Joseph Mardino
Joseph Mardino, 1934
Joseph Mardino was born August 13, 1899. He was the son of Italian immigrant parents, Leonardo and Angeline Mardino. By 1920 the Mardino family had moved to Camden, where they lived at 423 Cherry Street. The elder Mardino was then working in a morocco factory, that being the term for a leather process popular at the time. Joseph Mardino was still at home, and was working as an assistant foreman in another of Camden’s many industries.
He married Rita Perrone at some point after the 1920 Census. A son, Leonard was born in 1924. Joseph Mardino joined the Camden Police Department on July 1, 1928. He was active in the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and began serving as state delegate almost as soon as he joined the force. At some point between May of 1934 and October of 1936 he was promoted to Detective, and was often partnered with veteran detective Benjamin Simon.
Joseph Mardino lived at 447 Cherry Street at the time of the 1930 census; his parents and sister Lillian lived then at 423 Cherry. The 1936 New Jersey Bell telephone Directory shows him living at 443 Cherry. By 1947 he had moved to 318 Morse Street in East Camden with his wife Rita and son Leonard. He was still active with the Camden Police department as late as December of 1957.
On April 3, 1954 a banquet was held at Kenney’s restaurant on Market Street in honor of retiring Camden Police Department detective August Pfleiderer. Joseph Mardino chaired the committee which put the banquet together. Other members of the committee include Clifford Carr, Harry Tracy, George Ellis, Nathaniel Jones, James Mulligan, Russell Maurer, Samuel E. Johnson, Edward C. Garrity, Frank H. Ryan, James M. O’Neill, Stephen M. O’Keefe, Edward J. Quinlan and Joseph Webster.
Joseph Mardino still lived at 318 Morse Street when he passed away in February of 1979, survived by his wife and son.
New Vice Squad in 3 Raids Nabs 6 as Suspects in Bandit Gang
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Believe Prisoners Know Something of Wierman Murder
Prosecutor Baldwin Seeks Speedy Trial
Indications Point to Sextet Staging Recent Holdups Netting $25,000
Arrested by the new Camden police squad today in three East Camden dwellings, four men and two women are believed by county authorities to be members of a bandit gang which collected $25,000 and murdered a Camden man in a series of eight holdups during the past two months.
Prosecutor Baldwin expressed belief that the suspects were either implicated in, or know who executed the shooting of William “Bel” Wierman, alleged Camden beer runner, during a holdup April 28 at the Bellmawr County Club. He announced he would ask the grand jury this afternoon to indict them on charges made against them this morning made by the city police, and would probably place them on trial here next week.
Meanwhile, all victims and witnesses to the daring holdups in and near the city will be summoned to the courthouse to attempt to identify the prisoners.
He highly complimented the newly created vice squad on its efficient raids made after a week of painstaking investigation.
Firearms Seized
In each residence police seized a sizable arsenal of revolvers, sawed-off shotguns, repeating rifles, and hundreds of ammunition, all hidden in walls or secreted under floors. An opium “layout,” hacksaw, pairs of colored eyeglasses and tear-ware were also confiscated. The discovery of the tinted eyeglasses in the residence was of significance to Police Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, who pointed out that one of the armed bandits who held up a man at Front and Kaighn avenue two nights before the Wierman slaying wore glasses to escape identification.
Detectives aided by state troopers raided the three residences, which prevented any of the suspects from resisting or escaping. Two attempted to slip through the ring, but one surrendered after a single shot was fired at him, and one was captured while trying to scale a rear fence.
The suspects gave their names as: John Fisher, 38, of 41 South Thirty-third street, Camden; Nicholas Bartluci, 23, of 784 South Wick street, Philadelphia; Joseph Conti, 34 of 708 South Eighth st., Philadelphia; Catherine Christman, 28, of 2202 Perth street, Philadelphia; Mary Reginelli, 32, of Apartment 2, at 143 North Thirty-fourth street, Camden; Marco Reginelli, 24, his wife’s address.
Committed Without Bail
Six were arraigned before Judge in the city police court this morning. As they were arraigned in a joint session, a blanket charge with carrying concealed deadly weapons was lodged against them by Detective Leonard Pancoast of the vice squad. An additional complaint charging possession of narcotics placed against Conti and Catherine Christman.
All of the suspects pleaded not guilty. They were immediately committed to the county jail without bail. Prosecutor Baldwin stated he would hold them for further investigation. They will be finger-printed and “mugged” so that county authorities can obtain their police records.
Each suspect has been arrested from one to four times since 1926. Each was released or exonerated. The most recent cases were inciting a riot in 1925.
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suspicion of hold-up and robbery in 1927, 1928 and 1929.
Conti is a familiar figure in the Philadelphia underworld, according to police, and it is believed that he may be the same Joseph Conti who was arrested as a witness in a recent gang murder in that city.
All of the prisoners treated their arrest with levity. Conti, while being led from the courtroom after his hearing jocularly remarked to Patrolman Everett Joslin:
Wait, and I’ll get a machine gun out of my shoe for you.
All the men were handcuffed when arrested in police court.
Conti and the Christman woman were arrested when police broke down the door of a house at 3719 Highland avenue, Camden. Fisher and Bartluci were seized at the South Thirty-third street address, while the Reginellis were captured in their apartment.
