Joseph 'Mose' Flannery

JOSEPH “MOSE” FLANNERY was born in Pennsylvania in 1902 to James A. and Mary Flannery, both of whom were born in Ireland. He was the sixth child born to the couple, coming after John F., Thomas, Winifred, Mary, and James. Two more children, Catherine and Francis, came later. When the Census was taken in 1910 the Flannerys and their eight children lived at 436 Jackson Street. From 1914 through January of 1920 the Flannery family lived at 1712 Broadway in Camden’s Eighth Ward, a half block north of the corner of Broadway and Ferry Avenue. Joseph Flannery attended Camden High School as a member of the Class of 1923, but dropped out after a year or two. In 1924 he married Anna Boggs. They had a son, but the marriage was a stormy one. The couple had separated by the summer of 1928. By that time he was living at 346 Jackson Street.

After World War I he became involved in organized crime in Camden and in politics in the Eighth Ward. “Mose” Flannery’s involvement in politics began before he was old enough to vote. He was active as a Republican until the municipal election of 1927, when he backed the Non-Partisan slate, and aided several Democrats. During this election he came in conflict with Mikey Brown, who was the leader of the Republican party in the Eighth Ward. The two apparently mended fences after the election.

“Mose” Flannery’s criminal activities seem to have centered around slot machines. He was arrested several times on a variety of charges, but never convicted of any offense. In January of 1928 he was held for a time as a material witness to the murder of Joseph Cimini at the Sixth Ward Republican Club at 908 Broadway.

“Mose” Flannery was mortally wounded outside the bar of James L. Hawkins at 101 Kaighn Avenue, shortly before 4:00 AM on September 18, 1928. He was taken to West Jersey Hospital, where he died that evening. Joseph “Mose” Flannery was survived by his wife Anna, his son, parents, and siblings.

In the wake of Flannery’s murder, the slot machine issue was brought to the forefront. When Assistant County Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando and Camden County Chief of Detectives Lawrence Doran organized a series of raids to seize illegal slot machines, some of the raided sites had been tipped off. This would be a problem in Camden for several more years. There was political pressure on Orlando and County Prosecutor Ethan Wescott to go easy on the slot machines, which did not help the situation. There would be problems of this nature within Camden’s police department for several more years. Camden Commissioner and Director of Public Safety Dr. David S. Rhone received criticism for the situation, as did Chief of Police Lewis W. Stehr. There would be several shakeups within Camden’s police department for several more years, due to problems of this nature.

In April of 1929, John Doris, while being arraigned for shooting Joe O’Connor, was also charged with the murder of “Mose” Flannery. He had been indicted on September 20, 1928 but the indictment was kept secret, as Doris was a fugitive at that time. John Doris never stood trial for the Flannery murder. He was serving time at Trenton State Prison for the wounding of O’Connor when he was stabbed to death by another inmate in 1930. John Doris’ murder was never solved.

MURDER MOTIVE AT G.O.P. CLUB SPLITS SLEUTHS

County Detectives Contend Philadelphia Gangster Was Slain in Quarrel Over Woman

POLICE CLAIM HOLD-UP ATTEMPT CAUSED FIGHT — Deven Charged With Crime, Flannery and Taxi Driver Held Without Bail

With city and county authorities definitely divided on the motive and circumstance of the Sixth Ward Republican Club slaying, Joseph “Polack Joe” Deven was arraigned in Camden police court today and held without bail on a murder charge.

Through County Solicitor Walter Keown, retained as his attorney, Deven waived a police court hearing and was held to await grand jury action in the slaying of Joseph Cimini, Philadelphia gangster, at the political club early Saturday morning.

At the same time County Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott announced his operatives had abandoned the theory Cimini was killed as the aftermath of an attempted hold-up, and were concentrating their investigation in the case on an effort to “find the woman.”

Statements of witnesses to the fatal shooting, the prosecutor added, made no mention of a hold-up, but contained the declaration that Cimini had been shot as a result of a feud with Charles “Chick” Hunt, former South Camden pugilist, concerning the affection of “Chick’s girl.”

