Mickey Blair
Mickey Blair, October 1931
Mickey Blair, February 1933
Mickey Blair, 1928
Mickey Blair was born Michael Tenerelli in 1908 and grew up at 833 South 4th Street in Camden. His neighbor at 839 South 4th Street was Vincent Scola. Standing 5’5” tall, Blair fought as a super featherweight and lightweight throughout his career, which ran from 1925 to 1936. He compiled a record of 25 wins (including 3 knockouts), 11 losses, 2 draws, and 33 no decisions. Notable opponents included Roxie Allen, Eddie Chaney, Eddie Cool, Harry Blitman (managed by Max “Boo-Boo” Hoff), and Tony Falco. In his final fight in 1936, Blair competed as a welterweight, two pounds over the lightweight limit.
Blair was involved in a series of legal troubles during the early 1930s, including a 1933 armed robbery acquittal in Atlantic County and an appearance as a material witness in the 1934 investigation of the murder of Camden police officer William Feitz. He was murdered on November 4, 1941, at the Pleasure Bay Inn in Atlantic County. A grand jury investigation into his death followed in 1942.
Boxing Record
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Method | Rds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936-10-14 | Bob Wilson | Camden NJ | W | PTS | 10 |
| 1931-12-21 | Eddie Cool | Atlantic City NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1931-10-22 | Dick Clark | Paulsboro Arena, Paulsboro NJ | W | PTS | 6 |
| 1931-10-16 | Sammy Fuller | Rochester NY | L | KO | 2 |
| 1931-09-01 | Charley Gomer | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | — |
| 1930-12-22 | Harry Blitman | Jersey City NJ | L | KO | 5 |
| 1930-12-05 | Emery Cabana | Camden NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-11-13 | Sherman Brown | Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-10-24 | Jimmy Batchelor | Camden NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-09-26 | Emery Cabana | Camden NJ | D | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-09-11 | Mickey Doyle | Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-08-12 | Calvin Reid | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-07-22 | Young Patsy Wallace | Atlantic City NJ | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-07-08 | Tony Falco | Atlantic City NJ | L | PTS | 8 |
| 1930-06-23 | Eddie Forte | Camden NJ | W | KO | 2 |
| 1930-06-17 | Tony Falco | Broadway A.C., Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1929 | Frankie Hayes | L | TKO | 2 | |
| 1929 | Stanislaus (Tani) Loayza | L | TKO | 9 | |
| 1929 | Roxie Allen | L | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928-12-17 | Stanislaus (Tani) Loayza | Arena, Philadelphia PA | L | KO | 8 |
| 1928-05-22 | Tommy Murray | Wilmington DE | W | PTS | 8 |
| 1928 | Marcel Zavella | W | KO | 6 | |
| 1928 | Al Winkler | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | George Amblard | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Joey Hadfield | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Ernie Ceasar | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Al Winkler | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Hubert Gillis | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Sammy Moffo | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Mickey Diamond | W | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928 | Roxie Allen | L | PTS | 8 | |
| 1928-04-27 | Joey Michaels | Camden NJ | D | ND | 8 |
| 1928-03-12 | Tommy Murray | Philadelphia PA | L | PTS | 6 |
| 1928-01-03 | Pete Zivic | Fairmont WV | L | KO | 3 |
| 1927-03-18 | Nick Quagarelli | Camden NJ | NC | ND | 8 |
| 1927 | Frankie Ferro | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Emery Cabana | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Ernie Tredesco | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Tim O’Dowd | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Eddie Chaney | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Eddie Chaney | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Tommy “Kid” Murphy | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Emery Cabana | NC | ND | ||
| 1927 | Joey Hadfield | W | 6 | ||
| 1927 | Freddy Jackson | W | 6 | ||
| 1926-12-25 | Harry (Kid) Decker | Arena, Philadelphia PA | W | PTS | 6 |
| 1926 | Chick Emmons | W | KO | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Wilson | W | PTS | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Boyle | W | PTS | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Kansas | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Joe Boyle | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Patsy Nelson | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Jimmy Burns | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Buck Fleming | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1926 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Sammy Moffo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Tony Russo | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Dixon | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | George Amblard | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Freddie Jackson | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1926 | Johnny Shearn | NC | ND | 8 | |
| 1925 | Eddie Palmer | W | KO | 5 | |
| 1925 | Jack Kelly | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Charlie Cunningham | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Frankie Goldsmith | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Harry “Kid” Wallace | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Tommy Langdon | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Eddie Palmer | NC | ND | 6 | |
| 1925 | Harry “Kid” Wallace | NC | ND | 8 |
Blair and Chaney Get Return Shots
Camden Courier-Post —
Meet Moffo and Spearing in Feature Bouts at Ball Park Friday
Mickey Blair, Camden’s promising featherweight, will get an opportunity to wipe away the only stain on an otherwise spotless career next Friday when he meets his only conqueror, Billy Moffo, the Bristol bearcat, in the feature bout at the Public Service Ball Park, Twelfth and Federal streets.
Moffo is the lad who halted Blair’s winning streak in a hard-fought battle last month, and Mickey is training hard to try and avenge that setback. If successful against the Pennsylvanian, the Camden youth will go after bigger game.
Joe Spearing, the rugged Camden lightweight, and Eddie Chaney, Whitman Park star, appear in another return engagement in the semi-windup. Spearing first leaped into fistic prominence by beating Chaney at the Temple Theatre last winter. While Eddie is anxious to turn the tables this time, Spearing is planning an active campaign, and he will try hard to repeat his impressive victory.
Tommy Boylan, the scrappy Beverly bantamweight, faces Ray Weigand, of Philadelphia, in the second setto. Weigand was originally booked to meet Boylan at the last show, but an injury prevented the Philadelphian from going through with the bout.
Kid Bevo, the elongated Trentonian who knocked out Boylan at the Convention Hall last winter, returns to Camden and faces Tommy Lyons, of Gloucester, in the opening bout.
All four fights are slated for eight rounds.
Mickey Blair Wins Mythical Lightweight Crown by Decisive Victory Over Sammy Moffo
Camden Courier-Post —
BRISTOL BATTLER FAILS TO CARRY SINGLE ROUND
South Camden Flash Puts Up Most Sensational Bout of Career
WINS BY WIDE MARGIN
Courier Decisions
Mickey Blair, (130½) Camden won from Sammy Moffo, (124) Bristol, in eight rounds.
Joe Spearing (134) Camden, shaded Eddie Chaney, (132½) Camden, in eight rounds.
Ray Weigand, (133) Philadelphia outpointed Tommy Boylan, (124) Beverly, in eight rounds.
Jack Dunee, (131) Philadelphia, defeated Kid Bevo, (131½) Trenton, in eight rounds.
Referee Joe Robinson.
Timer Dan Dean.
Announcer Joe Valentine.
BY FRANK H. RYAN
Courier Sports Editor
Mickey Blair, South Camden’s fistic wizard, today wears the mythical lightweight championship of Camden and vicinity. Outboxing and outpunching Sammy Moffo all the way, Blair won the lightweight title at the Twelfth and Federal streets baseball park last night when he gave the Bristol bearcat an artistic beating.
Showing a complete reversal of form over that which he exhibited in his first fight with Moffo a month ago, Blair thrilled more than 2,000 fans by carrying the fight to Sammy from bell to bell. He outguessed and outslammed Sammy at every stage of the game and won by one of those well-known city blocks!
Blair’s margin of victory is indicated by the fact that he carried five of the eight rounds with the other three sessions being even. In other words, Moffo, despite his desperate rallies in the last four sessions, failed to carry a single round, although he did manage to get an even break in the second, fourth and seventh sessions.
Near Kayo in Sixth
Mickey’s biggest round was the sixth, in which session he came within a hair of winning by a knockout. A right cross flush on the jaw befuddled Moffo’s brain and when Mickey landed two more similar punches he had Sammy wobbly and the bell was a mighty welcome sound to the Bristol bearcat.
It was a much different Blair that faced Moffo last night than the one Sammy trimmed a month ago. Last night Mickey boxed in the same cool-headed, determined manner that returned him the winner over Buck Fleming, and which triumph brought brought [sic] him out into the championship spotlight.
Whereas Blair appeared to forget the value of his left hand in the first bout, it was just the opposite last night. Mickey had his left mit in Moffo’s face seven-tenths of the time, and followed so quickly with his right that Sammy was unable to duck or dodge, as he did in the other bout. In other words, Mickey used his left to throw Sammy off his stride, and then he “socked” through with his right, which appeared to carry more weight last night than in any previous bout.
Blair’s impressive and decisive triumph easily can be termed the greatest fight of his career, and he well deserved the congratulations that were showered on him at the finish. Mickey took his reverse by Moffo in the other bout like a real sport, and his victory last night was all the more popular for that reason.
Moffo Fought Desperately
Moffo, full of confidence at the off-start, proved his gameness and made several determined rallies in an effort to cut down the lead Blair piled up in the early rounds, but Mickey was ready for him at every time, and Sammy invariably was first to clinch when the battling went to close quarters.
Moffo was not disgraced by any means. He simply was beaten by a lad who rose to his greatest heights at a time when it meant everything to him. At long range Blair was considerably superior to Moffo, and while many looked for Sammy to do damage in the clinches, Blair surprised even his most ardent admirers by his willingness to trade slams from any old angle and at any old time.
Excitement ran high throughout the bout because of the fast pace set by both boys from bell to bell, but the peak of the excitement was reached when it looked as though Mickey would send Sammy to slumberland in the sixth. It seemed as though the entire crowd was on its feet, and scores of Blair’s admirers crowded round the ring yelling and pleading for Mickey to put over the finishing punch as Moffo pluckily stayed on his feet until the bell came to his rescue.
It was a mighty close call for Sammy to clear his befuddled head and he finished in whirlwind fashion, but no faster than Mickey.
Spearing Beats Chaney
Joe Spearing, Ray Weigand and Jack Dundee were the winners in the other bouts, all of which also went the full eight round limit.
Spearing shaded Eddie Chaney, of Whitman Park, in a hard-fought but peculiar battle. Spearing, with his rushing style of battling kept on top of Chaney the greater part of the time and the Whitmann Parker was unable to make use of his ability as a boxer.
Chaney made several good rallies, and fought hard all the way but Spearing was entitled to the verdict, principally because he put over the most punches. It was a hard bout to judge and not a very pleasing scrap to watch.
Weigand, who made his first appearance in this city in last night’s show, took the measure of Tommy Boylan, of Beverly, in one of the fastest bouts seen in this city. Weigand proved a fast stepper who can hit with either hand and from any angle. He was too clever as a boxer for Boylan and made Tommy miss many times. The Beverly lad, however, drove home a number of hard lefts to Weigand’s stomach that had the Philadelphian worried.
The boys gave the crowd a big thrill in the eighth round when it appeared as though one more punch might put either out. Weigand caught Boylan with a left to the stomach early in the round that made Tommy stagger.
No “Kick” in Bevo
It was evident that the wallop hurt Boylan and Weigand tore in like a wildcat in an effort to finish Tommy. But the latter brought a big cheer from the crowd when he rallied and started to trade punches with the Philadelphia flash. Both lads flayed away with both hands until the bell ended the battle.
Dundee proved an excellent substitute for Tommy Lyons. After being knocked down in the first round by Kid Bevo, Dundee turned around and carried the fight for the rest of the bout. Bevo, who did a lot of fancy footwork and retreating, tried desperately to put over his famed knockout, but his wallop had no poison in it last night. Dundee won the second, third, fifth and sixth rounds, while Bevo won the first session. The others were even.
Champion
MICKEY BLAIR
South Camden flash who won the mythical lightweight championship of Camden by decisively defeating Sammy Moffo last night.
Boxer, Sayrs’ Aide Nabbed in Tipsy Row
Camden Courier-Post —
Bertman Frees Both After Police Tell of Fuss at Brewer’s Cafe
Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, and Thomas Schneider, secretary to Commissioner William D. Sayrs, Jr., started the New Year by getting drunk and becoming both abusive and pugnacious when ordered away from Horace Brewer’s restaurant on Market street. Patrolman Frank Evans, Charles Bowen and August Fortune arrested Blair, Schneider and one Joseph Borini after they created a disturbance outside the restaurant following their ejection.
The case was called before Judge Bernard Bertman, who suspended sentence on all three. Blair, 19, lives at 833 South Fourth Street; Schneider at 414 Spruce Street; Borini, 22, at 324 Pine Street.
Mickey Blair Denies Charge of Police
Camden Courier-Post —
Mickey Blair Denies Charge of Police
Says He Wasn’t in Cafe; Blames ’Mistaken Identity’ for Fuss
“Mickey” Blair, widely known Camden pugilist, today issued a complete denial of charges made against him and two companions by police before Judge Bertman Tuesday.
Blair, Thomas Schneider, secretary to Commissioner Sayrs, and Joseph Bardini were arrested Sunday morning in front of Brewer’s Restaurant by Patrolman Frank Evans, Charles Bowen and August Fortune. It was said that they had been ejected from the restaurant for creating a disturbance.