Conti made a desperate bid for freedom when he saw the detectives, armed with shotguns, repeating rifles, revolvers and tear bombs. The suspect dashed through the rear door, but came to an abrupt standstill when a member of the vice squad, Detective James Paradise, fired one shot at him.
Bartluci also attempted to escape and was clambering over a rear fence when he fell into the arms of Detectives Walter Smith and Vernon Jones.
All were arrested “on information received,” the only explanation the police would give. It was revealed that the special vice squad, organized by police heads a few days after a Camden bank messenger was robbed of $6700 in broad daylight May 23, has had the three dwellings under surveillance for the past week.
The raiders first visited the Highland avenue place at 5:15 a. m. An automobile was in front of the house, and Conti and the Christman woman were in it, according to detectives. When the suspects saw the police, they leaped from the car and ran into the house, locking the door after them.
Batter Down Door
Under the leadership of Detective Theodore Guthrie, the vice squad members quickly surrounded the place, and Detectives Smith and Jones knocked at the front door. There was no response, and the detectives then battered the door down, rushing into the dark interior with drawn revolvers.
They found Catherine Christman, but Conti had fled out the rear. Detective Paradise’s shot changed his mind about escaping.
Then a thorough search was made of the premises for weapons or possible loot. In closets, under beds, the detectives found weapons of all description. Baseboards and the floors were hammered, and several traps were found to contain weapons when floor boards were ripped up.
The raiders took their prisoners to City Hall, and then descended upon the South Thirty-third street house, at 6:30 a. m. There they had to force open the front door when their demands for entrance met no response. They arrested Fisher, who made no attempt to resist when he saw it was futile. Bartluci, however, dashed into the rear yard, but was captured.
Here, another thorough search uncovered weapons, and when the prisoners and confiscated material had been disposed of, the raiders sped to the North Thirty-fourth street apartment, forcing the front door open at 7:30 a. m. after surrounding the place.
Those who participated in the raids were the following members of the vice squad, headed by Detective Guthrie: Paradise, Jones, Walter Smith, Clarence Bunker, Louis Schlam, Clarence Arthur, Howard Smith and Joseph Mardino. With them were Sergeant Wilfred L. Dube and Detective Andrew Zopesky, of the state police.
Seized in Raid
The following is a list of what was seized in each place:
At 3719 Highland avenue: One automatic 12-gauge shotgun, serial numbers filed off to prevent tracing to the buyer; one bolt action high-powered .38-calibre rifle; one .38-calibre short-barrelled revolver, loaded; one .38-calibre long-barrelled revolver, loaded; one hacksaw and blade; one box of 50 12-gauge buckshot cartridges, one pair of green glasses, three dozen silver spoons, 10 rifle bullets, 33 .38-calibre bullets, two bunches of keys, one handbag and a complete opium layout, including an extra pipe and a quantity of opium.
At 41 South Thirty-third street: One .45-calibre Colt automatic, loaded; one .45-calibre side-break revolver, loaded; one extra clip of 20 bullets, one 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun, two barrels; four dozen 12-gauge shells, four dozen rifle bullets, 32 .38-calibre bullets and three .45-calibre long rifle bullets.
At 143 North Thirty-fourth street: One automatic .12-gauge shotgun, Remington, Model 11, serial number 324870; one sawed-off shotgun, serial number filed off; one .32-calibre Savage automatic, six dozen 12-gauge shells, 13 .38-calibre bullets for a Luger revolver, eight dozen .32-calibre bullets, one dozen .25-calibre bullets and a pair of amber-colored glasses.
Vice Squad Nabs 6 Bandit Suspects
(Continued from Page One)
suspicion of hold-up and robbery in 1927, 1928 and 1929.
Conti is a familiar figure in the Philadelphia underworld, according to police, and it is believed that he may be the same Joseph Conti who was arrested as a witness in a recent gang murder in that city.
All of the prisoners treated their arrest with levity. Conti, while being led from the courtroom after his hearing jocularly remarked to Patrolman Everett Joslin:
“Wait, and I’ll get a machine gun out of my shoe for you.”
All the men were handcuffed when arrested in police court.
Conti and the Christman woman were arrested when police broke down the door of a house at 3719 Highland avenue, Camden. Fisher and Bartluci were seized at the South Thirty-third street address, while the Reginellis were captured in their apartment.
Conti made a desperate bid for freedom when he saw the detectives, armed with shotguns, repeating rifles, revolvers and tear bombs. The suspect dashed through the rear door, but came to an abrupt standstill when a member of the vice squad, Detective James Paradise, fired one shot at him.
Bartluci also attempted to escape and was clambering over a rear fence when he fell into the arms of Detectives Walter Smith and Vernon Jones.
All were arrested “on information received,” the only explanation the police would give. It was revealed that the special vice squad, organized by police heads a few days after a Camden bank messenger was robbed of $6700 in broad daylight May 23, has had the three dwellings under surveillance for the past week.
The raiders first visited the Highland avenue place at 5:15 a. m. An automobile was in front of the house, and Conti and the Christman woman were in it, according to detectives. When the suspects saw the police, they leaped from the car and ran into the house, locking the door after them.
Batter Down Door
Under the leadership of Detective Theodore Guthrie, the vice squad members quickly surrounded the place, and Detectives Smith and Jones knocked at the front door. There was no response, and the detectives then battered the door down, rushing into the dark interior with drawn revolvers.