Police Claim Holdup

On the other hand, Captain John Golden, chief of the city detective bureau, declared he was unable to recall any mention of a girl in the statements obtained from witnesses, and added emphatically that his department still held the shooting had followed an attempted holdup of the club by Cimini and Joseph ‘Mose’ Flannery.

Flannery and Hunt were both witnesses to the shooting by Deven, picturesque figure in Third Ward politics, which occurred at the Sixth Ward Club’s headquarters, 908 Broadway.

After Deven had appeared in Police Court today, Flannery was arraigned as a material witness and as an accessory to the crime, with an additional charge accusing him of carrying concealed deadly weapons. Similar charges were made against Russell Sage, a taxicab driver, who arrived at the club with Flannery and Cimini early Saturday morning. These two were committed to the county jail without any bail by Judge Bernard Bertman.

Hunt, however, was released under $1,000 bail as was Martin O’Brien, 27 years old, a former New Jersey State Trooper, and Harry Waterhouse, 28 years old, 1102 Marion street.

Three Others Arrested

During the day the police continued to build up their case against Flannery by arraigning him on the charges made by Milton Feinstein and Henry Mehrer. They also arrested Joseph Genther, 29 years old, 414 Atlantic Avenue; Robert Wolfe, 21 years old, 1106 Mechanic Street, and Eli Conaghy, 27 years old, 814 South 6th Street. Wolfe, who is Flannery’s brother-in-law, and Genther were held “on suspicion” of having been with “Mose” at the time the latter is declared to have attacked and attempted to rob Mehrer, an Audubon policeman, outside the Ringside Inn, on the Black Horse Pike.

Conaghy, Flannery and Sage were arraigned and held without bail on charges of threatening to kill Feinstein and of carrying concealed deadly weapons. Feinstein declares these three with Cimini, the slain man, entered his cafe on January 2 and attempted to hold him up, threatening to kill him if he refused to “come across.” When he defied them by telling them to “go ahead and shoot,” Feinstein says, they departed.

Wolfe, Genther, and Conaghy were arrested by City Detectives George Ward and Thomas Cheeseman. It was Cheeseman who lodged the formal complaint of murder against Deven.

Two Others Released

Two other men who were questioned in connection with the murder case were in court this morning but neither was held. They are Newton Blanchard, 923 St. John Street, a former boxing referee and alleged “stick man” at the crap game declared to have been in progress at the club before the shooting, and Michael Dandrea, 26 years old, of 1657 Norris Street. Both men had been released after questioning on Saturday. Police say they are the men who told police that trouble was imminent at the club and that “Flannery and another fellow are trying to stick up a bunch of other fellows.”

The city police hold-up theory was further attacked today by Francis J. McCarthy, a Philadelphian, who arrived before noon at the county prosecutor’s office and said he would co-operate with the authorities. He wishes to clear the dead man, he said, of the stigma of suspicion that he was slain while engaged in an attempted robbery.

Hearing in Police Court was brief. There was no testimony and Keown merely announced Deven would waive a hearing. Appearing also as attorney for Hunt, O’Brien, and Waterhouse, he said the other three men were “present at the unfortunate shooting” and thus should be held as material witnesses. He added the prosecutor’s office had permitted the release of the three under $1,000 bail each and requested Judge Bertman follow suit. The court acceded to this request but stipulated that new bail must be provided. The three men were freed shortly afterward when the bond was furnished by James Louis, 603 Kaighn Avenue, who had provided the bail yesterday in the prosecutor’s office.

Despite the declaration by two Camden district detectives who were present at the time and who said there was no evidence that gambling was in progress at the club, county detectives disclosed today that statements of the shooting contained the assertion that the men had gathered for a crap game.

These witnesses also declared the fatal shooting resulted from an argument over a woman for whose attention Cimini and Hunt were rivals.

In circles where the leading figures in the shooting move, it was freely predicted things would be fixed up for Deven and that Flannery, political worker and supposed gangster, was to be “made the goat.”

