Introduction
Jesse D. Seybold
JESSE D. SEYBOLD was born in New Jersey in February of 1892 to Charles and Lizzie Seybold. The exact date is unclear, records show him being born alternately on February 2, February 7, and February 8. His grandfather, John D. Seybold, had come to Camden before 1850 and had conducted a bakery at 303 Market Street into the 1880s. The bakery and the adjacent home of Dr. Alexander Mecray at 305 Market Street were both razed to make way for the Security Trust Building, built in 1886. Jesse Seybold’s father, Charles Seybold, was also a baker. He was living at 562 Clinton Street by 1880. Jesse Seybold’s older brother George, was born in 1875. When the Census was taken in June of 1900, Jesse Seybold and his sister Ellen were living at 706 Clinton Street with his older brother, who then was working as a milkman.
By 1910 Jesse Seybold had gone out into the world. The Census of that year shows that he was working as a railroad fireman and boarding at the house of a young widow, Mrs. Viola Miller, at 920 South 6th Street. In the early 1910s his brother George V. Seybold or a relative, George B. Seybold, opened a business at 426 Mount Vernon Street which was known as Seybold’s Horse Exchange. Jesse Seybold had gone to work there by June of 1917, when he registered for the draft. He joined the United States Navy, reaching the rank of Seaman Second Class before leaving the service.
After serving in World War I he returned to Camden, and by the time of the 1920 Census was renting a home at 923 St. John Street. Living with, and listed in the census as a housekeeper, was 27 year-old Jennie Buzine. She would reside with Jesse Seybold through at least 1947, and they eventually did marry. In January of 1928 he also had a boarder, former boxing referee Newton Blanchard. They would remain friends long after Blanchard wed and moved to Collingswood a short time afterwards.
The 1920 Census reveals that Jesse Seybold was working as a foreman at a stable. He remained in this trade through 1930, at which time he had become the proprietor, and was also engaged in buying and selling horses. He also operated a saloon at 818 Broadway from 1924 through 1929, according to the Camden City Directories for those years. By 1930 this bar was known as the Peek In Inn, but it is unclear as of this writing whether Jesse Seybold had an interest in the business. He was living on St. John Street and stated for the Census that his occupation was horse dealer.
Jesse Seybold came to the attention of the public twice in 1936. On March 8 he was held up and robbed of $18.00 by Harvey Arnold, who was captured after a short chase in which Jesse Seybold took part. Jesse Seybold turned up in the newspapers again when on August 5 he was arrested for operating a speakeasy out of his home on St. John Street. His old friend Newton Blanchard posted his bail. Jesse Seybold was fined $200 for this offense on August 8, 1936. He apparently had been involved in speakeasies as far back as 1924, according to the arresting officer, John V. Wilkie.
When he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942, Jesse Seybold was working for the Works Progress Administration. The days of the horse in Camden apparently were pretty much over. By 1947 horses and stables no longer rated a category in the “yellow pages” of the City Directory. Former political leader Mikey Brown was operating one on Van Buren Street in the Centerville neighborhood of Camden which may well have been the last one left in the city.
Jesse Seybold appears in the 1947 Camden City Directory, still living at 923 St. John Street. At that time he was working for the Camden City Fire Department.
Jesse D. Seybold died on June 6, 1955. He was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey three days later. Mrs. Jennie Buzine Seybold passed away on July 20, 1963 and was buried next to her husband.
Committed to County Jail
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In default of $1000 bail each Arthur Sweeten, aged 16 years; Harold Sullivan, aged 15 years; Jesse Seybold, aged 16 years, and Elwood Rogers, aged 18 years, were committed to the county jail in Camden yesterday by Recorder Stackhouse on a charge of being the assailants of Mary Ayres, aged 17 years, of 764 Walnut street, who was attacked and dragged into an alley at Seventh and Walnut streets early Sunday morning. According to the girl she was bodily carried up the alley, where she was found by Policeman Ellis, who was attracted by her cries for help. The boys deny the charge.
