Oliver H. Morgan
Oliver H. Morgan
Oliver H. Morgan was born in New Jersey around 1894. He married at the age of 21, and five children were born, Oliver S., Agnes K., William H., Helen A., and Katherine B. Morgan. Sadly, Mrs. Morgan passed away before April of 1930. At the time of the 1930 Census he was living at 931 North 3rd Street.
Oliver Morgan joined the Camden Police Department on July 2, 1927. By 1947 he had remarried, and lived with his wife Anna at 310 Erie Street in North Camden. He had been promoted to Detective at this point in time. Oliver Morgan was still serving on the police force as of early 1949.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows Oliver H. Morgan living at 301 Erie Street. He was still listed there in 1959. By 1970 Oliver Morgan no longer appeared in the phone book, and it appears that he had passed away by this point.
Sixty Day Jail Term Given to Milk Thief
Camden Courier-Post —
Joseph Knecht, 20 years old, 328 Byron Street, was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail this morning when he was arraigned in police court charged with stealing milk.
Knecht was arrested at 4 o’clock this morning by Policeman Oliver Morgan at Third and Erie Streets. The officer told Judge Bertman he had received a number of complaints from drivers who said they had lost a great quantity of milk during the past week. He said he caught Knecht in the act of stealing a bottle of milk from a doorstep.
2 Pin Ball Games Seized In Raids by 3 Policemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Cops Score High on This Slot Machine
Raiding a store at 1808 Broadway yesterday, Camden police seized this pin-ball slot machine, one of the type that has been barred by Chief of Police Arthur Colsey. The alleged owner was arrested for possession of a gambling device and is scheduled for arraignment in police court today. Another machine, of a different type, was seized a few doors away. Camden policemen, taking part in the raid, are, left to right, Patrolmen John Kaighn, Oliver Morgan, Earl Wright and John V. Wilkie.
Proprietor of One Store Gives Tip to Location of Second Device; Wilkie Finds It After Long Search
Two pin-ball slot machines of the type outlawed by Chief of Police Arthur Colsey were seized by Camden police yesterday.
The alleged owner of one of the machines was arrested and the other given a summons, with both scheduled for hearings in police court today.
Patrolmen John V. Wilkie, Earl Wright and Oliver Morgan, who staged the raids that led to the seizures, named Michael Matsourajas, 42, of 1808 Broadway, and Phillip Zonies, of Broadway and Viola Street, as the owners.
Felix Bocchicchio, 28, police character also known as “Man O’ War,” also was arrested when he appeared at police headquarters to inquire about the machine taken in the raid on Matsourajas’ store.
Bocchicchio is held on a charge of suspicion for investigation.
The Broadway store was raided, Wilkie said, after he received an anonymous tip that one of the barred machines was being operated there.
Information obtained from Matsourajas, the patrolman said, led to the seizure of the second machine at the Zonies store.
Wilkie said a search of the building at 1808 Broadway and an adjacent building failed to disclose the machine and that it was not found until the patrolmen searched a small storage room in the rear.
Court Holds 2 Men In Game ‘Pay-Off’
Camden Courier-Post —
Reiners Gets 16 Nickels for One in Test of Seized Pin-Ball Machine
City Prosecutor John H. Reiners put one nickel in a pin-ball machine and got 16 back in police court, so two men were held on gambling charges yesterday.
Judge Lewis Liberman continued the cases of both until Monday, but ordered Felix Bocchicchio, 28, police character known as “Man o’ War,” to produce the key to one of the machines and turn it over to Police Chief Arthur Colsey before Monday.
Arrested with Bocchicchio was Michael Batsouraqus, 42, of 1806 Broadway, operator of a restaurant and pool room at the Broadway address. He denied ownership of the machine set up in his place and said he had it removed as soon as he learned it was illegal.
The machine, found by Inspector John V. Wilkie in a shed behind Batsouraqus’ place, was taken into court and examined by Liberman. Batsouraqus testified that Bocchicchio collected money from the machine each week.
Bocchicchio also denied owning the machine, saying a man named “Frankie” was the owner. He couldn’t remember “Frankie’s” full name or where he could be found.
Bocchicchio resides at Oak Avenue and King’s Highway, Mt. Ephraim.