Flannery is blamed by the city police for precipitating the battle. He has also been identified, according to County Detective Howard Smith, as one of the men who beat and robbed Henry Mehrer, an Audubon policeman, outside the Ringside Inn on the Black Horse Pike a fortnight ago. In addition, he is charged with attempting to hold up Milton Feinstein, cafe proprietor, 508 Kaighn Avenue. Cimini and Sage were also identified by Feinstein, according to Detective Smith.

According to the version of Cimini’s death given in statements by witnesses to county detectives, “Chick” Hunt might have been the victim of the slaying had it not been for Deven’s interference.

Gamble Over Affections

Like actors in a carefully-rehearsed drama, the various witnesses to the shooting made their statements nearly twelve hours after the shooting and, both city and county detectives say they agreed in all important aspects. Prosecutor Wescott declared, however, that no mention of an attempted hold-up was made despite the fact that City Detectives Clarence Arthur and Clarence Bunker — before whose eyes Cimini was shot down — stated Flannery and Cimini were holding the other men at bay when the detectives entered the room.

Instead, the statements of the witnesses described the scene as a dramatic gamble, with death as the stake, over the affections of a woman beloved by both Cimini and Hunt. This woman, who is married and estranged from her husband, is being sought today, Prosecutor Wescott said. According to detectives, Hunt was severely beaten last Wednesday night in a downtown gambling place by members of Cimini’s gang. Cimini, known also as Joseph Gannon, was a brother of William Cimini, a pugilist known in the ring as Billy Gannon.

The stories told by the witnesses place Hunt as one of the players in the crap game which was in progress at the club on Saturday morning. Deven was at the window, looking out, according to the witnesses, when he saw a taxicab draw up in front of the building. Flannery, Cimini and Sage descended and entered the club, it was declared.

“Here comes Mose, Chick, with that guy what’s gunnin’ for you” Deven is declared to have shouted.

A dozen gamesters fled from the room. “Chick” and a few of his friends held their ground and were waiting when the trio entered. Cimini, it is stated, walked over to Hunt.

“I told you,” he said with a sneer, “to stay away from that dame. She’s my girl. You were warned and now you gotta take your medicine.”

Hunt said nothing.

Flannery drew from his pockets two automatics and flung them on the green-topped table, the stories go.

“C’mon, Chick,” he said. “Don’t be yella. He toldja about the broad and he toldja what he’d do. Take your gun and shoot it out.”

“Chick” demurred.

“I don’t want none of that stuff, Mose,” he pleaded. He eyed Cimini carefully as the latter held one hand on the butt of a pistol which protruded from his belt.

Deven Interferes

Hunt made no careless movements toward the pistols on the table. Then Deven is declared to have interfered.

“None of that stuff, Mose,” he said warningly. “Who’s this guy to come here making trouble? He’s no member, is he?”

Cimini moved quickly, the witnesses say. With an upward flip of his hand he brought the barrel of the automatic sharply against Deven’s chin. The latter lurched forward snatching one of the pistols from the table.

The weapon was discharged, the bullet tearing through Cimini’s heart. He died instantly.

The next moment, Arthur and Bunker, district detectives summoned by one of the players who had fled, burst through the door and lined up the men against the wall.

A short time later police arrested Blanchard and Dandrea. Blanchard, police say, was the man who gave them warning of the impending battle. Both men were released after questioning.

Released from Lakeland

The detectives found Deven cringing with fear under the table, the weapon still in his hand. Four other pistols were picked up in different parts of the room.

Deven was identified as a lovesick husband who appeared in the prosecutor’s office several months ago and asked to be “put away.” His wife had left him, he said, and he was afraid he might harm someone.

He was committed to the asylum at Lakeland. When or how he was released is a mystery. Lakeland officials said they had no record of him. Deven once shot himself in a suicide attempt police say, in grief over estrangement from his wife.

Gangdom’s prevailing opinion is that Flannery is “in” for it. Attempts and threats against the blond gangster’s life have furnished many lurid tales for the habitués of downtown hangouts.

