Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson was born in New Jersey around 1906 to a family that had a long history in the city. His father, George Robeson Thompson, was justice of the peace, and his grandfather, John Reeve Thompson, was a member of Camden’s first City Council. He was one of at least 7 children born to the Thompsons. The family lived at 1113 South 4th Street when the Census was taken in 1910. By January of 1920 they had moved to 325 Walnut Street.
Marshall Thompson married at the age of 21, and his wife, the former Emma Holloway, bore a daughter, Caroline, around 1928. On March 1, 1928 Marshall Thompson was appointed to the Camden Police Department along with the following men: Francis Guetherman, August Riehm, William Schriver, Edward Shapiro, John V. Wilkie, Earl Wright, Edward Cahill, Walter Vecander, Stanley Bobiak, Paul Edwards, Leon Feltz, George Getley, Joseph Lack, Thomas Stanton, Otto Toperzer, and Frank Wilmot. Vecander’s younger brother Harold Vecander joined the force on September 20, 1940. Both brothers were still on the force in January of 1949.
At the time of his appointment to the police force, Marshall Thompson and his family were renting a home at 943 North 32nd Street in Camden’s Cramer Hill neighborhood. His parents had also moved to Cramer Hill, living at 900 Beideman Avenue.
In 1936 Officer Thompson was often partnered with Sergeant Nathan Petit. Camden Courier-Post columnist Dan McConnell, wrote this about Officer Thompson in his November 3, 1939 column:
Marshall Thompson, one of Camden’s finest, is a talented pianist. He never took a music lesson.
Officer Thompson had been taught to play by his mother, Harriette Thompson.
Marshall Thompson had been promoted to Detective by 1947. He then lived at 126 North 32nd Street in East Camden. He was still working as a detective with the Camden Police department as late as December of 1957. He retired from the Camden Police Department on a police pension sometime prior to 1967.
Three Men Nabbed in North Camden Row
Camden Courier-Post —
One Gets 60 Days for Attack on Plain Clothes Cop
Three young men were found guilty of disorderly conduct in police court this morning when they were charged with creating a disturbance in front of a restaurant near Sixth and Market streets.
Fiore Rossi, 23 years old, 329 Mickle Street, brother of ‘Pee Wee’ Rossi, local pugilist, was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail. Thomas O’Neill, 22 years old, 204 Berkley Street, was fined $20 and sentence was suspended on John Develin, 21 years old, 1002 Penn Street.
Rossi was charged with severely beating August Fortune, a policeman assigned to special duty at the restaurant.
Patrolman Fred Mueller testified that at 3:30 o’clock Sunday morning he had told the men to “move on” from Fifth and Market Streets when he found them creating a disturbance. The men walked away and in front of the restaurant again became boisterous. Moeller and policeman Marshall Thompson then arrested O’Neill who had become “sassy.” The other two objected to the arrest, and when Fortune came from inside the building to assist his brother officers, he was struck in the face and knocked down by Rossi. The three succeeded in taking the men to headquarters.
Rossi this morning admitted hitting Fortune but said he did not know he was an officer and “thought he was a wise guy trying to go big with a woman.”
Camden Courier-Post
Named: Carrie Becker, North 33rd Street, Harry E. Renders, Charles Luers, North 2nd Street, George W. Rush, Farragut Avenue, Watson Street, Joseph Benson, Charles Benson, Edward Marshman, Morse Street, John Grogan, North 22nd Street, Charles Dudley, North 3rd Street, Ralph Bakley, Vernon Jones, Thomas Cheeseman, Marshall Thompson, George Thomas, Clinton Street, James Williams, South 2nd Street, John B. Simons, Samuel Aronow, and Kaighn Avenue.
Judge Jails 2 Men Getting City Relief
Camden Courier-Post —
Pancoast Says He Will Send Intoxicated Offenders to Cells in Future
Police Judge Pancoast Saturday expressed angry impatience with men who get relief orders on the plea that they have no money with which to purchase food but in some strange manner can procure liquor.
He sentenced two such men to 30 days each in jail, and declared that all future offenders of this ilk can expect nothing but jail sentences, as he will accept no excuses.
