Ott Laxton
Samuel Arthur “Ott” Laxton
SAMUEL ARTHUR “OTT” LAXTON was born on May 23, 1904 in Camden, New Jersey to William Henry and Ida Jane Laxton. He was the eighth of eleven children, six of whom are listed on the 1910 census. His father was a cabinetmaker by trade. William Henry and Ida Laxton were natives of England, and had first come to the United States in 1890 with at least two of their children, William H. Jr., and Gwendolyn. They settled in Lynchburg, Virginia, where sons Harry Frank and John Frederick “Fred” Laxton were born in 1893 and 1895, respectively.
The Laxtons returned to England for a time. Another son, Eric, was born in 1900. The Census of 1901 shows the family living in the city of Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. The family soon returned to America, and had settled in Camden at 417 Clinton Street by 1904.
The Laxton family was still living on Clinton Street when the 1914 Camden City Directory was compiled. Growing up in Camden, Ott Laxton, like most boys of his era, played a good deal of sports. His older brother William H. Jr. played soccer and was active with various teams in the Delaware Valley into the mid-1910s. Ott, however, gravitated to the American games, specifically basketball and baseball.
The City Directory for 1917 and draft records show the family at 45 North 21st Street in East Camden. The Census taken in January of 1920 shows Ott Laxton living with his mother and older siblings Gwendolyn and Eric at 31 North 24th Street in East Camden. Ott Laxton had already gone to work as an errand boy in an office by the time of the Census. One of Camden’s many talented athletes, he had already started playing semi-pro basketball by the fall of 1918 and soon was well-known in local athletic circles. Ott Laxton supplemented his income playing semi-pro basketball and baseball.
Ott was well known in Camden basketball circles as a fast, clean, talented forward. He started his basketball career at age 14, playing with the Bethany AA team of the North Camden League. He followed that with time on the Union AA team, then he joined the Railroad League, playing first with Supervising Agent, and later taking the 1921–22 Championship with the Pavonia team. A stint with the Broadway Cycle club followed. In 1924, Ott joined the Glassboro club of the South Jersey League, playing with Broadway Cycle at the same time. By this time, Ott had made a name for himself as a fast, flashy “40 minute player,” staying in the game from bell to bell. The 1925–27 seasons were his most successful. As captain of the Oaklyn team of the Camden County League, Ott led other Camden greats like Grover “Worm” Wearshing, Eddie Brandt and Frank Hambleton to back-to-back Championships. By 1930, Ott had been a member of the Marlton club and had played for the Eastern Camden League as well.
It’s difficult to list all of the teams he played with in Camden over the years, as often Ott would play for whichever team was paying the $5.00 per game. Playing for two or three teams across several leagues within a year was not unusual for him.
Ott Laxton was living in Cramer Hill at 926 North 30th Street with his brother Eric when the 1926 City Directory was compiled. Later in the year he was staying at 802 Linden Street. He was there when his engagement to Helen Kocher was announced, and before the year was out, they were married. The young couple lived initially with Helen’s mother at 266 Liberty Street in South Camden. By the end of the year they had moved to 1014 South 6th Street, and by April of 1930 to 578 Mount Vernon Street. By this time he had secured employment in the City of Camden’s parks department, which also tended to New Camden Cemetery. A son, Samuel Arthur Laxton Jr., was born in 1932.
Ott also spent a fair amount of time playing baseball for the various city leagues in Camden. From 1927 to 1935 he played outfield or second base for the Haddon AA of the Reesman League, the Hurley Club of the Industrial League, Lucas AA of the Lower Camden County Circuit, and the Popeye Club of the Rhone Twilight League, to name a few.
The Laxtons were still living at 578 Mount Vernon Street when the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory was compiled. The family moved to 346 Garden Avenue in East Camden shortly thereafter. A resident of Camden till his last day, Samuel Arthur “Ott” Laxton passed away in April of 1983. Although he never went any further than the city basketball and baseball leagues, Ott Laxton brought many hours of joy to the citizens of Camden with his talent on the basketball court and the baseball field.
Photos
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Unknown, Unknown, Ott Laxton, Unknown.
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Unknown, Ott Laxton, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown.
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Unknown, Unknown, Ott Laxton. On Floor: Unknown.
First Ward Republican Club Basketball Team — Camden County League
Standing: “Reds” Hines, William Boyd, “Toots” Benedict, Joseph Geoghagen. Seated: Frank Hambleton, Eddie Brandt, Charley Humes, Charley Sheets, Ott Laxton. Inset: “Udge” Quicksell.
Sterling Basketball Team — 1924 Champions
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Ott Laxton, Unknown, Unknown.
Hurley Baseball Club — 1930s, Industrial League
Standing: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. Seated: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown boy, Ott Laxton, Unknown, Unknown.
Triple Tie in League
Philadelphia Inquirer —
TRIPLE TIE IN LEAGUE
Pavonia, Firemen and Pennsylvania Railroad at Camden. Pavonia dropped a 24 to 28 loss to Firemen at the Camden Y. M. C. A. last night, with the result that Pavonia, Firemen and P. R. R. now are in a triple tie for first place in the Pennsylvania Railroad League.
PAVONIA — Positions — FIREMEN: Laxton…Forward…Glading. Hoteroth…Forward…Hambleton. Shanahan…Center…Trostle. Glading…Guard…Holmes. Hetteroth…Guard…[unknown].
Field goals—Glading 3, Hoteroth 4, Hambleton 1, Shanahan 1, Trostle 5, Holmes 2. Foul goals—Laxton 2, Glading 2, Hetteroth 1, Hambleton 3, Shanahan 2, Laxton 4.
CAGE STAR WILL WED SOUTH CAMDEN GIRL
Camden Courier-Post — 1926
Arthur Laxton and Miss Helen Kocher Announce Coming Nuptials
Arthur “Otts” Laxton, widely known throughout Camden and South Jersey as a basketball star, is to join the ranks of the Benedicts.
Announcement was made today of the engagement of Laxton to Miss Helen Kocher, 266 Liberty street. The announcement was made by Miss Kocher’s mother, Mrs. Catherine Kocher.
Laxton, rated as one of the fastest forwards in the amateur ranks, has played with a number of championship teams, including Oaklyn and First Ward. He resides at 802 Linden street.
Will Wed Athlete
MISS HELEN KOCHER
Cupid Conquers Entire First Ward Cage Team
Camden Courier-Post — 1926
CUPID CONQUERS ENTIRE FIRST WARD CAGE TEAM
Bats 1,000 as Arthur Laxton Elopes with Helen Kocher
JOKING LED ‘OTTS’ TO ELKTON JOURNEY
Eddie Brandt Joined League of Matrimony Only Last Saturday
OTT LAXTON — The latest holdout has signed. Arthur Samuel Laxton, brilliant basketball star of the First Ward Republican club, has joined his teammates in the Matrimonial League. Laxton eloped to Elkton with Miss Helen Kocher of Camden. Laxton is a forward and Brandt is center on the First Ward quintet. Charley Sheets, a guard, and “Edge” Quicksell, forward, were married within the past six months, while Frank Hambleton, the other guard, has been wed several years. Charley Humes, manager of the team, has been married more than a year.
