Mitchell Sadowski
Mitchell Sadowski, 1945
MITCHELL SADOWSKI was one of Camden’s “bad boys” of the 1930s and 1940s. He was born around 1918 to John and Rose Sadowski, both natives of Poland. The family lived at 1200 Sycamore Street, the corner of Sycamore and Louis Streets, a neighborhood where many other Polish immigrants had settled.
Mitchell Sadowski’s criminal career first brought him into scrutiny in 1933, when, in January, he was arrested for car theft. In 1934 he was convicted of armed robbery, and was sent to state prison, where he served less than 4 years. He went back after a two-year stretch for a hold-up in Atlantic City. He then drew five-years probation for his participation in a bank robbery in Marlton with, among others, John Lenkowski. In 1938 he was again arrested in possession of a stolen car.
Sent back to prison, Mitchell Sadowski was back in Camden by the November of 1945. He was working at the Camden Pottery plant at Mount Vernon Street and Orchard Street when, leaving work at the end of the midnight shift of Friday, November 30 he was gunned down as he left the building. There was speculation at the time that his murder was connected to the February 1944 robbery of the Casablanca nightclub on Marlton Pike in nearby Delaware Township.
5 Men and Woman Held in P.S. Bus Barn Holdup, Marlton Bank Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
4 of Notorious ‘Forty’ — Cops Arrest 4 in Phila. Hotel Counting Cash — Camden Police to Seek Extradition of Gang at Hearing Thursday
5 Men and Woman Held in P.S. Bus Barn Holdup, Marlton Bank Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
Four of Notorious ‘Forty’
COPS ARREST 4 IN PHILA. HOTEL COUNTING CASH
Camden Police to Seek Extradition of Gang at Hearing Thursday
LICENSE NUMBER OF CAR LEADS TO RAID ON ROOM
Scores of Crimes Charged to Members of ‘Band of 40 Thieves’
Five men and a woman, reputedly members of Camden’s notorious “band of 40 thieves,” were arrested yesterday and formally charged with the holdup of the Public Service bus garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets.
Efforts are also being made by local and state police to link the sextet with the $4000 Marlton National Bank holdup last Friday, and more than a score of other recent crimes throughout South Jersey.
All six will be given hearings Thursday. The five men are held without bail; the woman is in jail in default of $5000 bail.
Stanley Powell, 28, of 1256 Whitman avenue, and Stephie Ciesla, 22, of 1224 Chase street, were taken into custody in Camden.
John Lenkowski, 28, of Chestnut and Louis streets; Stanley Geda, 22, of the 1200 block Everett street; Stanley Krause, 19, of 1252 Sycamore street, and Mitchell Sadowski, 18, of 1200 Sycamore street, were arrested in Philadelphia. Lieut. George Ward, of the Camden detective bureau, is preparing extradition papers to have them returned to this city.
Suspected in Holdups
The six are also suspected of complicity by local and state police in the holdup ten days ago of the Genova Cafe, Third and Arch streets; the $900 payroll robbery last month of the Young and Metzner Company at Sixth street and Atlantic avenue; the attempted robbery of a Westville chain store last Friday when shots were exchanged with police; the holdup of an ice cream stand at Central Airport; the larceny of an automobile from the Cadillac-LaSalle agency in Westville, Friday, and the theft of more than a score of other automobiles.
A total of $187.50 was found in the possession of the quartet nabbed in Philadelphia yesterday. This was described as part of the loot from the Public Service garage job by Lieutenant Ward.
The spectacular capture of the four was hailed by local authorities as the first step in the breaking up of the notorious gang that has been operating in South Jersey for so long. The arrest of Powell and the Ciesla girl came a few hours later.
Lieutenant Ward and Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, aided by (Continued on Page Two)
STANLEY POWELL (Above) STANLEY GEDA (Above) JOHN LENKOWSKI MITCHELL SADOWSKI
Lenkowski, Geda and Sadowski are three of the four suspects in the Public Service garage holdup early yesterday nabbed in Philadelphia and held without bail to await extradition at a hearing Thursday. The other is Stanley Krause. All are Camdenites. Powell was arrested with Stephie Ciesla in Camden, and also held without bail for a hearing Thursday. Bail of $5000 was placed on the girl. The six are suspected of complicity in the Marlton bank holdup last Friday, also.