Those sentenced are Edward Maxwell, 38, of 110 State Street, and Earl Eckman, 38, of 412 Liberty street.
Both admitted they are on the city relief list. They are married, Eckman having eight children and Maxwell one.
Policeman Marshall Thompson testified he found Maxwell stretched out on the sidewalk at Ninth and State Streets, at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, completely intoxicated. Maxwell said he had a wife and child, and Judge Pancoast asked:
“You can’t buy any food, yet you have enough money for liquor. Where did you buy it?”
“I didn’t buy it,” answered Maxwell. “A fellow had some wine and give me some.”
After passing sentence, Judge Pancoast heard Eckman’s case. The prisoner’s wife, Jane, testified she has eight children, gets a food order, but doesn’t get any money from her husband, although he occasionally does an “odd job.”
Judge Pancoast didn’t even ask Eckman where he got his liquor, but pronounced sentence immediately.
“I’m not going to tolerate this any longer,” declared the court. “When someone getting a food order is found drunk, I’m going to send him to jail immediately. There won’t be any excuses.”
Rodgers, Ex-Boxer Nabbed Again in Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
Whisky and 65 Bottles Also Seized by Cops in Segal Street Speakeasy — Modest Moonshinery Found in ‘Empty’ House
James “Jimmy” Rodgers, 28, former boxer, fell into the hands of police again last night when they raided a speakeasy at 1000 Segal Street, allegedly operated by him.
One gallon of whisky and 65 pint bottles were confiscated by the raiders, who were led by District Detectives Walter Smith, Marshall Thompson and Harry Kyler.
Three others were arrested. One of them, James Greer, 35, of 332 North Second street, placed a charge of possession of stolen goods against Rodgers when police unearthed some articles stolen from Greer two months ago.
Others arrested were Thomas Spencer, 33, of the Segal Street address, and John D. Wood, 35, of 928 Kimber Street.
Rodgers has fallen afoul of the law on numerous occasions. He has been arrested several times for operating speakeasies. He was also arrested as a material witness in the “Shooey” Bonner murder two years ago.
He will be given a police court hearing today.
Detectives raided a vacant dwelling at 225 Chestnut Street last night and seized a “moonshine” plant consisting of two stills, 36 barrels of mash and oil and gas stove cookers.
The place had been under observation by Detective Vernon Jones for two weeks.
No one was inside when Jones and Patrolmen George Hemphill and John Houston entered. A 50 gallon still was on the second floor and a 35 gallon still on the first floor.
Jimmy Rodgers Is Given 180 Days
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Boxer Jailed on Speakeasy Charge, Held on Stolen Goods Count
James “Jimmy” Rodgers, 28-year-old former boxer who on numerous occasions has run afoul of the law, was sentenced yesterday to serve 180 days in the county jail for operating a speakeasy at 1000 Segal Street.
In addition, he was held without bail by Police Judge Pancoast on a charge of possession of stolen goods. The goods were identified by their owner, James Greer, 35, of 332 North Second Street, who was in the speakeasy when police raided it Monday night.
Greer turned state’s evidence against Rodgers in police court yesterday, and for a reward, received a suspended sentence.
District Detective Harry Kyler, Marshall Thompson and Walter Smith raided the speakeasy and confiscated 65 pints of whisky in bottles and a gallon of whisky in a jug. Kyler testified Rodgers was not there when the raiders entered the place but appeared later and was arrested.
3 Others Nabbed
Three others were arrested in the place. These were Greer, Thomas Spencer, 33, who gave the speakeasy as his home address, and John D. Wood, 35, of 928 Kimber Street. Spencer has been arrested approximately 75 times, the police said.
The detectives, when searching the premises, found a suitcase filled with shoestrings, collar buttons and other merchandise. Greer identified the case and its contents as having been stolen from his car when it was parked on Segal Street near Front some time ago. He lodged the complaint of possession of stolen goods against Rodgers.
Rodgers was arraigned on three charges, including the stolen goods count. The other complaints were that he sold beer without a license and violated Section 422 of the city ordinances which prohibits disorderly persons to congregate on the premises.