Cupid, who has been on the rampage in the First Ward Republican Club, at last got the only remaining holdout, Arthur “Otts” Laxton. The joking and good-natured ribbing at practice led to the Elkton elopement. All of the other married players had been at him to join the league and he finally gave in. The last to fall — before “Otts” — was Eddie Brandt, who was married only last Saturday. And so the entire starting lineup of the First Ward cage team is now in the Matrimonial League, and Cupid is batting 1,000.
MRS. ARTHUR LAXTON — The former Miss Helen Kocher of South Camden.
Laxton Scintillates in First Irish Defeat
Camden Evening Courier —
Immaculate Bows Before Camden After Five Victories;
Brandt and Wearshing Also Sparkle as Humesmen Hit Stride
TONIGHT’S TILT TOSSUP
By ABE COROTIS
Camden’s dazzling triumph over Immaculate Conception last night might come under the classification of an upset. But we don’t think so.
In the first place, it was too much to expect any team, even one so powerful as Immaculate, to go on in a league like this Camden county circuit without getting its bumps. There never was a more evenly-balanced loop.
In the second place, Camden has a mighty strong team, one that played below par in early competition. And skipper Charley Sheets and his partners proved that fact last night.
CO. LEAGUE STATISTICS
SENIOR LEAGUE STANDING
W., L., P.C.
Immaculate Conception — 5, 1, .833
Clementon — 3, 1, .750
Camden Club — 2, 3, .400
Collingswood — 2, 3, .400
Pensauken [sic] — 0, 4, .000
LAST NIGHT’S SCORE
Camden Club, 23; Immaculate Conception, 19;
SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Tonight—Clementon at Collingswood.
Friday—Pensauken vs. Clementon at Silver Lake Casino.
JUNIOR LEAGUE STANDING
W., L., P.C.
Immaculate Concep. Jr. — 5, 1, .833
Clementon Juniors — 3, 1, .750
Collingswood Juniors — 3, 2, .600
Pensauken Juniors — 1, 3, .250
Camden Juniors — 0, 5, .000
LAST NIGHT’S SCORE
Immaculate Conception Juniors, 37; Camden Juniors, 23.
SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Tonight—Clementon Juniors at Collingswood Juniors.
Friday—Pensauken Juniors vs. Clementon Juniors at Silver Lake Casino.
The figures of Camden’s conquest were 23 to 19. As they indicate, the game was close and it bristled with action.
Immaculate still has a tight grip on the leadership. The Irish registered five successive victories before succumbing last night.
Clementon is second, with three wins and one setback, but the “Clams” tackle a mighty stiff proposition tonight when the Wolf-Copeland combine invades Collingswood. One of the finest battles of the season should be the result, and the winner—well, you pick it!
Collingswood is now tied with Camden for third place. Each has won two verdicts and dropped three. Neither the “Colls” nor the “Clamtowners” can afford to lose tonight.
Camden’s victory last night was earned. Immaculate was outplayed. But the Irish went down fighting, and they were a sick bunch, morally, when the final whistle sounded. No thought of accepting defeat because it would tighten up the race there!
Bart Sheehan and Roger Brown were missing from the Green line-up, but Camden was without the services of Russ Ogden, who was cut up badly about the face at Pensauken Monday night.
Laxton and Brandt Sparkle
One of the main reasons for the Blue and White triumph was Eddie Brandt. For the first time this season the former Oaklyn sensation exhibited the form of which he is capable, and he played a wonderful floor game. Besides, he tallied once from the field and twice from the foul line while blanking Bill Johns and Joe Burns.
Otts Laxton, whose game is on a par with that of any player in the league, was high scorer. He is credited with two double-deckers and five fouls. Also, Otts charged in and got almost every tap from center. Grover Wearshing scored twice from the field and made two “gifts.”
George Boone, with one and five, and Bernie Maguire, with one and four, were high men for the Irish.
The going became rough toward the end of the game, when the visitors got desperate and fought for possession of the ball. Once Boone and Frank Hambleton all but tangled in fistic combat, but fellow players separated them.
After Cunneff missed a chance to break the ice, Sheets dropped in a foul for Camden. Brandt dribbled mid-floor and stuck in a spectacular field goal.
Boone made a foul for the Irish and then Camden cut loose. Saxton [sic] made a “gift,” and then scored from the field on a pass from Sheets. Brandt and Wearshing scored fouls to make the count 8-1.
Immaculate braced, and Cunneff and Boone made free shots. Boone took a pass from Cunneff past the middle and dropped in a thriller. Six minutes remained to play.
Johns further reduced the lead with a foul. Saxton and Brandt scored one-pointers and after Maguire tallied from the penalty mark, Wearshing dribbled in nicely and scored from the field. Saxton, Wearshing and Saxton scored fouls in that order and the intermission found the figures 15 to 7.
Real Foul Shooting
Camden had scored three field goals against one for the Mulligan troupe in the first half. Besides, the leaders had been making their fouls, converting nine of their 11 opportunities into points. Immaculate made five out of seven.
Captain Harry Cunneff was on the bench when the second half started. Burns going to guard and Joe Murray going in at forward. For several minutes neither team so much as drew a foul, but finally Maguire got a chance and he made it good.
Sheets scored for Camden and then Bernie tallied again for Immaculate. Cunneff went back in the game, Burns moving to center and Johns going out.
Boone scored a foul and then Maguire stuck in a long field goal with Burns assisting. That cut the lead to 16-12 and Immaculate’s followers went wild with joy.
After Hambleton made a lone-pointer for the homesters, Murray swished a long one through the cords following a pass from Maguire.
The count read 17-14 and Camden considered it time to transact some business at the basket. Wearshing laid one in on a pass from Sheets in a pretty play. Sheets added a foul. Camden wasn’t taking long shots at all at this stage, remembering how such procedure had cost them a defeat at Clementon’s hands.
Boone dropped in two fouls in a row and when Maguire got his fourth straight the score was 20-17, with six minutes to play.
For three and one-half minutes, both teams tried desperately to score, but business was nil until Laxton was fouled and made it. Exactly a minute later, Burns got a foul, but when Wearshing passed to Laxton and Otts scored as he cut, the game was on ice. Cunneff’s foul represented a game but futile gesture by Immaculate.
CAMDEN
Fg, Flg, Ft, Fc, A, Tl
Laxton, rf — 2, 5, 9, 3, 0, 9
Sheets, lf — 0, 3, 3, 4, 2, 3
Brandt, c — 1, 2, 3, 5, 0, 4
Hambleton, rg — 0, 1, 1, 3, 0, 1
Wearshing, lg — 2, 2, 5, 2, 1, 6
Totals — 5, 13, 21, 17, 3, 23
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Fg, Flg, Ft, Fc, A, Tl
Burns, rf-rg-c — 0, 1, 2, 8, 1, 1
Boone, lf — 1, 5, 6, 2, 0, 7
Johns, c — 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1
B. Maguire, rg-lg — 1, 4, 5, 4, 1, 6
Cunneff, lg-rg — 0, 2, 3, 6, 1, 2
Murray, rf — 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2
Totals — 3, 13, 17, 21, 3, 19
Score at end of first half—Camden, 15; Immaculate, 7. Referee—Armstrong; Time-Keepers—Osborn and Ward. Scorer—Corotis.
