John Skolski
John Skolski
John Skolski, 1940s
JOHN SKOLSKI was born John Edward Jaskolski on May 24, 1883 in Camden, New Jersey. He had begun using the surname Skolski by 1906 and used the Skolski surname professionally throughout his career with the Camden Police Department, during which time he was mentioned in many newspaper articles. At least two other Camden police officers of that era also changed their names for professional reasons, Clarence Bunker (Julian Clarence Bunkowski) and John Kowal (John Kowalczyk). Both Bunker and John Skolski had sons who followed the same practice, Lawrence Bunker with the Camden Fire Department and Anthony Skolski with the Camden Police.
Married to Pelagia “Polly” Stankowski around 1903, the family was living at 1003 Sycamore Street when the 1906 City Directory was compiled, and had moved to the 1100 block of South 10th Street, between Chestnut and Sycamore Streets by the time the 1910 Census was enumerated. John Skolski was working as a blacksmith, shoeing horses, in these years. He worked as machinist at Camden Forge when he registered for the draft on September 12, 1918. The family then lived at 785 Mount Vernon Street.
John Skolski was appointed to the Camden Police Department on January 20, 1920. Around 1923 the family moved to 1028 Liberty Street.
John Skolski was promoted to Sergeant on April 16, 1930, and to Lieutenant on March 23, 1943. He retired on pension on May 15, 1944. On September 9, 1949, while vacationing with his son Anthony in Cape May County, John Skolski died of a heart attack.
John and Polly Skolski were the parents of 17 children, 15 of whom survived to adulthood. The two who had passed died early in the marriage, prior to 1910. The surviving children were, in order of birth: Paul, Josephine, Anthony, Frances, Polly, Anna, Katherine, Elizabeth, Maria, John, Edward, Margaret, Florence, Theresa, and Loretta.
On May 16, 1937 John Skolski’s son Anthony Skolski was appointed to the Camden Police Department, where he had a long and distinguished career. By the mid-1960s he had been further promoted to Captain.
World War I Draft Card
John Edward Jaskolski — World War I Draft Registration Card
The Jaskolski Family — 1922
Above, from left: Edward, John, Mary (Minnie), Elizabeth (Libby), Anna, Catherine (Kasia), Frances (Pat), Polly, Josephine (Jo), Agnes (Aggie), Anthony (Tony), Paul, My great-grandmother Stankowski, Grandmom Pelagia holding my mom Margaret (Peggy), Grandpop John Skolski (John E. Jaskolski). — Gary E. Soule, April 2009
The youngest two: Theresa (Teasie) and Loretta (Dolly), born 1924 and 1926 respectively. — Gary E. Soule, April 2009
5 Policemen Added to Detective Detail
Camden Courier-Post —
Dolan, Sapanore, Truax, Kelly and Smith Assigned
Pleas by Captain Golden of the Detective Bureau that the department was undermanned and overworked has resulted in the assigning of five policemen as acting detectives.
They are William Dolan, acting sergeant of the First District; Rox Sapanore, Frank Truax, Edward Smith and Anson Kelly.
Dolans’ place is being taken by Sergeant Ralph Bakely, transferred from the Third District. Sergeant John Potter goes from the Second District to the Third to replace Bakely, and Patrolman John Skolski becomes acting sergeant to replace Potter.
Patrolman William Whaland becomes acting sergeant to take over the duties of Sergeant James Clay, who is seriously ill in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital of pneumonia.
Polish-American Club Republican Club Elects President
Camden Courier-Post —
POLISH-AMERICAN CLUB REPUBLICAN CLUB ELECTS PRESIDENT
Vincent Raczykowski was elected for the third consecutive time as president of the Camden County Polish-American Republican Club at the annual meeting held in the clubhouse at Tenth and Liberty streets.
Other officers elected were: B. Bubnowski, vice president; Frank Bleja, financial secretary; A. Grzeczkowski, recording secretary; Joseph Kracvyk, treasurer; A. Pepiak, S. Sobieski and J. Szkemo, auditor; and John Skolski, usher.
