John Prentice
John Prentice
JOHN PRENTICE was at one time the Director of the Camden County Board of Freeholders, a position which in effect made him the chief elected official of Camden County. He was in the insurance business.
The 1906 Camden City Directory shows him living with his wife Elsie at 439 Carteret Street.
Elsie Prentice passed away not long after the 1920 Census was enumerated. John Prentice remarried around 1924.
John Prentice remained at the Carteret Street address until his passing, on July 13, 1942, not long after his wife Bertha’s death on April 7th of that year. John Prentice was buried at Harleigh Cemetery.
Camden's Bodies Begin New Year
Philadelphia Inquirer —
This will be general reorganization day among Camden’s various municipal bodies including City Council, Board of Freeholders, City Assessors, Excise Commission, Board of Health and Board of Education. It is likely there will be but few changes with respect to the officers who will guide the destinies of their respective bodies.
For the second year Councilman James E. Hewitt, of the Fourth ward, will be elected president of City Council. He has occupied this position acceptably as had Director John Prentice, who will be re-elected head of the Freeholders. These are the more important of the departments of the city and county government.
With respect to Council, it has been determined to have the widest publicity given every act. There are to be no caucuses or secret sessions that were formerly something of an objectionable feature. It is the intention of the new Council to invite the citizens to be present at the meetings so they will know just what is going on and thus avert unfounded charges and unwarranted criticisms. There will be six new Councilmen, including William F. Kelly, Second ward; William H. Hall, Third ward; Richard Carney, Fifth ward; Grant E. Kirk, Eighth ward; Thomas Littlehales, Ninth ward, and A. D. Kline, Twelfth ward. The latter two are Democrats and the others Republicans. One of the features of the session will be the seventh annual message of Mayor Ellis, who will suggest many reforms and recommendations in the various city departments.
There are a large number of minor offices to be filled.
Quite a lot of interest is being manifested with respect to the appointment of an excise inspector. Jacob Schiller, the incumbent, has opposition in William B. Stephens, a former member of the Excise Board, and Police Captain Stanley. It is generally believed that Schiller will get the place, however.
Prentice Cleared of Drunken Driving
Camden Morning Post —
RULING ESTABLISHES PRECEDENT IN TESTS BY POLICE PHYSICIAN
Former Freeholder’s Crippled Condition Taken into Consideration by Judge
EVIDENCE IS DOUBTED
Conviction of John Prentice, former director of the board of freeholders, on a charge of drunken driving, was reversed by Judge Samuel M. Shay, in Criminal Court yesterday with an opinion which sets a precedent in South Jersey and places the examination by a police physician open to question in court.
The acquittal of Prentice ended a case that occupied nearly the whole day in court. Prentice, who lives at 439 Carteret street, was convicted in police court after his car collided with that of Sol E. Zeiger, 1065 Kaighn ave., at Haddon and Lansdowne avenues.
The court was openly skeptical of Zeiger’s version of the accident. Zeiger claimed Prentice, after driving in a zig-zag manner, smashed into Zeiger’s car. He admitted however that the accident occurred in such a way that the front of his own car and the rear of Prentice’s were damaged.
In questioning the testimony of Dr. Charles Ley, police surgeon, who pronounced Prentice drunk, Judge Shay pointed out that the “best physicians” frequently disagree on the stand. Three physicians testified that Prentice was crippled in such a way that he could not maintain his balance, could not stand with his heels together and was otherwise unsteady on his feet, although entirely competent in operating an automobile. This was introduced as the reason Prentice failed to pass the examination when arrested.
“Bickerings over money” also were referred to by Judge Shay in his opinion. Prentice’s wife said Zeiger asked $300 to drop the case. Mrs. Prentice denied she ever had visited Dr. Ley and asked him to change the record on her husband’s case. Dr. Ley testified she had.
“I am basing my verdict,” Judge Shay said, “upon the facts that the policemen in the case would not make a complaint, the driver of the other car told a story which is not entitled to credibility and told of feats which I cannot believe. I have greatest respect for Dr. Ley. However, I do not let a physician who may testify be my sole guide for we frequently find the best physicians disagreeing on the witness stand. The Prentice case is that of a man whose physical condition is bad, due to injury. Furthermore, there were other witnesses to testify that he was not intoxicated, and it has been shown he never had been in any other accident. A bickering over money by those concerned also arouses considerable doubt. I therefore acquit Prentice.”