Further, Flannery has made many bitter enemies through his political activities. In the last election he worked as a Democrat against “Mikey” Brown in the Eighth Ward. His overbearing tactics and bravado among the other downtown characters has increased the feeling against him, it is said.

Thus far, he has succeeded in keeping out of the toils for any length of time. His police record includes arrests for rum-running, carrying concealed weapons, alleged ballot frauds and attempted murder. His most recent arrest came in Philadelphia when he figured in a pistol battle in which a man was slain.

BATTLE ECHO OF MURDER AT CLUB

Mrs. Rosalie and Her Rival for ‘Chick’ Hunt Describe Event in Court

Pretty, piquant Katherine Rosalie — for love of whom men are declared to have fought to the death in the rooms of the Sixth Ward Republican Club — today waged her own fight against her self-avowed rival for the attentions of Charles “Chick” Hunt.

In Camden Police Court this morning, Mrs. Rosalie appeared as complainant against Miss Elsie Berendt, 1901 Broadway, who, by her own assertion, was “Chick’s girl” until Katherine came along.

The court battle, moreover, was merely an aftermath to a hand-to-hand encounter which both declared to have taken place yesterday at the corner of Fourth and Arch Streets. Today’s chapter of the comedy-drama was ended when Judge Bernard Bertman sent both young women home, after chiding Miss Berendt for being “too nervy” and “talking too much.” Miss Berendt was kept in custody by Judge Bertman for about five minutes and then dismissed. Meanwhile Mrs. Rosalie had departed in triumphant possession of Mr. Hunt’s company.

Mrs. Rosalie, 22-year-old brunette, entered the official investigation of the slaying of Joseph Cimini, at the Sixth Ward Republican Club, after county detectives advanced the theory that the fight which resulted in the fatal shooting had been caused by an argument over “Chick’s girl.” Hunt, a former South Camden pugilist, was in the club at the time of the shooting. According to detectives, the fight had started between Joseph “Mose” Flannery and Hunt; Cimini had entered the argument on behalf of Flannery, and Joseph “Polack Joe” Deven had shot Cimini when the latter struck him with the butt of a revolver.

Both Waiting For Hunt

Mrs. Rosalie, after recounting her story of her friendship with Hunt to Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Varbalow, denied she was “Chick’s girl,” or “anybody’s girl.” But, apparently, Elsie didn’t look at it that way.

According to the testimony of the two young women and of Hunt, in Police Court today, the encounter between the girls took place late yesterday afternoon. Katherine said she was waiting for Hunt at Fourth and Arch Street. Elsie said she was waiting for Hunt at Fourth and Federal Street, a short block distant.

“Chick” arrived, it was testified, and Elsie met him first. She asked the whereabouts of Katherine. Then she saw Katherine and went there. She accused Katherine of having called her a “bum” and of using other un-complimentary terminology. Katherine promptly denied it.

What happened then depends on whether Katherine’s story or Elsie’s is correct. Katherine said Elsie hit her. Elsie says Katherine hit her. Hunt apparently acted as peacemaker for the nonce and the match wound up in Police Court today.

Girl’s Story Is Denied

There, Elsie earned the disapproval of Judge Bertman by declaring, in great detail and in determined tones, that she had lived with Hunt for seven years as his wife; that she had gone to work as a waitress, and supported him and that he had deserted her several weeks ago when Katherine appeared on the scene.

“Chick” denied all this, declaring he lived at 1213 Broadway and not with Miss Berendt. It was then Elsie received the Court’s opprobrium for “talking too much” and evidencing “too much nerve.” And that was about all there was to it.

Meanwhile, it became increasingly evident that it was a tangled case which Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott is to present to the Camden County Grand Jury in connection with the slaying of Cimini, otherwise “Joe Gannon,” last Saturday morning.

“Polack Joe” Deven, held on a charge of murder, has admitted firing the shot that killed Cimini before the eyes of two Camden district detectives and nearly a score of other men.