A second machine was found by Wilkie and Patrolman Earl Wright and Oliver Morgan at the store of Philip Zonies, of Broadway and Viola Street. Zonies, for whom a summons was issued, was not arraigned.
Angelo D. Malandra, attorney for the two, told Liberman they wanted to waive a hearing and be held for the grand jury. Liberman said he was obliged to dispose of a city ordinance violation in the city police court.
Wilkie testified he received an anonymous phone tip that the pin ball machine was being operated at the Broadway address. After a conference with Colsey, he said he went to see Batsouraqus, searched the premises and found nothing. He said he asked Batsouraqus if he had a machine there and was told that it had been taken out three days before.
After Wilkie told how he had found the machine in the shed, he explained in detail how the machine operated.
Reiners Profits
Before the hearing police, reporters and Reiners played the machine in the courtroom, putting in several nickels, getting one ball to shoot and nothing else. Reiners, trying his luck, put in a nickel and received 80 cents.
Bocchicchio was arrested, Wilkie testified, when he came up to detective headquarters at the city hall to inquire after the seized machines. The inspector said Bocchicchio told him he worked for the owner of the machines, but when asked who that was he said:
“Never mind, I’ll take the rap.”
Wilkie also declared Bocchicchio told him there was a warehouse full of the machines in Camden.
“I know where there are three or four of the same kind of machines in the city, and I want to start an investigation to find out how they got into the city,” Wilkie said.
Batsouraqus said Bocchicchio and a man he knows only as “Allentown Pete” installed the machine in the store and came around once a week to collect the money. He said he had the machine on a 50-50 basis, and each week received about $35.
“The other night I read in the paper that the machines were illegal and I immediately dismantled it and put it in the shed,” he said. “Then I called Bocchicchio on the phone and told him to come and get it. He said he would be back in a few days for it.”
Bocchicchio admitted installing the machine in the restaurant, but said he worked for “Frankie.”
“I want to know who this ‘Frankie’ is,” Liberman demanded.
“I don’t know,” Bocchicchio said.
“Where is this big warehouse?” asked Reiners.
“I don’t know about any warehouse,” was the reply.
“You’re kind of forgetting now, aren’t you?” Reiners queried.
“No, that’s the only machine Frankie had. He asked me to get a truck, and then he went with me over to a place in Philadelphia, and brought back the machine. It cost $139.
“All I do is collect the money, take it home and give it to Frankie when he comes. That’s all I know about it.”
“What a rotten memory,” Liberman declared. “You’ve got a memory like the boys in the numbers business. Where is the key you used to take the money out?”
Bocchicchio said he had the key home.
Bocchicchio said he made $20 a week, to which Reiners said:
“That’s a swell business for ‘Frankie.’ He gets $70 out of the machine, gives Mike $35 and you $20. He’s made the investment and gets $15.”
To all questions about “Frankie,” Bocchicchio said he could not recall.
“Now, don’t give me that bunk,” Liberman exclaimed, “because I don’t believe it.”
Unruffled, Bocchicchio replied, “I don’t remember.”
Judge Fixes Ball [sic]
Liberman, in announcing the continuance, said he would continue Batsouraqus’ bail at $300, set last night, and ordered Bocchicchio to post $500 cash bail for his release.
Before the hearing, Wilkie asked Bocchicchio if he were registered as required by a city ordinance requiring all persons with a criminal record to register with police. Bocchicchio refused to answer, so Liberman ordered Wilkie to check police records.
In 15 minutes Wilkie reported Bocchicchio was not registered and added that he lived in Mt. Ephraim.
“That’s right, I’m not registered,” Bocchicchio volunteered. “I came into the city at 2 p. m. yesterday and I have until the same hour today to register.”
Bocchicchio has a long police record of charges including suspicion of murder, jail break and larceny. He has been arrested in various cities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada, police records reveal.
De Sanctis Dies in Parked Car, Pal Wounded
Camden Evening Courier —
Police Character Arrested in Night Slaying of Grand Jury Witness
Victim Spurned Tip to Keep Alive in Jail
Camden police early today arrested a Delaware township ex-convict for investigation in the slaying last night of Romeo DeSanctis, star witness against suspects in the recent Casablanca roadhouse holdup.