“We were never in the place, and the whole affair was a case of mistaken identity,” Blair said. “The three of us were just going into the place when we saw Fortune. I knew him, so I went up and began to talk to him. He told me that three young fellows had tried to beat him up, but that he had finally arrested them and locked them in a cell.
“Just then Evans came along. He thought we were arguing with Fortune and that we were the men who had tried to give Fortune a beating. Without any words he hit Schneider. I went up to him and asked him what he was doing, and he hit me. I reeled back and just then Bowen came along and told Evans he had made a mistake. Fortune told him, too, that we had done nothing.
“Eddie Kelleher’s son came along and when he tried to stop the policeman from hitting us Evans grabbed him and tore the buttons off his coat. Then they put the three of us in a patrol. I was trying to tell Evans that there had been a mistake made, but he told me to shut up and hit me over the head with a blackjack. In court we received suspended sentences, because we convinced the judge that we had done nothing. Evans tried to say we had resisted arrest, but we couldn’t have done that, for we weren’t arrested until after the affair was all over.”
Horace Brewer, owner of the restaurant, also denied that the three young men were in the place. He denied that he had asked any policemen to take anyone from the place.
Fans Anticipate Stirring Bout When Mickey Blair Clashes With Joey Michaels Here Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
EVEN MONEY PREVAILS AS BOUT DRAWS NEAR
Friends of Principals Will Not Offer Odds on Convention Hall Final
BOTH BOYS CONFIDENT
Admirers of Mickey Blair, clever downtown Italian, are wagering even money that Blair will outpoint Joey Michaels, the Riverside knockout king when they clash in the feature eight-round scrap at the Convention Hall tonight. Five other bouts, every one of which shows promise of producing plenty of thrills, round out the night’s fistic program.
Still, it is the Blair-Michaels fuss that will fill every available space at the local Palace of Punch tonight. No bout arranged here in recent years has aroused the interest of local boxing devotees to the extent that tonight’s windup has created. It is a battle between a clever, cagey veteran and an inexperienced youngster who packs T. N. T. in both hands consequently, the fans are divided in their opinions as to which boy will win the verdict.
Each has a host of admirers who are willing to bet that their choice will be returned the victor, but neither side will lay odds on the outcome. That’s how the fans regard the bout.
Both Have Much at Stake
And the outcome is of the utmost importance to the principals. Blair, who is making his appearance here in several months, must win in order to regain his former place in the local fistic spotlight, while Michaels, who is fighting his first windup scrap tonight, must finish on the right side of the referee’s decision or else fall back among the lesser lights. Therefore both can be depended upon to put forth their best efforts in an attempt to gain the decision.
Mickey is one of the cleverest lads ever developed here, and until he broke a bone in his right hand in a bout with Tommy Murphy, of Trenton, in the Elks Krippled Kiddies Fund show here last fall, was regarded as the greatest little fighting machine in this end of the state. However, he was forced to undergo an operation as a result of the injury, idlying away many weeks before he was fit to fight again. His first tilt after regaining the use of his hand was with Tony Murray, of Philadelphia, at the Philadelphia Arena, which took place about five weeks ago. Murray winning the decision by a rally in the closing rounds.
Confidence Reigns in Both Camps
Blair, nevertheless, looked good for the first three rounds, but his extended layoff told on him in the final three sessions, while Murray, who was in good shape, put on added speed to win the contest.
But, Mickey is in tiptop condition for tonight’s fuss. He has trained diligently for the past two weeks and will answer the gong trained to the minute. He showed his old time skill during his training period, throwing punches at his sparring partners with all the speed that he displayed when he was the king of the feathers in this locality. He, along with his manager, John “Pud” Bantivoglio, feels confident that he is capable of outsmarting his dynamite-slinging foe.
Michaels, too, is confident that he will win the decision and so is his manager, Ed Berryan. Joey and his pilot do not fear the outcome. Both firmly believe that sometime during the scrap Blair will find himself on the floor just as eight of the ten opponents that Michaels has fought here have found themselves. And those eight stayed “put,” and how.
Kayo of Hindle Made Michaels
Jackie Hindle, local lightweight, was Michaels’ latest victim. Prior to his knockout victory over Hindle, who went the voyage in the fourth round, Michaels’ showing here didn’t cause a sensation even though he had knocked out seven of his nine opponents. The fans felt that he hadn’t met a first-class foe until he faced Hindle and it was the concensus of opinion that Hindle would outpoint Joey by a fair margin.
Michaels confounded the critics by stopping Jackie in the fourth round after the latter had held his own in the first three periods. That victory boosted Michaels’ stock a hundred percent. He gained many cohorts by that win and some of the boys who thought he was due to be licked by Hindle now think that he’ll also whip Blair.
And Michaels is a dangerous lad at all times. He hits as hard with one fist as he does with the other which accounts for his many knockouts. A single sock on a vital spot from either fist has flattened most of his opponents and Blair will be in constant danger during the course of the tilt. All in all it looks like a great scrap on paper and should be just as sensational in reality.
Frank Morris, of New York, who is reported to be a 300-hitter, clashes with Jack Nelson, of Hammonton, in the eight-round semi-final. They are heavyweights and as it is the usual thing for those sort of bouts to end early, this one may result in a knockout for Nelson, who also is a pretty fair puncher.
Kid Boots, of Riverside, a stablemate of Michaels, meets Harry Woods, of Philadelphia, in the main preliminary of six rounds. Woods replaces Stanley Ketchell who informed the promoters that a sparring partner had stuck one of the thumbs in his eye and that he would not be able to go through with the bout.
Harry Buck, of National Park, who stopped his last opponent, faces Joe “Kid” Kelly, of Camden, in the second scrap, while Young Joe O’Donnell, of Barrington, mingles with Tommy Collins, of Philadelphia, in the opener. Jesse Chambers, of Manila, and Jack Haley, of Burlington, meet in the four-round novice bout.
JOEY MICHAELS
The Riverside “killer” will be sent out by his manager, Ed Berryan, to knock out Mickey Blair, clever downtown Italian, as early as possible when they clash in the main event at the Convention Hall tonight. Michaels has scored eight knockouts in ten bouts here and many fans regard him as a coming lightweight champion.
Fans Jeer As Referee Smith Gives Draw Decision in ‘Mickey’ Blair-Joey Michaels Bout
Camden Courier-Post —
LOCAL FIGHT RESULTS
The winners, losers and their weights, of the Camden City A. C. boxing show at the Convention Hall last night follow:
Jack Riley, 151½ pounds, of Burlington, stopped Jess Chambers, 162 pounds of Mantua, in first round. (1 mintue [sic], 53 seconds).
Joe O’Donnell, 120 pounds, of Camden, knocked out Tommy Collins, 116 pounds, of Philadelphia, in first round. (1 minute, 5 seconds).
Kid Boots, 174½ pounds, of Riverside, stopped Harry Woodam 173 pounds, of Philadelphia, in first round. (35 seconds).
Joe Kid Kelly, 127 pounds, of Camden, won referee’s decision over Harry Buck 129 pounds, of National Park, in six rounds.
Frank Morris, 164 pounds, of New York, knocked out Willie Curry, 156 pounds, of Philadelphia, in first round. (1 minute, 50 seconds).
Mickey Blair, 133½ pounds, of Camden, and Joey Michaels, 134½ pounds, of Riverside, fought eight rounds to draw.
Referee—Sergeant Ray Smith.
Timer—George Dean. Inspector—Edward A. Welsh. Announcer—Joe Valentine.
Fans Jeer As Referee Smith Gives Draw Decision in ‘Mickey’ Blair-Joey Michaels Bout
BLAIR’S SKILL OFFSET MICHAELS KAYO PUNCH
Downtown Italian Wages Great Scrap in Holding Knockout King at Bay
MORRIS STOPS CURRIE
By TOM RYAN
Mickey Blair, downtown Italian, once more is the idol of Camden boxing devotees.
Displaying the best form he has shown in the past year, Blair outboxed, outpunched and outsmarted Joey Michaels, Riverside knockout artist, when they clashed in the feature eight-round set-to at the Convention Hall last night. Still, the best Blair received for his meritorious performance was a draw. Referee Sergeant Ray Smith declaring the bout even at the close of hostilities.
Mickey, in the writer’s opinion, was entitled to seven out of the eight rounds, while Michaels only could be credited with one round, the sixth, in which he landed a couple of well-directed right uppercuts to Blair’s jaw, which made Mickey a trifle “woozy” for a few seconds. However, barring that round, Blair never was in danger of being felled by one of Michaels’ lusty blows. That’s how the scrap appeared to the writer.
And the capacity crowd that witnessed the tussle evidently viewed the bout the same way, for they met Referee Smith’s decision with a concerted outburst of jeers that lasted several minutes. In fact, it was the most surprising verdict that has been rendered here since referee’s decisions have been in vogue. There wasn’t a spectator present who didn’t figure that Blair had won by a comfortable margin, consequently, Smith’s decision caused the fans to cut loose with “berries” from every part of the hall.
Four Bouts Result in Knockouts
While Smith’s decision failed to meet with the approval of the fans and also that of the writer, we sincerely believe that he gave the decision as he thought it should have been rendered. Of course, we do not know how he scored the scrap, but he must have given Michaels credit for several rounds which we thought belonged to Blair. It’s just a matter of a difference of opinion, which so frequently occurs whenever a fight of any importance is staged here. The verandah saw it one way and the fans and the writer another, but we’ll always believe that Blair should have been awarded the verdict without question.
Only one of the five bouts preceding the main event went the limit.
Frank Morris, 160, of New York, who is being groomed by Leo P. Flynn, for a whack at Mickey Walker’s middleweight crown, knocked out Willie Curry, 156, of Philadelphia, who substituted for Jack Nelson, of Hammonton, after one minute and fifty seconds of a one-sided scrapping in the semi-final. Curry went down twice from left hooks to the pit of the stomach, the last one putting him down for keeps.
Kid Boots, 174½, of Riverside, flattened Harry Woods, 172, of Philadelphia, who substituted for Stanley Ketchell, another Quaker City heavyweight, in the fast time of thirty-five seconds in the main preliminary.
Kelly Wins Over Buck
Joe “Kid” Kelly, 127, of South Camden, won the referee’s decision over Harry Buck, 129, of National Park, in the second six-rounder. It was a close fight and went the limit. Referee Walters awarding Kelly the verdict at the end of the fuss.
In the four-round novice bout, Jack Riley, 151½, of Burlington, stopped Jesse Chambers, of Mantua, after 1 minute and 53 seconds of slugging in the first round.
Tommy Collins, 116, of Philadelphia, took a “dive” in the first round of his tilt with Young Joe O’Donnell, 120, of Barrington. Incidentally, Collins’ money was held up by Deputy Boxing Commissioner Edward A. Welsh, as Collins’ act was too raw for even the most liberal minded fans to condone.
But the crowd wasn’t interested in the settos preceding the feature scrap. The fans turned out to see Blair and Michaels fight, and while Michaels’ admirers were disappointed at his showing, Blair’s cohorts were overjoyed to see Mickey display his old-time form throughout.
Blair Outslugs Michaels
Picked by many critics to hit the deck if he attempted to trade punches with Michaels, Mickey astounded the fans by standing toe-to-toe with Joey, and on many occasions he invariably made the latter either break ground or go into a clinch. Blair knew entirely too much for Michaels. He feinted Joey into leading in the early rounds and then beat him to the punch repeatedly. Then in the closing rounds Blair took the lead himself, and also packed home his punches before Joey could get off first.
Michaels, who had knocked out eight of the ten opponents he had faced here prior to last night’s fuss with Blair, fought a one-punch fight. He apparently based his hopes of victory on getting an opening to tag Mickey on the “button,” but Mickey made certain that he didn’t present that opportunity, although he never once went into a “shell” in order to avoid punishment. Joey only made Mickey look tired in one round, and that was the sixth. In that frame Joey brought up a few right uppercuts while in the clinches which sent Mickey’s head bobbing and brought a weary look to his eyes, but Blair shook them off before the round was over and finished in good shape.
Blair’s best rounds were the first and fourth. Both sparred for an opening in the first and spent full thirty seconds fiddling around before Blair sent a right and left to the head, Mickey then cut loose with a long right which landed flush on Michaels’ nose, the punch starting the gore trickling at once. Mickey followed up with a flurry of rights and lefts to the head and body, winding up with a hard right to the jaw which sent Joey back on his heels. Blair tore into Michaels, banging away with both hands and Joey was forced to hold. After coming out of the embrace, Joey missed a long right swing and Blair took advantage of his poor judgment by planting a right and left to the body just as the bell ended the round.
Mickey Starts Weaving
Joey took the lead at the start of the second. He clipped Mickey alongside the head with a right and left, but the punches were too high to do much damage. Blair started weaving at this stage of the fuss and Joey appeared to be at a loss as to how to meet the situation. Mickey, however, went to work then and scored with a right and left to the body. He continued his attack on Joey’s midsection and the latter took to the run for the remainder of the round.