They found Catherine Christman, but Conti had fled out the rear. Detective Paradise’s shot changed his mind about escaping.
Then a thorough search was made of the premises for weapons or possible loot. In closets, under beds, the detectives found weapons of all description. Baseboards and the floors were hammered, and several traps were found to contain weapons when floor boards were ripped up.
The raiders took their prisoners to City Hall, and then descended upon the South Thirty-third street house, at 6:30 a. m. There they had to force open the front door when their demands for entrance met no response. They arrested Fisher, who made no attempt to resist when he saw it was futile. Bartluci, however, dashed into the rear yard, but was captured.
Here, another thorough search uncovered weapons, and when the prisoners and confiscated material had been disposed of, the raiders sped to the North Thirty-fourth street apartment, forcing the front door open at 7:30 a. m. after surrounding the place.
Those who participated in the raids were the following members of the vice squad, headed by Detective Guthrie: Paradise, Jones, Walter Smith, Clarence Bunker, Louis Schlam, Clarence Arthur, Howard Smith and Joseph Mardini. With them were Sergeant Wilfred L. Dube and Detective Andrew Zopesky, of the state police.
Seized in Raid
The following is a list of what was seized in each place:
At 3719 Highland avenue: One automatic 12-gauge shotgun, serial numbers filed off to prevent tracing to the buyer; one bolt action high-powered .38-calibre rifle; one .38-calibre short-barrelled revolver, loaded; one .38-calibre long-barrelled ravolver, loaded; one hacksaw and blade; one box of 50 12-gauge buckshot cartridges, one pair of green glasses, three dozen silver spoons, 10 rifle bullets, 33 .38-calibre bullets, two bunches of keys, one handbag and a complete opium layout, including an extra pipe and a quantity of opium.
At 41 South Thirty-third street: One .45-calibre Colt automatic, loaded; one .45-calibre side-break revolver, loaded; one extra clip of 20 bullets, one 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun, two barrels; four dozen 12-gauge shells, four dozen rifle bullets, 32 .38-calibre bullets and three .45-calibre long rifle bullets.
At 143 North Thirty-fourth street: One automatic .12-gauge shotgun, Remington, Model 11, serial number 324870; one sawed-off shotgun, serial number filed off; one .32-calibre Savage automatic, six dozen 12-gauge shells, 13 .38-calibre bullets for a Luger revolver, eight dozen .32-calibre bullets, one dozen .25-calibre bullets and a pair of amber-colored glasses.
Police Sergeant Truax Buried at Harleigh
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Sergeant Frank Truax, who died Thursday night from a complication of diseases, was buried yesterday in Harleigh Cemetery.
More than two score policemen, as well as city officials, attended services at the funeral parlor of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway. Rev. E.M. Munyon, pastor of Eighth Street M.E. Church, officiated. More than 50 cars were in the procession that wound its way to the cemetery. A patrol wagon was used to carry the flowers sent by numerous individuals and organizations.
Pallbearers, all policemen, were John Cole, Joseph Leonhardt, James McTaggart, Andrew Truman, William McGrath, Paul Jackson, Joseph Mardino, and Clarence Boyer.
Sergeant Truax was 50 and resided at 1139 Kenwood Avenue. He died five minutes after being taken to Cooper Hospital. He had been a member of the police department since 1917, and was made a sergeant in 1930. He is survived by a widow, Linda, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Wilkinson.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.
The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.
Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.
Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association
Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.
In a three-cornered fight, William Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.
Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.
Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.
Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.
After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.
Trip to City Jail Ends Parkside Scrap
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with disturbing the peace, Mrs. Stella Wilkinson, 30, and Harry Mattison, 51, both of 1259 Park Boulevard, were arrested last night by Policeman Joseph Mardino.
At police headquarters each preferred slander charges against the other. Mardino was summoned when the couple’s quarrel disturbed the neighbors.
3 From Camden Go to Cop Convention
Camden Courier-Post —
Bott, Thorn, Mardino Are Benevolent Group Envoys to Shore
Three delegates from Camden will leave tonight or early tomorrow for the thirty-fifth annual convention of the New Jersey State Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in Atlantic City. They are Patrolmen Herbert Bott, William Thorn and Joseph Mardino.
Mardino is serving his seventh term as state delegate, and is unopposed for re-election. The Camden delegates will try to bring next year’s convention here. They represent 230 members of the association.
The convention will open tomorrow with memorial services for deceased members, and one of those to be honored is Detective William T. Feitz, Jr., who was slain by gunmen when he entered a disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street at 2 a.m. last Sunday. He was the first Camden policeman murdered in line of duty. The association comprises 87 locals with a total membership of approximately 8000. Harry B. Gourley, of Paterson, president, will rule over the sessions in the Madison Hotel. He is unopposed for his fifth term.
Patrolman Harry Lincoln, of Gloucester, is unopposed for his fourth term as state trustee.
Woman, Students Taken in House Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Residents and Phila. Visitors Arrested in Parkside Dwelling
Three Camden women and two Temple University students were arrested in a raid on an alleged disorderly house at 1450 Kenwood Avenue last night.
Charged with being proprietress of the place is Mrs. Charlotte Grimes, 48. She is the wife of Elmer Grimes, employed by the city as a custodian at Convention Hall and formerly custodian of the Camden High School athletic field, according to City Prosecutor John H. Reiners, Jr.