Mr. Raczykowski was also named as county political leader of the Polish community. B. Derowski Sr., was named Thirteenth Ward leader; B. J. Wilinski, Seventh Ward leader, and S. Wojciechowski, Eighth Ward leader.
18 Persons Are Nabbed, 3 Released by Police
Camden Evening Courier —
Detective Suspended for Beating up Two Witnesses Awaiting Questioning
18 PERSONS ARE NABBED, 3 RELEASED BY POLICE
Cops Cruising in Bandit Chaser Nab Trio Near Scene of Crime
Joseph “Mose” Flannery was shot down and mortally wounded because he challenged another racketeer’s claim to the love of a woman.
Of that police were certain today as they resumed the investigation of the murder of the Eighth ward political worker who died in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital at 6:08 p.m. yesterday.
A startling development, a “tangent” in the probe of the shooting at Front street and Kaighn avenue, came today when a Camden city detective was indefinitely suspended on charges of assaulting two men who were awaiting questioning at detective headquarters.
City Detective John Kowalski, known as “Happy Kowal,” was ordered dropped from the police payroll this morning by Chief of Police Lewis W. Stehr. He is charged with beating up Joseph Moll, 25, son of former Policeman Frank Moll, and James Bonner, of 907 North Front street.
At the same time that the Kowalski suspension order was revealed, County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran and Capt. John W. Golden, chief of city detectives, announced that of 18 persons arrested yesterday and today, 13 were being held in police headquarters, two had been released under bail, and three had been cleared of any connection in the Flannery murder.
Funeral services for “Mose” Flannery will be held at 8:00 a. m. Saturday at the undertaking parlors of Frank L. Leonard, 1451 Broadway, and will be followed by requiem mass in Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Broadway and Ferry avenue at 9:30. Rev. Fathers Kelly, Henry and McCorriston will officiate. The body may be viewed in the Leonard parlors Friday evening.
Two of those in cells today are women, and detectives declare the two “know more than they have told of the background of the slaying of “Mose” Flannery.” Of those released after questioning, two were women.
Woman Tells of Fight
The four women were arrested through a strategic move by city detectives made yesterday in a house at 103 Kaighn avenue, which had been raided a month ago. The proprietor had been arrested and fined [illegible] for maintaining a disorderly house. Seven alleged inmates of the place also had been arrested, but released on their promise to leave the city.
Detectives said that the two women detained today were believed to have been in the Kaighn avenue house at the time bullets rained out of an automobile at Front street and Kaighn avenue and found their mark—“Mose” Flannery.
The women are Rita Leslie, 21, of 3816 North Tenth street, and Joyce Harris, 23, of 1011 North Twelfth street, both of Philadelphia.
It was a story of a fight in a house at Sixth and Van Hook streets told by the Leslie girl early today that led the investigators to believe that Flannery’s fatal slaying was the result of an argument “over a woman.”
Detectives were investigating the story of the Lewis [sic] girl when Detective Kowalski made the alleged attack on Moll and Bonner.
It was shortly after 12:30 a. m. today when County Detective Chief Doran and Captain Golden were questioning “witnesses” in Golden’s private office. Moll and Bonner were awaiting their “turn,” and were seated in the main room at the detective bureau. Detectives were at their desks. Among them was Detective Wesley McGrath.
Detective Hits Prisoners
The door from the corridor was flung open and Detective Kowalski entered.
What followed was recounted today by Chief of Police Stehr, whose account of the alleged assault he said was based on details given him by witnesses.
According to Chief Stehr, Kowalski, without warning, approached Moll and with clenched fist, struck him full in the face, kicked his shins, and then turned on Bonner, on whom he repeated the performance. McGrath tried to stop his fellow detective, but Kowalski brushed him aside and struck Moll again in the mouth, the blow cutting Moll’s lip. Kowalski, according to eye-witnesses, then repeated his attack on Bonner.
