Introduction
LOUIS CHARLES SCHLAM was born in Pennsylvania on January 31, 1887 to Henry Schlam and his wife Catherine Spicer Schlam. He was the second of at least 12 children. His father was a shoemaker. When the census was taken in 1900 the family lived at 1840 North 11th Street in Philadelphia. Louis Schlam married his wife Mary around 1910.
On June 5, 1917 Louis Schlam registered for the draft. He was then living with his wife and two children at 859 Bergen Avenue in the Cramer Hill section of Camden. At that time he was working as a sheet metal worker at the Budd Manufacturing Company plant at 25th Street and Hunting Park Avenue in Philadelphia PA. He was not called to active military service, however. By January 30th of 1920 Louis Schlam had joined the Camden Police Department.
When the Census was taken in 1930 the Schlams and their children Harry, Josephine, and Evelyn lived at 1029 North 34th Street in Camden’s Cramer Hill section. Louis Schlam was still on active duty with the police department at that time. He had been promoted to detective by 1928, and was often partnered in the late 20s and early 1930s with Richard Donnelly, who also resided in Cramer Hill.
On September 15, 1931 Detectives Donnelly and Schlam escorted James H. Kessler to the Skillman Village for Epileptics in Skillman, New Jersey. Kessler had been committed to Skillman by Judge Samuel M. Shay.
On August 15, 1942 while fishing at Green Creek with Richard Donnelly and former Mayor Frederick von Nieda, Louis Schlamm died of a heart attack. He was buried at Locustwood Cemetery in what was then Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey.
Photos
Louis C. Schlam
World War I Draft Registration Card
World War I draft registration card for Louis C. Schlam, June 5, 1917
Wanted a Real “Cop.”
Camden Post-Telegram —
Plain clothes men Hurlock and Schlam last evening arrested a man apparently well-loaded up with “moonshine,” lying on the lots near Twenty-sixth and Carman streets, on complaint of residents.
They asked his name and address, but he steadfastly refused to give it. He then refused to be placed under arrest by the two officers, saying he wanted a real policeman to lock him up, the two officers being in plain clothes.
While the argument was at its height Traffic Officer “Mike” Stark, in uniform came along, and when “John Barleycorn’s ally” was asked if he would do as a policeman he was satisfied, but nevertheless refused to divulge his name to them. He was sent to the hall.
Broken Bottle Maims Officers Quelling Fight
Camden Post-Telegram —
Hurlock Severs Artery in Thrilling Battle to Subdue Men Engaged in Raid in East Camden
FIVE UNDER ARREST AWAITING HEARING
East Camden was aroused last evening over a report that two policemen, William Hurlock and Louis Shlam, of the Third district, had been killed and a colored man shot in a riot at Thirtieth and Pleasant streets, and that another man was surrounded in a house nearby by a posse of police and that shots had been exchanged.
District Detectives Shlam and Hurlock and Acting District Detective Raymond Stark received a call that there was a riot at Thirtieth and Pleasant streets. They responded and found a fight in progress among some drunken men.
There were both white and colored men, and when Officer Hurlock attempted to arrest George Hill, white, one of the men, a tussle ensued and as the men rolled over the floor a broken bottle on the floor gashed the wrist of Officer Hurlock and severed an artery in the struggle he fainted from loss of blood.
In the meantime Officer Shlam was struggling with two more white men when it is alleged that George Carpenter, aged 74 years, a husky negro, despite his age, tried to hit Shlam with an axe. The officer jumped just in time and retaliated by hitting Carpenter a blow over the head with his blackjack. The blow did not hurt the aged man who fled to a nearby house and barricaded the door.
In the meantime the patrol wagon had arrived as well as Motorcycle Policeman Gus Koerner, who picked up Policeman Frank Carle on the way to the scene. Policeman John Stanton also went to the scene.
Four men were placed under arrest. They gave their names as George Hill, Joseph Lohrman, Frank Nidle and Leo Helvins. They were sent in to the City Hall in the patrol wagon, while District Detective Hurlock was rushed to the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital in the car of Fritz Hager.
An attempt was then made to arrest Carpenter who had barricaded himself inside the house and defied the police for two hours. He was finally induced to come out into the street and was quickly nabbed.
Inability of Hurlock to appear in court to-day caused a postponement of the hearing. The officer was taken home after being treated at the hospital. His injury is causing him much distress. Hill is accused of assaulting Hurlock and Carpenter is charged with assault on Shlam. The others are accused of disorderly conduct.
Alarm Chases Robber
Camden Courier-Post —
Bell Rings and Would-Be Burglar Flees Hardware Store; Suspect in Custody
A burglar who attempted to break into the Elwood Antrim hardware store, 1541 Federal street, was frightened away when a burglar alarm went off. After a chase, police arrested a suspect, who is being detained at headquarters pending investigation.
The suspect gave his name as Walter Gibbs, 214 Friends avenue. He was arrested at Seventeenth and Federal streets by District Detectives Schlamm and Donnolley.