The students under arrest gave their names as Sidney Goldberg, 19, of 1400 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, and Herman Katz, 19, of 2601 Wilder Street, Philadelphia.
Welch Leads Raiders
The arrests were made by Police Lieutenant Walter Welch and Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino.
According to Welch, Mrs. Grimes signed a statement in which she said she had resided at 1450 Kenwood Avenue for 27 years, and maintained a disorderly house there for the last seven years. He has had men watching the place for a year, to get evidence on which to base a raid, he said. He declared that only persons recommended by patrons were admitted, and then only after making telephone calls.
Simon, who lives three blocks from the house, and Mardino saw a car with Pennsylvania license plates parked near the place last night, Welch said. They waited until they saw Goldberg and Katz leaving the house, and questioned them. It was on the strength of statements by the two youths that the raid was made, Welch added.
Cases Continued
The five prisoners were taken to police court today. After waiting until 10:05 for Simon and Mardino to appear, Welch asked that the case be continued until tomorrow.
Judge Lewis Liberman set bail for $1000 for Mrs. Grimes; $500 each for the other two women, $200 for Katz and released Goldberg in the custody of his brother, an attorney.
The latter said the two youths were willing to plead guilty to disorderly conduct charges, admitting they had been in the place, but Judge Liberman said he preferred to wait and hear the entire case tomorrow.
In answer to the query by the court as to how the two knew about the existence of the “disorderly house” Katz said:
Oh, things like that get broadcast around the university.
Suspect Trapped at Alcohol 'Drop'
Camden Courier-Post —
Sleuths Kept 3-Weeks’ Vigil at Abandoned Garage Near City Line
Suspect Trapped at Alcohol ‘Drop’
Sleuths Kept 3-Weeks’ Vigil at Abandoned Garage Near City Line
Constant observation of an abandoned garage for the past three weeks last night rewarded detectives with the capture of an alleged “bootlegger” and the confiscation of 100 gallons of untaxed alcohol.
Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino arrested Joseph Janes, 44, of 518 Chestnut street, as he allegedly was preparing to load the liquor into his car in the rear of a house on Haddon avenue near city line. He was released in $2000 bail on a charge of possessing untaxed alcohol. Simon and Mardino said they have been “keeping an eye on” the garage, a dilapidated frame strucutre [sic], suspecting it was being used as an alcohol “drop.” Janes admitted ownership of the alcohol but denied he knew the name of the person from whom he made his purchases other than that of “John.”
$200 Fine Breaks Up One-Man Lottery
A one-man lottery business was broken up yesterday when John Spear, 56, of 913 Pearl street, was fined $200 by Police Judge Lewis Liberman. Spear was arrested Monday in his home by Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino.
The police testified that Spear had turned one of the rooms of his home into an office and was accepting number bets. They said they found a number dream book in the office.
When asked who his backer was, Spear said he was in business for himself. He was charged with violating Section 423 of the city ordinance pertaining to gambling and fined $200. He paid the fine.
Cigar Store Raided by 'Secret 6' Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
Alleged Proprietor is Held in $500 Bail for Police Court Hearing
Raiders of the “Secret 6” of the Camden police department yesterday arrested Oscar Bendler, 40, as the alleged proprietor of a cigar store at 217 Market Street, where they reported they seized horse racing sheets, three phones and $114.
Bendler, who gave his address as 310 Erie Street, is charged with violating the city ordinance prohibiting gambling and is held in $500 bail for a police court hearing today.
The raid on Bendler’s place was made after the police squad had searched five other small shops and found only legitimate business being conducted.
Two of the shops were located on the Market Street ferry walk, two on Market Street between Second and Third Street and on Federal Street between Second and Third Street.
Fine-combing of establishments were it is suspected the gambling gentry may flourish was ordered by Police Chief Arthur Colsey. The picked squad of men who operated as members of Colsey’s “Secret Six” yesterday were Detective Sergeant Clifford Del Rossi, Sergeant Walter Rowand, Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino.
Cops Nab Store Owner in Horse Betting Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
City detectives late yesterday raided a cigar store at 460 Carteret street and seized alleged horse racing sheets and gambling paraphernalia, they said.
Richard Everett, 59, said to be the proprietor of the store, was arrested and posted $200 security for a hearing today before Police Judge Lewis Liberman for violation of a city ordinance prohibiting gambling.
City Detectives Joseph Mardino, Benjamin Simon, George Weber and Vernon Jones conducted the raid.
Sleuth Battles Judge on 'Bookie'
Camden Courier-Post —
Liberman Frees Man Over Protests of Police Who Raided Place
Frequent clashes between an attorney and detectives marked a police court hearing yesterday in which an alleged horse race bookmaker was freed for lack of evidence.
According to detectives who raided the defendant’s store Thursday, he had a “private telephone book” containing the numbers of a police station, several policemen and a number of city and county officials.
The defendant was Richard Everett, of 460 Carteret street. Detectives Joseph Mardino, Benjamin Simon, George Weber and Vernon Jones, testified they found the book, a number of racing forms and a mysterious tablet.
Simon began testifying to the effect that while he was in the store he took several bets over the telephone. The instrument was later ripped out and offered as evidence.
Meyer L. Sakin, counsel for Everett, objected to any testimony regarding Simon’s telephone conversation as not binding on his client, and when Judge Lewis Liberman agreed, Simon threw down his papers and said he was quitting.