Dangerous Foe Clashes with Leaders Tonight
Camden Evening Courier —
‘Irish’ Face Collingswood in First of Two Hard Tilts Scheduled for County League Leaders
Colls Tackle Immaculate Conception on Catholic High School Court
Indians Also Play ‘Irish’
By TOM RYAN
Immaculate Conception, leader of the Camden County Senior Basketball League, faces its toughest week of the final half-season schedule when it clashes with Collingswood on the Camden Catholic High School court tonight and then battles Pensauken on the latter’s floor tomorrow night.
The “Irish” have yet to taste defeat, topping the league standing with a record of seven straight victories. However, both Collingswood and Pensauken are mighty dangerous foes and likely to knock off any club in the circuit. The “Colls” and Indians are more formidable at the present time than in the early stages of the race as they are waging a stiff battle for fourth place in the loop.
Clarence Layer’s crew and Bill Welsh’s Indians are deadlocked for fourth position with a record of three victories and five defeats and the club that can trip the “Irish” this week will take undisputed possession of that rung of the ladder and at the same time tighten up the race between Oaklyn and the leaders for the final flag.
Oaklyn’s 30-26 victory over Collingswood last Saturday night enabled “Ham” Hambleton’s cagers to keep right on the heels of the “Irish,” the victory giving the “Oaks” a record of seven victories and one defeat, which incidentally was sustained at the hands of the league leaders.
Race Still Remains Close
The race is as close as any ever waged in the circuit and both leader and runnerup will have to fight to the limit in order to retain their respective positions during the week. While the “Irish” must halt Collingswood and Pensauken, it behooves the “Oaks” to smack down Gloucester, Clementon and the Hebrews.
Gloucester will be encountered on the Ridgeway street school court Thursday night. Clementon will be met at the Silver Lake Casino Friday night, while the Hebrews will provide the opposition at Oaklyn Saturday night.
Clementon is the most formidable opponent the “Oaks” will face, as Eli Copeland’s Crusaders have maintained an even gait since dropping their first two league combats and are a hard outfit to beat on their home court. The “Clams” have lost only one game at the Silver Lake Casino during the past two seasons, Immaculate Conception grabbing a 25-17 triumph in the early part of the final half, but since that calamity the “Clams” have settled down to a pace that has swept aside all opposition when playing on their home floor.
“Clams” Should Give Oaks Battle
It is a certainty that the “Clams” will give the “Oaks” a tussle, as great rivalry exists between the clubs, owing to the brilliant playoff series indulged in by the teams at the close of the first half-season race when they finished in a deadlock for first place. Clementon’s victory in the third and last tilt gave it the first-half title, something the “Oaks” have not forgotten, and the bout between the clubs Friday night should develop into one of the best encounters of the last half-season race.
Oaklyn’s protest of Immaculate Conception’s victory over the “Oaks” on the Catholic High School court some time ago will be decided tonight. Frank Hambleton, Oaklyn manager, filed a protest after the game stating that “Otts” Laxton, Oaklyn forward, was deliberately fouled and pushed through a door of the gymnasium and landed in the yard, outside the court, by one of the Immaculate Conception players.
Hambleton further stated that play was stopped and that both teams were under Oaklyn’s basket when Laxton returned to the playing court amid confusion and the floor filled with spectators, that the end of the game was announced.
Bill Glisham, Immaculate Conception’s timekeeper; John Gleason, Oaklyn’s timekeeper and Referee Jimmy Brown will be questioned regarding the affair and a final decision rendered by President Frank R. Ryan after tonight’s meeting.
“Colls” Give All But Lose
Oaklyn was extended to the limit to nose out Collingswood last Saturday night on the Oaklyn court. The final score was 30-26 and although the Oaks were in the lead at all times the score was close enough to make the game one of the most interesting of the season.
Two field goals represented the margin of victory as both clubs were in rare form from the 15-foot mark, leaving in 20 one-pointers during the bout. Collingswood, however, missed three more chances than their opponents, receiving 33 free shots to the “Oaks” 30 attempts.
The winners accounted for five double-deckers, while Collingswood could only pile in three two-pointers.
Eddie Brandt and Laxton featured for last year’s champions. The former caged four of Oaklyn’s two-timers and the same number of foul goals, while Laxton got a single double-decker and a quartet of “gifts.”
Jake Welsh with one field goal and seven foul casts topped the Collingswood scorers. Graham Chesney and Norman “Snorts” Vaughn accounted for the invaders other field tosses.
Oaklyn
Fld, Ft, FT, TP
Laxton, forward — 1, 4, 6, 6
Stugars, forward — 0, 3, 4, 3
Brandt, center — 4, 4, 4, 12
Wearshing, guard — 0, 6, 9, 6
Hambleton, guard — 0, 3, 7, 3
Totals — 5, 20, 30, 30
Collingswood
Fld, Ft, FT, TP
N. Vaughn, forward — 1, 1, 3, 3
Chesney, forward — 1, [illegible], [illegible], [illegible]
Eckert, center — 0, [illegible], [illegible], [illegible]
Gaumholtz, guard — 0, 4, [illegible], 4
Welsh, guard — 1, 7, 11, 9
Totals — 3, 20, 33, 26
Score, first half—Oaklyn, 15; Collingswood, 12. Referee—Housner. Timers—Aron and Layer. Scorer—Barth.
Co. League Statistics
Senior League Standing
W, L, P.C.
Immaculate Conception — 7, 0, 1.000
Oaklyn — 7, 1, .875
Clementon — 4, 3, .571
Collingswood — 3, 5, .375
Pensauken — 3, 5, .375
Gloucester City — 2, 5, .286
Camden Y. M. H. A. — 1, 8, .111
Saturday’s Score
Oaklyn, 30; Collingswood, 26.
Schedule for This Week
Monday—Collingswood vs. Immaculate Conception at Camden Catholic High School.
Tuesday—Immaculate Conception at Pensauken.
Wednesday—Clementon at Collingswood.
Thursday—Oaklyn at Gloucester City; Clementon at Camden Y. M. H. A.
Friday—Oaklyn vs. Clementon at Silver Lake Casino.
Saturday—Camden Y. M. H. A. at Oaklyn.
Junior League Standing
W, L, P.C.
Melrose Club — 8, 0, 1.000
Kerston Club — 2, 0, 1.000
Oaklyn Reserves — 6, 3, .667
Fiat Club — 4, 3, .571
Immaculate Concep. Jr. — 3, 5, .375
Pensauken Juniors — 3, 6, .333
Y. M. H. A. Rivals — 2, 7, .222
Clementon Juniors — 1, 5, .167
Saturday’s Score
Melrose Club, 27; Oaklyn Reserves, 25 (extra period).