Worthing Truland, a watchman, 1[?]16 Federal street, was awakened when the alarm went off. He then saw a man leaping the back fence.
The detectives happened to be passing at the time and started a search of the neighborhood. A half hour later they saw Gibbs, at Seventeenth street and placed him under arrest. Gibbs will be given a hearing tomorrow.
Police Invite Bandits to Nice Shooting Party
Camden Courier-Post —
But Yeggs Must Leave Gats at Home While Cops Practice With Camden’s new Desperado Eliminators
Wanted: Targets for Camden’s new desperado eliminators. Bandits, burglars, snipers and their ilk are requested by Chief of Police James E. Tatem to apply at police headquarters Monday morning at 10 o’clock, when a practice shooting party will be held.
Chief Tatem said today Camden’s bandit-chasing squad is “just rarin’ to go” with six new automatic rifles guaranteed to shoot full of holes the toughest bandit in less time than it takes to say “Aligoop.”
For the further enlightenment of the bandit fraternity, Chief Tatem announced detailed instructions on how to use the new carbines will be given this afternoon at 3 o’clock to bandit chasing police by Captain Arthur Colsey and Herman Engle, a representative of Stein Brothers, this city.
The rifles arrived at police headquarters yesterday afternoon. They will be distributed in each of the city’s three police districts in the campaign to rid the city of desperadoes.
The weapons can fire a magazine of 20 shots in a few seconds. They will be mounted in the three red bandit chasing coupes used by the district squad members. One of the coupes is now being used by Archie Reiss and Vernon Jones in South Camden, while two others are expected to be delivered within a few days, according to Chief of Police James E. Tatem. They will be assigned to Walter Smith and Joseph Carpani, First district detectives and Louis Schlam and Richard Donnelly in the East Camden district.
Swivel attachments make it possible to fire the guns from a fixed point in an automobile. Detached they may be fired from the shoulder. Besides firing a magazine of 20 shots without stopping, they can be adjusted to single fire, using .45 caliber cartridges.
Instruction in the adjustment and use of the weapons will be given today by a representative of the company that sold them — at $175 each — to the city.
Bertman Criticizes Raid Minus Warrant
Camden Courier-Post —
“Someone once said that a man’s house is his castle; no truer words were spoken. Our forefathers inserted an iron-bound clause in the Constitution, which protects our citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the law has been held so sacred that no one has dared tamper with it.”
Thus spoke Judge Bertman in Police Court today as he criticized the police for summarily searching a private house at 126 North Thirtieth street on two occasions, without first obtaining a search warrant.
The case was that against Conrad Bristol, 47 years old, and his wife, Elizabeth, 37 years old, jointly charged with maintaining a house frequented by disorderly persons. The witnesses against them were Captain William Horner, in charge of Third District police, Sergeant Walter Welch and Detective Louis Schlam.
Schlam had testified that the police had made two visits to the house and had made a thorough search, when Bertman asked if they had secured search warrants.
“No,” said Schlam, “but Bristol gave us permission to search the premises.”
“If they did,” Bertman answered, “it was under duress, coercion or ignorance of their rights. It would have been comparatively easy for the police to have obtained search warrants.”
Sergeant Welch testified that a gallon of whisky was found in a chicken coop. It was testified that the first raid was conducted on June 20, 1927, and a still seized, but no arrests made.
Both Schlam and Welch said that the police had no evidence that the Bristols ever sold liquor or were engaged in any commercial enterprise with liquor.
Bristol said he was a grocery clerk. “We had this liquor in the house for our own use. We never sold a drop at any time,” he declared.
After cautioning the two defendants against permitting disorder on their premises, Bertman suspended sentence.
Liquor Raid Fines Enrich City $1020
Camden Courier-Post —
Small Cigar Stores Draw Big Penalties; Late Closing Costs Saloon $100
Patrons of speakeasies, their proprietors and 13 youthful craps players paid a total of $1020 into Camden city’s treasury yesterday in fines and forfeitures.
The fines and forfeitures were those of small operators caught in raids by police in virtually every section of the city Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Fines of $100 each were paid by four proprietors charged with violation of a city ordinance forbidding the congregation of disorderly persons on their premises. Another alleged proprietor was fined $100 on the same charge and an additional $200 for operating without a license.
Hearings for proprietors of three other places were postponed until Wednesday at the request of police.
The fines came on the eve of the new Grand Jury’s vice probe. Walter J. Staats, Grand Jury foreman, former treasurer of the Victor Talking Machine Company and now treasurer of the Smith-Austermuhl Company, yesterday turned over to Prosecutor Baldwin, a number of anonymous letters he received informing him of alleged violators. Staats, who conferred with the prosecutor on today’s session of the Grand Jury, declined to give out any statement on what he hopes the jury will accomplish, but declared that it is not interested in anonymous letters. He said that if letters are signed, the senders will be questioned, but unsigned letters were generally valueless bits of spite work.