City Prosecutor John H. Reiners, Jr., placated the detective, however, and he resumed. Again he got around to the telephone call, and again Sakin objected and again Liberman upheld Sakin.
I’m done, then,” exclaimed Simon. “I’ll testify no more.
I have my suspicions in this case,” said Judge Liberman, “but I have to be guided by the rules of evidence, and there has been presented here no proper evidence of a violation. I’ll have to discharge the defendant.
As the judge finished, Sakin, Simon and Mardino reached for the pile of papers and books which the detectives had seized. Simon beat Sakin to them.
I want these back,” said Sakin. “They include records of this man’s business profits.
What kind of business?” asked Mardino. “You’re not going to get them. We want to study his business ourselves and see if we can make out this code.
Finally, Judge Liberman ruled that Sakin could copy the records but the police could keep the originals.
“And who’s going to put this telephone instrument back?” inquired the lawyer.
“Maybe the company, we’re not,” said Simon.
As Sakin left the court room, Mardino shouted at him:
Tell that client of yours he might as well close down. We’re not through.
Camden Barber Fined on Gambling Charges
Camden Courier-Post —
Jordan M. Gabriel, 26, of the Milner Hotel, who operates a barber shop at 11 Ferry walk, was fined $50 by Police Judge Lewis Liberman yesterday on a charge of violating the city gambling ordinance.
According to Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino, Gabriel, who pleaded not guilty, was telephoning bets to a bookie when they entered his shop.
5 Youths Arrested as Holdup Suspects
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Believe Bandit Gang Plans of Group Halted by Roundup
Police believed they had frustrated the formation of hoodlum bandit mob yesterday with the arrest of five South Camden youths after a holdup of a grocery store at Tenth Street and Ferry Avenue.
Two of the five suspects were identified by the grocer, John Jacobs, as the bandits who entered his store at 960 Ferry Avenue, held him up at gun point and escaped with $23.95. Jacobs told Detectives Heber McCord and Clarence Arthur that he recognized one of the bandits as Anthony Mona, 19, of 947 South Third Street, a former boxer, whom he saw fighting in the ring, McCord said.
A radio call was sent to all cars to pick up Mona. A short time later, District Detectives Leon Branch and John Houston arrested Mona as he was eating in a restaurant near Broadway and Kaighn Avenue.
After questioning by McCord and Arthur, Mona implicated the others. They are Dominick Spinagotti, 17, of 251 Mt. Vernon street; Vito Brandimorto, 20, of 245 Chestnut Street; Salvatore Martorano, 21, of 344 Cherry Street, and Victor Labato, 19, of 274 Mt. Vernon street.
Mona was searched in the detective bureau. Police found $6.65 in change in his pockets. The others were rounded up at their homes by Detective Sergeant Benjamin Simon and Detectives Joseph Mardino and Robert Ashenfelder.
According to Simon the youths were “just beginning to embark on a career of crime.”
When the others were brought to the detective bureau for questioning, all but $2 of the loot was recovered, Detective McCord said.
McCord said the youths signed statements saying Mona and Labato entered the store while the others waited in Mona’s car outside the store, all fleeing together after the holdup.
Poor Acting Leads To Youth's Arrest In Theft of Cash
Camden Courier-Post —
Curious detectives yesterday made it embarrassing for Charles Pennington, 21, of 906 South Seventh street.
The youth told his employer, Louis Tartar, junk dealer of Ninth and Liberty Streets, a stranger stole $25 in receipts from a load of materials shipped to Philadelphia. Pennington’s employer took him to the detective bureau to report the theft. There, detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino chatted with the youth.
Frankly doubting the story he told, the detectives suggested Pennington disrobe. The sleuths found $22 concealed in his shoes. Simon and Mardino said Pennington admitted the money belonged to his employer and that the theft story was false. He was held for police court on a larceny charge.
Absence of Victim Delays Larceny Case
Camden Courier-Post —
Because the complainant was not in police court yesterday Judge Gene R. Mariano continued the hearing of a larceny charge against Charles Pennington, 21, of 906 South Seventh street, until today.
Louis Tarter, the youth’s employer, took him to detective bureau Tuesday when Pennington said a stranger stole $25 in receipts from a load of junk shipped to Philadelphia by Tarter.
Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino forced Pennington to disrobe and found $22 in his shoes. Pennington, according to the detectives, admitted his robbery story was a fake and he was held on the larceny charge. Pennington said the money belonged to Tarter, who has a junk yard at Ninth and Liberty streets.
M.F. Middleton Felled by Gas In House Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Former City Commissioner Found Unconscious in Old Home
With gas flowing from a pipe detached from a gas range, former City Commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., was found unconscious in the kitchen of his former home at 538 Cooper street early Saturday night.
Middleton was reported last night to still be in a critical condition at West Jersey Hospital, where he was taken. The Camden Fire Department First Aid Squad worked over him for an hour at the house in a vain effort to revive him.
Middleton, a former president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and one time city councilman, was found by a son, C. Barry Middleton, and a friend, John Williams Rossell, who lives with the Middletons on Laurel road, Moorestown. Middleton was clad in overalls and two large pipe wrenches were lying on the kitchen floor near him.
Young Middleton said his father told his family he intended to take up some linoleum in the kitchen of his former home. Middleton first went to his office Saturday and then to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to a service. From there he was traced to his former home, which is owned by him.
