John 'Happy' Kowal

JOHN KOWAL, whose full name was John Francis Kowalczyk, served on Camden's Police Department as a detective from the 1920s into the 1940s. He was popularly known as John “Happy” Kowal.

John Kowalczyk was born in Camden on November 15, 1892 to Ignatius Kowalczyk and his wife, the former Michalena Michalak. The family included an older sister, Pearl, and at least six younger children, Frank, Walter, William, Joseph, Anna, and Helen Catherine Kowalczyk.

By 1900 the family had moved to 1131 Louis Street, not far from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, the heart and soul of Camden’s Polish community. At some point between 1906 and the summer of 1910 the family moved to 1049 Mechanic Street. John Kowalczyk was still living with his parents when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He had been working as a bricklayer up to that time. John Kowalczyk served in the armed forces during World War I. By January 1, 1920 John Kowalczyk was appointed to the Camden Police Department. He was soon promoted to Detective and eventually reached the rank of sergeant.

In late 1927 or early 1928 John Kowalczyk married. The 1930 Census shows that his wife Mary lived at 1145 Whitman Avenue. Also then at home was Mary’s daughter from a previous marriage, Florence. He was still living at 1145 Whitman Avenue and working as a detective when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. The Kowalczyks are not listed in the 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory, however.

Left for California to Testify in Murder of Former Camden Resident

Policeman John Kowal, at the South Camden district, last night began a trip across the continent. He will travel in Pullmans, put up at the best hotels and the six thousand mile journey will not cost him a cent.

Kowal is on the way to Monrovia, California where he will figure as an important witness for the defense in the case of a wealthy Armenian hotel keeper at that place, who is charged with the murder of a former resident at South Camden named Schultz. He should not be confused with another former resident at South Camden, Gus Schultz, at one time in the bottling business on South Sixth Street, and a member of the old Excise Commission, who went to Los Angeles, California about twenty years ago. The defense for the accused California hotel keeper is that he shot Schultz in self defense when attacked, knowing him to be a desperate character. Kowal was subpoenaed by the defendant’s lawyer to prove Schultz’s unsavory character when a resident of South Camden, he having arrested him on several occasions in the theft of automobiles and other crimes.

Counsel for the defense came here from California to get Policeman Kowal as a witness for his client. Lawyer and witness started for the Pacific coast from Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, last night.

Held for grand jury on a highway robbery charge, two Camden youths today were committed to the county jail in default of $200 bail each, following hearing in police court.

Lawrence Richards, 1227 Morgan Boulevard and Stephen Baldyga, 1226 Mount Ephraim Avenue both 19 years old, were charged with holding up Marcy Wrule, 1183 Norris Street. City Detectives John Kowal and Joseph Ward arrested the boys after their identity had been revealed by a woman who saw the hold-up on Thurman Street. Wrule was robbed of $17.

Kowal testified the boys had played pinochle with Wrule at his store, Louis and Thurman Streets. Later when Wrule was on his way home he was held up and robbed.

Police Seek Defendant Following Revelation by Youthful Quartet

Detective Suspended for Beating up Two Witnesses Awaiting Questioning

Dickinson Makes District Heads Responsible for Men; Vice Squad Disbanded

City in Mourning as Rites Are Planned — Burial Will Be in Harleigh

Body Will Lie in State Tonight — Burial Tomorrow Afternoon

Fergie McGrath’s Popeye club, members of the Rhone Twilight League, easily defeated the Independent Umpires’ Association in their annual contest last evening at Civic Center by the score of 8 to 4.

At times, the game turned into a clownish affair, with both clubs attempting to excel each other in fun-making for the fans. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, in addition to officiating, acted as a pinch-hitter for the “blindmen,” while Samuel E. Fulton, president of the Board of Education and also prexy of the Rhone Twilight circuit, officiated and pinch hit for the same outfit, getting a single in his lone trip to the plate, while Hanna walked and also scored.

Pat Heppard worked on the hill for the “umps” and was touched for 11 hits. The winners bunching these in the third inning when they scored five runs. Nicktern twirled for Popeye and gave up seven blows, two of which were made by Leo Pusey, while ‘Vandy [VanderStraaten], Tully, Ackerman and Nicktern each collected a brace of blows for the winners.

Cops to Testify Prisoner Was Proprietor of Fairview Street Place

Temporary changes in the police department to offset the absence of Lieutenant George Frost, head of the First District, who is ill, and Lieutenant George Ward, of headquarters, who is away on police business, were announced yesterday by Chief Arthur Colsey.

Sgt. John Potter, of the Third District, is made acting lieutenant and placed in charge of the First. Patrolman Louis Schmidt, of the Third, replaces Potter as acting sergeant.

Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, of the Fourth District, replaces Ward at headquarters, with Sgt. John Skolski acting as lieutenant in charge of the Fourth.

Sgt. Gustav Koerner, of the Second District, who has been working in plain clothes, is to report in uniform.

Patrolman John Kowal, of the Second District, is shifted to the First district, with Patrolman William Schultz going from the First district to the Second district.

The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold an informal buffet supper tonight at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, for Bruce A. Wallace, counsel for the association and member of the Delaware River Joint Commission. Invitations have been issued to police chiefs throughout the county, as well as to other officials.

Patrolman William Schriver, president of the association, is chairman of the committee. Other members are Fire Captain Winfield Leviseur, Sergeant Edward Carroll, and Patrolman John Kowal, William McGrath and Arthur Batten.