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Three Arrested in Flannery Death
(Continued From Page One)
William D. McDonald, a court stenographer, who had been sitting at a desk, smoking, rushed into Golden’s private office. Doran and Golden hurried into the main room and seized Kowalski. Others who entered the room at the time of the attack were James Hollis, chauffeur for Captain Golden, and several men called into the investigation.
The suspension order was given to Captain Golden by Chief Stehr this morning but had not reached Kowalski, who was scheduled to report for work at 4 p. m. today. He has the right to ask for a trial before the police board.
Stehr said he had received no official statement but had been informed by Captain Golden that Kowalski “might have had a few drinks.” Stehr said he would investigate the reports that Kowalski was intoxicated.
Kowalski had been an efficient detective, Chief Stehr said. The suspended officer joined the city police force in 1919, and has been a detective for a year and a half.
Many Suspects Grilled
Suspected of being Philadelphia gunmen, two men who gave their names as Samuel Katz, 29, of 208 North Franklin street, and James Wallace, 26, of 670 North Eleventh street, both of Philadelphia, were arrested today and held as “material witnesses.”
Questioned last night after they were taken to city hall from the house at 103 Kaighn avenue, Naomi Carey, 19, of 5325 Callowhill street, and Jean Kenny of the Bell Ridge apartments, Fifteenth and Spruce streets, both of Philadelphia, were released shortly after midnight.
William Bonner, 27, brother of James Bonner, arrested “on suspicion” at 9 p.m. yesterday by Policemen Arthur and Bunker, was released in $500 bail as was Patrick Driscoll, 25, of 1225 South Third street.
Theodore Baker, 22, of 222 West Merchant street, Audubon, arrested yesterday and suspected of being the driver of a taxicab which carried the Flannery slayers, was released today after detectives marked “no complaint” against his name on the police blotter.
In addition to those arrested yesterday, Henry Matorisch, 26, of 232 Graisbury avenue, Audubon, and John H. Kenny, 33, of the Bell Ridge apartments, Philadelphia, were detained by police as material witnesses.
Matorisch was arrested at 2:35 a. m. today by Sergt. John Skolski. Kenny was “picked up” yesterday by policemen at Front street and Kaighn avenue.
Seven others were in cells, including some of those who asked a truck driver to take the mortally wounded Flannery to the hospital early yesterday.
They were: James L. Hawkins, 37, declared by the police to be the owner of the saloon at 101 Kaighn avenue; Walter Novak, 22, of 442 Jackson street; Russell Sage, 25, of 407 Mechanic street; Joseph Novak, 34, of 508 Jackson street; Eugene Murphy, 51, of 101 Kaighn avenue; Joseph “Cuzzy” Scarduzio, 30, of 419 Winslow street, and Joseph Moll, 25, of 101 Kaighn avenue.
Twice yesterday detectives impersonated racketeers in answering telephone calls in the Front street and Kaighn avenue neighborhood. On one occasion, County Detective Chief Doran answered a call which told him of the whereabouts of “Cuzzy” Scarduzio and which led to Scarduzio’s arrest.
Police “Trap” Women
Arrest of the four girls in the house at 103 Kaighn avenue resulted from similar strategy of other investigators, City Detective Thomas Cheeseman revealed today.
The telephone at 103 Kaighn avenue rang yesterday afternoon while detectives were searching the house which was then vacant. One of the officers answered. The voice on the other end of the line asked for “Joe.” Detectives said Joseph Moll was the “Joe” sought.
“This is Joe,” answered one of the detectives.
“Is it all right for us girls to come over from Philadelphia tonight?” a woman inquired.
The impersonator of “Joe” assured the inquirer “it would be O.K.”
The four women arrived at the Kaighn avenue address shortly after [text missing between crops] which had its climax with the arrest of “Cuzzy,” surprised in the home of Garfield DelDuca, 674 Fairview street, by Doran and Golden.
After Rita Leslie had informed police of a party which ended in a fight in the saloon at 101 Kaighn avenue last Monday night detectives left headquarters shortly before midnight, their mission not revealed, but said to be a search for a man who police said ran a “shady” business near the spot where Flannery was “given the works.”