The third was a repetition of the second, Blair piling up more points, while Joey was looking for an opening to send home a decisive wallop. In the fourth, Mickey landed almost will and it was in this round that confounded the critics by outslugging his youthful foe. He crowded Joey into the ropes and exchanged punch for punch, Michaels finally being the first one to call it quits by falling into a clinch.
Mickey also won the fifth by a fair margin. He outpunched Michaels throughout and forced the milling from start to finish of the round. Joey got in his best work in the sixth. He opened with a vicious left hook to Mickey’s head which packed enough power to make the little Italian wobble for an instant. Joey closed in and sent two lefts to the body and then got in three right uppercuts to Blair’s jaw, the last punch bringing the claret from Mickey’s lips.
Joey Rocks Mickey In Sixth
Blair looked a trifle worried when Referee Smith parted them, but took the initiative by throwing a light right into Joey’s ribs. The latter, however, sensing that he had hurt Blair, countered with a right and left to the head before they went into another clinch. Joey then made Mickey’s head bob back and forth with four or five more uppercuts shortly before the gong ended the period, Blair appearing to be pretty tired when he went to his corner.
But that was Joey’s first and last flash of the night. Mickey came out refreshed at the start of the seventh and worked fast enough to win the round with plenty to spare. The final session was the slowest one of the bout. Both boys were played out from their earlier exertion, but Michaels was wearier than Blair. Joey didn’t land a punch in the last round, and while Blair didn’t do much damage, he sent home enough light punches to gain the period.
It was a good fight, and Blair set at rest the rumors that he has slipped by fighting one of the best fights of his career. The defeat didn’t dim for Michaels for he was fighting after the old last night and the showing means that Joey gave his best and with a few more fights under his belt may give Blair a better fight when they meet again. Blair weighed 133½, while Michaels was one pound heavier.
Morris Displays Punching Power
Despite the fact that the semi-final didn’t last two minutes, Morris showed enough in that short space of time to convince the fans that he is a great hitter. He didn’t waste any time when the gong sounded, but went about his task of stowing away Currie in a business-like fashion. He jammed the Philadelphian into a neutral corner and let fly with both hands to the head and body until Curry halted his attack by grabbing him around the waist.
After the break, Morris again crowded Willie into a neutral corner and then drove his left to the stomach with such force that Currie went down like a shot. It looked like the end for Willie squirmed in pain, but he was game and regained his feet at the count of nine. Morris tore in to finish him, but Currie managed to bore his way into a clinch. But that was the last chance he got to hold. After Smith parted them, Frank planted a couple of light rights to the head and then, like a bolt from the blue, banged his left to Currie’s stomach. That was the end of the scrap.
Boots Wins an Argument
Boots made short shrift of Woods who announced before the fight that Boots wasn’t so “hot” and that he’d take him early. Boots took exception to Woods’ remark and stated that he’d knock Woods kicking in the first round. Boots won the argument. He started both hands going as soon as the gong rang and Woods hit the floor from a hard right which landed on his left eye. When he arose the blood was streaming down his face and before Boots could clout him again he dropped to his knees. He took three straightened up and was going through some hostilities, but Referee Walters took one look at the gash over his eye and halted the fuss.
The Kelly-Buck tussle was a mighty close affair but there wasn’t a thrill in the fuss. Kelly, a right-hander, beat Buck, a left-hander, to the punch because the National Park lad entered the ring with a damaged left hand. Still we gave Buck the edge for his aggressiveness. According to our score card, Buck won the second, fifth and sixth rounds. Kelly the third and fourth, while the first was even. Then again, Kelly fared in the last rounds, while Buck hadn’t suffered any damage from the right uppercuts registered by Kelly in the early rounds.
Collins Is Very Poor Actor
Collins’ “diving” act in the first bout was the crudest thing that ever has been witnessed in a local ring. O’Donnell, one of the most promising featherweights in the east, hit too hard for him, so he took the easiest way out. Joe hit him with two lefts to the head shortly after the round opened, and Tommy looked ready to quit after the second punch. He must have felt the shot was too early, for he sleep for a few seconds more. Then O’Donnell fooled around the ring and then hit him on the top of the head with a light right. That was Tommy’s cue to hit the deck. He didn’t need a prompter, too he collapsed as if he had been hit by lightning. He took the full count while lying flat on his face. It was a vile performance, but Tommy will not receive a nickel for his acting.
Leon Lucas, who won the National A.A.U. light heavyweight championship by knocking out four opponents on the layouts for the American Olympic boxing team at Boston early this week, was introduced to the ring. Lucas will represent the United States on his distances at the Olympic Games, which will be held at Amsterdam in July.
Gorman Meets Test Against Joe Bashara
Camden Courier-Post —
GORMAN MEETS TEST AGAINST JOE BASHARA
Hard-Hitting Middleweights Meet in Prelim to Forgione-McGorgary Bout Tuesday
ALLEN FIGHTS MURPHY
Successful so far in a comeback campaign launched recently, Joe Bashara, hard-hitting middleweight from Baltimore, will stack up against a tough customer in one of the preliminary bouts at the all-star show arranged by the Matthew Purnell Post, 518, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at the Camden Convention Hall next Tuesday.
Bashara opposes Tip Gorman, Camden’s fighting cop, himself in the midst of a comeback.
The Marylander was brought to Philadelphia by “Boo Boo” Hoff two years ago and he became one of the most popular club fighters then performing in this section.
He was inactive for some months, but has started fighting again and hopes to reach former heights.
Gorman, after a string of victories up North Jersey, gained favor here with triumphs over Watson Finch and Tony Gildo. He then joined the police force and retired temporarily. Now he is back in harness again, and rarin’ to go.
There should be plenty of action when the hard-hitting Tip tackles the tough Bashara.
The windup Tuesday brings together Vincent Forgione, Atlantic City speedster who is also a member of the Hoff stable, and Babe McGorgary, the rugged Oklahoma cowboy. McGorgary is a slugger but Forgione is a better boxer, and hits hard, besides.
The semi-windup presents two South Jersey Italians who rank among the leading lightweights in the state. Roxie Allen, fresh from a victory over Mickey Blair and a draw with Emery Cabana, opposes Tommy “Kid” Murphy, the Trenton flash.
Two terrific punchers mingle in the main preliminary. Al Gordon, Hoff’s southpaw lightweight, fights Jesse Goss, Trenton colored sensation. Goss is the boy who ended Jackie Hindle’s career with a knockout victory, during which he almost blinded the Camdenite.
Jess also boasts a win over Murphy. It was after this bout that Murphy attacked a Trenton sports writer and was suspended by Commissioner Bugbee. He has been restored to good graces since.
The opening bout on the program shows Leon Lucas, former amateur champion who fought in the recent Olympics, making his professional debut. The Camden heavyweight meets Mushy Brown, formerly of Chicago, who has been under the care of the veteran Adam Ryan. Ryan thinks he has a comer in the 180-pound Brown, and Lucas is sure to be tested in his pro start.
In addition to these five star bouts, a novice scrap will be staged between Jimmy Russell, of Beverly, and George Jackson, of Camden.
Blair to Meet Clark in Paulsboro Windup
Camden Courier-Post —
Paulsboro, Oct. 15.—Boxing will make its indoor appearance here on Thursday night, October 22, when six bouts will be staged at the Paulsboro Arena, which has been renovated to such an extent that it will seat 1200. It was announced yesterday by Matchmaker Jack Fitzgerald that he has signed Mickey Blair, popular Camden lightweight, and Dick Clark, of Memphis, Tenn., to clash in the main event of six rounds. Five other bouts will fill out the card.
Blair Faces Clark in Paulsboro Bout
Camden Courier-Post —
Paulsboro, Oct. 22.—Indoor boxing will make its debut here tonight at the Paulsboro Arena when Promoter Jack Fitzgerald presents a card of six all-star matches. The first bout is timed to start at 8.30 p. m. Mickey Blair, pride of South Camden, is down to oppose Dick Clark, of Memphis, Tenn., in the feature bout of six rounds. Five undercard bouts will precede the main event.
Blair Conquers Clark in Paulsboro Feature
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Lightweight Easy Winner Before 1200 Fans at Indoor Show
LAWSON-CRAMER DRAW
Paulsboro, Oct. 23.—Mickey Blair, Camden lightweight, added another victim to his long string here last night when he outpointed Dick Clark of Memphis, Tenn. in the six-round feature attraction at the Paulsboro Arena. Although the windup was a good scrap, Blair had much the better of the going before 1200 fans. The Lawson-Cramer undercard bout ended in a draw.
Blair and Pals Held Without Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Boxer Must Face Charge of Robbing Shore Cigar Store
By Staff Correspondent
Atlantic City, May 31.—Mickey Blair and his two companions charged with the holdup and robbery of an Atlantic City store proprietor were held without bail for the grand jury last night at a preliminary hearing before Magistrate Francis J. Waldmayer.
All three entered pleas of not guilty to the charge through John Rauffenbart, their counsel, who said he would apply for a writ of habeas corpus tomorrow to affect [sic] the release of his clients in bail.
Blair, Thomas Banalli and Charles Parisi appeared before Magistrate Waldmayer dapperly attired and with their hats in their hands, as though they expected to be free to leave following the hearing.
All wore serious expressions and appeared nervous while before the court. They failed to show any emotion when Judge Waldmayer gave his decision.
The three Camden youths are charged with holding up and robbing Mrs. Barbara Lehman in a rear room of her cigar store at 1209 Arctic avenue and escaping with $365 in cash.
Patrolman Latimer Grobes off duty at the time, entered the store in time to see the youth fleeing from a rear door. He obtained the license number of their automobile and telephoned it to police headquarters. A general alarm was sent out over state police teletype and the trio were picked up at Absecon 20 minutes after the holdup.
Mickey Blair Freed as Uncle Posts Bail
Camden Courier-Post —
Mays Landing, June 9.—Mickey Blair, Camden boxer, today was released from the Atlantic county jail when his uncle, William Tenerelli, 296 Chestnut street, Camden, posted $5000 bail to assure his appearance before the grand jury on holdup charges. Blair’s two pals were unable to raise security.
Edward Martino, Camden lawyer, was granted an application for bail by Judge William H. Stanger yesterday.
Blair, whose real name is Michael Tenerelli; Thomas Bonalli and Charles Parisi have been detained without bail since their arrest on charges of holding up Mrs. Barbara Lehman in a rear room of her cigar store at 1209 Arctic avenue, May 28.
Billed as Bomber
Camden Courier-Post —
MICKEY BLAIR
The April Grand Jury yesterday returned an indictment against Blair charging him with threatening to kill a Pennsauken man by bombing his home. It was the first time Blair has ever been indicted, although arrested 10 times for various offenses.
Blair Indicted by Grand Jury for Threat to Blow Up Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Boxer Must Stand Trial With Pal on Pennsauken Man’s Charge
DRY RAIDERS CLEARED IN COOK’S GRILL CASE
Two Agents and 4 Truckmen Absolved of Mischief in Bar-Wrecking Episode
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 6100 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 [sic] are Floyd E. Slamp, 20, of 148 Marne avenue, Haddonfield, son of the secretary and treasurer of the Troth Warehouse and Trucking Company, Fifth and Byron streets; Robert McKee, 45, of 4837 Duffield street, Philadelphia; John Shrom, 19, of Moorisville, 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, 45, of 7349 Remington 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 270 Walnut 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 make good for 100 gallons 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 since he was 12 this is the first indictment to be returned against him, police say.
Other indictments returned yesterday are:
Desertion and non-support: John Councellor, John Morgan, Joseph Casini, Raymond Sykes, August Remler, Thomas Early, Isadore Kramer, Martin O’Toole, Harry Gallagher, William Johnson, Charles Krown, Curtis Myers, Clarence Brinning, George Price, William Slaughter, Grover C. Bennett.
Breaking, entering and larceny: Elisha and Anna Coleman, Theodore Ruteski and Anton Zakrewski, Patrick Williams and Louis Thomas, Henry Parzewicz, Tony Renczykowski and Stanley Kidzierski.
Robbery—John Duboski, John H. Linicky; assault and battery—John Barr, Louigi Celeni, Fred D. Coleman, Benjamin Wallace, Zack McGriff, John Collins, Max Platkin, Joseph Panacola, Albert Pickering, Adolph Smith, Millard Wallace.
Larceny and receiving stolen goods—Warren Cormulewicz, Harold Wolf, William Mitchell, Stanley Kramer and Frank Gymuszuk.
Possession of liquor—Herman Fleisher, Gene Geffner, David Gold.
Statutory charge—Robert J. Sutters.
Two Camden Pals Also Accused in Holdup of Store
Camden Courier-Post —
12 Charges Are Returned Against Gang of Six in Torture Case
FOUR WOMEN TESTIFY
An indictment charging Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, with holdup of an Atlantic City cigar store was returned by the Atlantic County Grand Jury at Mays Landing yesterday. Two other Camden men were included in the bill.
Blair was indicted under his legitimate name of Michael Tenerelli. He is 23.
The grand jury also returned 12 robbery indictments against six youths who stripped, tortured and then took $2000 in jewels and money from Herman Meier, an English Creek restaurant proprietor last Thursday night.
