Michael J. 'Mickey' Quinn

Michael J. “Mickey” Quinn was born in Pennsylvania of Irish-born parents, Michael and Catherine Quinn, around 1908. He was one of at least seven children, and grew up in Philadelphia. His father worked as a plumber. Mickey Quinn apparently also worked as a plumber, but his primary occupation from the late 1920s on appears to have been armed robbery. He was serving time at Eastern State Penitentiary in Skippack, Pennsylvania when the Census was taken in April of 1930. After his release, he returned to Philadelphia, where he teamed up with another like-minded individual, Harry Schwartz, and engaged in a number of stick ups. He was arrested with Schwartz in Camden in December of 1930.

He was alleged to be the leader of the gang that pulled off the February 1945 armed robbery of the Casablanca roadhouse, a night club near the Garden State Race Track on Marlton Pike (present day Route 70) in what is now Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Arrested, tried, and convicted in Washington, D.C. later that year for a $24,000 holdup, Mickey Quinn was awaiting action on an appeal when he escaped with three other prisoners on November 24, 1945. It is alleged that he made his way to the Camden area and was behind the killing of ex-convict Mitchell Sadowski, who was thought to have informed police about Quinn and his involvement in the Casablanca robbery.

Men Caught in Cemetery, Deserted Stolen Car, Police Say

Second Pair Caught Confess Robbery

Drive Lands 14 Persons in Jail Over Weekend in Camden

A wave of banditry that has been sweeping this locality during the past week, was temporarily checkmated over the weekend when a police dragnet caught four alleged bandits, two of whom confessed to holding up a South Camden chain store.

Ten other robber suspects were either sentenced to jail or fined by Judge Pancoast.

Police also recovered a stolen automobile which had been used by bandits in an attempted holdup of a South Camden grocer. Two revolvers and a sawed-off shotgun were found under the seat in the car.

Two of the alleged bandits were trapped in a cemetery where they are said to have fled after their automobile, a stolen car, crashed into a pole, yesterday, at Lansdowne and Princess avenues.

A sawed-off shot gun, a .38 calibre revolver and several boxes of shells were found by police a short distance from where the suspects were captured.

Followed to Cemetery

At police headquarters the men, who said they are Harry Schwartz, 27, of 608 Cantrell street, and Michael Quinn, 22, of 856 Craney street, both of Philadelphia, denied knowledge of the guns and the auto crash and declared they were in the cemetery to “keep a date with two girls.”

Shortly before noon yesterday police were notified of an automobile crash. The informer said that two men had jumped from the car, one carrying a carpetbag, and dashed in the direction of Collingswood.

Patrolman Howard Bean and George Schyler went to the scene in a bandit chaser car. They followed the general direction taken by the men and were informed by several pedestrians they had entered Harleigh cemetery.

The patrolmen started to make a search of the cemetery and saw two men standing beside a tree. They fled.

Admit to Jail Sentences

In the meantime Motorcycle Policeman George Smith, of the Collingswood police, joined in the chase and helped trap the men as they were about to climb a fence.

They were arrested on suspicion and placed in a cell. Questioned by Detective McGrath, the men admitted to having served time in jail but would not disclose the reason.

Philadelphia and surrounding police have been asked to identify the men. Harry Yates, an employee of the cemetery, found the shotgun and revolver, as well as the carpetbag which proved to be empty, near where the police first saw the men.

The automobile figuring in the crash was a sedan, that had been reported to police as stolen on October 31, from Broad and Buttonwood streets, Philadelphia. It is the property of the Guy A. Willey Motor Company, 415 North Broad street, Philadelphia.

Seek Quinn

Mitchell Sadowski, 27, well known Camden police character, was shot to death last night as he left his place of employment.

The shooting occurred at Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets as Sadowski was about to enter his parked car after leaving the Camden Pottery Company plant shortly before midnight.

Sadowski was shot through the right eye, apparently by a shotgun. Other workers heard shots and summoned police, who took Sadowski to West Jersey Hospital where he was pronounced dead and identified.

Hertzstein, of 1603 Pershing street, brother-in-law of Sadowski, identified the body at the hospital.

Shotgun Shells Found

Witnesses said Sadowski was holding the car keys in his right hand when he was shot about 15 feet from the Mt. Vernon street exit of the plant which is located at Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mt. Vernon street.

Near the car police found two discharged shells from a 12 gauge shotgun. A tree near the car bore shotgun pellet marks about two feet from the ground.

Police said about three employees heard the shots and of these, two said they heard three shots and one said he heard two shots.

Investigators said the shooting resembled those of the prohibition day era because of the “neatness and dispatch” with which it was executed.

Seized in Roundup

Sadowski was taken into custody last April when police were conducting a checkup of alleged gangsters following the shooting of Romeo DeSanctis, chief witness to the holdup of the Casablanca roadhouse last February.

City and county police were attempting to link killing to the recent escape of “Mickey” Quinn, alleged to be the leader of the gang that robbed the Casablanca.

