Joseph H. Carr
JOSEPH HAND CARR was born in Wayne, Pennsylvania on June 24, 1891 to Thaddeus Stevens Carr and his wife Mary. Sadly, Thaddeus Carr was killed in an accident in 1893. Mrs. Mary Carr worked as a dressmaker to support her family. By 1907 Joseph H. Carr had come to Camden to study law, taking up residence at 543 Vine Street in North Camden. He studied, worked as a law clerk and as a notary, probably in the law office of S. Conrad Ott. By the time the 1912 Directory was being compiled, Ott had taken Joseph H. Carr in as a partner. The two remained associated until Ott’s death in July of 1922.
Joseph H. Carr stayed at the Vine Street address through 1913. Directories from 1914 to 1916 show him at 701 North 6th Street. In 1917 he was staying at 317 North 6th Street.
Joseph H. Carr married Adelaide Weaver in Philadelphia in 1918. He also served in the armed forces during World War I. By the time of the 1920 Census he owned a home at 110 Lexington Avenue in Merchantville NJ, with his wife Adelaide. There were no children of this marriage.
In the mid-1930s Joseph Carr was serving as a lawyer for a real estate company engaged in a development venture in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill). The project failed, and in the process of resolving the debt of the business, improprieties occurred.
Joseph Carr was convicted of embezzlement on January 11, 1936 and sentenced to two to three years in state prison. An appeal was denied in October of 1936, Carr however, remained free on bail. By this time he apparently had moved from Merchantville. He was living in Moorestown, New Jersey when the Census was taken in 1940 with his wife Adelaide and mother-in-law Mrs. Ella Weaver, and was still there when he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942. At that time he gave his occupation as “self-employed” and his place of work 309 Market Street in Camden.
Joseph and Adelaide Carr parted ways shortly after he registered for the draft. In 1944 he married Ruth “Sammie” Sampson. This marriage also produced no children.
Joseph H. Carr remarried in 1944. He passed away in July of 1958.
Here and There in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Recently wedded, ‘Lawyer Joseph Carr, of the firm of Ott & Carr, was yesterday inducted into the service at his own request. He goes to Camp Meade today and will be attached to the judge advocate’s department.
For injuries sustained to his right knee in a fall at the Camden Terminal on April 23, Francis Gallagher, of Westmont, yesterday brought suit for $5,000 damages against the Philadelphia & Camden Ferry Co.
Four-year-old Frank Harris, of 329 Liberty street, so badly mangled two fingers with a hatchet that doctors at Cooper Hospital amputated the crushed digits.
To take a more lucrative position in a shipyard, Levering Minister yesterday resigned as a member of Engine Co. No. 4.
Recently resigning from the fire department, William Michalak was yesterday appointed to the police force as a member of the mounted squad.
Ott & Carr Notice to Clients
Ott & Carr, Attorneys — 1917–1918
THIS great country of ours has asked and is asking for men and women who have been working for you and for us. These workers step from behind the counters, lay down their pens, leave their machines, and go into the country’s service.
Their places have been filled with others unfamiliar with your requirements and our ways. Due to this condition, mistakes may be made which will annoy you. The number of these mistakes will increase as the war continues, irrespective of our efforts to avoid them.
For our mutual benefit, we ask your help during these strenuous times: notify us immediately whenever we make a mistake.
This is the spirit in which we are working and we will appreciate your co-operation.
OTT & CARR, 6-8-10 Security Bldg., 301 Market St., CAMDEN, N. J.
Carr's Conviction Upheld in Appeal
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Lawyer Loses Plea to N.J. Supreme Court in Embezzlement Case
The New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday upheld the conviction of Joseph H. Carr, former Camden attorney, in Camden County Common Pleas Court on a charge of embezzlement of $15,253 as bailee of the Camden Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
Carr was convicted January 11 and was sentenced by Judge Robert A. Warke to two to three years in state’s prison. The alleged embezzlement represented tax sale certificates which the bank charged Carr converted to his own use. Carr has been at liberty in $7000 bail since his appeal was filed.