Rodgers pleaded not guilty on all three charges, and told the court he had “nothing to say.” He was fined $200 on each of the charges of violating Section 422, and selling without a license, and when he did not pay, he was sentenced to 90 days on each of the two counts. He was committed to the county jail without bail on Greer’s complaint of possession of stolen goods.
Greer testified that he had purchased liquor in Rodgers’ place several times, as late as last night. Greer’s sentence was suspended.
Spencer Refuses to Talk
Spencer refused to testify against Rodgers. He said he did not know “what was going on there” and that he was there painting.
“You won’t be painting there for 90 days,” retorted the court in pronouncing sentence.
Wood, the other man arrested in the place, did not appear in court and forfeited $10 security he had posted after the raid.
Rodgers has been arrested several times for operating speakeasies. He was also arrested as a material witness two years ago in the murder of William “Shooey” Bonner.
Spencer was arrested so often when he resided in Gloucester that he became known as “Gloucester’s Peck’s Bad Boy,” the police said. Since moving to Camden he has been arrested nearly 50 times, police stated.
The majority of his arrests have been on charges of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, but in 1925 and in 1926, he was arrested on a charge of larceny of automobile. Again in 1929 he was charged with non support, when he was ordered to pay his wife $10 weekly. Back in 1916 he was arrested on a charge of stealing a gold watch.
Camden Courier-Post
FOUR MEN ARRESTED IN SHOOTING THREAT
Four men were arrested last night as the result of an alleged threat to shoot one of them.
Michael Di Orio, 30, of 245 Pine street, was held in $1000 bail on a charge of threatening to kill George Hettrick, 23, of 905 Moore street, who was held in $500 bail as a material witness to the case. Others held as witnesses are Ralph Di Servio, 21, of 307 Pine street, and James Liccketto, 24, of 640 South Third street.
Hettrick, according to Sergt. Gustav Koerner, said Di Orio threatened to “give him the works” while he was attending a party Monday night. The others were with the accused, Hettrick said. Detectives Walter Smith, John Trout and Marshall Thompson nabbed the trio at a restaurant and said Hettrick identified them at police headquarters.
Cops Beat Out Flames in Woman’s Clothing
Camden Courier-Post —
A South Camden woman was burned seriously yesterday when her clothing caught fire while she was working in the kitchen of her home.
Mrs. Ihlelgn Brown, 35, of 1026 South Second street, is in serious condition in Cooper Hospital. She was taken to the hospital after two policemen, Sergeant Nathan Petit and Marshall Thompson, smothered the flames with blankets.
After her clothing caught fire, Mrs. Brown ran to the second floor of her home, where her husband, Abraham, was sleeping. He shouted to a neighbor who called police.
False Alarm Leads to Arrest of Three
Camden Courier-Post —
Girl Accused of Vagrancy When Found in Closet of House With Smoking Stove
A passerby who thought he saw a house afire on Taylor Avenue near Third street, turned in an alarm that brought four fire companies on a monkey run yesterday. It required more than five minutes to find the house reported afire when the apparatus pulled up at the alarm box at Third and Federal streets.
Two policemen, Sergeant Nathan Petit and Marshall Thompson, who followed firemen to the scene were quicker than that for they found the house and a young woman hiding in the closet on the second floor. She was arrested along with a woman and a man.
Taken to police headquarters the young woman, who identified herself as Margaret Pone, 17, of Park Avenue, Maple Shade, was held on a charge of vagrancy.
Margaret Johns, and Louis Archer, 39, both Negroes, who were also found in the three-story dwelling at 230 Taylor Avenue, were also held as material witnesses.
The reported fire turned out to be the smoking stove.
7 Held as Cops Raid Card Game in Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Seize 2 Decks of Cards, Pair of Dice; Miss Cash
Seven men were arrested last night when police raided a private home after receiving a “tip” that a card game was in progress.
William J. Stephan, 29, of 403 Friends avenue, the scene of the raid, was arrested as the alleged proprietor and held in $2000 bail for a hearing today before Judge Lewis Liberman.
