one to three years in state prison and fined $500.

Representatives of the building and loan associations testified to his good character and asked for clemency. A physician testified Katz has a lung ailment.

In imposing sentence, Judge Neutze said he was influenced by the fact that restitution was made before charges had actually been brought against Katz, and also by the fact that Katz is in poor health.

It was brought out that complaint against Katz by the State Department of Banking and Insurance followed an 18-months investigation of his activities by the department. The cost of this probe, approximately $3100, has been assessed against the four associations.

Assistant Prosecutor Isaac W. Eason made no recommendation to the court. He said that during an 18-month period, including all of 1934 and half of 1935, while the state was unearthing Katz’ defalcation, that the real estate agent had made restitution.

“Katz made restitution when he found out that the state was investigating,” Eason said. “On the other hand, it is true that the defendant is in poor health and has pleaded non vult, saving court costs.

Katz, who lives at 1531 Wildwood Avenue, was represented by former Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin.

In imposing sentence, Judge Neutze said, addressing Katz:

“The fact that restitution was made prior to charges actually being brought makes a tremendous impression on me. The condition of your health is also to be considered.”

Katz was indicted last October. According to the indictment, he is charged with embezzling the following amounts from the following associations:

Apollo, $723.29; Bridge, $1230.85; Hyman Varbalow, $693.52; Home Buyers, $1938.61.

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.

Doctors to Testify

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.

Under state law, the county physician may order an inquest, with 12 persons on the jury of the coroner’s choosing. The jurymen may be taken from the present panel of the petit jury or be picked at random. The Grand Jury does not have to indict on the basis of the inquest. At the inquest Coroner Jackson will be assisted by attaches of the prosecutor’s office.

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.

Injury on Haddon Avenue Held Not Willful by Court After Testimony

A directed verdict of acquittal in Camden Criminal Court yesterday freed a Clementon driver of the “willful death” of an Audubon girl who died from injuries suffered when struck by his truck.

At the direction of Common Pleas Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, a mixed jury acquitted Lester Barney, 30, of 37 Davis Avenue, who was charged with manslaughter by automobile following the death of Miss Ida Mantano, 17, of 9 Taylor Avenue, last December 19.

It was brought out that Barney served 30 days in jail after conviction on “hit-run” charges in connection with the case.

The girl was injured December 15 at Old White Horse Pike and Haddon Avenue as she was waiting for a bus and shortly after she had left the night school where she was a student.

Three state witnesses testified they saw the truck speed from the accident but none said he actually saw the girl struck. They are Samuel Yellin of 830 Mt. Vernon Street; Russell Thayer, of 17 Chestnut Street, Haddonfield; and John E. Bennett of Fifth and Kayser Streets, Philadelphia.

Following their testimony Anthony Mitchell, counsel for Barney, moved for a directed verdict of acquittal.

“Nothing in the testimony of these witnesses,” Mitchell told the court, “has shown that Barney was guilty of the willful and wanton death of the girl. For that reason I ask for a directed verdict of acquittal.”

Judge Baldwin then asked Assistant Prosecutor Isaac W. Eason if he had any comment to make.

“The state has presented all its evidence,” Eason replied. “I am obliged to concur with defense counsel that there is no evidence of willful and wanton death.”

Mixed Jury Returns Verdict of Manslaughter in Brother-in-Law’s Death

A mixed jury yesterday convicted William Dillon, 22, of manslaughter in the death of his brother-in-law, Frank Webley.

Common Pleas Court Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, who heard the case, said he would sentence Dillon next week.

After a fight aboard a barge off Twenty-ninth street Webley, 30, died in West Jersey hospital December 13.

Isaac W. Eason, assistant prosecutor, conducted the case. Anthony F. Marino represented Dillon with a plea of self-defense.

Captain Fred Dillon, owner of the barge and father of the accused man, told of the night of the fight and said both had been drinking. He said they drank half a gallon of wine. After the fight when, Captain Dillon said, he thought Webley was asleep on the deck, his son came to him and said: “I’m sorry but I had to do this, Dad.”

Webley was drunk when he came aboard, Captain Dillon testified. He said he thought Webley was hurt in a fall against a stove.

Captain Joseph Bowers, master of another coal barge, said he was on the death barge the night of the fight. He declared Webley had been drinking and that Captain Dillon gave him $2 to get a gallon of wine.

After hearing Dr. Edward B. Rogers describe the autopsy on Webley and the younger Dillon tell of the fight, the jury retired to find the verdict.