George D. Rothermel, who with Carl Kisselman represented Carr, said a new appeal will be filed with the Court of Errors and Appeals, to be heard the first Tuesday in February. In the meantime, he said, application will be made to Judge Warke that Carr’s bail be continued. Carr was counsel for and a member of a creditors’ committee for a real estate development company in Delaware Township, part of whose property was put up in tax sales. The Camden Safe Deposit and Trust Company contended it furnished the money for the purchase of tax sale certificates by the committee and took an assignment of the certificates as collateral. It was charged that they were never delivered by Carr.
The opinion upholding Carr’s conviction was released at Trenton this noon, was written by Chief Justice Thomas Brogan, and it refused to agree to one of the points of the appeal that the verdict was contrary to the weight of evidence.
“We can arrive at no such determination in this matter for the reason that there was ample, definite and persuasive evidence to justify the court’s ruling,” said the high court’s opinion.
Other points in the appeal of Carr were that the bank was not the rightful owner of the funds alleged to have been embezzled and that Carr himself was the owner; that Carr was never entrusted with the care or collection of the funds alleged to have been embezzled, and that his actions were in good faith.
Heart Ailment Takes Life of Attorney Ott
Camden Post-Telegram —
Lawyer and Bankruptcy Referee Succumbs After an Illness of Less Than Three Weeks
HONORED CAREER IN CHOSEN PROFESSION
S. Conrad Ott, President of the Camden County Bar Association, Referee in Bankruptcy, prominent churchman and former widely-known newspaperman, died Saturday night at his home, 55 West Maple avenue, Merchantville, from an affection of the heart.
His death followed a critical illness of a little over two weeks, although he had not been in good health for a long period. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. May Ott, who is in frail health. Mr. Ott would have been 54 years old next month.
While he had suffered from a weakness of the heart for several years, it was only his most intimate friends knew of his ailment and he continued his profession as a lawyer very often under terrific physical and mental strain.
It was last Thursday night two weeks ago that he was taken ill with what seemed to be acute indigestion. His condition became very grave and it aggravated the heart condition. Every effort was made to save him. Saturday seemed to be considerably improved. Toward night, however, he became seriously ill and at 9 o’clock was seized with a heart attack from which he quickly died, in fact before Mrs. Ott was able to reach his side.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday afternoon at his late home and interment will be made at Harleigh Cemetery. The body will be on view to-morrow evening.
While Mr. Ott was born in Philadelphia, virtually all of his activities were in this city since he came here in his very early manhood. For a time he represented the R. G. Dunn Company, but in the late ’80’s he engaged in the newspaper work, first becoming a reporter on the old Post. When the New Jersey Department of the Public Ledger was established he was engaged to “cover” Camden and continued in that capacity until 1889, when he was employed on the Courier. Soon after he became its city editor and remained in that capacity, until September, 190[?], when he devoted all his time to the practice of law. While in newspaper work, Mr. Ott was noted for his accuracy, his enthusiasm and his ability to get at the bottom of every “story,” in fact, he was an intensive worker that characterized him later in the practice of law, an energy that sometimes very nearly wrecked his health and caused occasional nervous breakdowns.
During the old bicycle days, in the ’90’s he was prominently identified with the L. A. W. movement in this city, was largely instrumental in having the old bicycle path built out Mt. Ephraim pike, then a great boon to the followers of the silent steed. He ran a column signed by “Connaught” that was eagerly read by the cycling fraternity, and was always at the forefront to get consideration of the vast army who then enjoyed wheeling as a pastime.
In connection with his duties as a newspaperman, he naturally came into close contact with the courts and with an excellent basic knowledge of law took up its study with the late Lawyer Philip Scovel as his preceptor. He was admitted to the Bar as an attorney in November, 1899, and received his counsellor’s degree three years later. He enjoyed a very lucrative practice in the law and was in addition interested in several building and loan associations and was instrumental in the organization of the Stockton and Twentieth Century Loan Associations.
From his office graduated a number of young attorneys who have since become successful including Lawyer Joseph H. Carr, whom he took into partnership about ten years ago; Lawyer Albert Scheffin and Henry M. Evans.