Cigar Dealer Fined $300
George Palmer, proprietor of a cigar store at 2318 Federal street, raided by District Detectives Louis Schlam and Walter Smith early Sunday morning, was fined $300. Detective Walter Smith testified six patrons were arrested and a small quantity of beer was found. The sleuth asserted that John DiLorenzo, 36, of 22 Marlton pike, whose home also was raided Sunday, “dumped” some liquor.
William Stettler, 47, of 1137 South Fourth street, pleaded guilty of violating the city ordinance as proprietor of the Harry Bach Cafe, where he and ten men were arrested at 12.03 a. m. Sunday. Lieut. Ralph Bakley testified that six weeks ago he had warned Stettler to close at midnight and the proprietor grew abusive. He was raided Sunday morning when the establishment was found open three minutes after midnight. A $100 fine was imposed on Stettler in court yesterday.
Oyster Shop Raided
Schlam and Smith raided the oyster saloon of Joseph Dugan, 2222 Federal street, at 2:45 a. m. Sunday. Dugan was held in $500 bail when alleged liquor was found. He was fined $100.
Max Levin, 48, grocery proprietor of 5[?]0 Kaighn avenue, was arrested on charges of violating the state prohibition act after a raid on the store. He furnished bail of $500 to insure his appearance before Judge Pancoast tomorrow.
Five men were arrested at a cigar store at 2314 Federal street. Two empty bottles which police said smelled of whiskey were seized and the alleged proprietor, William Hopkins, 38, was fined $100.
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 vice 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 “Big Bill” 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 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 veritable arsenal of revolvers, sawed-off shotguns, repeating rifles and hundreds of ammunition, all hidden in closets or secret caches under the floors. An opium “layout,” hacksaw, pairs of colored eyeglasses and silverware 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 the son of Freeholder Leonard Brehm at Front and Kaighn avenue two weeks before the Wierman slaying wore green glasses to escape identification.
The detectives aided by state troopers executed their raids with a precision which prevented any of the suspects from resisting or escaping. Two men attempted to slip through the ring, but one surrendered after a single shot was fired at him, and the other 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 764 South Berwick street, Philadelphia.
Joseph Conti, 34, of 708 South Eighth street, Philadelphia.
Catherine Christman, 28, of 2202 Filbert street, Philadelphia.
Marco Reginelli, 32, of Apartment 2, at 143 North Thirty-fourth street, Camden.
Mrs. Mary Reginelli, 24, his wife, same address.
Committed Without Bail
All six were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in the city police court this afternoon. As they were arrested in a joint complaint charging each with carrying concealed deadly weapons was lodged against them by Detective Louis Schlam, member of the vice squad. An additional complaint charging possession of narcotics was placed against Conti and Catherine Christman.
All of the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to the county jail without bail. Prosecutor Baldwin stated he did not immediately fix bail, but would hold them for further investigation. They will be finger-printed and “mugged” so that county authorities can obtain their police records.
Bartluci has been arrested four times in Philadelphia since 1926, but each time was released or exonerated. The charges were inciting a riot in 1926.
[The page-one text breaks off here; the lines joining it to the page-two text below are not in the crops.] 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 Christian [sic] 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 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.
Camden Burglar Slain; Cop Wounded in Gun Duel
Camden Courier-Post —
TWO SUSPECTS HELD IN FATAL FIGHT AT STORE
Detective Robert Ashenfelter in Serious Condition at Hospital
NO WARNING IS GIVEN AS SLEUTH IS FELLED
‘Tip’ on Robbery at Thirty-Second and Pierce Given By Telephone
Wounded Sleuth and Companion
—Courier-Post Photo
City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, wounded three times in a gun battle with a burglar suspect early this morning, is shown in his bed at the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, talking to Detective Benjamin Simon. The latter, who was two feet behind Ashenfelter when the latter was hit, is shown telling the wounded man that the burglar, Charles Rettberg, 21, was killed in the volley of machine gun and revolver shots. The shooting occurred at the rear of a chain store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue.
CHARLES RETTBERG
Twenty-one-year-old East Camden burglar who was shot to death during a gun duel with police early this morning. Trapped in a chain grocery store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue, Rettberg seriously wounded Detective Robert Ashenfelter. The latter emptied his pistol at Rettberg, while Policeman Frank Evans opened fire with a machine gun.
A burglar was shot and killed by policemen armed with a machine gun after he critically wounded a city detective during a gun duel in the rear of an East Camden store early this morning. The slain man was Charles Rettberg, 21, 1189 North Thirty-sixth street.
In grave condition at the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital is City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, 39, of 119 Manheim avenue, Oaklyn. Ashenfelter, who is married, was shot three times, one bullet lodging over his heart, another in his right shoulder and another went through the right hand.
Two men are under arrest on suspicion of being Rettberg’s accomplices in the fatal attempt to rob the American Store on the southeast corner of Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue. They are Theodore Rettberg, 24, brother of the dead man, and a man who gave his name as Melvin James, 38, of Pottstown, Pa.
Theodore Rettberg was arrested at his home after the shooting when detectives found his clothing soaked by rain. James, who is believed to be a Camden man despite the address he gave, was found lying on the front step of the store prior to the shooting, ostensibly intoxicated. He was armed.