Schedule for This Week
Monday—Melrose Club vs. Immaculate Conception Juniors at Camden Catholic High School.
Tuesday—Immaculate Conception Juniors at Pensauken Juniors.
Wednesday—Clementon Juniors vs. Melroes [sic] at Collingswood; Fiat Club vs. Kerston at Convention Hall.
Thursday—Oaklyn Reserves vs. Fiat Club at Gloucester; Clementon Juniors at Camden Y. M. H. A. Rivals.
Friday—Oaklyn Reserves vs. Clementon Juniors at Silver Lake Casino.
Saturday—Y. M. H. A. Rivals at Oaklyn Reserves.
Hambleton Co-Stars with “Worm” and Laxton
Camden Evening Courier —
Ott Laxton — Grover Wearshing — Frank Hambleton — Charley Humes — Clarence Layer — Eddie Brandt — Joe Murray — Don Cragin — Johnny Chambers — Tom Tracy — Abe Corotis
Hambleton Co-Stars with ‘Worm’ and Laxton
Camden Evening Courier —
Humesmen Pull Away From Rivals After Being Held Even for 15 Minutes
CRAGIN TOPS LOSERS
By ABE COROTIS
There seems to be a defensive mania in the Camden County League this season.
Last night, as Camden defeated Pennsauken by a 28-18 count, the Humesmen blanked the “Hawks” from the field throughout the first half.
Thursday night Collingswood failed to score a single field goal against Clementon in the first half. And the previous night, the “Colls” had been shut out by Immaculate during the second session.
Camden took third place in the first-half title race by virtue of last night’s victory. Manager Charley Humes had announced that a double-header would be staged at the Convention Hall, a postponed game with Collingswood being slated to precede the regularly-scheduled Pennsauken duel.
However, Collingswood did not appear, Manager Clarence Layer having announced in advance that he had never agreed to play the game on that date, and that he would be unable to present his team. Whereupon “rain checks” were issued to last night’s spectators, to be good for the next game played by Collingswood at the Convention Hall.
Frank Hambleton was the star of last night’s Camden conquest. The veteran “Ham” scored three times from the field and twice from the foul line for a total of eight points, and had three assists beside. What is more, Hambleton blanked Joe Devlin and Tom Tracy, the two forwards who opposed him from the field.
Tracy played the second half. He didn’t start because of an injury to his knee.
Grover Wearshing tallied three field goals and made a foul, while Ott Laxton got two and four for eight points.
Don Cragin made two of his team’s three double-deckers but missed all five of his foul opportunities. “Choppo” Chambers got the other Pennsauken double-decker. Incidentally, it was the first one of the game, coming ten minutes before the final whistle sounded. Johnny stuck up a long one from the side.
Camden took the lead at the start when Hambleton and Laxton made fouls. Smith got one for Pennsauken and then Devlin tied the score. Joe got another to put the Welchmen in front. Hambleton evened it up and then Brandt gave Camden the edge again.
Smith tied it with a “gift” and then, ten minutes after play had started, Hambleton got the first field goal. He brought one up underhanded from under the basket as Devlin fouled him.
Lone-pointers by Murray and Chambers evened the count once more. Wearshing and Smith swapped fouls and it was tied at seven.
Then Camden cut loose, Brandt scoring on a pass from Hambleton; Wearshing counting, also with “Ham” assisting and Hambleton dropping one in on a pass from Laxton. Half time found the score 13 to 7 and the result was never again in doubt.
CAMDEN
Fg, Fr, FT, FC, A, TP
Benedict, rf — 0, 1, 3, 4, 0, 1
Laxton, lf — 2, 4, 4, 6, 1, 8
Brandt, c — 1, 2, 4, 5, 1, 4
Wearshing, rg — 3, 1, 2, 6, 1, 7
Hambleton, lg — 3, 2, 4, 4, 3, 8
Totals — 9, 10, 17, 25, 6, 28
PENSAUKEN
Fg, Fr, FT, FC, A, TP
Devlin, rf — 0, 2, 3, 4, 0, 2
Chambers, lf — 1, 1, 3, 4, 0, 3
Smith, c — 0, 5, 6, 4, 0, 5
Cragin, rg — 2, 0, 5, 2, 0, 4
Murray, lg — 0, 2, 5, 1, 0, 2
Tracy, rf — 0, 2, 3, 2, 0, 2
Totals — 3, 12, 25, 17, 0, 18
Score at end of first half — Camden, 13; Pennsauken, 7. Referee — Armstrong. Time — [cut off at the crop edge]
Camden Cops Lose to Central Quintet
Camden Courier-Post —
‘Caveman’ Clayton Sparkles in City League Victory; Wayne Boys Win
Central Camden beat the Camden Police quintet to make it two straight in the Municipal basketball circuit at Convention Hall last night. By blanking Clarence Phifer, and holding Ott Laxton down to six points the Central outfit spiked the Coppers’ attack. Clayton and Grover Wearshing did the heavy work for the winners. Clayton held Phifer without a field shot and tallied four times from the field. Wearshing bagged a trio of double-deckers.
Gus Koerner was ejected from the game when Referee Keneman ruled him off the floor for abusive language.
The Wayne dribblers battled down South Camden under a 46–20 score in the other combat. Jimmy Reed and Devlin were the bright stars for the winners.
League Standing
Camden Courier-Post —
W., L., P.C.
Central Camden — 2, 0, 1.000
St. Paul — 1, 0, 1.000
Ninth Ward — 1, 0, 1.000
Camden Police — 2, 1, .666
South Camden — 1, 1, .500
Wayne Club — 1, 1, .500
Haddon A. A. — 1, 1, .500
First Ward — 0, 1, .000
Radio A. A. — 0, 2, .000
Thirteenth Ward — 0, 2, .000
Last Night’s Scores
Central Camden, 31; Camden Police, 21. Wayne A. A., 45; South Camden, 20.
CENTRAL CAMDEN
Fld, Fl, FT, TP
Mezger, rf — 1, 0, 1, 2
Phifer, rf — 0, 1, 3, 1
Wearshing, lf, lg — 3, 2, 3, 8
Clayton, c — 4, 7, 12, 15
Godfrey, rg — 1, 0, 2, 2
Chambers, lg, lf — 1, 1, 3, 3
Totals — 10, 11, 24, 31
CAMDEN POLICE
Fld, Fl, FT, TP
Laxton, lf — 3, 0, 4, 6
Bright, rf — 2, 0, 1, 4
Phifer, c — 0, 2, 4, 2
Bearint, rg — 2, 3, 4, 7
Koerner, lg — 0, 2, 4, 2
Schultz, lg — 0, 0, 0, 0
Totals — 7, 7, 17, 21
Score, first half—Central Camden, 18; Camden Police, 12. Referee—Keneman. Timer—Campbell. Scorer—Campbell and Molloie.
WAYNE A. A.
