Introduction
Detective Louis Schmidt
Louis Schmidt was born on October 21, 1897 in Pennsylvania to Barbara and Ludwig Schmidt. His parents had been born in Germany and came together to America in 1892. The elder Schmidt worked as a machinist. By 1900 the family, which included older sister Annie, had moved to 685 Morgan Street, a short walk from the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard on Broadway. Another daughter, Louise, was born to the Schmidt family around 1902.
By 1906 the family had moved to 669 Morgan Street. Ludwig Schmidt still worked at the shipyard, and Barbara Schmidt ran a candy store at that address. This arrangement continued through at least 1910. The 1914 City Directory does not show that Barbara Schmidt still operated the candy store at that time.
Louis Schmidt had followed his father to New York Shipbuilding by September of 1918. By January of 1920 Louis Schmidt had married. He and wife Laura lived at 837 Sylvan Street. His brother-in-law, James J. Monahan, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department shortly afterwards.
The 1924 Camden City Directory shows Louis G. and Laura Schmidt living at 1174 Sycamore Street, and that Louis Schmidt was a Camden police officer. A son, Richard Schmidt, was born around this time. Louis Schmidt’s occupational listing of police officer conflicts with his obituary, which states that he joined the force on November 26, 1926. The 1927 and 1929 Directories show the couple living at 727 Morgan Street, not far from Louis Schmidt’s parents, who were now living at 675 Morgan Street. Oddly enough, the 1927 directory lists his occupation as “riveter,” a trade he had followed earlier. The April 1930 Census shows his occupation as policeman, and that the family was still living at 727 Morgan Street.
In 1942 Louis Schmidt was promoted to Detective by Commissioner Mary Kobus. He partnered with Detective Joseph Carpani for much of his career as a detective.
By 1947 Louis Schmidt and his family had moved to 1142 North 19th Street in Cramer Hill. This would remain his home until his passing in December of 1957.
Besides his activities with the police force, Louis Schmidt was well known as a breeder of beagles, and toured New Jersey competing in field trials with his dogs, along with brother police detective Paul Edwards. Officer John E. Opfer Sr. also belonged to the South Jersey Beagle Club, which, now located in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, is still operating.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card for Louis George Schmidt, registered September 12, 1918, Local Board No. 3, City of Camden. He was living at 675 Morgan Street and employed as a riveter at New York Shipbuilding Co.
2 More Arrested in Numbers War
Camden Courier-Post —
Action yesterday backed up the assertions of Camden county and city law officials that they are out to break the back of the numbers racket here.
Judge Frank F. Neutze, in criminal court, meted out sentences of from one to six months and fines of from $100 to $250 to 12 minions of the “highups.”
A few hours later two more alleged number writers fell into the police net. Both suspects were jailed in default of $2000 bail each for hearings in police court today.
Alleged to be carrying 120 numbers slips and $203.30, Dominick Mozzare, 25, of 6816 Highland avenue, was arrested at Twenty-seventh street and River road at 3 p. m. by Acting Sergeant Louis Schmidt and Patrolmen Paul Edwards and Elwood Humphreys. Questioned at the detective bureau in City Hall, Mozzare said he did not know the identity of the “highup” for whom he worked. He said he is an automobile trimmer. Police declared he had been in the racket about eight months and had been under suspicion several months.
An hour or so earlier, Horace Gunby, 27, colored, 1863 South Tenth street, was picked up at Seventh street and Ferry avenue by Sergeant John Garrity and Acting Sergeant Earl Cunningham. They said Gunby carried several numbers slips and a small amount of money. He gave his occupation as a bellhop.
Gives Heaviest Sentences
In cracking down on 12 of the defendants hauled before him in Camden County Criminal Court Judge Neutze adopted a policy of issuing the heaviest jail sentences possible and imposing the heaviest fines under the law to all convicted or confessed underlings of the numbers barons in the hope of eventually trapping the ring-leaders through informers, or forcing them out of business.
Those who received the heaviest sentences were Andrew Pointkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, alleged lieutenant of the Klosterman brothers, under indictment as gambling barons; Walter Hart, 1245 Thurman street, also an alleged Klosterman aide, and Frank Martz, 235 Erie street. Each was sentenced to six months and fined $250. Martz is a second offender.
Judge Neutze expressed agreement with the suggestion of Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando that the practice of numbers barons paying salaries to their henchmen while the henchmen are in jail can be broken up by placing so many “small fry” behind the bars that the “big shots” cannot afford to pay them, and thus the names of the “big shots” will eventually come out.
All of the defendants had previously pleaded guilty or non vult.
Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street, drew a sentence of three months in jail and a $100 fine despite the plea of his attorney, former Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, that Kirk was “only an employe.”
“That makes no difference to me,” said the court. “He was in the numbers racket.”
Called Klostermans’ Aide
When Pointkowski came before the court, Orlando said:
“This is one of the lieutenants of the Klostermans, and he refused to talk to me. When first arrested, he told Camden police he worked for the Klostermans, but he turned a right-about-face when I talked to him and tried to make monkeys of us.”
“Well, I’ll send him upstairs for six months and fine him $250 and maybe he’ll talk then,” said Judge Neutze.
Orlando asked the court to send Hart to the state prison.
“This man,” said the prosecutor, “is very close to the big shots.”
“Whom do you mean—the Klostermans?” asked Neutze.
“I certainly do,” replied Orlando. “He is also a second offender. He’s been in business over four years, working for the Klostermans, and should go to the state prison.”