The indictment against Blair was the second within a week, the Camden County Grand Jury on Wednesday finding a true bill against the boxer on a charge of threatening to kill a Pennsauken township man by bombing his house in connection with an alleged liquor deal.
Others Indicted
The other men indicted with Blair on robbery charges are Thomas Bonalli, 23, of 270 Walnut street, and Charles Parisi, 22, of 313 Pine street, this city.
The three were arrested by state police in Absecon on May 28 less than 20 minutes after the holdup. They are accused of taking $325 from Mrs. Barbara Lehman in a store at 1209 Arctic avenue at the point of guns. The alertness of a shore patrolman in taking the license number of a car which later proved to be the machine in which the trio was riding, led to their apprehension.
The six men indicted for the robbery of Meier and his aged mother, Mrs. Margaret B. Meier, 65, are Robert Webber, 22, of 128 West Sixty-fourth street, New York; John Devine, 24, of 1110 Sayre street, Pittsburgh; Stanley Carlin, 28, of 135 South Tennessee avenue, Atlantic City; Charles Sanner, 28, of 135 South Tennessee avenue, Atlantic City; Walter Bardey, 21, of 120 South Maryland avenue, Atlantic City, and Clinton Jackson, 23, of 106 South Tennessee avenue, Atlantic City.
Four Women Testify
Four women arrested with the six men testified before the grand jury today and were later ordered held by Prosecutor Repetto as material witnesses.
After rousing Meier from his sleep last Thursday night, the six indicted youths ordered sandwiches and near beer. Later they grabbed Meier, stripped off his clothing and at the point of a gun demanded to know where he kept his money. They burned his feet and legs with matches when he refused to tell. Ransacking the house, they found $2000 worth of jewelry and money which was later recovered in Atlantic City last Saturday.
Mickey Blair Trial Scheduled Monday
Camden Courier-Post —
‘On Again-Off Again’ Robbery Hearing With 2 Pals Much Delayed
The “on again-off again” trial of Mickey Blair, Camden prize fighter, and two companions on robbery indictments in Atlantic county, is listed to go on hearing Monday at Mays Landing. Blair, 23, of 833 South 4th Street; Thomas Bonalli, 23, of 270 Walnut Street; and Charles Parisi, 22, of 313 Pine Street, are charged with taking $33.07 from Mrs. Barbara Lehman and Benjamin Rubenstein at 1209 Arctic Avenue on May 18.
Mickey Blair Free, Accusers Arrested
Camden Courier-Post —
Plaintiff in Robbery Held After Failure to Identify Suspects
Mays Landing, Feb. 6.—Mickey Blair, well-known boxer and two other Camden youths were acquitted by a jury in Atlantic County Criminal Court here today of participation in an Atlantic City cigar store holdup nine months ago. The acquittal followed summary arrest of a state’s witness on perjury charges at the direction of Judge William H. Smathers. Blair remains under a separate bombing charge in Camden county.
Lieut. Bakley and 11 Police Suspended in Feitz Inquiry
Camden Evening Courier —
3 Sergeants Included in List Set Down by Chief Colsey
JUSTICE LLOYD JOINS PROBE INTO MURDER
Chief of Police Arthur Colsey at noon today announced the indefinite suspension of Lieut. Ralph Bakley, commander of the Second district of Camden police, and 11 other policemen in connection with the investigation into the killing of Detective William T. Feitz.
The full list of those suspended is as follows:
Lieut. Ralph Bakley, Sergt. John Garrity, Sergt. Walter Mattison, Acting Sergt. Edward Leonard, Sergt. Richard Cornog, Policemen George Weber, Joseph Leonhardt, Leon Branch, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmont [sic], John Houston and Vernon Jones.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd today entered the investigation into the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz in an alleged South Camden disorderly house Sept. 2.
The jurist, upon returning from his Summer vacation at Seaside Park, called an immediate conference with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando of Camden county and Police Chief Arthur Colsey of this city.
Although no confirmation could be obtained officially, it was learned from authoritative sources that Justice Lloyd would take up the charges made earlier in the week by Prosecutor Orlando that graft and corruption exist in the Camden police.
May Probe Suicide
The jurist was also expected to delve into the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, alleged operator of the disorderly house where Feitz met his death at 243 Sycamore street.
Mrs. Heisler, who was detained in the Camden detective bureau at the order of Detective Lieutenant George Ward instead of being locked in a cell, jumped from the fifth floor window of Ward’s office September 4 while two detectives assigned to guard her were nearby.
The progress of the police investigation into the killing of Feitz, whom police declare was shot when he surprised three bandits in the act of holding up 20 inmates and patrons, will be presented by both Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey.
Mickey Blair to Give Up
Mickey Blair, boxer whose real name is Michael Tenerelli, 25, who has been living in New York City, but whose Camden address is 833 South Fourth street, is to be surrendered to Camden police for questioning in connection with the murder of Feitz.
He has been sought by detectives for grilling since a few hours after the shooting of Feitz.
His attorney, Edward V. Martino, of 540 Cooper street, notified Chief Colsey today that he would surrender Tenerelli or Blair to the police in his office at 1 p.m.
“Mickey knows absolutely nothing about the killing of Feitz,” Martino told newspapermen. “Learning through a friend that police were seeking him for questioning, he called me Saturday night and asked me to ascertain the facts.”
“I learned that police wanted to talk to him and telephoned him to that effect in New York City where he has been staying for the past few weeks. He later called me back and told me that he would be in Camden at 1 p.m. today.”
‘Attended Funeral’
Martino revealed that Tenerelli or Blair said he had been in Camden prior to the killing of Feitz and also on Labor Day, the day following the shooting of the detective. He was here to attend the funeral of a brother-in-law, Martino said.
Neither Chief Colsey or other police or detective officials would comment upon what they hoped to learn from Tenerelli that might bring an early solution of the murder and lead to the arrest of the killers.
Prosecutor Orlando at the conference with Justice Lloyd in his City Hall-Court House offices, was to present a complete report on the murder of the detective together with statements obtained from all persons who figured in the crime.
Will Probe Numbers
Prosecutor Orlando stepped in and assumed nominal charge of the investigation last Thursday when he ordered police to submit to him all reports and statements of witnesses. However it was learned that the police are still directing the search for the killers.
The conference between Justice Lloyd, Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey comes on the eve of swearing in the September Grand Jury tomorrow at which time the grand jurors wil [sic] be ordered among other issues, to probe into the “numbers” racket in Camden county.
Grand Jury Vice Probe to Be Ordered by Lloyd; Stewart Quizzes Cops
Camden Evening Courier —
FEITZ MURDER, CITY GRAFTING TO FACE INQUIRY
Action Follows Parley With Orlando and Mayor on Conditions
MORE SUSPENSIONS OF POLICE INTIMATED
Mickey Blair Quizzed on Detective’s Killing; Stewart Warns, ‘Clean Up’
Questioned in Feitz Murder
Michael Tenerelli, 25, known in pugilistic circles as Mickey Blair, is shown above during a lull in the questioning by detectives investigating the murder of District Detective William Feitz. Tenerelli surrendered to police yesterday and on order of Prosecutor Orlando was held without bail on charges of being a material witness and with conspiracy in a robbery in connection with the holdup in progress in the South Camden alleged disorderly house at the time Feitz was shot.
Ward Reported on Way Out as Detective Chief
Reports around Camden police and detective headquarters today were to the effect that Lieutenant George Ward was on “his way out” as head of the Detective Bureau.
Dissatisfaction with the manner in which both police and detectives have handled the investigation so far into the Feitz murder will result in Mayor Stewart, director of public safety, ordering a change in detective chiefs today, it was authoritatively learned.
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, commander of the First Police District, will succeed Lieutenant Ward as it was reported, the latter being sent back to that police precinct which he formerly commanded.
“A sweeping investigation of all phases of “crime” in Camden County, will be the first order given the new September Grand Jury today after it is sworn in at Camden Courthouse by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
That was the decision reached by Justice Lloyd after three hours of separate conferences with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, of Camden County, and Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety. During the conferences held in Justice Lloyd’s offices at City Hall-Courthouse, the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz, alleged graft and corruption in the Camden police department and protected vice were thoroughly discussed.
Today, Mayor Stewart, who has inaugurated his own personal investigation of existing conditions in the police department, continued to question and take statements from police officials, patrolmen and detectives. Twenty-three patrolmen and detectives were ordered before the mayor yesterday in addition to the 12 others who were indefinitely suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey.
Tenerelli Quizzed
Michael Tenerelli, 25, also known as Mickey Blair, former Camden lightweight boxer, was still being questioned at police headquarters in connection with the murder of Detective Feitz. Tenerelli who surrendered to police here yesterday after returning from New York, is booked as a material witness and on a charge of conspiracy in a robbery. Both charges were ordered placed against Tenerelli by Prosecutor Orlando who has assumed direct charge of the investigation. He is being held without bail.
Seven other men and women taken into custody by police after the shooting of Feitz in the alleged disorderly house operated by the late Mrs. Emma Heisler at 243 Sycamore street, were to have been arraigned in Camden Police Court today on orders of Prosecutor Orlando and then turned over to the county authorities. Bail, Prosecutor Orlando declared, would be “sufficiently high” to insure their later appearances when wanted.
However there were no appearances of material witnesses or others in the Feitz investigation before Judge J. Harry Switzer in Camden Police Court during its session today and it was unofficially reported that the prosecutor had changed his plans.
Police Chief Colsey warned all detectives and patrolmen in the department that further suspensions will follow justified complaints of vice anywhere in the city limits if it can be traced to police neglect.
Chief Colsey also admitted that the 12 patrolmen and detectives suspended yesterday on his orders, will receive no pay as long as their suspensions last.
In addition to Lieutenant Bakley, Sergeant Cornog and Acting Sergeant Leonard, the others suspended include Sergeant Walter Mattison of police headquarters; Sergeant John Garrity, District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was with Feitz when he was shot; Patrolmen Leon Branch, George Weber, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmot, John Houston and Vernon Jones, all attached to the Second district station.
Interviews Police
Three of the suspended officers, Mayor Stewart revealed, were among those interrogated yesterday. They are Lieut. Ralph A. Bakley, commander of the Second Police District or Division “H” in which territory the alleged disorderly house existed where Feitz was fatally shot; Sergeant Richard Cornog and Acting [lines between the bottom of crop 15 and the top of crop 16 are not captured in the scanned crops]
Edwin Andrews, Winslow township; Joseph Dougherty, 140 Prospect avenue, Merchantville.
William Tomlinson, Glendale, Voorhees township; Edmund S. Stafford, 546 Stevens street; Harry Buffington, 123 East Clinton avenue, Oaklyn; Samuel A. Dobbins, 2599 Baird boulevard; Charles H. Thatcher, 129 Kendall boulevard, Oaklyn; Richard S. Thompson, East Zane avenue, Collingswood; Benjamin F. Stemmer, 420 Third Avenue, Haddon Heights; Horace J. Harvey, 721 Amherst avenue, Audubon; H. B. Cox, Evesham avenue, Voorhees township; Dr. Walter F. Wood, Collingswood; John W. Underwood, 801 Cumberland street, Gloucester; Clarence Alloway, Blackwood; Charles A. McWilliams, Blackwood; Louis G. Clark, Barrington; Albert J. Cline, 18 East Crystal Lake avenue, Westmont; Robert Bushbeck, First avenue, Pine Hill, Harry Burkhardt, Bell road, Mt. Ephraim; George T. Schuster, 223 Woodland terrace, Collingswood; Chesley L. Hutchins, 711 Market street, Gloucester and Otto Vierling, Evergreen avenue, Runnemede.
The order of Justice Lloyd for a wide grand jury probe of crime follows upon a decision he made 10 days ago to have the same body open an investigation into the “numbers” racket in Camden city and county. At that time he declared he did not believe any graft or corruption existed in the Camden police department in connection with the operation of the lottery game here.
Tenerelli was identified, Colsey said, as a frequenter of Mrs. Emma Heisler’s disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street, where Feitz was killed, and was booked as a material witness in the Feitz murder, and on a charge of “shaking down” Mrs. Heisler by force, prior to the murder.
Unlike Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death after 60 hours freedom in the detective bureau, Blair was slapped without bail into the “cold storage” or incommunicado cell in the bureau.
Blair, after surrendering to Colsey, was sent to the “downstairs” jail and kept there until about 4 p. m. yesterday. Then he was questioned for an hour and a half by Prosecutor Orlando and Colsey.
Blair denied all knowledge of the murder, Colsey said, after the grilling ceased, but added that two inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s house, whom he would not identify, named Blair as one of several men who had come several times to Mrs. Heisler’s place, attempted to extort money from her and, failing, had “held up the place” or a “shakedown.”
This coincided with the statement of Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, on the day Feitz was killed, that the place had been held up several times, and Mrs. Heisler, because of the nature of her occupation, would not report the holdups.
Prosecutor Orlando, subsequently, had stated that Feitz met death in an attempt to block a “shake-down” holdup of the place.
Boxer Is Identified
Both the inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s place, held incommunicado, looked at Blair in the new detective bureau “lineup” room and identified him as a shakedown visitor, but said he was not in the house on the night of the murder, Colsey said.