Fld, Fl, FT, TP
Reed, f — 4, 6, 8, 14
Devlin, f — 4, 4, 9, 12
Housman, c — 1, 0, 1, 2
L. Campbell, g — 2, 5, 6, 9
Lynch, g — 2, 4, 10, 8
Totals — 13, 19, 34, 45
SOUTH CAMDEN
Fld, Fl, FT, TP
Mahney, f — 2, 0, 4, 4
Gardner, f — 1, 0, 1, 2
McLoughlin, c — 1, 0, 2, 2
Costello, g — 1, 1, 4, 3
Devine, g — 3, 3, 6, 9
Krown, g — 0, 0, 0, 0
McKay, g — 0, 0, 0, 0
Totals — 8, 4, 17, 20
Score, first half—Wayne, 23; South Camden, 11. Referee—Keneman. Timer—Campbell. Scorer—Hall.
Ott Laxton Features in Thrilling Battle
Camden Evening Courier — 1928
Ott Laxton — Grover Wearshing — Frank Hambleton — Johnny Chambers — Eddie Brandt — Jimmy “Soup” Campbell — Joe Devlin — Billy Strobel
Ott Laxton Features in Thrilling Battle
Camden Evening Courier — 1928
Plucky ‘Oak’ Pilot Scores Three Field Goals on Schrey
CLEMENTON OUTPLAYED; NEXT GAME THURSDAY
Oaklyn defeated Clementon by the score of 29-21 in the second game of the series for the final half championship of the Camden County cage circuit, on the court at Silver Lake Park, last night. The victory evened the playoff duel between the clubs and makes a third game necessary. The final scrap has been arranged for Thursday night and an effort is being made to secure the Collingswood High school for the scene of the conflict. Definite announcement of this fact will be made today.
The sturdy band of “Oaks” dashed around the court like a flock of whippets and completely outplayed the home team in every department of the game. The winners took the lead at the start, held it for a short time, were tied and then lost the advantage, but by sheer pluck and keen fighting spirit, combined with a pleasing degree of team play, forged ahead before the whistle closed the first period and held the lead until the end of the struggle. The game was one of the most exciting in the history of cage annals in this section.
Bill Strobel almost batted the ball into the rim after the first toss-up but the leather rolled over to one side and into the waiting hands of Johnny Chambers. The latter passed to Laxton and a double pass worked the leather up to the Oaklyn goal post. Laxton cut for the basket and took a throw from Eddie Brandt but the Clementon backfield closed in and a scrimmage resulted. Chambers snatched the ball and attempted to dribble for a clearance to stick it up. Strobel “hooked” Chambers and Laxton’s running mate counted on the toss from the penalty line. Johnny again scored on a foul and Laxton followed a minute later.
Both teams were covering closely and it looked as though a duplicate of Saturday night’s scrap was due.
Brandt reached for the tap on the next play but Johnny Schrey dashed in and took the ball, quickly passing it to Wetzel who went up the floor. He was fouled before he could get “set” and dropped the ball through the net for the first Clementon point. Schrey followed with another foul. The “Clams” were passing better and it looked as though they had hit their stride. Wetzel made a clean pass to Billy Strobel who arched the sphere for the first field goal, giving his team the edge 4 to 3.
Chambers attempted to break through but Strobel stopped him and the flashy “Oak” forward tied the score with another gift shot. Frank “Pop” Hambleton, who played basketball when his present captain was still in a cradle, took the ball on a pass from Grover Wearshing and was fouled before he could get started.
“Ham” made the shot and boosted his team out in front once more. The game was temporarily halted when the ball rolled under the stage during a scrimmage. After the scrimmage Clift was given the elbow by Hambleton and score [sic] the foul again tying the count. Schrey added another one-pointer but Brandt tied it up again. Clift put Clementon ahead again with another foul and when Strobel took a rather long pass he was set for what looked like a “pup.” Laxton seemed to dart from nowhere and batted the ball from its course as it left the sorrel-topped guard’s hands, at the same time charging Strobel and Referee Rumsey called a foul. Bill made the shot and boosted Clementon’s lead to two points.
Brandt’s penalty toss and Wearshing’s field goal, the first for Oaklyn, put the visitors back into the lead, 9-8. Wearshing’s shot was caged after the ball bounced from the backboard and followed several “off” shots by team mates. It proved the goal which put the winners out in front to stay.
Foul and field shots by Chambers followed by Brandt’s free goal gave the “Oaks” their edge at the end of the first half. Wetzel and Clift scored fouls which counted for the “Clams.” Hambleton was “taken out” by two Clementon players as he dribbled up the court and it looked for a time as though he might have to retire but the grand old man of the battle-scarred veteran stuck it out and played throughout the second half in a sensational manner.
It was just a case of holding the lead with the invaders during the second half and how well they did this is clearly seen in the final figures. The home team threatened in the first six minutes of the period when they crept up to a tie at 13 points, but a spurt by the Frassmen choked the rally.
To Captain Ott Laxton goes the hero’s halo for the conquest. The scrappy pilot of the Oaklyn outfit put up one of the greatest games of any player seen in the County circuit this season. He dribbled low, passed nicely and was in nearly every play. He ran rings around Johnny Schrey, star Clementon guard, keeping him so busy that the eagle-eyed Philadelphia star failed to connect with the cords from the field. On the other hand Ott tallied a trio of timely and sensational shots, and scored four of his 12 chances from the penalty mark. Altogether Laxton richly earned his title as a “pocket edition of ‘Soup’ Campbell.”
Johnny Chambers, Laxton’s mate at forward, was also a bright figure in the victory, as was Eddie Brandt, who made things mighty unpleasant for Joe Devlin, the Clementon center. Brandt shaded his individual foe in the battle for pivot honors and played a dazzling floor game, although he did not pass as often as he might have. The defensive power of Wearshing and Hambleton is demonstrated in the field goal column of the Clementon crew. Their two field goals added to the one toss scored Saturday night means that only three shots from the floor has been registered against this pair in 80 minutes of actual play.
Chief ‘Oak’
OTT LAXTON
Brilliant Oaklyn captain and forward, played the greatest game of his young but dazzling career when his team mates thumped the Clementon club in the second game of the playoff series for the final half title of the Camden County League, at Clementon, last night.
Hurley Five Victor Over Radio Quintet
Camden Courier-Post — Fall 1929
HURLEY FIVE VICTOR OVER RADIO QUINTET
Ott Laxton Registers Five Field Shots in Thrilling 24–19 Triumph
Sensational floor play by Arthur “Otts” Laxton, which resulted in five field goals, carried the Hurley Store team to a thrilling 24–19 triumph over the Radio Condenser quintet in the preliminary game at the Convention Hall last night. The team soon will start their quest of the 1929–30 championship in the Camden County Industrial circuit, and last night’s tussle was arranged as an exhibition game.
The Broadway merchants grabbed the lead shortly after the start of play, when they registered three successive fouls. At the end of the first half the storemen led 13–11. Laxton shot five of the winners’ eight two-pointers. He arched the oval from all angles of the court, and his flashy floor work was easily the feature of the game. Ollie Guthrie shared the feature role with Laxton.