“Whenever I see red,” said Neutze as he pronounced sentence.
The Klosterman brothers, Fred and Joseph, of East Camden, have been indicted as number lottery operators but their trial has been postponed.
Martz was described by Orlando as having served 60 days in jail in 1932 for writing numbers, and he was sentenced to six months and a $250 fine, without further questioning.
Refuses Leniency
John Studinger, who formerly operated a store at 2504 Federal street, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $100. His counsel, District Court Judge Joseph Varbalow, argued he was only a “small fry” and putting him in jail would not break up the lotteries.
“This racket is no worse than raffles, punchboards, slot machines and all the disorderly houses that are thriving in this county,” said Varbalow.
“I started in on these number writers with short jail terms,” answered Neutze, “and then I began adding fines. But I found that did not stop the lawbreakers, for when these fellows get out they start all over again. I understand the lottery racket is getting worse and worse here and I’m going to do something about it.”
Charles Simonin, who conducts a grocery store at 709 Fairview street, was given 30 days and fined $100. Father of two daughters, he pleaded he accepted a proposition from a stranger who asked him to sell numbers in his store, and then would come around daily and collect them, giving Simonin a small “cut.” He contended he did not know the name of the man with whom he dealt, much less the identity of the heads of the ring.
Mrs. Mary Angelo, grocer, 600 Line street, the mother of a 3-year-old baby, had pleaded guilty with a story similar to Simonin’s. She received a three-month suspended sentence but must pay a fine of $100. Judge Neutze said he was suspending the sentence not because of her sex, but because of her baby.
Student Given Month
Samuel Ford, 19, colored, 1124 South Ninth street, a high school student, was described by Orlando as “honest and sincere in telling his story and entitled to a break.” He was sent to jail for a month and fined $100.
Frank Terionova, 27, of 312 Beckett street, was “a fellow we couldn’t talk to,” Orlando said. “He told us he worked for Joe Brown, but maybe it was John Smith, and whoever it was he is shielding him,” Orlando continued.
Rocco Palese, former assistant prosecutor, called Orlando unfair, asserting some of the defendants “really do not know whom they are working for and therefore cannot make a statement.”
“If they don’t know who they’re working for, who does?” demanded Orlando.
“I feel,” said Judge Neutze, “that some of these fellows don’t know who they are working for, but I sentence him to three months in the county jail and to pay a fine of $100. Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $100; James Gant, 28, colored, of 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken, three months and $100 fine; Walter Woodrich, 48, of 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken, two months and $100 fine.
Orlando said Woodrich will be a witness against the Klostermans, for whom he worked.
Illness Causes Shifts for Police Officials
Camden Courier-Post —
Temporary changes in the police department to offset the absence of Lieutenant George Frost, head of the First District, who is ill, and Lieutenant George Ward, of headquarters, who is away on police business, were announced yesterday by Chief Arthur Colsey.
Sgt. John Potter, of the Third District, is made acting lieutenant and placed in charge of the First. Patrolman Louis Schmidt, of the Third, replaces Potter as acting sergeant.
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, of the Fourth District, replaces Ward at headquarters, with Sgt. John Skolski acting as lieutenant in charge of the Fourth.
Sgt. Gustav Koerner, of the Second District, who has been working in plain clothes, is to report in uniform.
Patrolman John Kowal, of the Second District, is shifted to the First district, with Patrolman William Schultz going from the First district to the Second district.
Numbers Operator Fined $1000 by Palese
Camden Courier-Post —
Stanley Powell, 42, of 509 Mickle street, was fined $1000 and given a suspended one to two year prison sentence Friday by County Judge Palese after pleading guilty to possession of numbers slips.
Powell, arrested Jan. 23 by Detectives Louis Schmidt and Joseph Carpani in the rear of a cigar store at 213 South Fifth street, also was placed on probation for one year. The detectives said they found Powell accepting bets on numbers and confiscated a quantity of slips.
Ira Sands, 31, of 10 North Second street, was sentenced to serve six months in the county jail by Judge Palese on a charge of atrocious assault and battery on his wife, Lillian, 30.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Wife, Son Surviving
Surviving are his wife, Laura; a son, Richard, and three grandchildren.
A widely-known sportsman and dog fancier, Det. Schmidt was an organizer of the South Jersey Beagle Club in Kresson, Delaware Township. He bred beagle hounds and maintained kennels at his home for many years.
He and former District Det. Paul Edwards, now on pension, toured the state on many occasions engaging in field trials.
Worked at New York Ship
During War I, Schmidt was a riveter at the New York Shipyard.
For several years he was in charge of a police shift in the Third district, which then used the 27th and Federal sts. headquarters.
Police Chief Koerner described Det. Schmidt as a “very well-liked officer.”
Funeral Rites Monday For City Detective
Camden Courier-Post —
Services for Det. Louis Schmidt, 60, of 1142 N. 19th st., will be held Monday at 1 p. m. in the Frank J. Leonard Funeral Home, 1451 Broadway, where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in New Camden Cemetery.
A 31-year veteran of the Camden Police Department and a detective since 1942, Mr. Schmidt died Wednesday in West Jersey Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital Dec. 8 with a heart condition.
He was an organizer of the South Jersey Beagle Club in Kresson, Delaware Township, and was a member of Local 35, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Camden.
Surviving are his wife, Laura; a son, Richard; a sister, Mrs. Louis C. Angeroth, of Brooklawn, and three grandchildren.