The chief then was asked if he believes friends of Blair staged the fatal shake-down and killed Feitz, and replied:
“That’s what we want to know. We don’t know yet. But we are getting somewhere and will solve this case.”
The two inmates of the Heisler house were brought back to the lineup room a second time, took another look at Blair through the screen that made him a “high-lighted” figure and prevented him from seeing them and reaffirmed their previous statements, Colsey said.
Upon the suspension of the twelve members of the force and the installation of a new acting second district commander and new acting sergeants to relieve those suspended, Chief Colsey said he issued the following order to the entire department:
Calls for Cleanup
“All vice must be eliminated absolutely and entirely in Camden. This means all types of vice, including the numbers racket, gambling houses, disorderly houses, horse-race bookmaking speakeasies and everything else though it may not be specifically enumerated here.
“In the future if any complaint of vice comes in, and is proved to be justified, and is attributable to negligence on the part of any patrolmen of police officer [sic], immediate suspension of the negligent members of the force will follow without exception.”
Chief Colsey also said he will recommend that bail of $2000 be set in all numbers racket cases in future, and that all arrested be held for grand jury action, except in cases where innocent players are brought in.
‘Prompted by Facts’
In making public the suspensions of the policemen, Chief Colsey said his action was “prompted by facts” uncovered during the course of his investigation.
In announcing the taking over of the murder investigation, Prosecutor Orlando said:
“As a result of my conference with Justice Lloyd it has been decided that the prosecutor’s office from this time on will take charge of the murder investigation.
“In doing so, however, it does not mean that the city police will cease acting in the matter and will act with just as much zeal as is within their command in bringing about the apprehension of those responsible.
“This investigation has been taken over by this office by reason of the policy assumed in other murder investigations. Hereafter all murder investigations in Camden county will be under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office and at the same time through co-ordinated efforts of this office and the police department of the particular community where the murder takes place.
“As far as developments are concerned, there is nothing new in the case except the arrest of Mickey Blair, who was surrendered by his counsel and who is in the custody of the police until he is committed.”
Lieutenant Walter Welch in command of the Third Police District was assigned by Chief Colsey to replace Lieutenant Bakley and make the suspensions of all sergeants and patrolmen in that precinct effective immediately. Sergeant John Potter of the Third District was named an acting lieutenant to replace Lieutenant Welch as commander of that precinct.
Welch said he will instruct every policeman under his new command that he must work in harmony with earnest efforts to stamp out vice.
“If they do not do this,” Welch said, “I do not want them. They will be of no use to me. They know what to expect if they fail to cooperate. My efforts will be directed to maintaining order without vice in the Second district, just as I have done in the Third.”
Blair May Reach Heights in Boxing
Camden Courier-Post —
Young South Camdenite Has Proved Gameness; Meets Marty Little Friday
Frankie Blair, downtown welterweight and brother of Mickey Blair who bossed South Jersey featherweights a few years ago, has the stuff of which champions are made. Blair, who meets Marty Little of Waterford, in the six-round main preliminary of Friday night’s boxing show here at the Convention Hall, isn’t hand-picking his opponents despite the fact that he has participated in only a few fights as a professional. Tommy Rios, of Wilmington, Del., who drew with Roxie Allen, South Camden product, here a short time ago, and Sylvan Bass, of Baltimore, Md., clash in the feature bout of eight rounds.
The Blair-Little bout is attracting more than average interest among local fans. Frankie tackled Ted Borman, another South Camdenite who has years of experience on him, in his last bout and lost decisively. However, when offered a match with Little, who also has been campaigning for several years, Blair signed for the match without the slightest quibbling.
Frankie has the courage of a mountain lion and has yet to take a backward step in his bouts in local rings. He still has a lot to learn about the finer arts of the fistic sport, but he’s a snappy puncher, which, coupled with his gameness, may some day place him in the front ranks of the 147-pounders.
Frankie may run into another storm in trading leather with Little. Marty also was beaten in his last trip to the barrier, Johnny Roach of Wilmington, Del., easily winning over the Waterford Italian in six rounds. But Little scored the only knockdown of the match, dropping Roach for a count of nine with a left hook to the jaw.
But even if Little beats Blair, the downtown youngster still would be willing to tackle a tougher opponent in his next start. Frankie, a smart kid, learns a bit more each time he boxes and it would not be surprising if he eventually fought his way to stardom.
Anyway, he always makes a fight of it and his tilt with Little is certain to be a crowd-pleaser, as Frankie crowds his foemen and makes them fight whether they want to or not.
Matchmaker Frankie Rapp today announced that Joe Mandarano, of Manayunk, Philadelphia, refused to meet Billy Hendrie, a fellow townsman, in the eight-round semi-final. Rapp hopes to obtain a suitable opponent for Hendrie, who is rapidly forging to the front in Philadelphia boxing ranks, but in event that he cannot sign a fighter who will give Hendrie a battle, he may pull out Billy and put in a new match.
In the two other six-rounders, Harry Smith, of North Camden, who stopped Freddy Adgie, of Philadelphia, in three rounds a couple of weeks ago, takes on Tom Henry, of Philadelphia, while two local youngsters, Julius Lighthiser and Jack Gleason, will battle for supremacy.
Mickey Blair Admits Visit to Crawford Smith
Camden Courier-Post —
Mickey Blair Admits Visit to Heisler Home on Fatal Night
Boxer Tells of His Attempt to Borrow Money From Woman
STEWART LAUNCHES BANK ACCOUNT PROBE
Mickey Blair yesterday admitted to the Courier-Post that he was in Mrs. Emma Heisler’s house trying to borrow money a few hours before Detective William T. Feitz was shot to death.
Mayor Roy R. Stewart, at the same time, announced that he will launch an investigation of the bank accounts of “certain policemen” to determine their wealth.
The two statements summarized the day’s progress in the search for Feitz’s slayers and in the mayor’s investigation of police connections with vice graft.
Blair not only admitted to a newspaperman that he was in Mrs. Heisler’s house to negotiate a loan a few hours before the slaying but charged the police with manufacturing a fake alibi for him, for the purpose of tearing it down later.
Reports that patrolmen drawing from $25.50 to $36 a week were owners of expensive automobiles and spending money lavishly and still were amassing fortunes were believed to have stimulated the mayor to action in his bank account probe.
He would not amplify his statement other than to say that he will question those policemen whom he desires to question and are now on leave when they return.
In his broadside against the police, Blair said:
“Chief Colsey lies if he says police have broken down my alibi. I have no alibi, only that I know nothing about this murder.
“I told Lieutenant Ward, after I had voluntarily walked into detective bureau, where I had been from Saturday night until last Monday. At no time did I say that I was in New York at the time of the shooting.
“I told them I was at a roadhouse in Berlin at the time of the shooting, that I returned to Camden on Sunday and remained here for the funeral of my brother-in-law on Monday. I did not leave for New York until Tuesday afternoon, almost three days after the killing of Feitz, and I did not know they wanted to question me then, or I would not have gone away.
“Police have given out statements to the effect that I told them I was in New York at the time of the shooting. That is a lie. Many of my friends and acquaintances saw me Saturday night at Berlin and others saw me the following day and on Monday. I can prove everything I have told the police to be true.
“I knew Emma Heisler and have known her for several years. I wouldn’t say she was a close friend, but I did know her fairly well. Police have accused me of attempting to shake her down for money. That is not my racket.
“I did attempt to borrow from Emma on Saturday, but I can’t see anything wrong in that. I tried several friends, because I needed a little money at the time to purchase flowers for my brother-in-law’s funeral.
She Promised Loan
“When I saw her early Saturday night, she told me to come back on Monday and she would lend me the money. I was thankful because of the favor, so why should I try to do the woman any harm?
“Police say I am the ’finger-man’ in the shooting. That makes me laugh. They know they haven’t a shred of evidence to prove such a lie. They’ve got to hang it on somebody, so they blame it on me.
“It’s been the same in all big cases. Somebody has to get blamed. It was just unfortunate for me that I happened to be talking with Mrs. Heisler a short time before the slaying. I had nothing to hide when I went to her for a loan and I have nothing to hide now.
“Two or three persons were there when I asked to borrow the money. Do you think anyone who was attempting to frighten the woman would do it before all these witnesses? I knew this woman when she had a place down the street from where Feitz was shot. I knew her when she conducted many other places in the city, and she knew me. I would have been crazy to try anything wrong with her, even if I wanted to, which I didn’t, because everybody in Camden knows me and would recognize me.
Says He Attended Wake
“I told police that I left Fourth and Spruce streets about 1 a. m. Sunday, and arrived at the roadhouse in Berlin about a half hour later.
Many people saw me there. I stayed at the place until late Sunday afternoon and then returned to Camden.
“I was at home all of Sunday night until I attended a wake at the home of my sister on Decatur street. Then on Monday I was at the funeral and Monday night I visited several places in the city. I had made arrangements to go to New York, but postponed my trip until Tuesday after my brother-in-law’s death.
“While in New York I heard from a friend who told me police were looking for me. I immediately telephoned Edward V. Martino, who has represented me in other matters, and asked him to learn if that were true. He called me back and said it was. I told him my business in New York would be completed on Monday and that I would return to Camden at that time and visit detective headquarters.
“I paid my own expenses to get here, and since the time I gave myself up, police have constantly walked me about with handcuffs on. Do you think I would have surrendered to police if I had any intentions of running away?”
Martino Raps Police
“I have told the truth and I am innocent of any connection with the death of Detective Feitz. If police want to give out the true story, they will verify that everything I have told you is what I told them. And every word of it is the truth.”
Martino, who was present during the interview, added that it was “a disgrace” to the police department in the manner in which Blair has been treated since his surrender.
“When Blair gave himself up,” Martino said, “I instructed him to go to detective bureau by himself. I did not request the right to protect his constitutional rights, because it was my idea that by not interfering, the police could not find any excuse in their failure to solve the crime. They not only failed to appreciate the co-operation given them, but are continually giving out so many contradictory statements that the general public is given the impression that Blair is deliberately lying.”
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, meanwhile, disclosed yesterday that the new grand jury will not hear witnesses in the Feitz murder case, or open a probe into vice conditions in Camden at its first session next Thursday.
“Facts in the murder probe and pertaining to vice conditions will not be ready in time for consideration by the new grand jury next Thursday,” the prosecutor said. “The veniremen will act on pending cases, including those of several alleged numbers barons arrested during the last week.”
Meanwhile, the police continued their crusade against the numbers racket, making their tenth and eleventh arrests in a week.
At the same time, Fred Klosterman, an alleged numbers baron, who surrendered Wednesday, was held in $5000 bail by Police Judge J. Harry Switzer for the grand jury. His brother, Joseph Klosterman, was held in similar bail previously, also on a charge of operating a numbers game.
The two men apprehended yesterday were arrested by George Clayton, a policeman, charged with being numbers writers. They will be given a hearing in police court today. The men gave their names as John Geronio, 52, of 1042 Cooper street, and Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman street.
Fred Klosterman is 33 and gave his address as 1050 Mechanic street. Joseph Klosterman, 35, gave his address as 1400 Mechanic street.
The Klostermans, according to police, are among the topnotch numbers barons of the city. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
No disposition was made in police court of the case of Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 42, who was arrested Wednesday on a charge of operating a still at a double dwelling at 3404 Rosedale avenue. Police Lieut. John Potter said the woman admitted operating the still.
Strict co-operation with the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission in the detection, closing up and prosecution of speakeasies is being given by the Camden police department.
That statement was made yesterday by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who is the director of the department of public safety, and came as the result of an interview which Howard B. Dyer, an investigator of the state beverage commission had with the mayor. Dyer was formerly deputy city clerk.
An anonymous letter to Camden police led yesterday to the arerst [sic] of Glenn Brown, 48, colored, on a charge of operating a 50-gallon still at 141 Mt. Vernon street. Brown was held in $500 bail at police headquarters for a hearing today in police court.
Brown was arrested by Police Lieut. Walter Welch, who said the still was found in the basement of the Mt. Vernon street address and it had been in operation shortly before the raid.
The technical charge against Brown is violation of Section 48
Feitz Slaying ‘Mystery’
Camden Courier-Post —
POLICE ADMIT FEITZ SLAYING IS ‘MYSTERY’
‘Still in the Dark,’ Cops Say After Three Weeks of Vice Probe
BLAIR LAWYER SCORES ‘FARCE’
Editorial: “The Cop, the Criminal—And Who Else?” appears on page ten.
Three weeks after the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz, police admitted yesterday that they are “completely in the dark” in their efforts to solve the murder and find the slayer.
Although Mickey Blair, former pugilist, is held as the most important witness in the case and police say they believe Blair knows who killed Feitz, they have no one under direct suspicion, the police said.
This was in direct contradiction to a police statement of several days ago, in which it was said that a New York gunman of peculiar appearance was sought as the trigger man.
Lawyer Flays Police
The conflicting stories coming from the police department yesterday drew a scathing fire of ridicule from Blair’s attorney, Edward V. Martino.
In a review of Blair’s surrender, Martino flayed the police for “many contradictory statements” and said their handling of Blair is a “disgrace to the department.”