In 1906 he was appointed a Referee in Bankruptcy, succeeding the late George Bergen. It was in that capacity he became widely known throughout the State, for he handled many important cases such as that of the late William J. Thompson, the Vega Suit Case Company and other issues that involved hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Possessed of a keen mind, his decisions were always clean-cut and when appeals were made from his findings the United States District Court invariably upheld him. He was an authority on the bankruptcy law in this section of the State.
Throughout his life Mr. Ott was prominently identified with the Baptist Church, for many years being a pillar at the Linden Church, this city. He was president of the Baraca Bible Class of men in the Sunday-school of that church and he won such fame as a Sunday-school teacher that he was frequently called to various parts of the State to make addresses. Years ago he was State president of the B. Y. P. U. and necessarily traveled all over New Jersey.
Recently he had been prominently mentioned as a likely candidate for the Federal judgeship in this district, although he had virtually decided he could not relinquish his practice to accept such a position. It was almost certain that he could have had it if the appointment had come this way.
There is a great host of friends, who greatly regret his untimely passing, for he was in the very zenith of a successful career. He was painstaking in all his efforts, thoroughly dependable and possessed of a judicial mind that made him peculiarly fitted for a judgeship had he obtained that honor. He has left a tradition that might be inspiring to young newspapermen and lawyers alike, and his passing leaves a vacancy that it will be difficult to fill.
A special meeting of the Camden County Bar Association has been called for to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock to take action on the death of Mr. Ott. The meeting is called by William Early, as first vice president. Mr. Early said this morning:
“Mr. Ott’s death was a great blow to the association. He had great executive ability. He was present at almost every meeting and stimulated constantly the life of the association. For many years he was secretary and for the past year president. The interests of the association over [sic] had a first place in his activities. For man [sic] meetings to [?]ome his guidance will be greatly missed.
“Conrad Ott was so thoroughly honest, earnest and high-minded in the current of his thought that he was an example to the younger bar and an inspiration to the older lawyers as well. His loss at the bar will be greatly felt.”
Obituary: S. Conrad Ott
West Jersey Press —
S. Conrad Ott, one of Camden’s successful lawyers, died at his home in Merchantville from a weakening of his heart produced by a long and severe illness.
Mr. Ott was not a native of Camden, but spent practically all of his business life in this city. He was born in Philadelphia fifty-four years ago and after a short time with the R. G. Dun Agency in that city he came to Camden and became a newspaper reporter. He worked for both the old Camden Daily Post and the Daily Courier and was also the representative in Camden of certain Philadelphia papers. For a time he served as city editor of the Courier and while engaged in this work he studied law. In 1899 he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey and rapidly made a name for himself in his chosen profession.
Mr. Ott was a man of great industry. His activities were many and varied, but he always had time to do well those things to which he turned his attention. He served for many years as clerk of the Grand Jury; and more recently has had many important cases as Referee in Bankruptcy. At the time of his death he was president of the Camden Bar Association and was also solicitor of the West Jersey Trust Company. In building association matters he was also very active, and for many years and up to the time of his death was secretary of the Stockton Building and Loan Association, one of the strongest and most successful institutions of this city.
In church affairs he also took a leading part and for several years he taught the Men’s Bible Class of the Linden Baptist Church. This class at that time was the largest of any class in South Jersey.
Mr. Ott is survived by his widow, who was Miss Mary Anthony, of Philadelphia.
The funeral services were held on Wednesday. They were in charge of Rev. Frederick Blaser, pastor of the Linden Baptist Church.
Rev. George Peck, some years ago pastor of the church and a close personal friend of the deceased, came down from Vermont to attend the services. Both clergymen spoke feelingly and lauded the life of the one whom they had known so well.
The honorary pall-bearers included men with whom Mr. Ott had been associated in the legal profession, banking, newspaper and church work. They were William Early, vice president of the Bar Association; F. Morse Archer, president of the First National State Bank; Lawyer Joseph Carr, Mr. Ott’s law partner; Oscar J. Clair, Austin M. Clark, E. Spencer Webster, Jacob H. Lippincott, Dr. Harry Jarrett, Andrew McIntyre, Charles H. Laird, Jr., Congressman Francis F. Patterson, Jr., and City Treasurer George A. Frey.