Says They’re Lying
“I don’t see why the other girls are lying,” Rita was said to have told her questioners. “We had nothing to do with the shooting. I’m just telling you about what happened before. I don’t know anything about how Flannery was shot and I don’t think the other girls do, either.”
Details of the “fight” in the saloon were not revealed by police, but they said they were convinced that an argument “over a woman,” in which Flannery took a prominent part, had a bearing on the case and would be “run down” to the limit.
That there was a “woman in it” police were certain. Tall, strong-featured blonde, Flannery looked more the part of a “model for a collar ad” than he did the underworld “worker” police declared him to be.
“Mose” was a “sheik” to young women in his “set,” police said, as they investigated the report that Flannery struck a woman in a house at Sixth and Van Hook streets last week, and that the woman’s “man” had sought revenge and had been successful.
It was that information which led to the arrest of the four Philadelphia women last night.
‘Cuzzy’ Held as Suspect
“Cuzzy” Scarduzio was questioned more rigidly than any of the others, and shortly before last midnight detectives took a step which they refused to explain, but which was seen as significant.
While they held the other men as material witnesses, they deferred slating Scarduzio in the police docket until the last minute. And when they did, they slated him “on suspicion,” and marked it as an arrest by Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives.
The dead political worker was a son of James and Mary Flannery, who now live at 1123 Princess avenue. Flannery in 1924 married Anna M. Bogga, from whom he had separated after a stormy married life during which Flannery several times was arrested on his wife’s complaint.
“Mose” Flannery was raised in Camden, and in the Eighth Ward. His avocation was politics, and even before he was of age he was a power in the turbulent Eighth Ward. Later his underworld activities led him mostly to South Philadelphia, but always, at election time, he came back to work in the Eighth.
Went to Camden High
He went to the local schools and was widely known. He was a year or two in Camden High School, and would have graduated with the class of 1923. It was often said that he wasn’t even 26, but nearer 24. There were stories that he said he was older so he could vote before he was of age.
His rise in gangdom was meteoric, as it was in politics. His fellow gangsters were wont to say “Mose has got brains.” Judges before whom he appeared at first told him he was making a mistake—that he had a good future before him if he followed the right trail.
He spoke well and dressed well. He looked like an earnest, enthusiastic young professional man.
An order to close the Kaighn avenue saloon and revoke the license of James L. Hawkins, its proprietor, was issued by David S. Rhone, city director of public safety.
Commissioner Rhone instructed Chief of Police Lewis W. Stehr to “close up the saloon at once.” The orders were carried out immediately and two policemen placed on guard at the spot where Flannery crumpled up under gun fire.
Rhone Refuses Statement
Commissioner Rhone absolutely refused to make any statement in connection with the case, nor would he discuss his order to Chief Stehr to close the saloon.
“You’ll get no statement from me,” Rhone told a newspaper man. “I don’t care to be quoted in the newspapers. I’ve given my orders to Chief Stehr. If you want to know about them, talk to him.”
“As head of the department—the
Funeral for Stehr to Be Held Saturday
Camden Evening Courier —
FUNERAL FOR STEHR TO BE HELD SATURDAY
City in Mourning as Rites are Planned—Burial Will Be in Harleigh
With the city in mourning today, funeral arrangements were being completed for Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr, who died yesterday in Cooper Hospital. Hundreds of friends will view the body in state tomorrow between 7 and 10 p. m. at the Schroeder Chapel, Broadway and Royden streets. Many others will attend the funeral services, which will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the chapel.
Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery.
A list of honorary pall bearers was compiled today, as well as the police escort. The police stations in the four city districts were draped in black and flags were at half-mast today, and will remain so for 30 days.
The pallbearers will be Lieutenants Ralph Bakely and George Ward; Sergeants George Nowry and Frank Truax; Policemen Thomas Cheeseman and Harry Kyler.