Others arrested are John H. Ridge, 42, of 418 North Third Street; Ernest Ridge, of Milner Hotel, Delaware avenue and Market street; Nat Green, 34, of 562 Carman Street; John Podhar, 31, of 1944 Bristol street, Philadelphia; Charles Luffy, 32, of 1418 Erie avenue, Philadelphia, and Robert Ramsey, 23, of the Camden Y. M. C. A. All were held in $100 bail as material witnesses.
Detectives John Trout, John Kaighn and Patrolmen Marshall Thompson and Earl Hamby conducted the raid and said they confiscated two decks of cards and a pair of dice. They said a quantity of money on the table was scooped up by the players before they reached the playing room.
Camden Courier-Post
ACTING CHIEF HURT IN 3-ALARM BLAZE
Camden Junkyard Swept; Couple Forced to Flee as Fire Menaces Home
Two persons were forced to leave their home last night when a three-alarm fire damaged a junkyard owned by Rocco Fanelle and Sons at 263 Cherry street. Patrolman Marshall Thompson, one of the first on the scene, warned George W. Jackson and his wife, Flora, living at 265 Cherry street, of their danger and aided them in removing part of their furniture in the living room to the dining room.
Acting Battalion Chief Leonard Megee was injured slightly when he fell while inspecting the damage.
The first alarm to be turned in came from the fire box at Third and Spruce streets at 8.18 p.m. When Chief John Lennox arrived on the scene and discovered flames issuing from both floors of the storage building he ordered the second alarm pulled at 8.35 and at 8.46 p.m. another was ordered.
Firemen were hampered in fighting the blaze due to the great amount of smoke caused by the burning rags and paper bailed and stored on the two floors. Six hose lines were played on the building. Deputy Chief Walter Mertz said the flames were under control after a half hour’s battle.
The damaged furniture in the Jackson home was covered partially by insurance, Jackson said.
their danger and aided them in removing part of their furniture in the living room to the dining room.
Acting Battalion Chief Leonard Megee was injured slightly when he fell while inspecting the damage.
The first alarm to be turned in came from the fire box at Third and Spruce streets at 8.18 p.m. When Chief John Lennox arrived on the scene and discovered flames issuing from both floors of the storage building he ordered the second alarm pulled at 8.35 and at 8.46 p.m. another was ordered.
Firemen were hampered in fighting the blaze due to the great amount of smoke caused by the burning rags and paper bailed and stored on the two floors.
Six hose lines were played on the building. Deputy Chief Walter Mertz said the flames were under control after a half hour’s battle.
The damaged furniture in the Jackson home was covered partially by insurance, Jackson said.
Thief Bites Off End of Captor’s Finger
Camden Courier-Post —
Seized by the owner of a bicycle which he allegedly was trying to steal, Thomas Fletcher, 25, of 814 South Second street, bit off the end of Herman Lundy’s right forefinger last night at Broadway and Liberty streets in his efforts to escape.
Lundy, 19, of 530 Kaighn avenue, clung to Fletcher, however, until Police Sergeant Nathan Petit and patrolman Marshall Thompson arrived and arrested the man. He was charged with mayhem and attempted larceny.
The police rushed Fletcher to detective headquarters as an angry throng of more than 50 men assembled and began muttering ominously against the prisoner.
Lundy told police he saw Fletcher attempt to take his bicycle, parked near the butcher shop where he worked, and that someone called police while he grappled with the man.
Bike Thief Sentenced on Charge of Mayhem
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with mayhem and larceny, Thomas Fletcher, 25, of 814 South Second street, was sentenced yesterday to six months in jail on the latter charge by Police Judge Mariano and held in $5000 bail for the Grand Jury on the other charge.
Appearing against Fletcher was Herman Lundy, 19, of 530 Kaighn avenue, his left hand in a sling.
Lundy charged that Fletcher bit off the end of his left forefinger when he grappled with the man to prevent theft of his bicycle.
Sergeant Nathan Petit and patrolman Marshall Thompson, who arrested Fletcher, told Judge Mariano that 200 persons were assembled around the man and threatening him when they arrived at the scene.
Fletcher told the court he was drunk. The policemen said he was not. They told Judge Mariano that Fletcher recently was released from Ancora, where he had served six months on a larceny charge.