The handling of the case drew this comment from Martino:
“Such conduct on the part of an intelligent police force is detestable.”
Martino’s criticism of the department and the announcement that Mayor Roy R. Stewart will present such facts and evidence as he has gathered in his probe of police connivance with vice or dereliction in duty to Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd constituted the only developments in the case yesterday.
Double-cross Hinted
Stewart said he will give Justice Lloyd and Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando his complete data on the police and Feitz probes and is ready to present the same data to the grand jury if Lloyd and Orlando consider this course advisable.
Martino, describing step-by-step the events leading to Blair’s surrender and his subsequent examination drew the conclusion that Police Chief Arthur Colsey is “either telling a deliberate falsehood” or has been double-crossed with misinformation by his detectives. Martino said:
Police Admit Defeat In Vice Slaying
“On Saturday past, I received a New York telephone communication from Mickey Blair, and he told me that he had been advised that the police were looking for him. He requested me to ascertain whether this was true, and if so he would gladly come to Camden.
“I talked to Lieutenant George A. Ward on Sunday afternoon, and he told me that they did want Mickey. I talked with Mickey that afternoon, and he told me that he would come to Camden at about 1 p. m. on Monday.
“He entered my office at about 12 noon, and after talking to me about five minutes, during which time he told me that he knew absolutely nothing about the shooting, I advised him to go to the detective bureau alone.
Would Not Interfere
“I did not request the right to protect his constitutional rights, because it was my idea that by not interfering, the police could not find any excuse in their failure to solve the crime.
“They not only failed to appreciate the co-operation given them, but are continuously giving out so many contradictory statements that the general public is given the impression that Blair is deliberately lying. Chief Colsey has repeatedly told the newspapers that Blair stated that he was in New York at the time of the crime.
“Colsey is either telling a deliberate falsehood or he has been misinformed by one or two of his examiners. I talked with Blair at the county jail, and although he appeared tired and worn, he was surprised to learn of the story given out by Colsey.
“It is difficult to understand why the police did not arrest Mickey before he left Camden for New York, since he was in Camden until the Tuesday following the murder.
“He attended a wake at the home of his sister on Sunday, and attended the funeral on Monday (Labor Day) from his sister’s home on Decatur street, Camden. He did not leave Camden for New York until some time on Tuesday afternoon.
Called a Disgrace
“The general physical appearance of Blair before Judge J. Harry Switzer was a disgrace to the Camden City Police Department. He was handcuffed and chained, although he was thoughtful enough to pay his own expenses in traveling from New York, and willingly submit to the police. Such conduct on the part of an intelligent police force is detestable.
“My only hope is that the crime is solved, but in doing so, the officials in charge should be careful that they charge the guilty man or men with the crime.”
The sweeping grand jury investigation of crime and vice ordered of the grand jury by Justice Lloyd is not expected to start, Prosecutor Orlando disclosed, for at least two weeks.
“Our evidence is not entirely at hand,” said Orlando, “and until it is ready I will not proceed. Another reason why I can’t go ahead with it is the large number of cases which I have ready at this time and which must be presented to the grand jury when it opens its sessions next Thursday.”
Earlier, both Prosecutor Orlando and Police Chief Colsey admitted that the authorities were no nearer a solution to the murder of Feitz than they were 20 days ago when he was shot and killed in an alleged disorderly house in South Camden.
Furthermore, previous statements of the police notwithstanding, the identity of the killer or killers is shrouded in as much mystery as it ever was.
“Who killed Feitz?” was a question asked Prosecutor Orlando.
“I don’t know—do you?” was Orlando’s “two-way” reply.
Still ‘In Dark’
The prosecutor’s statement was the first revelation that police and Camden county authorities are still in the dark.
Police Chief Colsey echoed Prosecutor Orlando’s statement by telling newspapermen upon being questioned that he “wished he did know who killed Feitz.”
“We’re entirely in the dark,” he added.
Heretofore the police, through statements made by Chief Colsey, have expressed their confidence that they knew who the slayer or slayers of the detective were and were following important clues which would lead to their arrest.
While the authorities were admittedly groping about for clues in the Feitz murder, the police drive on gambling continued yesterday with the arrest of two alleged “numbers” bankers.
Held in $2000 bail to await the action of the grand jury on charges of operating a “numbers” lottery by Police Judge Switzer were Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman street, and John Deronio, 52, of 1042 Cooper street. Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge which grew out of Deronio’s admission to police that he “wrote” the “numbers” for Smith for a considerable period of time.
Both Smith and Deronio were arrested by Patrolman George Clayton. Deronio pleaded guilty to the charge.
Will View 3 Suspects
Three suspects charged with the robbery of a South Camden candy store Wednesday night were either to be brought to Camden or material witnesses in the Feitz murder were to be taken to Chester, Pa., where they are being held, to learn whether either suspect could be identified as one of the killers.
Mayor Stewart continued his questioning of police yesterday, seeking data on crime and vice in this city.
Questioned by the mayor in his office were Lieutenant George Frost, commander of the police department’s one-man vice squad who is said to have told the mayor considerable about conditions, former City Detective Ben Simon who is now a patrolman; Vernon Jones, one of the 13 suspended policeman [sic] and the officer on the beat at Second and Sycamore streets the night Feitz was killed, and Detective Stanley Wirtz.
Chief County Detective Lawrence T. Doran, who is conducting Prosecutor Orlando’s investigation into the murder, said a search of the records of the city assessor’s office revealed the property in which the late Mrs. Emma Heisler was charged with operating a disorderly house is owned by the Hyman Varbalow Building and Loan Association.
Rented in Oct., 1933
It was rented, Chief Doran said, by Nathan U. Katz, a real estate agent of 410 Kaighn avenue, to a “Mary Dudley” on October 18, 1933, for $15 a month. However, the occupants did not enter the house immediately, according to Doran, because of needed repairs, which were made.
Katz told detectives that the rent was always paid in advance by a man who called at his real estate office. There was no lease on the property, it being rented from month to month.
“Had I known the place was being used for immoral purposes I would have ordered the people out long ago,” Katz told detectives.
At the same time, Chief Doran disclosed that after a conference with Police Chief Colsey, orders were issued that every person arrested in Camden, whether the charge is trivial or serious, will be placed in a police “lineup” and the material witnesses will face them to see if any of Feitz’s killers are among them.
Chief Doran was not sure whether Camden county authorities would be able to bring the two robbery suspects to Camden because they are also wanted in Pennsylvania for almost a score of other holdups and burglaries.
In the event Chester authorities will not turn the two men over to Camden detectives, the witnesses will go to Chester to examine them, Chief Doran said.
“We are letting nothing slip through our fingers at this stage of the investigation,” Chief Doran said. “There is a bare possibility that either of these two suspects may be implicated or have some knowledge that would be useful to us in solving this crime.”
Bribery Charged by Grand Jurors
Camden Courier-Post —
26 Other Persons Named in 111 True Bills on Numbers
KLOSTERMANS TO FACE TRIAL
A bumper crop of 111 indictments was returned yesterday by the September vice probing grand jury against alleged numbers operators alone.
In addition, Mickey Blair, free on bail as a material witness in the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to rob Mrs. Emma Heisler, in whose house Feitz was slain.
The 111 numbers indictments were aimed at 26 individuals, including Fred and Joe Klosterman, long known as numbers barons. Each of the brothers was indicted on six counts of engaging in the lottery business and on 12 additional indictments charging sale of lottery tickets.
The complete list of true bills were handed up to Judge Frank F. Neutze of the Camden County Common Pleas Court.
The numbers indictments follows [sic]:
Engaged in lottery business—Antonio Macio, 2125 Haddonfield road, Pennsauken township, one count; Fred Klosterman and brother, Joseph, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street, six counts each.
Selling lottery tickets—Geneva Harden, beauty parlor operator in Pennsauken township, ten counts; Marshall Howard, 1912 Derousse avenue, Delair, 10 counts; Frank Martz, 235 Erie street, Camden, two counts; Arthur Woodridge, 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Albert Young, 519 North Second street, Camden, one count; Andrew Pointkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, six counts; Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, five counts; Charles Simonin, 709 Fairview street, Camden, five counts; John Studinger, 2504 Federal street, Camden, 10 counts; Lucille Barber, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Samuel Ford, 1124 South Ninth street, two counts; John Geronio, 1042 Cooper street, one count; James Davis, 100 Mt. Vernon street, Camden, one count; Oscar Conway, 2803 Mitchell street, one count; John Barnes, 7805 Pleasant avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Nathan Boston, Parry, Burlington county, one count.
James Gantt, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Mary Angelo, 600 Pine street, two counts; Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street, two counts; Samuel Kane, 211 Walnut street, Philadelphia, one count; Samuel Karon, 1528 Mt. Ephraim avenue, one count; Walter Hart, 1245 Thurman street, Camden, five counts; Frank Kulzcnski, 1100 Orchard street, two counts.
The presentment required only three minutes and the grand jury immediately withdrew to its chambers to consider new evidence in its probe of vice and gambling here.
It was indicated that the first batch of indictments found by the grand jury was just that, and that further true bills would be forthcoming as the work of sifting the mass of evidence continues.
A quartet of former city detectives who were transferred to regular police duty June 14, and seven attaches of the county jail were among the list of witnesses subpoenaed.
The erstwhile plainclothesmen are Clarence Arthur, Benjamin Simon, Clifford Del Rossi and Leon Branch. All were put into uniform without explanation, and with the understanding, they declare, that they would not be displaced. All expressed surprise at their removal, inasmuch as others were later appointed to their posts, because they had good records while members of the detective bureau.
Arthur and Branch appeared briefly before the probing body.
Crawford Smith is the brother of Detective Walter Smith and former Detective Howard Smith, it was reported by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Michael Tenerelli, known in fistic cicles [sic] as Mickey Blair, was among those waiting in the grand jury anteroom when the jury adjourned to be called before the probers. All those called were subpoenaed on “John Doe” warrants.
Mickey told reporters he has no idea what form of questioning will be followed when he is called into the grand jury room. He was recently released under bail of $5000 as a material witness in the Feitz killing investigation.
Those who could not be heard by the grand jurors before adjournment yesterday were told to come back next Thursday.
Among the witnesses in the vice probe called into the jury room were two Camden county jail attaches, Mrs. Lillian Vincent, matron, and Frank Tyson, jail clerk.
Both were asked questions regarding the proceedure [sic] followed in releasing prisoners from the pail [sic], it was learned. Tyson was not asked by the grand jurors if the prisoners were ever allowed to leave jail before their terms were up, he said.
“We never discharged a prisoner during my long experience in the county jail,” he told reporters, “without the proper release slip. I do not know of any prisoner ever being released before his time was up.”
Other members of the county jail staff waiting to appear were Edmund Powell, former warden; William Kinsler, Walter Taylor, Joseph Rea and John Feitz.
Another witness to testify was Mrs. Anna Smallwood, of Fifth and Chestnut, who posted $5000 bail for Mickey Blair to effect the former boxer’s release in the Feitz murder case.
It is thought that the county jail attaches will be questioned in an endeavour to learn how prisoners are released before time, although confirmation of this report was lacking.
The grand jury also returned indictments against Robert R. Young and Fred H. Schmitz, both of Philadelphia, former employes of the RCA Victor Company, charging them with the theft of four automobile radio sets from the plant on September 19.
Harry Smith, John Lockwood, Edward Troutman and Thomas Moreland, of Camden, were charged with larceny of merchandise from the American Stores Company on August 30.
Stanley Gaisor and Henry Parewicz, both of Camden, were indicted on charges of the theft of an automobile owned by County Physician Edward B. Rogers. The automobile was stolen in Camden, August 31.
Paul Pralas was indicted on charges of atrocious assault and battery on Rocco Piliro on September 19 in Camden.
The following were indicted on charges of desertion and non-support: Cornelius Chambers, charged by his wife, Ethel, with deserting her and three small children.
Thomas Porter, of Clementon, with non-support of his three small children. Frank Drew, Camden, desertion and non-support of his wife, Martha, and three minor children. Walter Butterfield, Brooklawn, with desertion of his wife, Verna, and one minor child. Eugene Morselander, of Camden, with desertion of his wife, Gladys.
2 Speakeasy Owners Paid Hush Money, Graft Probers Hear
COLSEY DROPS ACCUSED MEN
Sixty-two indictments charging six Camden policemen with graft and bribe-taking were returned by the new grand jury yesterday.
The wholesale indictments constituted the first visible results of the probe into Camden’s vice affairs and connection of the police with vice, ordered by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
They are charged with taking hush money.
Those indicted:
Patrolman Thomas T. Cheeseman, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Vernon Jones, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Howard Fisher, 10 indictments.
Patrolman George Weber, also known as Buck Weaver, 10 indictments.
Detective Joseph Leonhardt, one indictment.
Patrolman Frank Wilmot, one indictment.
All are attached to the Second district except Leonhardt, who was dismissed from the force two weeks ago by Mayor Roy R. Stewardt [sic], and has appealed his case to the Civil Service Commission.