Police believe that James was feigning intoxication and actually was the lookout. Clothing worn by a third man seen running across a vacant lot immediately after the shooting tallied with that found in Theodore Rettberg’s room, according to the police.
A truck said by the police to be owned by Theodore Rettberg was found parked within half a block from the store.
Both James and Theodore Rettberg denied any implication in the attempted robbery, although they were subjected to questioning for several hours by Captain John Golden, of the city detectives, and Chief Lawrence T. Doran, of the county detectives.
Police was unable to determine how many times Charles Rettberg had been shot, or who had killed him. Detective Ashenfelter emptied his revolver at the trapped men, while Policeman Frank Evans manned the machine gun.
The fatality occurred at about 3.1[?] a. m. Desk Sergeant Gus Koerner received an anonymous telephone call at police headquarters shortly after 3 a. m. The caller declared that burglars were breaking into the American Store at “Thirty-second Bergen avenue.”
“You meaned Thirty-second and Pierce?” quizzed Koerner.
The caller mumbled something and hung up without giving his name. His mistake in the address — Thirty-second street and Bergen avenue run parallel to each other—led police to believe the caller was a stranger in that section of the city, if not in the city itself.
Koerner dispatched Policemen Evans and Charles Wainwright to the scene in a bandit chaser, which is equipped with a portable machine gun. Koerner also notified the detective bureau, and Ashenfelter and Benjamin Simon started out in another car. A third call was made to the Third district police station by Koerner, and the patrol crew, Joseph Shreeves and Elwood Humphreys, hastened to the store.
Evans and Wainwright arrived first, parking their car when they saw James sprawled on the front step. They questioned him, but he talked incoherently. Ashenfelter and Simon arrived in their car. Believing James was a lookout and that the burglar or burglars might still be in the place, the two detectives ran toward the rear to cut off escape from that exit.
Ashenfelter was about two feet ahead of Simon. With his gun in hand, Ashenfelter reached the rear of the building and started to turn the corner.
Burglar Opens Fire
Without warning a shot rang out from the interior of the shed at the rear. The bullet struck Ashenfelter in the right hand, tearing the butt off his revolver and then entering his chest. The revolver dropped from his hand.
Ashenfelter sank to his knees, crying, “They got me!” Nevertheless, he grasped his revolver in his uninjured left hand and emptied it into the shed, as four more bullets ripped through the door from the inside at the already wounded detective. One bullet struck Ashenfelter in the right shoulder, but the other three missed him.
Unable to reload, Ashenfelter drew himself to his feet and staggered out of line of fire. He fell into the arms of Simon, who pulled him out of danger.
Meanwhile Evans, hearing the shots, left Wainwright in front of the building with their prisoners, James. Seizing the machine gun, Evan’s [sic] ran to the rear. He pointed it at the door and shouted.
“Come out or I’ll shoot.”
There was no answer. Evans waited a moment, again shouted his warning, and then fired a burst from the machine gun. Seven bullets crashed through the door and wall of the shed.
The Third district patrol arrived and Ashenfelter was placed in it. He had attempted to rise three times, but on each occasion he slumped to the ground.
Hearing no sound from inside, police tore the door off its remaining hinge. They found Rettberg lying on the floor in a line with the door. He was dead. In his right hand was a 25-calibre pistol. All its cartridges had been discharged. Near his body also were a brace, bit and jimmy.
Policeman Wainwright then saw a man running east across the vacant lots in the rear of the store. Humphreys shouted to him to stop but when his command was not heeded, fired a shot at the fleeing figure. The fugitive disappeared on Bergen avenue, but not before Humphreys ascertained that he wore a yellow shirt.
Gun Found on Suspect
James was searched, and a .38-calibre revolver was found in his possession. He denied knowledge of the attempted robbery, and was taken to police headquarters.
A short time later, District Detectives Louis Schlam and Richard Donnelly, and Policemen Charles Johnson and Lewis Smith, all of the Third District, went to Rettberg’s home. There they found Theodore Rettberg clad only in underwear. He denied he had been at the store or with his brother, but the officers declared they found a bright yellow shirt and a pair of duck trousers in his room. The two articles of clothing were wet. As it had been raining at the time of the robbery, Theodore Rettberg was arrested on suspicion.
The manager of the store, Charles Schultz, 1618 Pierce avenue, stated it was the second time burglars had visited the establishment. About a month ago robbers stole $100 worth of goods, entering the place by forcing the shed door and then drilling a number of holes around the lock of the inner rear door.
This leads police to believe that Rettberg was implicated in the first robbery, as the same method of entrance was tried this morning. The thieves took off one hinge of the rear shed door and in that manner, opened that door this morning. Then the thieves attacked the door leading from the shed to the rear room of the store. A number of holes had been drilled around the bolt and a hole large enough to admit a man’s hand had been punched through the door.
However, Schultz had barricaded the inside door to prevent a second burglary. He had braced a heavy timber against the door, nailing the other end to the floor.