Police Jailer Hurt as Bosco Hurls Platter
Camden Courier-Post —
Barber Indicted in Murder Cuts Patrolman With Shattered Plate — Officers Grab Arms, Lead Him Back to Cell
Sam Bosco, Camden barber indicted and arrested on a murder charge last Friday, went temporarily berserk in the city jail late Saturday, police revealed yesterday.
In a fit of nerves and rage, according to the police, the heavy-set prisoner flung a platter of food in the face of the jailer, Policeman William Michalak, who had opened Bosco’s cell to give him a hot meal he brought from a nearby restaurant.
Bosco then menaced the jailer with a jagged fragment of the platter that shattered on the cell floor. Michalak rang an alarm which attracted Police Lieut. Herbert Anderson, detective Thomas Murphy, Motorcycle Policeman Marshall Thompson, Sgt. Gus Koerner and Policeman James McLaughlin from the adjacent police headquarters in City Hall.
Anderson and Murphy went into the cell tier at the end of which Bosco stood, still brandishing the piece of broken dish. After grabbing his arms, they led him back to his cell. He offered no resistance.
“I was excited,” he told them later.
Camden Courier-Post
Named: Clifford Carr, Thomas Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Viola Street, and Mary W. Kobus.
Camden Courier-Post
DRAFT REGISTRANT LEAPS 5 FLOORS TO DEATH AT CITY HALL
Sleuths Vainly Try to Grab Florida Man Who Asked About Status
A 30-year-old Florida descendant of one of North Carolina’s blue-blooded families walked into police headquarters Saturday afternoon and asked them to check his status with a Florida draft board. Two hours later the man was dead, his crushed body lying on the Market street pavement of the City Hall after he leaped from a fifth floor window in the City Hall detective bureau. The jump was made before the eyes of three detectives all powerless to reach him in time.
Identified tentatively as Manly McDowell, he had told detectives he was living at the Dixie Hotel, Florida. He was dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital. The man’s head was crushed and his arms and legs were broken.
Detective Harry Kyler was walking through police headquarters in the City Hall basement, when Patrolman Marshall Thompson called his attention to McDowell’s request. The man wanted to know if any notifications had been sent out by the board to him lately, explaining that for the past several months he had been traveling in the South and had been out of touch with his local board.
Asks for Cigarette
Kyler took McDowell to the Detective Bureau and telephoned Miami police asking them to check McDowell’s draft status and his record. Kyler told McDowell to sit down until the return call was made. The detective told Acting Sergeant John Opfer about the man, then left to answer another call. On his return at 5.55 p. m, Kyler learned of the leap.
Others besides Opfer in the bureau were Detectives Heber McCord and Clifford Del Rossi. All three said McDowell drank considerable water and smoked several cigarettes but gave no indication of contemplating suicide.
Opfer said McDowell sauntered over to the accident bureau to McCord and asked for a cigarette. McCord gave him one, then turned his back. After several puffs, McDowell put the cigarette on a filing case, leaped to the top of a table and out the window. Opfer saw the man ascend the table and yelled to McCord to stop him. McCord was too far away to grab him.
Makes Grab in Vain
DelRossi, meanwhile, walked into the bureau just in time to see the man going out of the window. He also attempted to grab him.
Acting Desk Sergeant Frank Nelson had reported off duty a short time before and as he turned the corner of the city hall on the Market street side, he saw the man’s body on the pavement. Believing him to be a heat victim, or drunk, Nelson went over to investigate just as the police ambulance arrived.
Five minutes after the death plunge, the return call was made from Miami police which said McDowell was not wanted by either police or draft board. They said the draft board had been instructed to get in touch with Warren Steiffell, employed in the Brooklyn State Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., whenever they wanted to reach McDowell. Kyler later learned Steiffell had been inducted into the Army and stationed at Madison Barracks, Watertown, N. Y. A call to the barracks revealed Steiffell was on 48-hour leave.
Was Hospital Orderly
Attaches at the hospital said they knew McDowell as a former orderly, who had worked in hospitals in the New York City area. Kyler learned the man had worked as an orderly last year for several months at the Pilgrim State Hospital, Brentwood, N. Y.