DeSanctis, released on bail last week as a material witness to the holdup, was killed as he sat with a companion in a parked car, a few hours after he testified before the grand jury in connection with the holdup.
The companion, Leon Grenkwicz, a well-known police character, is in critical condition in West Jersey hospital from bullet wounds of the face. He walked three blocks to the hospital from the scene of the shooting on Mt. Ephraim avenue near Kaighn.
Warned to Stay In Jail
Joseph C. Putek, 35, who has a record of 12 arrests and several convictions on charges that include holdup and robbery, was taken into custody today at his home on Fulton street by Captain Koerner and Detective Carr, of the Camden police. He was booked on suspicion and for investigation. He insisted he was in Philadelphia when DeSanctis was shot.
Prosecutor Mariano said DeSanctis was killed because he testified before the grand jury. Released from jail when his bail was reduced from $50,000 to $7000 as a result of a writ obtained by his family, DeSanctis met a fate feared by the authorities, Mariano revealed. “I told him he had better stay in custody,” the prosecutor said. “I warned him he might be killed.”
“Let Us Have It”
Grenkwicz, conscious in the hospital, told police he and DeSanctis were seated in his car, facing north. He said a large, dark colored sedan drew alongside and just ahead of his car.
A man holding a gun, Grenkwicz said, leaned out of the window and “let us have it.” Police said the weapon was either a machinegun or a sawed-off shotgun with extra large buck shot as ammunition.
“I was a damned fool to be with DeSanctis,” Grenkwicz added.
The left side of DeSanctis’ head, police said, was nearly blown off. Grenkwicz was struck in the face and left hand.
Slugs Rip Through Auto
Slugs tore through the left door and window, the windshield and hood of the car and some struck a plate glass window of a bakery at 1212 Mt. Ephraim avenue, directly behind the car.
The killers’ car continued north on Mt. Ephraim avenue, turned east on Kaighn avenue and disappeared. A police alarm description of the auto was broadcast immediately.
The shooting occurred 80 yards from an alleged speakeasy DeSanctis is said to have operated on Mt. Ephraim avenue and only about 300 yards from Cappy’s Restaurant, 1105 Kaighn avenue, where Stephen Burns, now under arrest as a suspect in the roadhouse holdup, was employed as night manager. Burns was arrested Feb. 14 as he left the restaurant.
Patrolman Oliver Morgan reported he saw DeSanctis in the restaurant between 6 and 6.30 p.m. last night. Prosecutor Mariano immediately ordered police to obtain the names of all persons in the eating house yesterday. Mariano said Grenkwicz denied he was in the restaurant.
Charles Cook, a city fireman, of 1142 Mt. Ephraim avenue, near Kaighn avenue, ran to the scene from his home after hearing the shooting.
Cook and four employes, two women and two men, of Cappy’s restaurant, made statements last night in Mariano’s office, where county, city and state police assembled to coordinate their investigation.
“Cappy” Roman, proprietor of the restaurant, later was questioned. Roman, police said, told them both DeSanctis and Grenkwicz ate dinner in his place last night about 6 o’clock.
Freed in $7000 Bail
DeSanctis, who lived at 1351 Decatur street, was released about 10 days ago in $7000 bail as a material witness in the Casablanca holdup. The roadhouse was held up at 2.55 a.m. Feb. 27 when five masked bandits herded 50 or 60 patrons into the kitchen and robbed them of their money and emptied the club cash registers.
Leaving the roadhouse, the bandits singled out DeSanctis and ordered him to accompany them as a hostage. When they reached the outside, however, they were fired upon by Delaware township policeman Power. DeSanctis dropped to the ground as the bandits escaped in a waiting car, which had been spotted by the policeman.
DeSanctis was arrested later in the day and held incommunicado for seven days before he was arraigned as a material witness and held in $50,000 bail. DeSanctis’ family later obtained a writ of habeas corpus and subsequently he was released in $7000 bail.
Meanwhile, police arrested Burns, Leonard Lutz and James McBride, all ex-convicts, as suspects in the robbery.
