Luigi “Lugi” Celani
LUIGI “LUGI” CELANI was born in or around Rome, Italy on August 16, 1890. He had come to America by 1917 and was living in Philadelphia in June of 1917 when he registered for the draft. He eventually moved to Camden, NJ, where he found work at the RCA Victor factory.
Shortly after the April 1930 Census, Lugi Celani married a widow, Mary Vangeley, who lived at 203 Royden Street with her children, Adeline, Frank, Jennie, Rose, Petrina, and Arelia. He had been friendly with the late William Vangeley, and had promised to look after the family after the latter’s death. By March of 1932 Luigi Celani was living at 203 Royden Street. He remained at that address into the 1960s. He worked at the RCA Victor factory for 32 years. By 1970 he and his wife Mary had moved to Philadelphia, where he passed away in June of 1975.
Lugi Celani was also involved with Zuni Athletic Association, and served as a trustee in 1939.
By 1949 Lugi Celani’s brother-in-law, Antonio Cerasaro, had acquired a nearby bar, the Roma Cafe, on the southeast corner of South 3rd and Royden Streets. The bar remained in the family through at least the late 1960s, in the latter years operated by Americo “Reds” Cerasaro, Antonio’s son, who passed away in 1974.
Camden Man Stabbed During Argument
Camden Courier-Post —
Emil Tisani, 35, of 237 Stevens street, was stabbed in the neck, head and face Saturday night following an argument with a neighbor in a grocery store at 210 South Second street. After being treated at Cooper Hospital, Tisani said he would swear out a warrant for Lugi Celani, of 203 Royden street, whom he claimed attacked him with a razor.
“Lugi Celani was a great big man with a big heart if he stabbed someone in the neck he had it coming.” — Anthony Tucci, April 2006
Blair Indicted by Grand Jury for Threat to Blow Up Home
Camden Courier-Post —
The April grand jury yesterday returned a true bill against Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, on a charge of threatening to kill a Pennsauken man by bombing his home.
It was the first time Blair has ever been indicted, although his police record shows he has been arrested 10 times for various offenses.
In addition the grand jury “no billed” a malicious mischief charge made by Basil Cook, owner of Cook’s Grill, 939 South Fifth street, against two prohibition agents and four employes of a trucking firm who tore out the bar and fixtures of the cafe in a raid several weeks ago.
Dismissal of the charges against the federal men and their collaborators had been forecast by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin. The agents are Nelson Snedecor, 38, of 138 North Tenth street, Allentown, N.J.; and John J. Stokes, 41, of 40 North Seventeenth street, Philadelphia, both of the Philadelphia prohibition office.
Controversy Ends
The Grand Jury’s action, taken in a first partial presentment made to Justice Frank T. Lloyd while Judge Samuel M. Shay was busy in Criminal Court, officially concludes a case that attracted wide attention and brought stormy conferences between Prohibition Administrator John D. Pennington, Mayor Roy R. Stewart and United States Attorney Philip Forman.
Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, who issued the warrant for the agents’ arrest, freed them on their own recognizance at the request of federal authorities. Cook contended the agents unlawfully destroyed his property after leaving the place following a raid, and entering it again without a warrant. The agents said they stayed in the hotel all night following the raid, excepting for the time they were forcefully taken out by police.
The workman are Floyd E. Slamp, 20, of 148 Marne avenue, Haddonfield, son of the secretary and treasurer of the Slamp House and Trucking Company, Fifth and Byron streets; Robert McKee, 45, of 4837 Duffield street, Philadelphia; John Shrom, 19, of Moorsville, Pa., and John Adams, 20, of 542 Erie street.
Pal Accused With Blair
Blair, whose true name is Michael Tenerelli, was indicted on charges made by Calvin Bell, 43, of 34 Sixteenth avenue, Pennsauken. Thomas Bonelli was indicted with Tenerelli on the same charge. Tenerelli is 23 and lives at 833 South Fourth street. Bonelli is also 23 and lives at 333 South Fourth street. Bell, who is colored, had them held in $2500 bail each by Police Recorder George W. Yost, of Pennsauken, last May 6. Bell charged they threatened to bomb his home unless he paid them $100 to square him for a $35 gallon of liquor they allegedly purchased from one of his sons and found it worthless. The defendants were arrested in Bell’s home.
Tenerelli and Bonelli were released on bail a week ago in connection with the alleged holdup of Mrs. Barbara Lehman in her cigar store at 1209 Arctic avenue, Atlantic City. Although Tenerelli has figured in police records before, this was the first indictment to be returned against him, police say.
Other indictments returned yesterday are:
Desertion and non-support: John Counsellor, John Morgan, Joseph Casini, Raymond Sykes, August Remler, Thomas Garey, Katherine Palkoski, John H. Linky; assault and battery—John Barr, Luigi Celani, Fred D. Coleman, Benjamin Getz, John M. Graziano, George Hahn, Max Platkin, Joseph Panacoia, Albert Wiand, Adolph Zupic, William Mullin;
Larceny and receiving stolen goods—Warren Cormulewicz, Harold Wolf, William Mitchell, Frank Gymszuk, Frank Gymszuk.
Unlawful sale of liquor—Herman Fleisher, Gene Geffner, David Gold.
Statutory charge—Robert J. Sutters.
Notice of Application
Camden Courier-Post —
Take notice that the Zuni Athletic Association has applied to the Municipal Board of Alcoholic Beverage Control of Camden for a Club License for premises situated at 408 Line St., Camden, N. J.
The names of the officers of this Association and the offices they fill respectively are: Morris DiAngelo, President; Dominic Radogna, Vice President; Arduillo Firmani, Treasurer; Patsy Salimena, Secretary.
The names of the Trustees of this Association are: Anthony Natanni, Louis Doto, Joseph Ditoranto, Louis Celani.
Objections, if any, should be made immediately in writing to Clay W. Reesman, City Clerk of Camden.
ZUNI ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.