Kyler contacted an aunt yesterday, Mrs. W. A. Leslie, of Morganton, N. C., who said McDowell’s only living close relative was a sister, Mrs. W. J. Verbeck, of Manlius, N. Y. Word was sent to the sister of McDowell’s death and she is expected to arrive here today to make positive identification.
Camden Courier-Post
“KIDS…LITTLE KIDS…murdered in their own home.”
Tears were streaming down the face of a lovely little lady as she spoke those words.
In front of her, in the middle of the carpet, was a spot, sort of whitish, where someone had tried to remove the blood of a little boy…a little boy who was “going on three”…a little boy who never harmed no one…
Just down the block a bit, people were perring through a big plate glass window, looking at a “hobby horse” in a barber shop that is closed.
At the base of the standard which held the wooden horse in place was another blotch of blood…the blood of another little boy “just past six” who was having his hair cut in preparation for his first trip to school the next day….
In the back seat of an automobile parked a little farther away was another great stain…where another boy died.
And the killer says: “I’m glad I did it, but I’m sorry about the children.”
WE ARRIVED at the scene of the Mad Mission of Cramer Hill after all of the shooting was over. Walt Carley and Jake Weiner, Courier-Post scribes, had arrived with the cops. They witnessed the capture and went on to do a great job of reporting the terrible tragedy.
We walked along the street peering in windows where only minutes before, people were happy and gay—and now they were dead.
Two holes showed in the front screen of a home near the center of the block. Detectives Stanley Bobiak and William Deery, identification chief, approached and Bobiak looked into the home.
“Was anyone shot in here?” Bobiak queried through the window.
“My little boy was killed,” replied the tearful voice of a mother whose anguish was pitiful to see and hear.
This was a terrible thing that happened in Our Town.
HUMAN beings are a funny bunch. And cops are human beings. The shooting was over and there was this bluecoat and that bluecoat insisting that he was “first on the scene.” You could have had a couple of dozen “firsts” if you were interested in that. And all those who said they were first and were not given credit for it would have been sore.
But that was after the shooting was over. When the chips were down, when a maniac was shooting innocent men, women and children and was still on the loose with that big Luger, that is when the cops of Our Town proved they rank right up there with the best in the world.
Through the years, there has been many an occasion where we witnessed the bravery of Camden policemen.
This time we missed, but we know what happened from the lips of reliable newspapermen and other witnesses.
We know that Russ Maurer stepped out into the clear, while other cops covered him with their guns, to hurl tear gas into the home of the man who was bent on kill. Russ could have paid with his life, because the killer seldom missed. That was a brave act.
THERE were Charley Hance, Ev Joslin, Cecil Picou, Tommy Carr, Bill Moll, Sid Nelson, Barney Tracy, Bill Kelly, Marshall, Thompson, Vince Conley, Lennie Andruzza and dozens of others closing in on the killer, inch by inch.
Kelley and Tracy on a roof, moving in, Bill with a machinegun, Barney with gun in hand…exposed like the other cops for a quick shot that might mean death.
Picou and Bill Rogers…moving the wounded and the dead…with the killer still free…Johnny Ferry stepping into the clear to keep the slayer from shooting from the upper front windows of his home.
NO WORDS of ours can give comfort to those families which suffered so much with the loss of dear ones. We can only say that everyone we met throughout Our Town mourned with them.
But we can say a word about the police and the manner in which they tackled this job.
And of all them there we will take Ev Joslin and say that Ev will never be outdone where courage is concerned. We have seen that courage through the years and we have heard many a cop say they will take Ev as their sidekick in a tough situation any day.
So the only way we can give Our Cops their proper due is to say that every one of them who participated in the Mad Mission of Cramer Hill was just as courageous, just as mindful of their sworn duty, just as concerned over the safety of others, forgetting themselves as the man we picked as a symbol of courage.
And whointhehell cares who got here first or who struck the killer?