The Radio team, second half champs of the Industrial league last season, was held to four double-deckers. Everett Cramer and Vince Conley were the losers’ stars.
Hurley Store — Radio Condenser — Ott Laxton — Ollie Guthrie — Everett Cramer — Vince Conley
City League Champs of the American Division
Camden Courier-Post —
Here is Manager Bill “Fergie” McGrath’s Popeye club, champions of the American Division in the Rhone Twilight League. This group of tossers yesterday annexed the crown by defeating the East End A. A. in a playoff match at the Civic Center diamond, 5 to 2. Shown in the above photo, front row, left to right, are: Chris Miller, T. Egbert, “Min” Fingers, W. Danley and Ott Laxton. Back row, left to right, are: Manager Bill “Fergie” McGrath, George Nicktern, Jim VanderStratten, Vince Conley, Harold Roth, Charley Lenhart, “Red” McGrath, Joe Tully and W. Crim, club official.
Who’s Who Among So. Jersey Stars
Camden Courier-Post — 1930s
WHO’S WHO AMONG SO. JERSEY STARS
ARTHUR “OTTS” LAXTON — Arthur “Otts” Laxton never reached the heights his ability warranted. “Otts” has been providing thrills for the local sport fans for the past nine years… In basketball he is without a peer in this part of the country… Laxton’s greatest game is basketball and numbered among different clubs he has helped to many a championship are Pavonia of the old Atlantic Division league, Atlantic Division of the P.R.R. League, Broadway Cycle of the Camden County League, Oaklyn of the same circuit, Glassboro of the South Jersey League and several others too numerous to mention…
Tomorrow—Elmer “Annie” Loebie.
Arthur “Ott” Laxton
Camden Courier-Post — 1930s
ARTHUR “OTT” LAXTON
Popular and aggressive Camden lad who is one of the main cogs in the wheel that is known as the Haddon A. A. ball club. “Ott” told his boss, Eddie Morton, to dust off the flagpole as he intends to wallop things hot and heavy during the second half of the Reesman Twilight circuit. When “Ott” starts acting that way its contagious and Haddon A. A. may prove a big obstacle in the path of the Twelfth Ward Republican Club nine during the closing semester. He plays second base or shortstop. And how!
So. Camden Outfit Socks St. Joseph’s
Camden Courier-Post —
So. Camden Outfit Socks St. Joseph’s
Jim M’Ginnis Stars on Mound as Gimello Clan Gains 14-3 Nod
CAMPBELL’S BOWS TO POLISH TOSSERS
Brunner League Meets Tonight
A meeting of the Brunner Twilight League will be held tonight at the City Hall and all managers are requested to attend. The confab will start at 9 o’clock sharp.
BRUNNER TWILIGHT LEAGUE
American Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor A. A. | 11 | 3 | .786 |
| Northeast | 9 | 4 | .692 |
| Popeye | 9 | 4 | .692 |
| Public Service | 7 | 5 | .583 |
| Robins | 5 | 8 | .385 |
| Sixth Ward | 5 | 9 | .357 |
| East End | 4 | 9 | .308 |
| La Marr | 4 | 9 | .308 |
Last Night’s Scores
Popeye, 6; Victor, 4.
This Week’s Schedule
Friday—Northeast vs. Popeye, at Civic Center; East End vs. Public Service, at Farnham Park.
National Division
| W | L | Pct. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collegians | 13 | 1 | .929 |
| Campbell’s Soup | 10 | 3 | .769 |
| Polish A. C. C. | 8 | 5 | .615 |
| Bumbrey Giants | 7 | 6 | .538 |
| Twelfth Ward | 6 | 7 | .462 |
| Lincoln | 4 | 7 | .364 |
| St. Joseph | 4 | 8 | .333 |
| Marcus C. C. | 3 | 8 | .273 |
Last Night’s Scores
Polish Americans, 6; Campbell’s Soup, 5. Camden Collegians, 14; St. Joseph’s, 3.
This Week’s Schedule
Tonight—Bumbrey Giants vs. Twelfth Ward, at Dudley Grange Park; Lincoln Association vs. St. Joseph’s, at Ninth and Van Hook streets.
Friday—Campbell’s Soup vt. [sic] Lincoln Association, at Dudley Grange Park.
Rox Gimello’s Camden Collegians are the final-half season champions of the fast Brunner Twilight League in the National division.
The Collegians carried off the coveted title last night when they handed St. Joseph’s a 14 to 3 spanking, at Ninth and Van Hook streets. The victory was not even necessary, however, as Campbell’s Soup, the only other contender, was knocked from the running when it dropped a 6-5 decision to the Polish Americans, at Farnham Park.
Victor is the American goup [sic] titleholder for the second half and the playoff series for the final-semester league title will be arranged at a meeting to be held tonight. The winner of that play then will meet Twelfth Ward, first-half league king for the season’s laurels.
In another fuss last night Popeye nosed out Victor by 6 to 4, at River Avenue and State street.
The Collegians capture the title with a fine card of 13 triumphs and one defeat, while Campbell’s is second with 10 and 3 and one more game to play.
Jim McGinis [sic] was sent to the mound last night by Gimello and he checked the St. Joseph’s clubbers to seven blows, keeping them well scattered except in the fifth frame, in which the homsters tallied all of their runs.
The Collegians pecked at the offerings of Pierson and Baker for nine hits and produced runs in four innings. The new champions had two big sessions, shoving over six runs in the second and five in the fifth. Porky Hoffman and Joe Tully each gathered two bingles to stand out in this department for the Collegians.
A four-run spurt in the third session gave Polish the nod over Campbell’s. The “Soupmen” whacked Frank Kulesa for 11 blows, but Polish did more damage with two less hits. McCarthy and Bobo divided the hurling chores for Campbell’s.
Popeye piled up an early lead to take the measure of Victor in a keenly fought contest.
ST. JOSEPH’S
| ab | r | h | o | a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jawor’i, 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fingers, c. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dru’ak, p,rf | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Kean, ss.. | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Kuras, cf. | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Walinski, lf | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Gorecki, 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kmiec, 1b. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Pierson, p. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Baker, p.. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 25 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 11 |
CAMDEN COL.
| ab | r | h | o | a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krown, 1b. | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| McGinnis, p | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Curcio, cf. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Hoff’n, rf | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| DeLuca, rf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tully, 1b. | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Snyder, ss | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matera, lf | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Meschini, c | 2 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Denof, 2b. | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad’k, 1b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 26 | 14 | 9 | 18 | 0 |
St. Joseph … 0 0 0 0 3 0 — 3
Camden Collegians … 1 6 0 2 5 0 — 14
Errors—Koras, Goreck, Kmiec. Two-base hits—Tully, McGinnis. Home run—Matera. Umpires—Heppard, Carrier.