Leonhardt was with Detective William T. Feitz on the night of September 2, when Feitz was slain in Mrs. Emma Heisler’s alleged disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street. He and Feitz had been made district detectives less than a week before the shooting. They had been assigned to the “beat” in which Mrs. Heisler’s house was located, relieving Cheeseman and Jones, who were demoted to patrolmen.
Cheeseman was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death from a city hall window while being held as a witness in Feitz’s death.
12 Drew Suspensions
Those indicted, with the exception of Fisher, were among the 12 members of the force suspended by Mayor Stewart in connection with his personal investigation of police connections with vice.
Wilmot, Weber and Jones were returned to duty Wednesday after serving 30-day suspensions.
Cheeseman and Jones are named jointly in nine indictments; jointly with Fisher and Weber in nine other indictments; the four are lister [sic] separately in one set of indictments. Jones and Cheeseman are listed separately in another pair of indictments, while Leonhardt and Wilmot are named in one joint indictment.
Two men, Glenn Brown and Michael Tocco, are named in each indictment as having paid the policemen sums verying [sic] from $5 to $80 since last March. They are reported to be operators of illegal liquor establishments.
Jury Indicts 6 Cops On Vice Graft Charge
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando announced evidence had been given the grand jury to support charges that each of the men indicted had been accepting graft from racketeers and underworld characters.
The nine indictments against Cheeseman, Jones, Fisher and Weber charge them with having received the sum of $5 from Brown on nine different dates in March and April of this year, for a total of $45.
Cheeseman and Jones are jointly indicted on nine counts for having received from Tocco the sum of $160, in various amounts ranging from $10 to $80 on various dates in May, June and July.
Cheeseman and Jones are each indicted on two separate counts. Jones is charged with having accepted a $40 bribe from Tocco on May 24 and with having received another $5 from Brown on March 3. Cheeseman is indicted for receiving the same sums from the same persons on the same dates.
Fisher is indicted alone on one count of having received a $5 bribe from Brown in March. Weber was also indicted alone for the same offense.
Leonhardt and Wilmot, mentioned in only one indictment, are charged with having accepted $20 from Tocco in March.
Cheeseman has been a member of the police department for 16 years, most of which he served in the capacity of a detective. He was demoted on Sept. 3, 1930, to the rank of a patrolman, but later was again promoted to district detective. Two months ago he was demoted back to patrolman again and has been patrolling a ‘beat’ in South Camden since that time.
Cheeseman Appointed in 1918
Cheeseman is 48. He was appointed to the police force on January 11, 1918, and lives at 249 Rand street. He has served in various capacities since appointment, having been a member of the city vice squad, detective bureau, district detective and patrolman. His rank in the department was listed as a detective, although recently he has been assigned to uniform in South Camden.
Fisher, 42, of 1139 Baring street, was appointed to the force September 29, 1919. He has spent comparatively all of his time in the department as a patrolman in the Second Police district.
Jones is 37 and lives at 1011 South Sixth street. He received his appointment April 27, 1924. He has served on the vice squad, as a detective and plainclothesman. He was recently demoted to a patrolman’s rank.
Leonhardt lives at 553 Division street and is 39. He was appointed a member of the police department on April 25, 1924, two days before Jones. He served until recently as a patrolman, but was promoted to district detective when Jones suffered demotion. He was discharged from the police payroll on September 26 by Mayor Stewart, who said he had gathered evidence against him in his probe of the department which followed the murder of Feitz.
Wilmot is 32 and lives at 201 Kaighn avenue. He was appointed a policeman on July 1, 1928, and has served as a member of the Second district since his appointment.
Weber, 47, of 1369 Princess avenue, was made a member of the force on May 17, 1922. He also has served his entire time as a patrolman in the Second district.
The indictments were presented to Judge Frank F. Neutze in Justice Lloyd’s absence.
Five Are Suspended
Mayor Stewart and Police Chief Arthur Colsey conferred shortly after the indictments were returned.
[Text between this point and the next crop is not on the scan; crop 09a is not in the archive.]
and Judge Neutze to grant these men a speedy trial,” the mayor declared, “so that the cases against them will be disposed of and their guilt or innocence established. In this way the community will have the benefit of their services, if they be found not guilty, as soon as possible.”
None of the policemen indicted had been arrested last night.
Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran said he expects them to surrender today and post such bail as may be set.
Named by Jury
THOMAS CHEESEMAN
VERNON JONES
Twenty indictments against each of these policemen, formerly assigned as detectives to the beat where Detective William T. Feitz was shot to death in a disorderly house, were returned yesterday by the grand jury. Cheeseman and Jones preceded Feitz and Leonhardt, dismissed and also indicted, on the death beat.
Quartet Indicted on Graft Charges
Four of the six policemen indicted yesterday on charges of bribery. They are George Weber, (upper left) also known as “Bucky Weaver”; Frank Witmot [sic] (upper right), Howard Fisher, (lower left), and Joseph Leonhardt, (lower right), who had been dismissed from the police department.
Ex-Fighters Are Set for Charity Show
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey Joe Walcott and Roxie Allen in Feature at Civic Hall Tomorrow
Present and past greats of Camden boxing will do their all for charity tomorrow night, when they appear on a card sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden, at the Camden Convention Hall.
Fifteen bouts of three rounds each are scheduled to be held, and the entire proceeds will be used to provide Christmas baskets for Camden’s needy. The boxers and referees have generously donated their services free of charge, and are to be complimented for their willingness to aid a worthy cause.
All 15 bouts are exhibition matches as most of the principals have been out of training for several years. However, they have done their best to get in pretty fair shape during the past two weeks and a number of interesting bouts should be presented.
Jersey Joe Walcott, still in active harness in heavyweight ranks, and Roxie Allen, who 10 years ago was Camden’s leading lightweight but who retired two years ago, hold the feature spot on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in the eighth and final round of a scheduled eight-rounder.
However, Walcott held a 25-pound pull in the weights, scaling in around 185, while Allen weighed around 160. Although Walcott eventually knocked out Allen, Roxie had the satisfaction of flooring Jersey Joe in the first round, a left hook to the jaw sending the Negro down for a count of two.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting at this bout, but still is in good physical shape and should be able to box a fast three rounds against Walcott.
Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who made names for themselves in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest fights in New York in the past two years, while Mickey was of [sic] the best featherweights in the East about eight years ago.
Tommy Ricco, another South Camden featherweight, and Mickey and Johnny Duca, both of Paulsboro, are the other three boys who are active in the game. Ricco is due to appear against Mickey Duca, while Johnny Duca squares off against Al White, also of Paulsboro.
The veteran of the card is Battling Mack, one of the finest characters ever to enter the fight game. Mack fought the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War. George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Johnny Buff, Danny Kramer and Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling [sic] met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another South Camdenite who was a favorite with Camden fight addicts.
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local reisdents [sic], are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the great crop of local lightweights who flourished here in 1926, ’27 and ’28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus MaGuire, Charley Mack, White, Lew Jackson, Paddy Lyons, Joe Spearing, and Johnny Attell were included among the group which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O’Connor in tomorrow night’s bouts. Jackson mingles with Lyons; Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who also fought the best featherweights in the East a few short years ago, and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
Young Firpo, of Pennsgrove, is known to all South Jersey fightgoers. Firpo, a lightweight, packed a great left hook and his record is dotted with knockouts. He will take on Joey Allen, South Camden featherweight who never fought a slow bout and who never side-stepped a match.
Pee Wee Ross undoubtedly was the best bantamweight ever developed in this city. Ross fought ’em all 10 years ago and finished with a great record. He meets Bobby Zimmerman, another local product who also was a pleasing performer and who was known as the “buzz saw” because of his rapid-fire punching.
Nick Nichols, one of the hardest-hitting welterweights ever to hold forth here, takes on Tommy McCann, East Camdenite who had one of the best left hands in the city.
Lucas Vs. Straiges
Johnny Lucas, South Camden welterweight who still could go to the wars, faces Joey Straiges, also of South Camden, who also could compete in featherweight ranks if it were necessary for him to continue boxing. In the other bout on the card, Young Palmer and Tommy Dundee, former featherweights, clash.
Jim Braddock, former world heavyweight champion, is expected to be on hand to referee at least one bout. Others invited to referee are:
Sgt. Ray Smith, Harry Shaw, Tom Walters, Al Ettore, Joey O’Donnell, Mike DeLeece, Young Lawrence, Charley Harris, Bill McFarlane and Walter “West” Kennedy.
The committee in charge of the boxing arrangements consists of Caesar Campana, chairman, Dominic Lombardo, Daniel Gallasso, James McSparrin and Paul Daly.
Nearly 4000 Witness Old-Timers in Action
Camden Courier-Post —
Past and Present South Jersey Boxers Go Through Paces in Charity Show
NO DECISIONS RENDERED
By FRANK KOPESKY
They turned back the sporting pages last night, month after month, year after year.
And out of the staring type and paling newsprint stepped the images of youths who in their bygone day had their names blazed across the headlines for their prowess in the boxing ring.
With nearly 4000 in attendance, these old-timers and some who still are or could be active engaged in a program of exhibition bouts at Convention Hall to aid the poor this Christmas.
The affair was sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden.
Braddock Gets Big Hand
The feature attraction and a man who received a thunderous ovation from the gathering was popular James J. Braddock, former heavyweight champion of the world, who refereed the final two bouts.
Roxie Allen, of Camden, and Jersey Joe Walcott, Merchantville slugger who still is active, paired off in the windup with Braddock serving as referee.
They boxed lightly most of the way with neither connecting with any serious blows and the spectators were handed a few laughs when both boxers “picked on” Braddock in the last round.
Braddock Gets Hand
Braddock was given a great ovation when he entered the ring to referee the bout between Frankie and Mickey Blair.
Strangely the well-known brothers fought one of the hardest bouts of the night. Frankie, one of the best boxers Camden has ever produced, tagged his older brother with several stiff lefts in the first round. Mickey also got in his share of hard blows, although Frankie was the better of the two.
Lou Skymer and Battling Mack, of South Camden, continued fighting after their three-rounder ended. So Referee Joey O’Donnell scurried from the ring. Skymer had the best of the fight.
Spearing and Rapp Even
Joe Spearing and Frankie Rapp, both from South Camden, boxed lightly for three rounds on about even terms.
Johnny Lucas, of Whitman Park, who did considerably campaigning several years ago, and Joey Straiges, active South Camden lightweight, went through three fast rounds. Straiges had the better of the exhibition.
Young Joe Firpo, of Pennsgrove, and Joey Allen, of Camden, who retired from the ring not so long ago, fought a hard fight in the first round. Allen knocked himself down in the second round when he socked Referee Ray Smith in the stomach. They both pummeled the Sargeant [sic] after the final bell and the bout got a great hand.
Comedy Bout
The spectators sang the “Beer Barrel Polka” when Buck Fleming of the Veteran Boxing Association entered the ring. Bricks and horseshoes were dumped out of Fleming’s gloves before his bout with Joe Shannon, another V. B. A. entrant, began.
It was the comedy bout of the night, meant as such, and the fans went into near hysterics.
Tommy Ricco, active South Camden lightweight, and Al Daly, of Fairview, staged a clever boxing exhibition. Although neither landed any telling blows, the fast bout was a crowd pleaser. Ricco had the best of it.
The parade of overgrown lightweights continued when Eddie Chaney, of Whitman Park, squared off with Jackie Hindle, of South Camden. These two also got “mad” at each other in the third round and Hindle seemed to have the better of it.
Ceaser [sic] Campana, chairman of the committee, who fought as Young O’Connors years ago, paired off with Charley Mack, well known lightweight of a decade ago. After two slow rounds, they really started slugging and the bell halted a furious exchange.
Lyons’ Wind Gives Out
Kayo Palmer, of Camden, and Pat Lyons, of Gloucester, got along for two rounds, but Lyons asked for a short third session when his wind gave out. Timekeeper Dave Lambert cut the round to 30 seconds. Palmer dropped Referee Young Lawrence, who was saved by the bell.
A howl went up from the throng when Announcer Archie McNew introduced Lou Jackson, of Pennsgrove, and Al White, of Paulsboro, as former lightweights. Both massive weight lines and looked like heavyweight wrestlers. They went three rounds and received a great hand for their efforts. Jackson appeared to have the better of it.
Employing several body slams and a flying tackle to good advantage, Young Palmer bested Tommy Dundee in three rounds. Both are former local bantamweights.
Pee-Wee Ross and Bobby Zimmerman, a pair of excellent flyweights in their day, opened the show. They knocked each other “out” in the second round, Referee Joe Mangold counting 10 over the fallen pair. After rising the two Camden men resumed “fighting” much to the crowd’s amusement.
Taggart Cleared in Murder Probe
Camden Courier-Post —
(Continued from Page One)
apprehend Michael Tenerelli and then close the place.“
Two inmates of Blair’s den, Edith Wert and Elizabeth Haley, testified petty graft was paid to three patrol car policemen, named “Christmas,” “Easter” and “Number 7,” the jury stated. But, said the jury, they couldn’t identify the police more accurately, and no other evidence was produced.