When Middleton failed to return home for dinner at the usual time Saturday his son and Rossell decided to search for him. When young Middleton discovered his father’s plight he notified police. Patrolmen Frank Cavallo, Henry Lutz, Walter Vecander and George Etley responded in radio cars and gave first aid until the fire department squad arrived.
The firemen worked on the former commissioner one hour with an inhalator before ordering his removal to the hospital, where they continued to work on Middleton for another hour but were unable to revive him. Hospital physicians continued working on him without success. They said his condition was critical.
Gas Man Called
At 4 p. m. Saturday the family living next to Middleton’s home telephoned Public Service that gas was coming from the house. Public Service sent a man to investigate but he was unable to get into the house.
Young Middleton and Rossell said they reached the house at 6:17 p. m.
While he was a member of the first city commission Middleton was director of finance but never missed responding to all alarms of fire. He was a member of the fire committee while serving in City Council as a member from the Second ward. In that capacity he also answered all alarms.
Members of the Firemen’s First Aid Squad responding to the call were Deputy Chief William R. Harring, Hosemen Christopher Moll, William Spencer, Harry Haines, Russell Anderson, William Harry Deitz and Nelson Andrews.
City Detectives Benjamin Simon, Joseph Mardino and William Marter are investigating the cause.
Parolee Seized in Stolen Auto by Camden Cop
Camden Courier-Post — 1938
Sadowski Was Freed by Judge in 20-Year Term for Bank Holdup
Arrested at Wheel of Elusive Machine
Mitchell Sadowski, 21-year-old paroled convict, who was given a “break” five months ago in Federal Court by Judge Philip Forman, was under arrest again last night after being found at the wheel of a stolen Pennsylvania automobile.
Sadowski was arrested yesterday by Detective August Pfleiderer after Camden police searched the city for the elusive car since Monday when it was stolen in Philadelphia.
The car was sighted Wednesday by a Parkside resident who called police but the machine disappeared again before detectives arrived. The car, a 1938 Packard coupe, is owned by John Holdstein, of 7614 Brewer avenue, Philadelphia.
Sadowski’s last escapade with the police occurred when he was given a sentence of 20 years in State’s prison which was suspended by Judge Forman on the gunman’s plea he “had a job.”
Judge Forman placed the youth on probation for five years after a jury found him guilty as the getaway driver in the $4119 robbery of the First National Bank of Marlton.
At that time Sadowski had just finished a two-year term in the state prison for holdup near Atlantic City. He was convicted on two indictments in the bank holdup and sentenced to 20 years on each count. Judge Forman ruled the sentences would run concurrently and ordered probation in each instance.
The machine in which Sadowski was arrested was first reported in front of 1310 Park boulevard by Calvin Hunsingur, who called police giving them the license number. Detectives Clifford and William Casler told Hunsingur to watch the car until they could send a tow wagon out for it. A few minutes later Hunsingur saw (Continued on Page 4—Column 5) a young man get into the machine and drive it away.
Detectives Stand Watch
The next time it was reported seen in Camden was at 4 p. m. yesterday when George Mayo, of 812 Kaighn avenue, called and said the car was in front of 824 Kaighn avenue and had been there since 6 a. m. Pfleiderer with Detectives Carr and Joseph Mardino and Detective Sergeant Thomas Murphy went to the address and tore out a wire from the distributor to prevent the machine from being started. They then took stands to watch for anyone entering the machine. At 5:30 p. m., when no one appeared Sgt. Murphy, Carr and Mardino returned to the Detective Bureau leaving Pfleiderer standing at Ninth street and Kaighn avenue.
At 6:30 p. m., Pfleiderer said, he noticed someone get into the machine and try to start it. The detective with gun drawn approached the driver and told him he was under arrest. Pfleiderer immediately recognized the man as Sadowski.
When the detective accosted Sadowski, the youth is alleged to have pleaded with Pfleiderer to shoot him and kill him instead of returning him to state prison.
Go ahead and shoot me,” cried Sadowski, according to Pfleiderer. “I would rather be shot than go back to prison.
Pleads Innocence
Last night while Sadowski was in the detention cell in Detective Bureau he paced the floor constantly, pleading with detectives he was innocent and not to send him back to prison.
The gunman’s criminal career began in January, of 1933, when he was arrested for stealing an automobile in Camden and attempting to rob a Mantua chain store.
In 1934 Sadowski was arrested with five others for the holdup of the Public Service bus garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets and robbery of the cashier of more than $300. He was found guilty of participation and sentenced from seven to 10 years in prison and released on parole in July, last year after serving less than four years.
On his release Sadowski was arrested again for the Marlton bank robbery in which he and three others escaped with $4000. The others were Stanley Krause, Stanley Geda and John Lenkowsky. The four bandits were the same quartet which robbed the Public Service Garage. Each was arrested as he was released from prison. Krause and Geda both drew suspended sentences on March 21, before Judge Frank A. Hendrickson after entering pleas of non volt on the bank holdup charges.
At the time when the four pleaded guilty to the garage holdup, they also admitted robberies of the Genova Cafe, Third and Arch streets, and of the Mantua chain store.
Detectives last night were attempting to link Sadowski with the holdup last Tuesday afternoon of the Dublin National Bank, at Dublin, Pa. Three bandits, all armed and two of them masked, cowed a woman employe and a customer into a corner and forced the cashier, Henry Schanbacker, to hand over $3500 in cash from the cashier’s cage.