VICTOR A. A.
| ab | r | h | o | a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young, lf. | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Elvert, ss.. | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Doran, 2b. | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Sheehan, 3b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cuneo, 1b. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| White, cf. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harle, rf.. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Malin’i, p. | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Hunt, c... | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. M’L’n, cf. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B. M’L’n, lf. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| *Strom ... | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 33 | 4 | 8 | 27 | 15 |
POPEYE
| ab | r | h | o | a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laxton, cf | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Vandy, ss. | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Burr, rf... | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Doering, 3b | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Wells, p... | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| M’Gr’h, 1b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Stopher, c | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Schef’n, 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Molo’ky, lf | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 34 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 15 |
*Batted for Malinowski in ninth.
Victor A. A. … 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 — 4
Popeye … 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 — 6
Two-base hits—Doran, 2; B. McLaughlin, Doering. Three-base hits—Laxton, Elvert. Home run—T. McLaughlin. Stolen bases—Stopher, Harle. Double plays—Vandy to Scheffin to McGrath, 2. Struck out—By Wells, 5. Base on balls—Off Wells, 2; Malinowski, 1; Harle, 1. Sac-
rifice hits—Burr, 3; Wells, 1. Umpires—Malloie, Clark and Abbott.
CAMPBELL'S ab r h o a POLISH AMER. ab r h o a
Bossett, rf 4 0 2 1 0 Pep'ski, ss 4 1 1 2 1
Nowak, 2b. 0 0 0 1 0 James, cf. 3 1 1 0 0
Bass, ss.. 3 2 1 0 1 Dyjak, 1b 3 1 1 5 0
Crean, cf. 3 0 2 2 2 Kulesa, p 3 1 2 0 2
Klopp, 1b. 3 1 1 7 1 Pawella, 2b 3 1 0 3 0
Loeble, 3b. 3 1 1 1 3 Jakucki, 3b 4 1 1 1 3
Curry, lf.. 3 0 1 0 0 Mros, 2b. 2 0 0 4 2
Pawella, c 2 0 0 5 0 Molik, rf. 3 0 3 1 0
McCar'y, p 0 0 0 0 0 Sabolis, lf 2 0 0 0 0
Wevlin, cf. 2 1 2 1 0
Bobo, p... 2 0 0 0 0
Scharnagl.. 1 0 1 0 0
Totals. 26 5 11 18 7 Totals.. 27 6 9 16 8
Polish-Americans ......... 1 1 4 0 0 0 — 6 Campbell's Soup .......... 0 1 1 2 1 0 — 5
Errors—Nowak, 2; Bass, Pawella. Umpires—Williams, O’Neill and Swartz.
Rox Gimello — Jim McGinness — Porky Hoffman — Lou Bobo — Joe Tully — Billy Denof — Ott Laxton
Popeye Turns Back Independent Umps
Camden Courier-Post — 1929–1935
Nicktern Twirls Rhone Leaguers to 8–4 Win; Hanna and Fulton Play
Fergie McGrath’s Popeye club, members of the Rhone Twilight League, easily defeated the Independent Umpires’ Association in their annual contest last evening at Civic Center by the score of 8 to 4.
At times, the game turned into a clownish affair, with both clubs attempting to excel each other in fun-making for the fans. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, in addition to officiating, acted as a pinch-hitter for the “blindmen,” while Samuel E. Fulton, president of the Board of Education and also prexy of the Rhone Twilight circuit, officiated and pinch hit for the same outfit, getting a single in his lone trip to the plate, while Hanna walked and also scored.
Pat Heppard worked on the hill for the “umps” and was touched for 11 hits. The winners bunching these in the third inning when they scored five runs. Nicktern twirled for Popeye and gave up seven blows, two of which were made by Leo Pusey, while Vandy, Tully, Ackerman and Nicktern each collected a brace of blows for the winners.
Popeye vs. Umpire Ass’n. Box Score
Camden Courier-Post — 1929–1935
POPEYE ab r h o a
Laxton, cf. 4 1 1 2 1
Vandy, ss. 4 2 2 2 3
Tully, lf... 4 2 2 1 0
Miller, 3b. 3 0 0 1 0
M’Grath, 1b 1 0 0 1 0
Roth, rf... 3 0 0 1 0
Ack’man, c. 3 2 2 6 0
Egbert, 2b. 3 1 1 2 0
Nicturn, p. 3 0 2 1 3
Lenhart, 1b. 1 0 1 4 0
Totals. 29 8 11 21 7
UMPIRE ASS’N. ab r h o a
Abbott, cf. 1 0 0 0 0
Laca’ro, 1b 3 0 0 6 0
Pusey, 2b 3 0 2 1 0
Hoff’n, ss 3 0 0 0 3
Heppard, p 3 1 1 3 2
O’Neil, 3b 3 0 1 3 0
Kowal, lf. 1 0 0 0 0
Ctlorese, c. 3 0 1 3 1
Mathis, rf 2 1 0 1 0
Wil’m, lf. 1 0 1 1 0
Phillips, 1b 1 0 0 0 0
Hill ...... 1 0 0 0 0
Hanna ... 0 1 0 0 0
Fulton ... 1 1 1 0 0
Totals. 26 4 7 18 6
Umpires . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 1 0 0 2—4
Popeye . . . . . . . . 0 0 5 0 2 1 x—8
Errors—McGrath, Roth, Kowal, Colorese. Two-base hits—Laxton, Ackerman, Three-base hits—Heppard. Struck out—By Nicturn, 6; Heppard, 2. Base on balls—By Nicturn, 2. Umpires—Fulton, Hanna, Howell and Leeds.
Photos
The Laxton Family — circa 1940
Samuel Arthur “Ott” Laxton Sr., Helen Laxton, Samuel Arthur Laxton Jr.
Working for the City of Camden.
Working for the City of Camden
(photograph) —
Clark Metal Vault buried October 4, 1930, disinterred April 8, 1941 at New Camden Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey. Vault and contents in perfect condition.
Life Hereabouts
Camden Courier-Post —
THIS MAY HAVE ALL THE EARMARKS of a Memory Lane story . . . and maybe it is . . . but the main theme is something that is going to happen tonight . . . right here in Our Town . . . at Kenney’s Restaurant . . . along about 7 p. m. . . . and far into the night, too . . . but we’re ahead of our story . . .
On the night of April 11, 1924 . . . just a little over 25 years ago . . . a bunch of Camden young men was very happy . . . and yours truly the happiest of them all . . . a basketball team playing under the combined names of Broadway Cycle-Union club won that night the semi-pro basketball championship of South Jersey . . . the tournament had been sponsored by the old Camden Courier . . . and the cup to the champions stood as high as “Hop” Stoddard . . .
WHEN THE TOURNEY teams were announced under a by-line story by Frank H. Ryan . . . then sports editor of the Courier . . . Broadway Cycle was not the favorite to win . . . nor were they the longest shot in the field, either . . . Mister Ryan and other sports writers put us in the category of being a “dark horse.”