5 Men, Woman Held in Bus, Bank Holdups
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Philadelphia detectives, swooped down upon Irving Hotel, 917 Walnut street, Philadelphia, and smashed in a door to a second-floor room. There they found the four men, according to Ward.
Were Dividing Money
“They were dividing up some money,” explained the detective head. “It was stolen in the Public Service holdup yesterday. We are lodging a detainer against them with a warrant accusing them of that job. The Marlton bank holdup is a Burlington county matter. Once we get them over here we will question them about other local jobs.
“We have been looking for them for some time. We understood they had been living in Philadelphia for the past six weeks, and yesterday we learned they had moved to the Irving Hotel. So we planned the raid. The biggest factor in finding them was the cars they have been using. Police in both states were on the lookout for the car used in the Marlton holdup.”
The arrest of Powell and the girl came as a result of the Philadelphia raid. The license number of the car in which the four had driven to the hotel was checked, and traced to the girl’s mother.
Patrolmen William Feitz and Joseph Schultz went to her home and waited for the car to appear.
Powell was driving the car as it approached the Chase street address. When it stopped, the two policemen placed both Powell and Miss Ceisla [sic] under arrest. The man jumped from the car and ran, with Schultz in pursuit. After a chase of half a block, the cop fired a shot over Powell’s head. Powell stopped and surrendered.
Powell Denies Holdup
Powell denied any part in the garage holdup, saying he had slept at the Ciesla home Sunday night. He was held without bail as an accessory after the fact, however, and the girl was placed under $5000 bail as a material witness. They will be given hearings Thursday.
The four arrested in Philadelphia were given preliminary hearings today before Magistrate Charles Medway at Twelfth and Pine streets police station. They were held without bail for another hearing Thursday, when Lieut. Ward will ask that they be extradited to Camden.
At today’s hearing, all four denied any connection with the garage holdup. They testified that two men had come to their room in the hotel and left a bag in their care. They were in the act of counting the contents of the bag—$187.50 in nickels, dimes and quarters—when the police entered, they said.
Lankowski and Sadowski told the Court they did not know the identity of the two men, saying they were friends of Krause. But Krause said he didn’t know them either, whereupon Magistrat [sic] Medway held all four without bail for a further hearing Thursday.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia police are checking on recent holdups there in an effort to link the quartet with them.
Identified by Victims
Witnesses to the Public Service holdup yesterday were taken to Philadelphia and identified the suspects, according to Lieut. Ward. They also identified a photograph of Powell, he added.
Corporal George G. Small, of Berlin barracks, New Jersey State Police, and Detective Sergeant William P. Kelly, of Hammonton headquarters, went to Philadelphia last night in an effort to link the quartet with numerous robberies throughout South Jersey, including two chain stores in Pine Hill last week. Sergeant Kelly was the only one to question the men. Lieut. Ward did not, but explained that he will Thursday.
Thomas Thorpe, chief of Pennsauken township police, today asked Lieut. Ward for permission to question the suspects when they are returned to Camden, in an effort to link them with holdups in that community. Chief of Burlington County Detectives Ellis Parker is also interested in the case. The Marlton holdup comes under his jurisdiction.
Four Youths Get Terms in Prison
Trenton Times —
Convicts Also Wanted for Burlington County Bank Raid
CAMDEN, N. J., July 2 (P).—Four boys, 16 to 19 years old, were sentenced in Camden Criminal Court today to terms of seven to ten years each after they pleaded guilty to a series of holdups.
A detainer was lodged against them by Burlington County authorities who charge the group robbed the Marlton National Bank on June 14, when $4,119 was taken.
The prisoners are Stanley Geda and Stanley Krause, 19; John Lenkowski, 18, and Mitchell Sadowski, 16. Two others allegedly involved in the same crimes pleaded not guilty and will be tried. They are Stanley Powell, 20, and Edward Guegryc, 19.
Jury Is Recalled in Bank Charges
Trenton Times —
April Term Panel Returns 24 Indictments—Other Cases Involved
(Special to the Times.)