Sadowski’s criminal career dates back to January, 1933, when, at the age of 14, he was arrested for stealing an automobile in Camden and attempting to rob a Mantua chain store.

In 1934 Sadowski was arrested with five others for the holdup of the Public Service garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets and stealing $300 from the cashier. He pleaded guilty and was given 10 to 17 years. In July, 1938, much less than four years after the sentence, he was paroled.

On his release, he was arrested again for the $4119 holdup of the First National Bank of Marlton in June, 1934. He was tried by U. S. Judge Forman at Trenton in January, 1939, found guilty and given 20 years. This sentence, however, was suspended and Sadowski placed on probation for five years when he said he “had a job.”

In June, 1939, he was again arrested after he was found at the wheel of a stolen car. He was ordered held without bail for the grand jury. Police records do not list the disposition of that case.

In April, this year, Sadowski was arrested on charges of holding up a Parkside butcher, who identified him shortly after the holdup, but later told the police he was not sure of his identification.

Vengeance by Quinn and Doublecross Seen as Likely Motives

Police today were hopeful of a “lucky break” which might help them to solve the slaying of Mitchell Sadowski, 27-year-old ex-convict shot to death here Friday midnight.

While they were following up every clue, however meagre, the investigators admitted they were without any definite leads to the identity of the killer.

Local and county detectives were investigating the possibility that Sadowski was killed by or on orders of Mickey Quinn, recently escaped holdup man, or by someone else in reprisal for a recent $1800 holdup allegedly perpetrated by Sadowski.

Sadowski was killed by shotgun blasts through the right eye, head and side as he left the Camden Pottery plant, Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets, where he was employed as a kiln operator.

Doublecross Suspected

City Detective Thomas Murphy said he had been informed Sadowski had held up a Camden sportsman and robbed him of $1800 which the latter won in a dice game. Murphy also said he was investigating the possibility Sadowski was killed in reprisal for that job as well as the alternative that Sadowski may have doublecrossed the Quinn mob in giving information on the Casablanca roadhouse holdup.

Sadowski has a criminal record dating back to 1933, when, at the age of 14, he was arrested for auto theft and attempted robbery of a chain store.

He was out on probation and parole from a sentence for the $4119 holdup of the First National Bank of Marlton when on June 14, 1939, he was picked up by Detective Gus Pfleiderer in a stolen car. Pfleiderer walked up to Sadowski as he was sitting in the parked car on Kaighn avenue near Mt. Ephraim avenue. As Pfleiderer walked up to him, Sadowski attempted to escape. Pfleiderer drew his gun and warned Sadowski he would shoot.

“Go Ahead, Kill Me”

“Go ahead and shoot and kill me,” the parolee answered, according to Pfleiderer. “I’d rather be killed than go back to state prison.” Pfleiderer said Sadowski threw away a pair of dark glasses and tried to hide a flashlight as he was awaiting the patrol car.

Police records show Sadowski has been involved in at least four holdup and robbery arrests and a series of attempted burglaries.

Detectives said they fear other Camden police characters and one from Philadelphia may meet Sadowski’s fate if his killers are not located quickly. One of the men said to be “on the spot” is Leon Grenkwicz, 30, of Bellmawr, who was shot March 22, 1945, when Romeo De Sanctis, star witness in the Casablanca robbery, was slain by gang guns. Grenkwicz recovered from the shooting but police have not been able to locate him since.

Desperado Is Likened to A-Bomb; Hunt Centers Here and in Phila.

Underworld haunts throughout the East were being scanned today for a possible clue to the whereabouts of Michael J. “Mickey” Quinn, No. 1 fugitive of the area, who is said by police to be “as hot as an atomic bomb.”

The search of known criminal hangouts began following a request of FBI agents and Camden police.

Quinn escaped Nov. 24 from a Washington, D. C., jail when Catherine Davis, a 17-year-old sales girl smuggled four hacksaw blades into the prison hidden in a magazine. Four other inmates went out with Quinn. He was committed to the jail to await sentence on a conviction of holdup and robbery of a national bank messenger in the capital city.

Camden police are seeking Quinn as chief suspect in the murder of Mitchell Sadowski, slain last Friday midnight as he emerged from his place of employment at Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets.

It was reported the search for Quinn is being given particular attention in Philadelphia. Pointing to the fact Quinn formerly lived there, police believe he may have more “connections” in that city.

Suspected of the double murder of Patsy Castagno and Mrs. Mary Faulkner in a West Philadelphia apartment early this year police believe Quinn will seek assistance from some of his “pals” who are suspected of helping him in the slaying.

Castagno and Sadowski were prison mates of Quinn at Trenton state prison. After their release Castagno and Sadowski kept in constant touch with one another, police said.

At the time of the double Philadelphia killing, police said Quinn was the chief suspect because Mrs. Faulkner was his “girl friend” and Castagno became too friendly with her while delivering money from Quinn.