The only instance in which the Mayor, Chief Butcher and Assistant Prosecutor William B. Hunter were “grossly negligent,” the presentment said, was in the way Mrs. Tenerelli, eye-witness to the murder, was incarcerated in her home.
Not that there were any parties held in her home by her custodians, as charged by “sensational journalism,” the jury hastened to point out.
But there were some “laxities,” it said, and the Mayor and his aides should have checked up and corrected the situation.
Some of Laxities
Among the “laxities” the jury cited was permission to Mrs. Tenerelli to make and receive phone calls; to have “alleged members” of the family visit her, and even take trips by herself or with Policewoman Margaret Creswell Hiawatha.
Sometimes Detective Mortimer J. Hayes went with her, leaving her home unguarded, the jury pointed out.
In its refutation of published charges of parties of police and prisoners, the jury also ruled out report of gay shindigs with four of the Pleasure Bay Inn girls in the city hall jail.
The jury couldn’t get hold of the four girls to testify, it explained, and couldn’t get any other evidence. The presentment gave an elaborate defense of the incarceration of Mrs. Tenerelli, a material witness to the murder, in her home instead of in jail.
“To put her in jail,” the jury explained, “would be to open the door to her liberation on bail, thus exposing her either to harm or undue influence.”
Life Hereabouts
Camden Courier-Post —
DOWN MEMORY LANE with that Old Gang of Yours . . . in a few of the years when Our Town was as good a sport town as any in the land . . . from the time that Taylor and Gunnis promoted fights through the years to Roxey Allen . . . Mickey Blair . . . Eddie Chaney . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Pee Wee Ross . . . Jackie Hindle . . . Watson Finch . . . Georgie Abner . . . Nick Nicholas . . . Dixie Allen . . .
The days when Camden was the Mecca for Philly fight fans . . . with champions like Mike O’Dowd . . . Benny Leonard . . . Pete Herman . . . Jimmy Wilde . . . Gene Tunney . . . fighting in the Armory on Haddon avenue . . . for One, Two and Three . . . tax included . . . the days of John Smith . . . whose son, Lee, became one of our great friends . . . the days when Philly came to Camden to see the best fighters in the land . . .
AND THEN DOWN through the years with Lou McFarland . . . Higgins and Kaplan . . . Tommy James . . . the man named Doyle who always gave us a smile when we called him “Mister” because he was so kind . . . When Sergeant Ray Smith became a referee . . . “Pose” Robinson . . . the days of Willie Davis . . . Harry Smith . . . Jim Kelly . . .
Fights in the ball park at Twelfth and Federal streets . . . at the Fairview Ball Park . . . in the Temple Theatre . . . the Star Theatre . . . Newt Blanchard, the only promoter who gave us MORE money than we asked for . . . The Broadway Theatre . . . the early days of Convention Hall . . .
THE TIME they opened the Plaza Hotel Gym and all the fine lads on the program . . . with the late Mayor Stewart in the audience . . . and many other dignitaries . . . and being “dared” into a match with Ray Smith, because his opponent failed to show . . . the same guy who fought Tunney . . . Mike Brennan . . . Gibbons . . . Martin . . . Dempsey . . . Loughran . . . and seeing the Sergeant’s body covered with blood in the second round . . . our very own blood . . .
THE YEARS when Gloucester city was the fightenest town in the nation . . .
The days of K. O. Joey O’Donnell . . . who fought them all. . . Of Frankie Conway . . . who never took a backward step . . . and still has the same courage today. . . . Of Willie Spencer . . . who headlined show after show. . . . Charlie Daggert . . . now a referee in Philly. . . . Jimmy Rafferty . . . Eddie (Kid) Wagner . . . Young Sherlock . . . Abe Wustbond, later an instructor of boxing at Herman’s gym in Philly . . . Eddie Forrest . . . and his brother, who fought Battling Nelson . . . the crowd-pleasing Willie Fuller . . . Joey O’Connor.
Back when “Chick” Hunt fought under the name of Eddie Melson . . . and later, in professional ranks, the night he fought Joe “Kid” Fisher at the Apollo theatre in Gloucester. . . . Chick is our friend today . . . but we don’t believe he ever will forgive us for that night when we yelled at Joe to . . . well, we yelled at Joe . . . The days of Harry “Dick” Donohue, trainer and manager of Nick Nichols.
AND THE BEST, learning the business under the incomparable Eddie Prince . . . who knows how to condition fighters . . . then and now . . . with the best in the nation. . . . The days when they called Mister Georgano “Lemons” . . . but affectionately . . . not because he was ever sour.
When Johnny Sapio . . . who only days ago was honored at a banquet at Weber’s Hof Brau by so many people the walls bulged . . . fought under the name of Young Joe Grim.
HOW MANY will remember when our own Eddie Garrity, now the sedate deputy director of public safety in Our Town, was a boxer . . . with plenty on the ball? . . . When George Murphy boxed around here . . . and the Tighe brothers, Eddie and Jimmy . . . Remember Richie Hoehner? . . . Jimmie Jordan? . . . Eddie Douglas? . . . Bobby Graham, then a soldier stationed in Gloucester? . . . Steve Jackson? . . . Frankie McLaughlin (whose brother Neil WAS on Retreat with us, Mrs. McLaughlin, and gave us much of this information)?
Recall Johnny “Homo” Bryan? . . . Duncan Carswell, Jimmy and Jack Dean, referees, all three? . . . Theo Ellick, the matchmaker. . . . And who could forget Joe Spearing, afraid of nobody then and now . . . he fought our boy Fisher three times to our knowledge . . . once in Atlantic City . . . another at one of the ball parks here and the third (the windup, no less) in Gloucester. . . . Who won . . . who cares?
THE DAYS when a Cook was a promoter . . . and a Politician(?) got the gravy. . . . The time “Red” Haines fought Roxey Allen over top the old Standard movies at Second and Vine streets . . . amateur against a near-champ . . . and what a battle . . . when Everett Joslin and Johnny Taylor were on the First district wagon and backed it up to the door leading to the second floor, and all the people gathering around because they thought it was a raid . . . and all they came to see was a round or two of the fights.
Back when Joey Powell had an iron fist . . . and Soldier Freedman an iron jaw. . . . When Mayor Victor King was always in the front row at the bouts . . . when Augie Oswald “worked” the river in his boat for shad and other fish . . . when a dollar was a dollar and not 27 cents . . . when the downtown fight gym was operated by Charley Mack . . . whose brother Battling Mack was a great drawing card and a great fighter . . . and Charley was no softie, either.
THE SUMMER BOUTS in the ball park when you could get a swell bleacher seat for half a buck—and be closer to the bouts than $50 seats at some of the big clubs now . . . and see better fights, too.
When Camden had growing pains . . . and its people started moving to the suburbs . . . when a guy who made 40 slugs a week was a “big executive.” . . . When copy boys on the papers got $4 a week . . . and had enough left over from their salary to lend money to reporters who made the tremendous sum of $25 a week. . . . Great days, say you . . . great days, say us. . . . Nostalgia.
1930 Boxing Record Statistics
MICKEY BLAIR
Born, Camden, N. J., 1908. Height, 5 ft. 5 in. Weight, 135 lbs.
KNOCKOUTS
1925—Eddie Palmer, 5.
1926—Chick Emmons, 6.
1928—Marcel Zavella, 6.
WON FROM
1926—Joe Wilton, 6; Joe Boyle, 6; Harry (Kid) Decker, 6.
1927—Freddy Jackson, 6; Joey Hadfield, 6.
1928—Al Winkler, 8; Georgie Amblard, 8; Joey Brdfield [sic], 8; Ernie Ceasor, 8; Al Winkler, 8; Hubert Gillis, 8; Sammy Moffo, 8; Mickey Diamond, 8; Tommy Murray, 8.
NO DECISIONS
1925—Jack Kelly, 6; Charley Cunningham, 6; Frankie Goldsmith, 6; Harry (Kid) Wallace, 6; Tommy Langdon, 6; Eddie Palmer, 6; Harry (Kid) Wallace, 8.
1926—Joe Kansas, 6; Joe Boyle, 6; Patsy Nelson, 6; Johnny Shearn, 6; Eddie Palmer, 6; Eddie Palmer, 6; Johnny Shearn, 6; Jimmy Burns, 6; Buck Flemming, 8; Sammy Moffo, 8; Sammy Moffo, 8; Tony Russo, 8; Johnny Dixon, 8; Georgie Amblard, 8; Freddie Jackson, 8; Johnny Shearn, 8.
1927—Frankie Ferro, 8; Emory Cabana, 8; Ernie Tredesco, 8; Nick Quagrelli, 8; Tim O’Dowd, 8; Eddie Chaney, 8; Eddie Chaney, 8; Tommy (Kid) Murphy, 8; Sammy Moffo, 8; Emory Cabana, 8.
DRAW
1927—Joey Michaels, 8.
LOST
1928—Tommy Murray, 6.
1929—Stanislaus Loayza, T.K.O. by 9; Frankie Hayes, T.K.O. by 2; Joe Wilton, 8; Roxy Allen, 8.
1930
Rds.
June 17—Tony Falco, Philadelphia—Won 8
June 23—Eddie Forte, Camden, N. J. K.O. 2
July 8—Tony Falco, Atlantic City—Lost 8
July 22—Yg. Patsy Wallace, Atlantic City Won 8
Aug. 12—Calvin Reid, Atlantic City Won 8
Sept. 11—Mickey Doyle, Philadelphia Won 8
Sept. 26—Emory Cabana, Camden, N. J. Draw 8
Oct. 24—Jimmy Batchelor, Camden, N. J. Won 8
Nov. 13—Sherman Brown, Philadelphia Won 8
Dec. 5—Emory Cabana, Camden, N. J. Lost 8
Webster Will Join Forces With Georgette, Prince
Camden Courier-Post —
By Tom Ryan
A new boxing triumvirate soon will be formed in Camden, it was learned today.
Those involved are Tony Georgette, Joe Webster and Eddie Prince, all Camden residents.
The merger of the trio into one group has been talked over for the past two months among the three boxing figures and soon will become a reality, it is rumored. None could be reached today to confirm the report.
While Webster is a comparative newcomer to Camden boxing compared with Georgette and Prince, the former manager of record of Jersey Joe Walcott brings a wealth of knowledge and prestige to the group.
He was manager of record for Walcott for three years till his contract with the Camden heavyweight expired last May.
With the expiration of the contract, Walcott decided he would do his own business in the future and severed relations with Webster.
Webster, who never, before he became Walcott’s manager of record, had been identified with the fight game in any capacity other than as a fan, made a host of friends and a number of excellent contacts while he was connected with the Camden heavyweight.
After becoming identified with Walcott, it didn’t take long for Webster to establish himself as one of the best-liked men in boxing.
Affable and intelligent, the Camden restaurateur met all the big-time promoters and managers and his connections should be invaluable to Georgette and Prince.
Georgette and Prince are the two best-known figures in the fight game in Camden. Both have been connected with the game for over 20 years, and like Webster, are well-liked and respected.
Tony and Eddie grew up together in Camden boxing. The former started as a second and Eddie started as a trainer who also had his own gym here when boxing was at its peak.
Both later became managers, with Georgette eventually becoming the more prominent. Among those Tony managed during his early days in the game were Mickey Blair, Johnny Lucas, Frankie Blair, Joey Allen, Joey Powell, Joey Straiges and a number of lesser local lights.
He and Joey Allen, who now trains Walcott, were the two who brought out of obscurity Pedro Firpo, Camden featherweight, during World War II.
Georgette and Allen bought Firpo’s contract for $400 and at one time had the genial little Negro listed among the first 10 lightweights. Incidentally, Firpo retired over a year ago upon the advice of Georgette.
For the past two years, Georgette has centered his attention upon Gene Jones, young Negro heavyweight, who is considered one of the best prospects in the nation.
However, he has several youngsters of different weights in training, but will not start them in the pro game till he feels they have had the proper schooling.
Prince for years has acted as a co-trainer of Georgette’s fighters; they long have been known as the Damon and Pythias of Camden boxing.
Eddie is a modest and retiring individual who has shunned the spotlight, but there isn’t a wiser head in the fight game. He can get the work out of boxers and that’s the secret of success in any sport.
Now that Webster soon will join hands with Georgette and Prince, the trio should become a winning combination.
They are determined to develop South Jersey talent and will comb this area for prospective boxers.
Georgette always has believed that good boxers can be developed in Camden and vicinity provided they received proper training.
And under Prince, boxers can be developed. Eddie is a stern taskmaster and will brook no nonsense from the youngsters he trains.
So, accorded the proper training, there’s no reason why Camden once more shouldn’t be represented by such outstanding boxers as Walcott, Roxie Allen, Mickey Blair, Tip Gorman, Bobby Zimmerman, Lucas, Joey Allen, Frankie Rapp, Frankie Blair and others who made boxing pay here in the 1920’s.
With Webster and Georgette’s experience in arranging matches and Prince’s ability to train fighters, the three should get somewhere in the boxing game.
And no fighter will be hurt under their guidance unless it’s of his own doing.
They will separate the chaff from the wheat and even the wheat will not be hurt.