Motive A Mystery

But just how it happened or why, or what led to the argument that seems to have preceded the shooting remained today as much of a mystery as though Cimini had been slain in some lonely DeRussey’s lane instead of in a crowded clubroom.

The investigation so far has focused definitely around the figures of Hunt and Flannery, the latter a storm-center of Eighth Ward politics and police records.

From the tangled web of evidence which county detectives have gathered, it appears only that the argument which resulted in the shooting of Cimini by Deven was caused by ill-feeling between Flannery and Hunt. Whether that ill-feeling had to do with the fading love motive that county detectives so confidently built up until yesterday, whether it was over the crap game supposed to have been in progress at the club, or whether it had a political tinge, is part of the mystery.

Clings to Love Motive

County detectives still cling to a somewhat obscure “love motive,” though it is admitted that they’re not getting very far with it.

The latest development along this line is the arrival in the prosecutor’s office, late yesterday, of John Rosalie, estranged husband of the attractive young woman, who denied that he knew either Flannery or Cimini and stated that he knew nothing whatever concerning the latter’s death.

Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Varbalow, after hearing Mrs. Rosalie’s statement the day before, had announced yesterday that the authorities were “looking for Rosalie.” Mrs. Rosalie had told of the apparent jealousy of her husband — a jealousy which she insists is unfounded — concerning Hunt. She had told how Rosalie and his brother-in-law, Howard Churchill, had set upon Hunt one day at her apartment and had beaten him. She said that she believed her husband might have been acquainted with Cimini.

The theory formed by detectives after that, was that Cimini had gone to the Sixth Ward Republican Club early last Saturday for the purpose of “getting” Hunt because of his, Cimini’s, friendship for Rosalie.

Theories Break Down

This was the theory that seemingly broke down when Rosalie appeared and declared he didn’t know either Cimini or Flannery. It apparently broke down just as had a former theory, to the effect that Cimini and Hunt had been rivals for the affections of Mrs. Rosalie, for the latter also declares she knew neither Cimini nor Flannery.

It broke down just as had the city detectives’ theory that it all happened because of an attempted hold-up by Flannery and Cimini, for none of the witnesses mention a hold-up affair in their statements to Wescott. Flannery has made no statement, though apparently he holds the key to the story. His reply to all inquiries is “See my lawyer.” And no one knows who his lawyer may be.

Investigation in the slaying of Joseph Cimini in the Sixth Ward Republican Club Saturday, is “far from completed,” Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Varbalow announced today.

Although the Camden County grand jury went into session this afternoon, he added, the case will not be presented to that body today.

“We wish to present a complete case to the grand jury,” Varbalow said. “Obviously, we are unable to do that at the present time. There are many ramifications. All we have to present is the declaration of Joseph Deven that he killed Cimini and he did so in self-defense. We are investigating other ramifications and are looking for John Rosalie, husband of the young woman who came to us yesterday and told us of a quarrel between her husband and Charles Hunt, one of the witnesses to the shooting.”

Statements made to Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott by witnesses have not yet been transcribed by the court stenographer, it was also stated. Joseph “Mose” Flannery held as a material witness and as an accessory before the crime, has made no statement.

Joseph ‘Mose’ Flannery, declared by detectives to have precipitated the battle in the Sixth Ward Republican Club which resulted in the slaying of Joseph Cimini last Saturday, was released from the Camden county jail this afternoon under $5,000 bail.

Samuel Orlando, attorney for Flannery walked into Camden Criminal Court with an order for Flannery’s release, which was immediately signed by Judge Samuel M. Shay. Bond was furnished by Flannery’s brother, James, who lives at 1123 Princess Avenue.

Flannery has been accused as an accessory to the murder of Cimini by Joseph “Polack Joe” Deven and also as a material witness. He was also charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons and with attempted hold-up and with assault and battery with intent to kill, the latter accusations coming in connection with two other cases. The bail bond signed by Judge Shay covers all the charges.