Clayton New Chief of Police Society
Camden Courier-Post —
Elected President of Camden Beneficial Association; Other Officers Picked
Captain George “Babe” Clayton, chief clerk of the police department, was elected unanimously yesterday as president of Camden Police Beneficial Association, succeeding the late Edward Middleton.
Detective William Dolan and Traffic Patrolman John B. Stanton were re-elected vice president and recording secretary, respectively. Neither was opposed.
Two offices were contested on friendly terms. Archie Reiss, principal clerk in the detective bureau, was elected financial secretary over Lieut. George Frost, the vote being 34 to 28. Sergt. Edward Carroll defeated Sergt. Walter Mattison for treasurer 38 to 23.
Sergt. Albert “Dick” Cornog was elected without opposition as sergeant-at-arms.
Trustees elected are Acting Police Chief Ralph Bakley, Acting Lieut. John Garrity, Detective Joseph Mardino, Acting Lieut. Herbert Bott and Patrolman Edward Leonard.
Numbers King Felled as Cap Cuts Into His
Camden Courier-Post —
Near Death in Hospital After Shooting Outside House Adjoining Cafe
‘Welching’ on Payoff Among Rumors Probed
Four blasts from a pump gun last night felled Fred Klosterman, convicted South Camden numbers baron and cafe operator, outside his Club Cadix, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street.
Klosterman, 39, was believed dying today in West Jersey Hospital. He was shot by one or more assailants in an automobile which blocked his parked car in which he was seated.
Before lapsing into semi-consciousness, Klosterman told police he could not understand why he was shot. He said he knew of no enemies. He could give no description of his assailant or of the car in which they escaped.
Detectives were investigating several possible motives for the murder attempt.
One was a report that Klosterman “welched” on paying off bets when the number “444” hit.
Arrested Many Times
Klosterman had been arrested many times for numbers activities during the past decade and was on parole from a three-to-five year State prison sentence, served with his brother, Joseph.
Two months ago, police said someone fired a shot through the window of Klosterman’s saloon and broke the mirror behind the bar. The shooting occurred after hours and no one was in the place. The shot was fired after Joseph Osinski, 21, was shot in the leg in the office of the R and M Amusement Company. Osinski, police said, was employed by a man formerly associated with Klosterman.
The mystery shooting occurred at 10:05 p. m. when Klosterman, who lives at 1048 Mechanic street, next door to the saloon, went to the street in front of his home to put his automobile in a garage for the night. An hour before, he and his wife had returned home from a motion picture theatre.
So far as police were able to learn, there were no witnesses to the shooting. Alfred Giffins, of 1111 Mechanic street, said he heard the firing of shots and ran outside to see what was the matter. He found Klosterman lying on the pavement, his face smeared with blood, and a red stream forming slowly on the sidewalk from the gaping wounds in his body.
Taken to Hospital In Car
Giffins commandeered the first car that came along Mt. Ephraim avenue. It contained a male driver and two girls. The girls took Klosterman to the hospital, two blocks away and left before nurses could obtain his name. According to Acting Detective Sergeant Benjamin Simon, he received a call from Klosterman’s wife, Victoria, that her husband had been shot in front of their home. Simon, with Detectives Edward Mills, Joseph Mardino and Gus Pfleiderer, went to the house, where they met Mrs. Klosterman. She said her husband had been removed to the hospital. They found Klosterman in the (Continued on Page 2—Column 7)
receiving ward, conscious but weak from loss of blood.
Simon reported Klosterman said he and his wife had returned from a motion picture show a short time before. He left his car in front of his home, parked against traffic and at an angle to the curb. After going inside with Mrs. Klosterman he went outside again to put his car in the garage.
Car Driven in Front of Him
As he took his seat behind the wheel, Klosterman told Simon, another car approached from the west. It halted in front of his car.
There was a blast from a shotgun. He was struck with the first blast, he said, and ducked down below the dashboard.
Three more blasts followed in quick succession. Three slugs entered his left shoulder a few inches above the heart. Another lodged in his chin and a fifth in his upper lip. Others struck the right side of the windshield and right front window.
The assailants’ car sped west on Mechanic street to Tenth and disappeared north on Tenth street.
Klosterman said he could not obtain the license number of the car, although police were investigating a report the car was a brown sedan with New Jersey plates.
Klosterman said he was able to open the door of his car and slumped to the sidewalk, where he was found by Giffins.
The shotgun slugs that struck Klosterman were about the diameter of a lead pencil.
Police Guard at Bedside
An emergency operation for removal of the pellets from his face was performed by Dr. H. Wesley Jack.
After questioning by Simon, Klosterman was questioned by County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran. He repeated his earlier story. William B. Macdonald, court stenographer, took down his entire statement.
Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, and Police Chief Ralph Bakley, also were present. They ordered a police guard posted at his bedside.
Klosterman, with his brother, was paroled from state prison July 9, 1936, after serving part of a three-to-five year sentence imposed by the then Judge Frank F. Neutze.
The brothers were convicted by a Criminal Court jury on two of four indictments charging them with numerous violations growing out of their numbers business, then said to have a “bank,” or headquarters, at the Young Men’s Seventh Ward Republican Club, 1411 Mt. Ephraim avenue.
Fined $3000 Each
When Judge Neutze passed sentence, and fined each defendant $3000 in addition to the jail terms, he lashed them for “paying politicians for protection.”