Hospital physicians at first feared that Ashenfelter had no chance for recovery. This forenoon, they said his condition had become fair, although it was too serious to permit them to remove the bullets.
The wounded detective was conscious this afternoon, and when Simon visited him, asked,
“Did they get him?”
“Yes, he’s dead,” Simon informed him.
“That makes me feel better,” sighed Ashenfelter. “That does me more good than medicine, and now I’ll get better quick. I’m glad they got him, for he tried to kill me and almost did.”
Where Burglar Was Killed and Cop Wounded
Here is the scene of this morning’s gun battle between a burglar suspect and police, as reconstructed by photographer and artist. The photo shows the rear of the American Store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue, in which Charles Rettberg was shot to death as he opened fire on police who trapped him. Rettberg is pictured lying in the shed, a small revolver, discharged, grasped in his hand. Outside the shed is the figure of City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, wounded three times. Detective Benjamin Simon is shown pulling Ashenfelter out of the line of fire, not knowing whether the trapped man was dead or alive.
Burglar Is Killed
Cleveland Plain Dealer —
Burglar Is Killed. CAMDEN, N. J., Aug. 24—(U.S.) Police, with a sub-machine gun, trapped two burglars in a grocery here today and killed one. Robert Ashenfelter, detective, was shot and is in critical condition. The second burglar escaped.
3 Men Quizzed in Gun Fight of Cops and Thief
Camden Courier-Post —
Detective Ashenfelter, Wounded in Battle, Improves
TWO CONFESSIONS IN THEFT REPORTED
Girl is Held by Police as Witness in East Camden Affray
While city and county authorities continued to question three alleged accomplices of the young robber who was fatally shot by police yesterday, City Detective Robert Ashenfelter was waging what apparently will be a successful fight for life today.
Shot over the heart, in the right shoulder and the hand, Ashenfelter’s life was at first despaired of by West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital physicians yesterday morning. However, his remarkable stamina and his expressed determination to “pull through” led physicians to state today that his condition is no longer critical, though he is not yet out of danger.
He was wounded by Charles Rettberg, 21, of 1189 North Thirty-sixth street, who died a few seconds later when a slug tore through his heart as he tried to shoot his way out of a shed in the rear of a chain grocery store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue at 3.15 a. m. yesterday. Another bullet struck the youth in the arm.
Whether Rettberg was killed when Ashenfelter emptied his gun into the shed after he was wounded, or when Policeman Frank Evans opened fire with a police sub-machine gun will be determined from the two bullets which struck the youth. The bullets were extracted at a post mortem held at the city morgue yesterday by County Physician Edward B. Rogers and Coroner Melvin Cain.
Meanwhile three men, one a brother of the dead man, are being held without bail on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill, and breaking and entering, while a young woman is being detained as a material witness. All four will be arraigned in police court tomorrow morning.
Under arrest are James Melbourne, who first gave his name as Melvin James, 38, of 820 Beideman avenue; Theodore Rettberg, 24, and Gordon L. McCrea, 20, of 820 Beideman avenue.
Melbourne is the alleged “lookout.” He and McCrea are from Pottstown, Pa., and have lived in East Camden only a short time.
According to Captain of Detectives John Golden, Melbourne and Theodore Rettberg confessed to their part in the robbery after questioning last night. They implicated McCrea, who steadfastly denies he had anything to do with it.
The girl detained is Miss Emmalinda Canilus, 22, who lives at the Rettberg home and who declares her only connection with the Rettbergs is that she is a close friend of Theodore Rettberg’s wife. Miss Canilus said she is a resident of Trenton and has lived in Camden only a short time, stopping at the Rettberg place until she might obtain employment.
Although he would not disclose the nature of her statement, Captain Golden said it was through Miss Canilus’ help that confessions were obtained from Melbourne and Rettberg. The girl is being held until questioned today by Prosecutor Baldwin.
The burglary was planned several hours before the accused were surprised by the police, according to Captain Golden. The four men talked over their plans while playing cards at the McCrea home, he said.
They reached the scene in a truck belonging to the Rettbergs. The truck was parked about 100 yards from the store and police believe the four men were planning to carry away much of the store stock. The truck was impounded.
All Work in East Camden
Captain Golden said all of the men are employed by an East Camden concern. The two who are alleged to have confessed place the blame for the affair on the shoulders of the slain robber.
He was the “brains,” they declare, and induced them to accompany him. They also declare he was the only one to fire on the police.
A revolver found on Melbourne was loaded with “dum-dum” bullets, Captain Golden said.
Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran co-operated with Capt. Golden in questioning the suspects last night.
The city detective head praised Ashenfelter for his fearlessness and also complimented District Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly and Detective Benjamin Simons, for the efficient manner in which they cleared up the entire case.
“There was nothing left to do, after Schlamm, Donnelly and Simons got through their work,” Golden said.
Alleged Pals of Slain Burglar
Camden Courier-Post —
Three alleged accomplices of Charles Rettberg, 21-year old East Camden burglar shot and killed by a detective, are shown during their police court hearing today. From left to right they are Gordon McCrae, Theodore Rettberg, a brother of the slain youth, and James Melbourne. All three were charged with atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill and breaking and entering, while Melbourne was additionally charged with carrying a gun. They were held without bail for the grand jury.