Honorary pallbearers are Sergeants Herbert Anderson and John Skolski; District Detective Archie Reiss, Policemen John Kowal and Clarence Phifer, and Donald Swissler, clerk of the chief’s office.
There will be a guard of honor formed by the mounted squad of the police department which will be changed every two hours while the body is viewed. Funeral arrangements are in charge of Lieut. George Ward.
The police of the city will view the remains Friday at 7.30 p. m. at the funeral parlors.
(Continued on Page Two)
Mrs. Anna Stehr had been at the bedside of her husband constantly since he was stricken Thanksgiving Day. Yesterday nurses assured her her husband’s condition was unchanged and she was making Christmas purchases at Chief Stehr’s request when he died. Condolences were being received by Mrs. Stehr from many city and county officials as well as legions of friends. Deputy Public Safety Director Charles V. Dickinson and Captain Arthur Colsey, police chief clerk, were to convey to Mrs. Stehr today the official condolence of the city.
Cops Express Sorrow
A letter of condolence was sent to Mrs. Stehr today along with a resolution adopted by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Camden Local No. 35. The letter read:
“It is with heartfelt regret and with deepest sympathy that we offer condolences to you in this hour of bereavement. The sudden action of the Almighty in plucking this noble man from our midst has overwhelmed us with sorrow and regret that words alone cannot express. This, however, being the desire of the Lord, we feel that the benevolent performance of our beloved chief so ably executed upon this humble earth, will be amply rewarded in a celestial sphere not made by man.
“We sincerely trust, we, his brothers and friends, have lessened your grief in this, our expression, of what your faithful husband has meant to us, the members of the P. B. A. as well as yourself.
“Respectfully yours, “CLIFFORD A. FLENNARD, “President.”
The resolution declares: “Whereas this local feels that it has sustained a severe loss in the passing of its greatest force for good, and “Whereas we deeply deplore his passing, “Be it resolved that it is the unanimous opinion of the membership of this organization that the death of Lewis H. Stehr, chief of police of the City of Camden, N. J., has caused great sorrow among us. His good deeds in life might well cause one to write a never-ending stream of eulogies but in this case we wish to call him and always think of him as a friend, a word that is applied to him whole-heartedly and in the fullest sense of the word. It is impossible to express to what extent we shall miss him but we shall always and forever remember Chief Stehr as a friend whose place made vacant by death will be very difficult to fill.
“Be it further resolved that Camden Local, No. 35, P. B. A., also wishes to extend its sympathies to Mrs. Stehr and to offer whatever assistance possible at this time of her bereavement and at any other time this organization may find it in its power to do so.
“Be it further resolved that we also extend our sympathies to his relatives and friends who are no doubt feeling his passing as deeply as we do so.”
Copies of the resolution were sent to Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone, Mrs. Stehr and the press. The resolution was passed at the regular meeting of the local yesterday. The resolution was signed by Flennard, the president, and Joseph Keefe, the secretary.
Chief George W. Black, secretary of the International Chief of Police Association, sent his regrets and letter of condolence to Captain Arthur Colsey and asking that a floral design be sent to the funeral at the association’s expense.
Mayor Expresses Sorrow
Mayor Price issued the following statement: “I was very greatly shocked to learn of the death of Chief Stehr. While I understood he was in a serious physical condition, I did not anticipate his death.
“Chief Stehr had devoted practically his entire lifetime to the service of the city, having entered the police department in his early youth, and is entitled to the commendation of his fellow citizens for his efforts in the public service.”
Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, when apprised of the police chief’s death, said: “The news of Chief Stehr’s death was a terrible shock. I feel a personal loss, as we were close friends. I knew him since I was a young boy, and our contacts in the past two years were most pleasant.”
Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin declared: “The suddenness of the death of Chief Stehr comes as a shock to those of his friends who were wishing him well in his illness. His passing naturally causes grief to those whose work brought them into close contact with him.”
City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman said: “The passing of Chief Stehr is a great loss to the community. We were all hoping that Chief Stehr was on the road to recovery and only several days ago when I inquired at the hospital, I learned that his condition was greatly improved. His sudden passing is a terrible shock.”