Camden Courier-Post
Marshall Thompson — Walter H. Lehman
Camden Courier-Post
GI Ends Life With Gun in Parked Car
Walter H. Lehman Due to Return to Fort Dix Today
By WALTER N. CARLEY
Minutes after two patrolmen questioned him about parking, a 22-year-old South Camden man, who entered the army two months ago, ended his life early today by firing a bullet through his head.
Walter H. Lehman, 1822 South Seventh street, was discovered about 6 a. m. seated behind the wheel of his coupe parked along the west side of the Black Horse pike, about south, between Burma and Olympia roads.
A .32 calibre bullet had entered his head from the right temple and came out through the left temple. The death weapon was found in his lap partly covered by his right hand. County Physician ruled death simultaneous and self-inflicted.
He Said He Was Sleepy
About 5:30 a. m. Patrolmen Edward Watson and Joel White passed the Lehman car. According to Watson, he said he advised Lehman that the best thing to do was to return to the car rather than drive. He said he thanked Watson and the patrolmen drove away. They said they stopped at the newsstand on the pike and returned north on the pike, noticing the car with Lehman apparently lying in the seat.
Was on Vacation
A short time later Acting Sergeant Frank Cavallo drove past the car and saw Lehman seated. Later Patrolman Frank Senatore drove past…
(Continued on Page 3 — Column 7)
Camden Courier-Post
Robbed on Way to Church:
2 THUGS BREAK ARM OF WOMAN, 60, FLEE WITH HANDBAG ON BROADWAY
A 60-year-old South Camden woman was admitted to West Jersey hospital Sunday night after she was injured while battling two youths who stole her purse on Broadway near Liberty Street.
Mrs. Lillian Heard, of 535 Mechanic street, who told police she was on her way to services at the Union Methodist Church, Fifth and Mt. Vernon streets, when attacked, suffered a broken left arm.
Two youthful suspects were chased from the scene to Second street and Kaighn avenue by passersby who rushed to aid Mrs. Heard when she screamed.
A search of the neighborhood failed to uncover any persons answering the description given by Mrs. Heard but Detective Leon Branch said the youths answered the description given by Mrs. Rose Garriola, of 306 Cherry street.
She told Detective Marshall Thompson two youths snatched her purse Saturday night at Spruce and Coates streets.
Mrs. Heard said she was walking on the west side of Broadway above Liberty street when the two overtook her. She said one grabbed her purse and the other held her arm.
As Mrs. Heard battled to save her purse, which she said contained only about 90 cents and some keys, she fell to the curb, pulling one of the youths to the street with her.
Lester F. Cranmer, of 2251 Gross avenue, Pennsauken, who was visiting at Broadway and Mechanic street, heard Mrs. Heard scream and went to her aid. An unidentified passerby called police.
Mrs. Garriola told police her purse contained $14 in addition to keys and cards.
Camden Courier-Post
Burglary Victims Recover $4360 In Stolen Goods
Display at City Hall Rivals Oriental Bazaar In Variety Shown
Loot valued at $4360 by detectives was returned to its owners in detective headquarters in city hall Tuesday night.
Headquarters resembled an Oriental bazaar as the stolen articles were spread over seven tables, two large desks, and hung on clothing racks.
Detectives are holding George Wilmer, 30, of 521 Liberty street, a parolee, whom they suspect of being Camden’s daytime “phantom burglar” who has been plaguing the department for the last three months. To date police say they have charged Wilmer with 29 counts of breaking and entering and two counts of attempting to break and enter.
Captain of Detectives Thomas Murphy said that Tuesday night’s display was only a portion of the loot and that police believe Wilmer pawned a quantity of the goods in Philadelphia. They also suspect he sold some to secondhand and antique dealers, Murphy said.
The display that met the claimants when they went to headquarters looked like a mail order (Continued on Page 4—Column 5)
Loot (Continued from Page 1)
catalog come to life. There were women’s dresses, men’s suits and top coats, several types of radios, an oil space heater, binoculars, cameras; costume jewelry, empty wallets and even a clothes chest with the clothing still in it.
Missing from the collection were two parakeets which detectives returned to their owner Thursday because — unlike the birds — they had to be fed.