Bullet Upsets Theory Thief Shot Detective
Camden Courier-Post —
[Bu]llet Found in Ashenfelter Declared From Gun of Slain Burglar’s Pal
[O]PERATING SURGEON TAKES OPPOSITE VIEW
[W]ounded Cop ‘Got His Man’ With Left Hand, Police Reveal
[I]nvestigation of the attempted [rob]bery which ended with the [dea]th of a young burglar veered [off] on a new tangent today when [it w]as reported that City Detective [Rob]ert Ashenfelter may not have [bee]n wounded by the slain youth [but] by an accomplice.
[A] ballistic expert may have to be [calle]d in to examine the bullet which [was] removed from above the detective’s heart in a delicate operation at [the] West Jersey Homeopathic Hos[pital] yesterday afternoon. It was [offi]cially reported at the hospital [this] morning that the bullet was of […]alibre, whereas Charles Rettberg, [… ] North Thirty-sixth street, the [slain] burglar, had a .25-calibre Luger [auto]matic. However, Dr. H. Wesley [… ], who performed the operation, [sai]d that in his opinion the bullet [is a] smaller calibre than a .32, and [possi]bly is a .22 or .25.
Probe Ordered
[Bo]th County Detective Chief [Law]rence T. Doran and Captain of [Dete]ctives John Golden, stated that [they] would obtain determination of [the b]ullet’s calibre. It was pointed [out t]hat the bullet struck and sev[ered] the butt of Ashenfelter’s gun [befor]e it entered the detective’s [body], so that it might have flattened [b]efore hitting the sleuth. There [is al]so the possibility that the dead [ma]n’s revolver, empty when he was [foun]d dead, might have contained [dum-]dum bullets, which also were [use]d in the gun of an accomplice. [Dum-]dum bullets flatten out when [they] hit a target, making a much [large]r wound than the original size [of th]e bullet.
[Ca]ptain Golden also announced to-[day t]hat the shot which was fatal to
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Bullet Casts Doubt in Shooting of Cop
(Continued from Page One)
Rettberg when he was trapped robbing a chain store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue Monday was fired by Ashenfelter.
It was first thought that Policeman Frank Evans, who fired into the store with a machine gun after Ashenfelter fell wounded, had slain Rettberg. But Captain Golden said the calibre of the bullet taken from the dead youth’s heart proved to be 38, the size fired by Ashenfelter’s gun. The detective’s gun was shot from his hand, but, though wounded in the chest and shoulder, the game detective picked up the weapon with his uninjured left hand and emptied it at the shed from whence the robber bullets came.
Three Arraigned
Three alleged accomplices of the slain robber and a girl witness were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in police court this morning and held without bail for the grand jury. They are Theodore Rettberg, 24-year-old brother of the dead robber; Gordon McCrea, 20, of 820 Beideman avenue; James Melbourne, 38, of the Beideman avenue address, and Miss Emmalinda Canilus, 20, who lives at the Rettberg home.
Theodore Rettberg and Melbourne are alleged to have confessed to taking part in the attempted robbery; but McCrea has denied any connection with it. However, when stolen goods worth about $500 were found in his room yesterday, he confessed to three other robberies, implicating two men.
McCrea, Rettberg and Melbourne were arraigned first on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill. Rettberg pleaded not guilty, McCrea asserted that he had nothing to say, while Melbourne pleaded “guilty to what I confessed.” That was that he helped plan the robbery and acted as lookout. Then they were charged with breaking and entering, to which all three pleaded not guilty. Melbourne was further charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, as he had a 38-calibre revolver loaded with dum-dum bullets when nabbed. He pleaded guilty to that complaint. All of the complaints were signed by Detective Benjamin Simon, who was two feet behind Ashenfelter when the former was wounded.
Girl Hysterical
Miss Canilus was arraigned as a material witness. Judge Pancoast said he would have to hold her without bail but that the prosecutor’s office could fix bail for her release. After being taken back to her cell, the young woman became hysterical, attracting a crowd to the corridor outside the city jail cells. She repeatedly cried out:
“I have nothing to do with this. I told them all I know. Why are they keeping me here?”
McCrea and Melbourne are newcomers to this city, having recently moved here from Royersford, Pa. They boarded with Mrs. Anna Bowden, an aunt of McCrea’s, at 820 Beideman avenue. Mrs. Bowden was taken to city hall for questioning yesterday after the loot was found in her house but satisfied Chief Doran and Captain Golden, chief of the city detective force, that she knew nothing of the robberies.
The loot was located by District Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly and Detective Benjamin Simon. With Chief Doran and Captain Golden they moved the stolen merchandise to city hall.
Last night, McCrea admitted that some of the loot came from three robberies, but he said he knew nothing about the rest of the merchandise. He confessed to robbing the store of Jacob J. Friedman, 18 King street, Gloucester, on Aug. 13, of shoes, hats and other articles of clothing worth $123. Friedman identified some of the loot at headquarters today.