It is with heartfelt regret and with deepest sympathy that we offer condolences to you in this hour of bereavement. The sudden action of the Almighty in plucking this noble man from our midst has overwhelmed us with sorrow and regret that words alone cannot express. This, however, being the desire of the Lord, we feel that the benevolent performance of our beloved chief so ably executed upon this humble earth, will be amply rewarded in a celestial sphere not made by man.
“We sincerely trust, we, his brothers and friends, have lessened your grief in this, our expression, of what your faithful husband has meant to us, the members of the P. B. A. as well as yourself.
“Respectfully yours, “CLIFFORD A. FLENNARD, “President.
The resolution declares: “Whereas this local feels that it has sustained a severe loss in the passing of its greatest force for good, and Whereas we deeply deplore his passing, Be it resolved that it is the unanimous opinion of the membership of this organization that the death of Lewis H. Stehr, chief of police of the City of Camden, N. J., has caused great sorrow among us. His good deeds in life might well cause one to write a never-ending stream of eulogies but in this case we wish to call him and always think of him as a friend, a word that is applied to him whole-heartedly and in the fullest sense of the word. It is impossible to express to what extent we shall miss him but we shall always and forever remember Chief Stehr as a friend whose place made vacant by death will be very difficult to fill.
“Be it further resolved that Camden Local, No. 35, P. B. A., also wishes to extend its sympathies to Mrs. Stehr and to offer whatever assistance possible at this time of her bereavement and at any other time this organization may find it in its power to do so.
“Be it also resolved that we also extend our sympathies to his relatives and friends who are no doubt feeling his passing as deeply as we do so.”
Copies of the resolution were sent to Director of Public Safety David S. Rhone, Mrs. Stehr and the press. The resolution was passed at the regular meeting of the local yesterday.
Chief George W. Black, secretary of the International Chief of Police Association, sent his regrets and letter of condolence to Captain Arthur Colsey and asking that a floral design be sent to the funeral at the association’s expense.
Mayor Price issued the following statement: “I was very greatly shocked to learn of the death of Chief Stehr. While I understood he was in a serious physical condition, I did not anticipate his death. Chief Stehr had devoted practically his entire lifetime to the service of the city, having entered the police department in his early youth, and is entitled to the commendation of his fellow citizens for his efforts in the public service.”
Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, when apprised of the police chief’s death, said: “The news of Chief Stehr’s death was a terrible shock. I feel a personal loss, as we were close friends. I knew him since I was a young boy, and our contacts in the past two years were most pleasant.”
Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin declared: “The suddenness of the death of Chief Stehr comes as a shock to those of his friends who were wishing him well in his illness. His passing naturally causes grief to those whose work brought them into close contact with him.”
City Commissioner Clay W. Reesman said: “The passing of Chief Stehr is a great loss to the community. We were all hoping that Chief Stehr was on the road to recovery and only several days ago when I inquired at the hospital, I learned that his condition was greatly improved. His sudden passing is a terrible shock.”
Pallbearers Named for Stehr Funeral
Camden Morning Post —
Body Will Lie in State Tonight—Burial Tomorrow Afternoon
Funeral arrangements were completed yesterday for Chief of Police Lewis H. Stehr, who died Wednesday in Cooper Hospital following a heart attack.
The body will lie in state tonight between 7 and 10 p. m. at the Schroeder Chapel, Broadway and Royden streets. The funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Saturday at the chapel. Thousands of friends are expected to view the remains.
Burial will be in Harleigh cemetery.
A police escort and a list of honorary pallbearers was compiled yesterday. All police buildings in the city were draped in black and flags over municipal buildings were at half-mast and will remain so for 30 days.
The active pallbearers will be Lieuts. Ralph Bakely and George Ward, Sergts. George Nowry and Frank Truax, Policemen Thomas Cheeseman and Harry Kyler.
Honorary pallbearers are Lieut. Herbert Anderson, Sergt. John Skolski, District Detective Archie Reiss, Policemen John Kowal and Clarence Phifer and Donald Swissler, clerk of the chief’s office.