These politicians can be found in the Third and Fifth wards of Camden,” he said. “Some of them come from Philadelphia. You couldn’t have carried on this business for such a long time without help and consent of certain influential persons in your part of the city.
A factor in the conviction was subpoenaing of the bank accounts of the accused brothers and testimony of bank officials their bank deposits averaged more than $200 a day.
Judge Neutze emphasized he would hand out stiff terms when he recalled the defendants were acquitted on one numbers charge in January, 1935, and had gone back into the racket immediately.
This referred to a case heard in Criminal Court before Judge Samuel F. Shay in June, 1933, when both men were convicted and the convictions appealed by their attorney. They were released in $2000 bail each pending the appeal.
Fined in Police Court
In May, 1934, Assistant Prosecutor Isaac Eason announced in court the county was unwilling to stand the expense of a new trial, and asked the sentences be revoked and the defendants made to pay fines of $500 each. Judge Neutze agreed.
On June 14, 1933, Joseph Klosterman was fined $200 by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast for operating a numbers bank in a florist shop on Mt. Ephraim avenue, not far from where his brother was shot last night.
In December, 1931, Joseph Klosterman pleaded guilty to allowing disorderly persons to congregate in his establishment and was fined $100, also by Pancoast.
After the Grand Jury returned the indictments that led to the 1935 trial, Fred Klosterman disappeared from the city. He finally surrendered in February, 1935, and with his brother was placed on trial two months later.
Neighbors said that since the brothers gained their parole in July, 1936, they parted company. Fred, they said, continued to rule the South Camden numbers racket but his brother dropped out.
Police Photo Aids in Holdup Arrest
Camden Courier-Post —
Suspect in $2046 Robbery, Identified by Victim, Will Face Grand Jury
A man identified from a rogues gallery photograph as one of a pair who held up and robbed an East Camden man was held without bail for the grand jury yesterday when arraigned before Police Court Judge Gene R. Mariano. He is Stanley Geda, 26, of 1273 Whitman avenue. John Miller, of 2827 Clinton street, who was held up and robbed of $2046.49 at the point of revolvers by two men, picked Geda’s photograph from the police gallery. Miller said that he recognized Geda despite the fact that he had a black handkerchief over the lower part of his face. Miller declared that he remembered the voice and also that the man had pimples on his forehead.
Miller told police, prior to the arrest of Geda, that he was standing in the driveway to his garage waiting for a companion to come from the house, when he was held up.
After Geda had been identified, City Detectives Gus Pfleiderer, Joseph Mardino and Frank Crawford learned that he was on parole from State’s prison. When Geda appeared at the office of Albert Brager, parole officer, who summoned him, he was arrested. Miller was then called to the detective bureau and positively identified Geda, police said.
Geda pleaded not guilty. Miller charged in court that Geda was making an effort to change his voice, which Geda denied saying that he had a cold.
Ex-Convict Nabbed After Gunplay
Camden Courier-Post —
Overpowered in Fairview after an 80-mile-an-hour chase along Crescent boulevard from Gloucester, one of two suspected would-be hijackers of a numbers lottery banker, Stanley Geda, 25, of 1273 Whitman avenue, is shown here being escorted out of the Detective Bureau by Detective Joseph Mardino.
Miss Ethel Waters
Trenton Times —
Private funeral services for Miss Ethel H. Waters, 26, daughter of the late Charles and Mary Woods Waters, who died Saturday in Camden, were held yesterday at the M. William Murphy Funeral Home here. The Rev. J. Clayton Lime, pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church, officiated. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were Joseph Mardino, Thomas Welch, Howard Bean, James McTaggart, Fred Garbrecht and Anthony Moffa.
Ethel Waters was from Trenton. She had worked as a clerk for Selective Service Board 8 in Camden prior to her death. Miss Waters had lived at 222 North 41st street in East Camden. Not having any family in Camden, it appears the six policemen took it upon themselves to bring her home.
Boxing Show Slated to Aid Drop-A-Buck
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 500 members of boys clubs and Little League teams in the area will be guests at a special amateur boxing show Tuesday night at Convention Hall from which proceeds will benefit the Frank H. Ryan Drop-A-Buck Club.
Sponsors for the young guests are being solicited now by a committee headed by Police Insp. Anthony Skolski.
The show will be staged by the Camden Police Athletic League and sponsored by Camden Local 35, New Jersey Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
Ten three-round bouts will present boxers from the Philadelphia Police Athletic League and some Middle Atlantic AAU champions will be on the card.
Among sponsors of one or more children already signed are Deputy Public Safety Director Willard C. Schriver; Police Chief Gustav Koerner, Skolski, Municipal Judge Anthony Marino, Dets. Joseph Mardino and Ernie Santaniello, Art Sharp, Andy Fanelli, Nick Tedeschi, Anthony Galiozzi, the Hub Steak House, Rt. 38, Maple Shade; Hill Clothing store, 2636 Westfield ave.; Roma Cafe, 3rd and Royden sts., and Local 35, NJSPBA.
Persons, organizations or business establishments wishing to become sponsors are urged to contact Skolski at the city police department. Assisting are Anthony Moffa, co-chairman; George MacKenzie, Charles Kocher, Mario Ferrari, Peter Paul, Edward Yeager, Walter Busko, Thomas Kelly and Douglas Holmes.