Tells of Tire Theft
McCrea also said he stole two tires from the S. M. Brothers on Crescent boulevard in Pennsauken, and five boxes of cigars and a sprinkler from a road stand owned by Ida Carver on Burlington pike in Burlington county.
He implicated two companions, giving the police the name of one and saying that the other was a close friend of the one he had named.
Chief of Police Jesse Neiman, of Royersford, Pa., identified McCrea and Melbourne yesterday as two youths wanted in Pennsylvania for questioning in several recent robberies there. He declared the two were “well known hoodlums who were always in trouble.” According to Chief Neiman a brother of McCrea’s is serving a long prison term in the Eastern Penitentiary for highway robbery.
Motorist Is Fined $25 for Passing Red Light
Camden Courier-Post —
Benjamin Rosner, 35, of 1443 Mt. Ephraim avenue, paid $25 in police court yesterday for passing a red light. He explained to Judge Garfield Pancoast that he didn’t stop when chased by detectives because he thought they were holdup men.
Detectives Richard Donnelly and Louis Schlamm testified they were waiting today in their automobile for the light to change at Haddon and Newton avenues, and when Rosner passed it, they chased him.
They caught up with him at Haddon avenue and Carman street and when Schlamm opened the door of his car the detectives said Rosner attempted to kick Schlamm.
Father Held on Charge Made by Daughter
Camden Courier-Post —
FATHER HELD ON CHARGE MADE BY DAUGHTER
Charles Hellings, 52, of 2164 Berwick Street, was held without bail yesterday on a statutory charge by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast after he heard testimony from the man’s daughter, 14, and a granddaughter, 12.
The children made their complaint to Detective Edwin Mills and Hellings was arrested at his home by Detective Louis Schlam. Hellings said he had been drinking regularly.
Man Saved from Gas
Camden Courier-Post —
MAN SAVED FROM GAS
A man who, according to the police, attempted suicide by inhaling illuminating gas, was saved yesterday afternoon by his sister who found him unconscious.
Louis Fox, 23, of 2406 Federal Street, was found in his room by his sister, Mrs. Sarah Finkelstein, of the same address. Mrs. Finkelstein and her husband conduct a store at 2501 Federal Street. When Mrs. Finkelstein returned to her home shortly before 3 p.m., she found her brother.
Detectives Richard Donnelly and Louis Schlamm took Fox to Cooper Hospital, where physicians said he would recover.
Young Man Recovers from Inhaling Gas
Camden Courier-Post —
YOUNG MAN RECOVERS FROM INHALING GAS
Louis Fox, 23, of 2406 Federal Street, whose unsuccessful attempt at suicide landed him in Cooper Hospital suffering from inhaling gas fumes, is out of danger.
The young man was found unconscious at his apartment Tuesday with a gas jet open in the room. Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly took him to the hospital where he was questioned by Detective George Zeitz.
Fox will be arraigned before Police Judge Pancoast upon his release from the hospital, according to Zeitz.
Walter Smith Gets Pension From City
Camden Courier-Post —
Detective to Be Retired as of Feb. 15 After 18 Years’ Service
Walter Smith, for 18 years city and district detective, has been placed on the pension list.
Smith applied for a pension to take effect April 1 but the Police and Fire Pension Commission voted to place him on the retired list as of February 15. Attending the hearing on the application were Mayor Roy R. Stewart, Fireman Newton Ash and Policeman George Clayton. Commissioner Harold W. Bennett and John J. Robinson, other members of the commission, were absent.
The widow of former Police Chief Elisha A. Gravenor applied for a pension. He died recently in Maryland. She will receive $1000 yearly.
The chief had received $1700 on the retired list.
Smith was appointed to the force by Mayor Charles H. Ellis on April 30, 1914, and three years later was made a plainclothesman.
He was paired with the late David Kates, Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, and Detectives John Trout, Louis Schlam and Joseph Carpani.
Sleuth to Retire
WALTER SMITH
Wilkie Exonerated of Strike Assault
Camden Courier-Post —
Complainant Fails to Appear for Eleventh Time; Girl Gives Testimony
Charges of assault and battery made against Inspector John V. Wilkie by a man arrested on July 7, during a riot in the RCA strike, were dismissed yesterday by Police Judge Lewis Liberman.
A striker also charged with assault and battery by a girl worker who was injured when a brick broke the glass in a bus window, also was freed when Judge Liberman said there was no evidence to prove he threw the brick.
The Wilkie case had been postponed 10 times previously, because the complaining witness, Martin Merriman, of 2015 Ogden street, Philadelphia, had not appeared in court.
When Merriman’s name was called today he again was not present, but was represented by Alfred P. Morwitz, a Camden attorney. Morwitz said his client’s appearance was not necessary, as he could not identify Wilkie as the policeman who struck him over the head with a club, [cut off at the crop edge]
Girl Testified
Morwitz, however, placed Miss Sue Voytovich, of 2727 Westfield avenue, on the witness stand to testify against Wilkie.