Assisting Capt. Murphy in the identification and return of the stolen items were: Detective Sergeants Earl Quinton, William Neal, William Kelly and Clifford Carr, and Detectives William O’Brien, John Huston, August Pfleiderer, George Ellis and Marshall Thompson.
Camden Courier-Post
Named: Benjamin Dzick, George Ellis, Marshall Thompson, Stanley Slagle, James J. Lenahan, Robert Sharp, Mary Lynch, Charles Clark, Lynch’s Cafe, North Front Street, Thomas Murphy, Harry Tracy, William Kelly, Oliver Morgan, John J. Hegar, Harry Kyler, Vincent Conley, Broadway, Federal Street, South 7th Street, John V. Wilkie, Kaighn Avenue, Liberty Street, and North 3rd Street.
Camden Courier-Post
Named: Market Street, Wilkie W. Faust Jr., Joseph Allman, Herman Z. Cutler, George Ellis, John Erickson, John Gosik, Andrew Oliver, Marshall Thompson, Camden Ink & Color Co., Asam Brothers, Inc., and Fit-Well Coat Company.
Camden Courier-Post
Named: Howard L. James, Joann Green, Jean Porter, William Porter, Marshall Thompson, Thomas Scarduzio, George Ellis, Russell Young, Anthony Marino, Richard Brooks, Earl Quinton, Carman Street, Chestnut Street, Cooper Street, Fern Street, Federal Street, Fogarty Avenue, Market Street, South 3rd Street, Asam Brothers, Inc., Cooper Hospital, and Cutler Metal Products.
Camden Courier-Post
At Benevolent Group Dinner:
Ten Retired Camden Policemen Praised, Receive Gold Badges
By James M. Neville
Ten retired members of the Camden Police Department attended a dinner Sunday night.
They received gold retirement badges and lifelong membership cards in the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association at the annual dinner of Local 35 in Kenney’s.
Their ages ranged from 52 to 65 and collectively they represented 327 years of service to the city.
“You have put in some 327 years and we must do more — make sure these youngsters can take over,” commented guest speaker County Judge Anthony C. Mitchell.
Landed By Judge
“You can go home tonight and look yourself in the mirror — say, it wasn’t the worst cop in the world, for some of you were among the finest men we’ve had in the department over the years. I even think there are more in retirement now,” the judge said.
A. George Aaron, commissioner of police, who was toastmaster, said some of the retiring men and guests, “have given some long service.”
“We have one of the finest and hardest working police departments in the state,” he said. “I even think the public is now aware of that, with a new respect for the policeman today.”
Retiring Officers
Retiring in the year 1957-58 are:
Insp. Walter E. Rowand, with 40 years; Det. Harry Kyler, 35; Sgt. John Stanton, 35; Det. Benjamin Simon, 34; Ptl. Samuel A. Corsella, 32; Sgt. Bernard Friedrichs, 31; Insp. Thomas P. Murphy, 30; Sgt. Marshall Thompson, 30; Det. Clifford Carr, 30; and Ptl. William Thorn, 20.
Joseph Anthony Skolski, in charge of the patrol division, was also presented with a gold card in a leather case for outstanding service, along with a lifelong membership.
Joseph E. Aaron was given a silver card and lifelong membership for outstanding work. Aaron is in charge of audio investigation division.
Juvenile Problem
Among the hardest tasks confronting the policeman of today, both Judge Mitchell and Commissioner Aaron Mitchell said, is the attitude of the public toward youngsters who consistently break the law.
“Unfortunately everybody is worried about the juvenile,” Judge Mitchell said.
“You’re not worried, as you should be, about the man who has his car stolen, his purse snatched or his home looted. Instead, everybody’s worried about poor little Johnny, who’s off-duty, breaking the law. You even feel like asking what his father should have done.”
“The ability of today’s patrolman is to hold new men on difficult duty, keep his hands off, hold his patience with little Johnny — unless he’s 18.”
Law Change Urged
“The age of responsibility,” said Aaron. “Before I entered police work I considered myself something of a reformer. But as a result of working with these youngsters who don’t mind breaking the law, I’ve found it makes a difference.”
“I’d like to see the Legislature pass a law reducing the age from 18 to 17.”
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