MOUNT HOLLY, July 3.—Prosecutor Howard Eastwood yesterday recalled the April term Grand Jury to investigate a number of complaints that have been filed in the Prosecutor’s office since the jury was last in session.
Twenty-four indictments were returned late yesterday afternoon, five of which were impounded inasmuch as the defendants are still at large.
Among the list of indictments there appeared the names of four accused bank robbers who are at present in the Camden County Jail. Each had two indictments against him, (1) intent to rob Mrs. Florence Roberts, clerk of Marlton Bank and (2) assault with intent to kill Horace C. Wills, cashier of the same institution. The defendants are: Mitchell Sadowski, Stanley Krause, John Lenkawski and a John Doe, all of Camden.
W. D. Fuller, of Mount Holly, is charged with receiving $10 from both Loring S. Borton, of Burlington, and Miss Mary W. Ancker, of Mount Holly, by means of a worthless check.
Two indictments claiming the theft of 32 chickens are filed against William Butler, of Lumberton.
Edward B. Goss, of Chester Township, is charged with tapping the electric current of the Public Service Company.
Statutory charges have been lodged against Henry L. Mollinaux, of Riverside; John Cannuli, of Burlington; Louise O’Neil, of Burlington, and Erling Holp, of New York City.
Assault and assault with intent to kill are the two indictments against Charles Harris, of Mount Holly.
Old Holdup Charge Keeps Youth in Jail
Camden Courier-Post —
Krause, Involved in Marlton Bank Robbery, Must Face Offense of 3 Days Later
Stanley Krause, 22, was held in county jail here last night awaiting arraignment today on a robbery charge.
Krause and Stanley Geda, 24, both of Camden, drew suspended sentences yesterday after pleading non vult to a charge of holding up and robbing the Marlton National Bank in 1934. After Judge Frank A. Hendrickson disposed of the case, Krause was turned over to Camden police.
Both were released from State Prison in Trenton several days ago, where they had been sentenced to from five to 10 years for holding up a Public Service garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets in Camden. This occurred three days after Krause and Geda, with two other men, held up the bank.
Geda was released after being placed on probation.
John Lenkowsky and Mitchell Sadowski, also arrested in the garage holdup, have yet to complete their sentences. At the time the four pleaded guilty to the garage holdup, they also admitted robberies of the Genova Cafe, Third and Arch streets, and of a Gloucester grocery.
Parolee Seized in Stolen Auto by Camden Cop
Camden Courier-Post —
Sadowski Was Freed by Judge in 20-Year Term for Bank Holdup — Arrested at Wheel of Elusive Machine
PAROLEE SEIZED IN STOLEN AUTO BY CAMDEN COP
Sadowski Was Freed by Judge in 20-Year Term for Bank Holdup
ARRESTED AT WHEEL OF ELUSIVE MACHINE
Mitchell Sadowski, 21-year-old paroled convict, who was given a “break” five months ago in Federal Court by Judge Philip Forman, was under arrest again last night after being found at the wheel of a stolen Pennsylvania automobile.
Sadowski was arrested yesterday by Detective August Pfleiderer after Camden police searched the city for the elusive car since Monday when it was stolen in Philadelphia.
The car was sighted Wednesday by a Parkside resident who called police but the machine disappeared again before detectives arrived. The car, a 1938 Packard coupe, is owned by John Holdstein, of 7614 Brewer avenue, Philadelphia.
Sadowski’s last escapade with the police occurred when he was given a sentence of 20 years in State’s prison which was suspended by Judge Forman on the gunman’s plea he “had a job.”
Judge Forman placed the youth on probation for five years after a jury found him guilty as the getaway driver in the $4119 robbery of the First National Bank of Marlton.
At that time Sadowski had just finished a two-year term in the state prison for holdup near Atlantic City. He was convicted on two indictments in the bank holdup and sentenced to 20 years on each count. Judge Forman ruled the sentences would run concurrently and ordered probation in each instance.
The machine in which Sadowski was arrested was first reported in front of 1310 Park boulevard by Calvin Hunsingur, who called police giving them the license number. Detectives Clifford and William Casler told Hunsingur to watch the car until they could send a tow wagon out for it. A few minutes later Hunsingur saw
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(Continued from Page One)
a young man get into the machine and drive it away.