Alone among those who were taken into custody for the fatal shooting last Saturday morning, Flannery had refused to make any statement to detectives. His reply to all questions has been “See my attorney Sam Orlando.” Until today, however, it was not definitely known if Orlando had been retained to represent Flannery.

Arrested with Flannery and accused on the same charges, Russell Sage, taxicab driver, remains in jail as does Deven, the latter being held on a murder charge. Other material witnesses to the shooting are out on bail of $1,000 each.

The order for bail for Flannery, it was learned, was obtained from Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott by the accused man’s brother. After his client’s release, Orlando said he had “no comment to make on the case at the present time.”

With Joseph “Mose” Flannery at liberty under $3,000 bail, a statement setting forth his part in the Sixth Ward Republican Club affray which resulted in the slaying of Joseph Cimini last Saturday, was promised today by his attorney, Samuel Orlando.

Orlando said he had not discussed the case fully with Flannery, but expected to do so today. Flannery had made no statement to county detectives or to County Prosecutor Ethan P. Wescott, although he is generally regarded as holding the key to certain mysterious circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

Meanwhile, the text of statements made by other witnesses to the slaying were still being awaited at the Camden courthouse. Copies of these statements were promised to newspapermen early this week and on each day since. Today, however, it was declared by William McDonald, court stenographer, that transcription of the statements had “little more than begun.”

Release of Flannery and of Russell Sage, another witness to the shooting, leaves only Joseph “Polack Joe” Deven in jail. He is awaiting grand jury action on a charge of murdering Cimini, otherwise Joe Gannon. He has admitted the shooting, according to Prosecutor Wescott, but claims that he fired in self defense after Cimini struck him with the butt of a revolver.

Flannery, in addition to being held as a material witness, was charged with being an accessory to the crime, carrying concealed deadly weapons, attempted robbery, threats to kill and assault and battery. The three latter accusations were made in connection with other cases in which County Detective Howard Smith brought in an Audubon policeman and a Kaighn Avenue cafe proprietor who identified Flannery as the man who had attempted to hold them up.

Sage was similarly accused. Statements from witnesses of the Sixth Ward Republican Club slaying are said to agree that Sage, a taxicab driver, accompanied Flannery and Cimini to the clubhouse on the morning of the fatal shooting. Bail for Sage was set at $2,000 and was furnished by John Adam Schlorer, a Camden meat packer.

Flannery’s $5,000 bail bond was furnished by his brother, James, who lives at 1123 Princess Avenue. Other material witnesses, including Charles “Chick” Hunt, who is declared by detectives to have been the intended victim of Flannery and Cimini when they entered the clubhouse, were at liberty under bail of $1,000 each.

Prosecutor Wescott fixed the bail bonds yesterday afternoon after Orlando had made application. Judge Samuel M. Shay signed the orders for bail and the two prisoners were immediately released.

“The $5,000 bond was set because of the charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons,” Wescott said later. “There exists no right to hold a material witness without bail, nor does sufficient evidence exist against Flannery in connection with this case to warrant refusing him bail. So far as Sage is concerned, he plays a very minor part in the case.”

Back into the notice of Camden’s Police Court, but not into its courtroom, Katherine Rosalie came today.

The attractive 23-year-old brunette who was known as “Chick Hunt’s girl” during the investigation of the Sixth Ward Republican Club shooting affray a fortnight ago, was to have appeared before Judge Bernard Bertman today to press charges against her husband, John Rosalie, 30 years old, of 1956 South Sixth street.

On January 10, it was made known; Mrs. Rosalie swore out a warrant charging her husband with threatening to kill her. Rosalie was arrested Monday night by Patrolman John Hollowell and the case scheduled for a hearing yesterday. Katherine didn’t appear and the case was postponed until today.

Today when the case was called Katherine was again absent from the courtroom and Judge Bertman sent Motorcycle Patrolman Heber McCord to the apartment house at 311 Cooper street where the young woman formerly had lived. The officer returned with the information that Katherine had moved, no one at the apartment house knew where. Accordingly Judge Bertman dismissed the complaint against Rosalie.