World War I Draft Card
Form 1, Registration Card No. 28
1. Name in full: Jesse Seybold, age 27 2. Home address: 426 Mt. Vernon, Camden, N.J. 3. Date of birth: Feb 7, 1890 4. Are you a natural-born citizen: Natural Born 5. Where were you born: Camden, N.J., U.S. 6. If not a citizen, of what country are you a citizen or subject: Natural Born 7. What is your present trade, occupation, or office: Horseman 24 [?] 8. By whom employed: Geo. B. Seybold Where employed: 426 Mt. Vernon 9. Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister or brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support: No 10. Married or single: Single. Race: White 11. What military service have you had? None 12. Do you claim exemption from draft: No
I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true.
Serial: 2704 Signature: Jesse Seybold
29-3-8-A
REGISTRAR’S REPORT
1. Tall, medium, or short: Tall. Slender, medium, or stout: Stout 2. Color of eyes: Gray. Color of hair: Light. Bald: No 3. Has person lost arm, leg, hand, both eyes, or is he otherwise disabled: No
I certify that my answers are true, that the person registered has read his own answers, that I have witnessed his signature, and that all of the answers of which I have knowledge are true, except as follows:
Registrar: F.P. Olayes [?] Precinct 3 — 6th Ward City or County: Camden State: New Jersey Date: June 5/17
6 Fined $300 Each in Big Still Seizure
Camden Evening Courier —
Shay Frees Three Men Who Were Visitors Only When Rhone Led Raid
Six of nine prisoners taken by the police in a spectacular raid on the largest distillery ever confiscated in Camden were fined $300 each by Judge Shay in special session of criminal court today.
Charges against three others who were arrested were withdrawn by Prosecutor Baldwin when their attorney pleaded that they were not employed at the distillery but merely had been visiting a friend when the raiders arrived.
Those fined were Jesse Seybold, 39, of 423 St. John street; Frank Varro, 35, of 1902 South Fourth street, both of Camden, and Michael Magglio, 33, of 1513 South Fairhill street; John Saggese, 40, of 645 Erie street; Joseph Rosa, of the South Fairhill street address, and John Lapone, 32, of 823 Catherine street, all of Philadelphia.
They all pleaded non vult to charges of possession of apparatus used in the manufacture of liquor. Their attorney, Carl Kisselman, pleaded for leniency, asserting that the men were merely employees and had no other interest in the distillery, which was at 535–37 Chestnut street, four doors from the Second District police station. The raid was conducted under the personal supervision of Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone on Oct. 23.
Kisselman said the “real owner” of the place “has skipped out and left these men in the lurch.” None of the defendants has been in trouble before, he said, and all were men with families who had taken jobs at the distillery only a few days before it was raided. No finished product was found in the raid, just the ingredients, he said.
Charges were withdrawn for Lewis Cohen, 31, of 935 St. John street; John Delena, 42, of 421 Walnut street, and Mitchell Davis, 21, of 840 Pine street, all of Camden. Davis was not in court due to illness, according to Kisselman.
Holdup Victim Held in Speakeasy Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
Man Robbed for ‘Thrill’ Arrested as Proprietor of Illegal Liquor Den
The victim of a “thrill” holdup in Camden last March was arrested yesterday as the proprietor of a “speakeasy.” He is Jesse Seybold, 44, of 923 St. John street, who was held in $2000 bail for police court today on charges of possessing untaxed liquor and violation of the city ordinance allowing disorderly persons to congregate.
Seybold was held up March 3 by a youthful “two-gun” bandit and his 16-year-old sweetheart and robbed of $19. They were Harvey Arnold, 22, of 314 Arch street and Edith Gaylord, who roomed at the Arnold home.
They were captured after a short chase in which Seybold took part. Arnold was sentenced to Rahway for his part in the crime, while the girl obtained a suspended sentence. At their trial they testified they staged the holdup for a “thrill.”
Seybold was arrested yesterday in a raid staged by police on information obtained when two men and a woman were arrested Monday night after an automobile collision.
The raid was made by Patrolman John V. Wilkie, inspector of rooming houses, together with Sergt. Richard Cornog, Acting Sergt. Edward Leonard and Patrolman Nathan Wine.
A quantity of untaxed liquor was found on the premises, Wilkie said, including two gallons of purported “moonshine.”