Detectives Stand Watch
The next time it was reported seen in Camden was at 4 p. m. yesterday when George Mayo, of 812 Kaighn avenue, called and said the car was in front of 824 Kaighn avenue and had been there since 6 a. m. Pfleiderer with Detectives Carr and Joseph Mardino and Detective Sergeant Thomas Murphy went to the address and tore out a wire from the distributor to prevent the machine from being started. They then took stands to watch for anyone entering the machine. At 5:30 p. m., when no one appeared Sgt. Murphy, Carr and Mardino returned to the Detective Bureau leaving Pfleiderer standing at Ninth street and Kaighn avenue.
At 6:30 p. m., Pfleiderer said, he noticed someone get into the machine and try to start it. The detective with gun drawn approached the driver and told him he was under arrest. Pfleiderer immediately recognized the man as Sadowski.
When the detective accosted Sadowski, the youth is alleged to have pleaded with Pfleiderer to shoot him and kill him instead of returning him to state prison.
“Go ahead and shoot me,” cried Sadowski, according to Pfleiderer. “I would rather be shot than go back to prison.”
Pleads Innocence
Last night while Sadowski was in the detention cell in Detective Bureau he paced the floor constantly, pleading with detectives he was innocent and not to send him back to prison.
The gunman’s criminal career began in January, of 1933, when 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 bus garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets and robbery of the cashier of more than $300. He was found guilty of participation and sentenced from seven to 10 years in prison and released on parole in July, last year after serving less than four years.
On his release Sadowski was arrested again for the Marlton bank robbery in which he and three others escaped with $4000. The others were Stanley Krause, Stanley Geda and John Lenkowsky. The four bandits were the same quartet which robbed the Public Service Garage. Each was arrested as he was released from prison. Krause and Geda both drew suspended sentences on March 21, before Judge Frank A. Hendrickson after entering pleas of non vult on the bank holdup charges.
At the time when the four pleaded guilty to the garage holdup, they also admitted robberies of the Genova Cafe, Third and Arch streets, and of the Mantua chain store.
Detectives last night were attempting to link Sadowski with the holdup last Tuesday afternoon of the Dublin National Bank, at Dublin, Pa. Three bandits, all armed and two of them masked, cowed a woman employe and a customer into a corner and forced the cashier, Henry Schanbacker, to hand over $3500 in cash from the cashier’s cage.
Sadowski Dies as Gunman Flees
Camden Courier-Post —
SEEK QUINN
Mowed Down
MITCHELL SADOWSKI
Ex-convict who was murdered last night after leaving his job at the Camden Pottery Co. plant, Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets. Police are probing a possible link with the recent escape of “Mickey” Quinn, described as leader of the bandits who held up the Casablanca Cafe. Quinn is suspected as the killer of Romeo De Sanctis, a witness in the cafe holdup. Sadowski was questioned by police after the De Sanctis murder.
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.
No[?] Hertzstein, of 160[?] 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
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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.
Police Seek 'Break' in Sadowski Death
Camden Courier-Post —
Vengeance by Quinn and Doublecross Seen as Likely Motives
Police Seek ‘Break’ in Sadowski Death
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
Cops Give Warning Quinn Is ‘Red Hot’
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
Escaped Convict Is Sought In Slaying
Gettysburg PA Times —
Camden, N. J., Dec. 5 (P)—An intensive two-state police search was underway Tuesday for Michael (Mickey) Quinn, an escaped convict sought for questioning in connection with the shotgun slaying Friday of 27-year-old Mitchell Sadowski.
Police here and in Philadelphia, who refused to be identified, said Quinn—he escaped from a Washington, D. C., jail November 24 while awaiting action on an appeal from conviction in a $24,000 holdup—was the leader in an armed robbery of a roadhouse near Garden State race track last February.
Sadowski, an ex-convict employed at the Camden Pottery works, was questioned after the road house robbery, police said. He was slain by two shotgun blasts as he left the plant. Fellow workmen said they did not see the gunman.