There will be a guard of honor formed by the members of the mounted squad. A fire truck will convey the flowers to the cemetery.
The police of the city will view the body at 7:30 p. m. tonight at the funeral parlors.
Members of the Sixth Ward Republican Club, of which Chief Stehr was an active member, will assemble at their headquarters at 7 p. m. and march to the funeral parlors. They will be led by John J. Breslin, president of the club.
Rev. Edward Weeks, pastor of the Union M. E. Church, Fifth and Mt. Vernon streets, will conduct the services.
Six Are Arrested Following ‘Party’
Camden Courier-Post —
SIX ARE ARRESTED FOLLOWING ‘PARTY’
Young Girls Accuse Married Man of Attacking Them in Bungalow
Three pretty girls, a married man and two youths were arrested last night on charges growing out from an extended whoopee party in a Blackwood Terrace bungalow.
Two of the girls, all of whom are related, are said to be runaways from Philadelphia. One of these and a Camden schoolgirl charge they were attacked by the married man.
The girls gave their names as: Julia Barkowski, 17, of 923 Florence Street, Camden; Mary Holod, 16, and her stepsister, Vera, also 16, both of 1325 Tyson Street, Philadelphia. Both Julia and Mary allege they were criminally assaulted early last week by Samuel Read, 31, who gave his address as 2847 Congress Road, Camden.
Linked as material witnesses in the case are John Barwick, 19, of 543 Fairview Street, and William Murdock, 19, of 548 Gordon Terrace, Camden.
According to the story gathered by Police Sergeant John Skolski and Patrolman John Larson, the three girls were strolling along Broadway on the night of October 12, when they were “picked up” by Barwick and Murdock, in an automobile. The girls related they were taken to a bungalow in Blackwood Terrace where they said they met Read. The two youths then left, they said.
The Barkowski girl and Mary Holod allege they were attacked by Read while Vera Holod told police she averted assault by fighting.
Return of the girls to the Barkowski home yesterday was followed by arrest of all six revelers. Mrs. Bertha Barkowski, mother of the Camden girl, summoned police. Read was lured to the house and placed under arrest and apprehension of the two youths was then made.
Julia was charged with being incorrigible by her mother. Police held Mary and Vera as runaways and as witnesses against Read. The Philadelphia girls are said to have been missing from home several weeks.
All are to be given hearings today before Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.
COP SHAKEUP TODAY; AX FOR 4TH DISTRICT
Camden Courier-Post —
Humes Due to Be Personnel Inspector, Replaced by Ward or Anderson
A resolution abolishing the fourth police district will be adopted by the City Commission Thursday at its semi-monthly meeting.
A general shakeup in the police department is scheduled for announcement immediately after the meetnig [sic] by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety.
Chief among the scheduled changes is appointment of Inspector Charles T. Humes, now stationed at police headquarters, to inspector in charge of personnel of the entire department.
Humes would be succeeded at police headquarters by either Lieut. Herbert Anderson or Lieut. George Ward.
Anderson commands the fourth district, which will merge with the second police district under command of Lieut. Ralph Bakley.
Ward heads the first district police. In the event he replaces Humes, he will be succeeded by Anderson.
A number of sergeants also will be shuffled. Sergt. Edward Hahn, now stationed in the third district, and Sergt. John Garrity, of the fourth, will be transferred to the traffic squad. Two acting sergeants now in the traffic bureau, George Jefferis and James Wilson, will be patrolmen.
Sergt. Edward Carroll, of the fourth, will go to the third district to replace Hahn. The other sergeant from the fourth district, John Skolski, will become a desk sergeant at headquarters.
Skolski will replace Sergt. Stiles Whitaker, now a headquarters desk sergeant. Whitaker will return to his former post, duty at the city banks.
Illness Causes Shifts for Police Officials
Camden Courier-Post —
ILLNESS CAUSES SHIFTS FOR POLICE OFFICIALS
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.