McBride Brought to Camden
McBride was lodged in a cell in Camden jail today after being extradited from Philadelphia. Extradition proceedings were delayed by an application in his behalf for a writ of habeas corpus, but at a hearing on the writ before Judge Brown in Philadelphia this morning, the suspect’s attorney, Louis F. McCabe, withdrew the writ after stating identification had been established for extradition purposes. McBride then was turned over to Mariano and County Detectives Mulligan and Dube and brought to Camden.
Burns and Lutz are in the county jail awaiting action of the grand jury.
It was reported that testimony given the grand jury yesterday by DeSanctis was for the purpose of obtaining indictments against Burns and Lutz.
Grenkwicz, who gave his address as 118 Pershing road, Brooklawn, has a long police record including holdup and robbery. He was arrested in 1933 as a suspect in the $11,000 holdup of the Radio Condenser Co.
Three Men Held Without Bail in Tavern Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Trio Nabbed at Shore Identified by Victim Of $2000 Theft Here
Three men suspected of the $2000 robbery of a Camden woman tavern owner last Friday were held without bail for further hearing by Judge Dzick today.
Dzick acted in compliance with a request by Detectives Marshall Thompson and George Ellis, who said the investigation was not complete. The three were arrested Sunday in Atlantic City.
Booked on charges of armed robbery were Stanley Slagle, 22, of 1408 Broadway; James J. Lenahan, 24, of 1734 Broadway, and Robert Sharp, 26, of 19 N. Johnson blvd., Gloucester.
Identified as Boxer
Slagle was identified as a middleweight boxer, who started to fight last fall and appeared twice at a Philadelphia club.
Arrested at 2 a.m. Sunday the men were returned to Camden, where they were identified by Miss Mary Lynch, 44, who operates Lynch’s Cafe at 3rd and Erie sts. Charles Clark, 33, of 538 N. Front st., a patron who was slugged on the head with a blackjack, was able to identify Lenahan and Sharp as participating in the daylight holdup, according to Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy.
Murphy said the men will be included in a police lineup Tuesday at 8 p.m. so that other victims of holdups in the area during the past year may view the suspects.
Atlantic City police said Patrolmen Adelmo Fidelli and Edward Shaw, acting on information from Camden detectives, nabbed Lenahan in the Nomad Club.
Fifteen minutes later, other officers took Sharp and Slagle into custody in the Jockey Club.
Shore police said they had been notified Camden authorities in a raid on an apartment in Camden had learned from a girl-friend of one of the men that she was to meet them in Atlantic City.
Some Money Recovered
Murphy said $600 of the stolen money was recovered on the men, in addition to $125 discovered in the apartment in the 1700 block on Broadway.
The detective captain said Detectives George Ellis and Marshall Thompson, who along with Detectives Harry Tracey and Sgt. William Kelly returned the suspects from the shore, had spent 43 hours without sleep on the trail of the bandits.
Murphy said the key to the capture was a license number obtained by Patrolman Oliver Morgan from an automobile seen near the scene of the holdup.
Car Was Stolen
The car, Murphy said, had been stolen from John J. Hegar, 640 Federal st., a certified public accountant, who was unaware of the theft until after the car was recovered Saturday on 7th st., between Liberty st. and Kaighn ave.
Later Saturday, Murphy related, Detective Harry Kyler and Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley obtained information linking Lenahan to the job and, still later, the apartment in Camden was raided.
Discovered in the apartment, Murphy said, were a .45-calibre automatic and the cash, found hidden under a chair cushion.
Murphy said Lenahan and Sharp, under questioning Sunday night in Camden, admitted their part in the holdup. Slagle, however, denied knowledge of the crime, Murphy added.
Discarded Weapons
Reconstructing the holdup and the trail of the gunmen, Murphy named Sharp as driver of the getaway car and said the men drove around the city and then later threw a shotgun and blackjack from the car.
The men went to Philadelphia, Murphy continued, where they purchased new clothes and wrist watches and other accessories and agreed to meet in Atlantic City.
Murphy said all have police records, Lenahan having been paroled in July from state prison after serving a term for grand larceny in Atlantic City. Sharp was released from state prison last year after serving a term for larceny of an automobile in Camden County and Slagle was released from the prison where he was sent for robbery, Murphy said.