According to Wilkie, Seybold has been arrested on seven different occasions between May 29, 1924, and Jan. 17, 1936, and twice has been fined $100 for operating a disorderly house.
Information that led to the raid was obtained, Wilkie said, from William Smith, 34, of 739 Mickle street, who was arraigned in police court yesterday on a charge of possessing unlicensed liquor and fined $100.
Arraigned at the same time was Mrs. Theresa Anderson, 31, of 211 Byron street, and Raymond Doughty, 30, of 329 Richey avenue, Collingswood. Each was fined $25, the woman on a drunk and disorderly charge, and Doughty for driving an automobile without a registration card.
The three were arrested by Wilkie late Monday at Seventh and Federal streets when the car in which they were riding bumped another machine while waiting for a traffic light to change.
A half-pint bottle of liquor found in the car, Wilkie said, was claimed by Smith. It bore no tax stamps of any kind, according to the patrolman.
After questioning Smith, Wilkie said he bought the liquor at Seybold’s place. After Smith made an affidavit to that effect, Wilkie obtained the warrant that led to the raid and arrest of Seybold.
Seybold Hearing Off Until Friday
Camden Courier-Post —
Charges of Possessing Untaxed Liquor Delayed at Lawyer’s Request
Police court hearing for Jesse Seybold, 44, of 923 St. John street, on charges of possessing untaxed liquor and violation of the city ordinance allowing disorderly persons to congregate, has been postponed until Friday.
Acting Prosecutor John D. DiMona yesterday informed Police Judge Lewis Liberman he had been requested to delay the hearing by Carlton W. Rowand, Seybold’s attorney, who is out of the city.
Seybold, victim of a “thrill” holdup in Camden last March, was arrested Tuesday in a raid by police on information obtained when two men and a woman were arrested Monday by Patrolman John V. Wilkie after an automobile collision. A quantity of untaxed liquor was found on the premises.
Seybold was robbed March 3 by a young “two-gun” bandit and his 16-year-old sweetheart. They were Harvey Arnold, 22, of 314 Arch street and Edith Gaylord, who roomed at the Arnold home.
Former Cafe Man Pays Fine of $200
Camden Courier-Post —
Untaxed Liquor Seized by Wilkie Leads to Police Court Sentence
Jesse Seybold, 44, of 923 St. John street, a former South Camden cafe operator, was found guilty in police court yesterday on the charge of violating Section 422 of a city ordinance. He was fined $200 which he paid.
Seybold was arrested last Tuesday by Patrolman John V. Wilkie in his home. On Monday night Wilkie arrested William Smith, 34, of 739 Mickle street; Raymond Doughty, 30, of 329 Richey avenue, West Collingswood, and Mrs. Theresa Anderson, 31, of 211 Byron street, at Seventh and Market streets. Wilkie charged the trio with being disorderly and said he found a small quantity of untaxed liquor in their car. In police court next day Smith was fined $100 and his companions $25.
Wilkie questioned regarding where he had obtained the liquor and a short time later the policeman raided Seybold’s home and seized a small quantity of liquor.
In police court Seybold entered a plea of guilty. Wilkie testified that when he entered Seybold’s home and explained his mission Seybold turned the liquor over to him.
Seybold, following his arrest, was released under $500 cash bail posted by Newton Blanchard, of White Horse pike, Collingswood. Blanchard paid Seybold’s fine.
World War II Draft Card
REGISTRATION CARD — (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897)
Serial Number: U-079 1. Name (Print): Jesse Seybold 2. Place of Residence (Print): 923 St. John St., Camden, N.J. [The place of residence given on the line above will determine local board jurisdiction; line 2 of registration certificate will be identical] 3. Mailing Address: Same 4. Telephone: 5861[0?] 5. Age in Years: 50. Date of Birth: Feb 2, 1892 6. Place of Birth: Camden, N.J. 7. Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: David Keese, 923 St. John St. 8. Employer’s Name and Address: W.P.A., Camden, N.J. 9. Place of Employment or Business: Camden, N.J.
I Affirm That I Have Verified Above Answers and That They Are True. Signature: Jesse Seybold
D.S.S. Form 1 (Revised 4-1-42), 16-21020-2