Kobus Warns Cops to Keep City Clean
Camden Courier-Post —
Expresses Belief Camden is ‘Remarkably Free of Vice and Gambling’
Expressing the belief that Camden is “remarkably free of vice, gambling and other unlawful elements,” City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, yesterday said she wants the police to keep it that way.
Failure to comply with her order, she told a dozen police officials at an hour-long conference in her office, will result in “serious consequences.”
The session was held behind closed doors, but Commissioner Kobus later said she “laid down the law to those in charge of enforcing it.”
Believes Good Job Done
Police Chief Arthur Colsey headed the group, the others being Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, director of police personnel; Acting Lieutenant Herbert Botts, Acting Lieutenant of Detectives Louis Shaw, Acting Lieutenant John Skolsky, Lieutenant George Frost, Lieutenant Walter Welch and Sergeants Frank Evans, Nate Pettit, August Koerner, Edward Hahn and Harry Newton.
Colsey, with the others, declined to comment on the conference and referred all inquiries to Mrs. Kobus.
“I told them,” the latter said, “that I believed they and their men had done a good job in cleaning up conditions in Camden six months ago.
“I think Camden is remarkably free of vice, gambling and other unlawful elements and I want it kept that way.
It’s a 24-Hour Job
“Law enforcement is a 24-hour day in and day out job. It is a job requiring everlasting vigilance and those in charge of enforcement have got to be on their toes all the time.
“I think our police department is doing a good job, but just the same, I don’t want any letdowns and I told Chief Colsey and his subordinates that I don’t. We have rid the city of a lot of unpleasant elements and we are going to keep rid of them.
“I also told Chief Colsey and his staff that I want all members of the department to co-operate fully with other law enforcement agencies of the county. I particularly desire that reports on cases submitted to the grand jury be as complete and detailed as possible.”
John & Pelagia Jaskolski — 1940s
John & Pelagia Jaskolski, 1940s
World War II Draft Card
John Edward Jaskolski — World War II Draft Registration Card
John Skolski, 64, Ex-Police Aide, Dies Suddenly
Camden Courier-Post —
John Skolski, 64, of 1028 Liberty street, retired Camden police lieutenant, died today of a heart attack in a doctor’s office in Cape May Court House. He had been passing his vacation with a son, Sgt. Anthony Skolski, a member of the Camden police department, at Pierce’s Point, eight miles from Cape May Court House, when he was seized with the attack and his son took him to the physician’s office. Lieutenant Skolski had been suffering from coronary thrombosis and had suffered several attacks.
Lieutenant Skolski was the father-in-law of Det. Sgt. Willard Schriver, manager director of the municipally owned broadcasting station WCAM, a post to which he was named by Mayor Brunner.
Lifelong Resident Here
Lieutenant Skolski, who was born in Camden May 24, 1885, was a lifelong resident. He was appointed to the police force as a patrolman Jan. 20, 1920, made a sergeant Oct. 16, 1930, named a lieutenant March 23, 1943, and retired from the force on pension May 15, 1944.
On the occasion when Lieutenant Skolski was transferred Dec. 12, 1938, from command of the Second police district, where he was an acting lieutenant, to desk duty at police headquarters 200 members of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association honored him with a reception. He also was a member of the Police Beneficial Association.
Other Survivors
Also surviving Lieutenant Skolski are his widow, Polly; three other sons, Paul, Collingswood, and John and Edward, both of Camden; 11 daughters, Mrs. Josephine Dowd, Mrs. Anna Mitchell, Mrs. Oretta Smythe and Mrs. Elizabeth Schriver, all of Camden; Mrs. Agnes Frazier, Pennsauken; Mrs. Frances Wyman, Auburn, Me.; Sister Anna Rose, Allentown, Pa.; Sister John Pellegia, Lancaster, Pa.; Miss Mary Skolski, Mrs. Theresa Skolski and Miss Margaret Skolski, all of Camden, and 21 grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being made through a funeral home at 1458 Mt. Ephraim avenue.