Miss Voytovich said she was arrested on July 7 and was seated in a patrol wagon at the Market street ferry entrance when she saw Wilkie walk up and hit Merriman over the head with his club.
“Four policemen were trying to put Merriman into the patrol,” she testified under direct examination by Morwitz,” when Wilkie walked up in back and hit Merriman with his club. Merriman had done nothing to warrant being struck.”
John R. DiMona, assistant city solicitor, represented Wilkie and began cross-examining Miss Voytovich.
“Were there only four policemen around the patrol, or were there 10 or 12 policemen there?” DiMona asked.
“There may have been that many policemen there.”
“How many people were around?”
“Not many.”
“What are the names of the other policemen?”
“I don’t know.”
“How do you know it was Wilkie that struck Merriman?”
“I know Wilkie, I saw his picture in the Courier many times and he was pointed out to me by a friend.”
Jury Hearing Denied
“Who arrested you that day?”
“Wilkie.”
“You don’t like Wilkie, do you?”
“I haven’t anything against him.”
“Didn’t you make some remarks that you were out to get Wilkie?”
“I certainly did not, no indeed.”
“Was Merriman hit hard by the policeman?”
“There was blood all over his face when he got into the patrol.”
“Wasn’t it possible someone else could have hit him?”
“I don’t think so.”
At the conclusion of Miss Voytovich’ [sic] testimony, Morwitz asked that Wilkie be held for the grand jury.
DiMona advised the court that the police inspector desired to waive his rights before the grand jury and have the case decided in police court.
Wilkie on Stand
Wilkie took the stand and denied that he struck Merriman. Under direct examination by Di Mona, Wilkie said:
“On July 7, I was informed by Sergeant Carroll that some Philadelphia workers were coming to Camden to sympathize with the strikers. I was instructed to wait at the ferries, with other policemen, and send these people back to Philadelphia.
“We sent about 75 or 100 back, but one man refused to go and threw himself on the floor of the waiting room and I arrested him. I took him to the wagon outside and there was a terrible time there. Bricks and clubs were flying. I put my man in the patrol.
“Merriman had kicked Detective Louis Schlamm in the stomach and Patrolman Earl Wright had arrested him. Wright asked me to help him put Merriman in the wagon. His head was bloody at that time. Somebody had hit him, but I didn’t do it. In fact, I had him taken to the hospital to get 30 stitches in his head.”
Under cross-examination by Morwitz, Wilkie testified that he “couldn’t see how this lady could see out of the patrol wagon, because of the angle it was parked and because the windows are so dirty nobody can see out of them.”
Freed on Brick Charge
Samuel Burns, of 903 Fisher avenue, Audubon, was charged with assault and battery by Miss Grace Palezzo, of 1280 Van Hook street. She said a brick broke a bus window and the glass went into her eye. She was riding on the bus, between Third and Fourth street, on Federal, on July 15.
Ralph Teears, of 401 Marne road, Brooklawn, a passenger on the bus, said he saw Burns pass in his car just before the brick struck the window.
Burns denied he threw the brick, and the charge against him was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Camden Detective Dies While Fishing
Camden Courier-Post —
Heart Attack Kills Louis Schlamm; Thrown into Water as Boat Capsizes
Avalon, Aug. 14 — Louis J. Schlamm, 55, veteran Camden city detective, died of a heart attack while fishing in Townsend’s Inlet near here today.
The outboard boat capsized when Schlamm toppled over and tossed him and Billy Schlamm, a 14-year-old nephew, into the Inlet waters. The boy swam about until a nearby coast guard boat of the Inlet station reached him.
The coast guardsmen recovered the body within a few minutes. Dr. Frank Dealy, a local physician, examined the body and reported no water in the lungs.
Richard Donnelly, a Camden patrolman, and who had been Schlamm’s “partner” as a district detective for several years, was vacationing here also. He said Schlamm had difficulty getting the motor of the boat started to go on the trip, and expressed belief the exertion may have induced the attack.
Schlamm was here with his wife, Mary, in a cottage on Fourth avenue.
Yesterday Schlamm fished at Green Creek with former Mayor Fred von Nieda, and other Camden friends. He had organized many fishing parties for Camden patrolmen during the Summer months.
In addition to his widow, the veteran detective is survived by two daughters and two sons, one of whom was at Pearl Harbor with the Navy when the Japanese made their Dec. 7 attack. Several brothers and sisters also survive.
Schlamm had been a member of the police department for 25 years. He was appointed Aug. 27, 1917 by the late Mayor Charles H. Ellis.
He was promoted to detective in 1924 during the term of Mayor Victor King and in March, 1932, was awarded a merit badge for his part in foiling a chain store robbery at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue which resulted in a gun fight with armed men. Detective Robert Ashenfelter was seriously wounded in the battle.
Schlamm had been a resident of East Camden for 40 years. His home was at 804 North Thirtieth street.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at funeral parlors, 804 North Twenty-seventh street, Camden. Burial will be in Arlington cemetery.