There were some great ball clubs in that tourney . . . and later we will do a piece about each and every team . . . because all deserve credit and any one of them could have wound up with the championship . . . but tonight is Our Day to holler . . . and we hope you don’t get too bored with us . . .
THE TOURNEY OPENED . . . the nearest thing to a favorite we can find from the old clippings was Barney Maguire’s Immaculate Conception club . . . and the same clippings announce they were 8 to 5 to beat Broadway Cycle-Union when the two clubs met in one of the two semi-final games . . .
The night of the game a great snow-storm struck Camden . . . the drifts were six and seven feet high . . . but that didn’t keep the fans out of the old YMHA Hall on Walnut street . . . it was packed to the doors when the two clubs took the floor . . . and one of the hardest-fought basketball games ever played in this city was their reward . . . after 40 minutes of play . . . Broadway-Cycle-Union scored a one point victory . . . if memory serves us the right [sic] the final score was either 27 to 26 or 24 to 23 . . . and then we went on to the finals to meet a hustling crew of youngsters representing the YMHA . . . and we won the game . . . again by a matter of a point or two . . . and the championship.
THE NEXT YEAR this same club operated as the First Ward Club . . . with the old Republican Club up there sponsoring the outfit . . . and they went on to win 43 of 47 games played that year.
TONIGHT . . . at Kenney’s . . . those lads will get together for their first reunion . . . Red Haines . . . who has been away from Camden for 22 years will be there . . . Red works for the PRR . . . So does “Toots” Benedict . . . now living near Harrisburg . . . and away these many years . . . Charley Sheets . . . the “Babe Ruth” of the outfit . . . “Otts” Laxton . . . the first “Mighty Mite” we ever met . . . Eddie Brandt . . . the great center . . . whose elopement to Media one Saturday afternoon with lovely Harriett Schwoeri rated an eight-column line in the local papers . . . the line reading . . . “Eddie Brandt Elopes to Media with Oaklyn Girl” . . . “Ham” Hambleton . . . the ball-headed wizard who steadied the club so much.
ONE who will not be there . . . but whose praise will be sung long through the night . . . was “Udge” Quicksill . . . Udge has passed on . . . but the fighting heart he carried back in the early 20’s will sure be on the sleeves of his old pals tonight.
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION team that went under by that one-point margin in the championship tournament was an All-Star aggregation . . . and numbered among its players were such names as “Bart” Sheehan . . . Joseph Sheehan (who later starred at Cleveland) . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Eddie Lobley . . . who captained Penn to an Eastern League basketball championship.
Bart . . . now the Honorable Judge Bartholomew A. Sheehan was always as ready to play with First Ward on nights when part of the club could not make the game . . . So was Joe . . . and Shamus . . . Eddie Lobley played several dozen games with Our Outfit . . . and because they are such fine sportsmen . . . and swell citizens . . . all of them have made reservations for tonight’s affair.
There will be others there, too, and one who could take it back in the early 20s and still can (and who undoubtedly will come in for a lot of ribbing about the old days) is Doc Housner . . . the little referee . . . Doc will be on hand to call the fouls.
THE OLD MALARKEY will start to flow along about 6.30, when the clan gathers . . . the lads who played with First Ward (which it was all the time, but a sponsor insisted on the other title in the tournament).
So if you hear a loud rumble along about 9.15 . . . say to yourself it is game time . . . First Ward and Immaculate . . . .grab your hat . . . hit the road for the playing hall at 531 Market street . . . . meet the guys you cheered back in the early 20’s . . . Nostalgia . . . Oh. [sic] Boy.
Charley Humes Succumbs After Valiant Battle
Camden Courier-Post —
Courier Columnist Fails to Recover From Operation
By JAMES M. O’NEILL
CHARLES L. HUMES . . . An institution and a legend.
The great big guy with the great big heart isn’t with us anymore.
Charley Humes died Friday night at Hahnemann hospital in Philadelphia.
And the “little people” of North Camden and all points north, east and south, whose names and little stories had paraded through the intimate lines of Charley’s widely read Life Hereabouts, have lost their sturdiest champion.
Death, which had hovered over Charley since he underwent a major operation last week, came at 7.20 p. m.
Family at Bedside
At his side were his wife, Nina C. Humes; their daughter, Mrs. Shirley Running, and Howard Covington, Mrs. Humes’ brother. Mrs. Running’s husband, Russell, a World War II veteran and a Naval reservist, is enroute to Korea.
But while only the members of his immediate family watched him lose a valiant fight against an inevitable death, many thousands were at his bedside—spiritually. Scores of buddies had volunteered to give him their blood to aid him in his fight; so, too, had scores of other “friends” who knew him only through his written word. And hundreds of others kept a daily barrage of telephone calls into the hospital and into the newsroom of the Courier-Post, where the legend that was Charlie Humes really began.
Was 46 Years Old
His death laid a pall of sorrow over South Jersey. First word of his untimely demise—he was only 46—was received in Camden at a dinner attended by many of his best friends . . . and spread like wildfire to all ends of the state.
His closest friend and adviser—Frank H. Ryan, editor of the Courier-Post — received the saddening word. He had gone to the hospital at 5.30 p. m. upon receiving word that Charley had taken a turn for the worse.
Even then Charley was conscious and making a brave fight of it. Ryan told Mrs. Humes he would return at 8 p. m., and he came back to Camden to attend the dinner being given to the Mooseheart and Camden Catholic high school football teams at Kenney’s Restaurant.
‘Charles Has Gone’
The dinner had just ended and Coach Tom Kenney was telling Ryan his Camden Catholic gridsters would win today’s game, for Charley, when the telephone call from Mrs. Humes was announced.
“You won’t have to come back,” Mrs. Humes sobbed. “Charles has gone.”
“ I have lost one of my closest and most loyal friends,” Ryan told the saddened assemblage.
Mrs. Humes later revealed that Charley would be buried Wednesday after a requiem high Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church, Fairview, at 9 a. m. Interment will be private. There will be a viewing Tuesday evening at the Charles Murray funeral parlor, 408 Cooper street.
How to write a last testament for a friend who was as much of an institution within his profession as he was to the community in which he lived?
Perhaps the best summation came from Nelson F. Stamler, of Elizabeth, the deputy attorney general who first met Charley Humes during the Camden county grand jury investigation in 1947 . . .
“He was a big man with a big heart,” said the state’s ace crime prober, with an unashamed catch in his throat.
"He was one of the greatest newspapermen I have ever known, and had more friends than anyone I have ever met.
“What can I do?”
Charley Humes came to the Courier-Post family 20 years ago, and during the intervening span of years became known as one of the profession’s greatest “crime reporters” of all time.
Competed With the Best
He competed with, and more than held his own, against some of the best-known names in the newspaper world on the many unusual crime stories which fell to New Jersey’s lot. He scored several sensational “beats” during the investigation of the Lindbergh baby kidnaping murder, earning the respect and friendship of such veteran crime reporters as the late Tom Cassidy of New York, and such famous “cops” as the late Burlington county detective chief Ellis H. Parker. He saw Richard Bruno Hauptmann die in the electric chair at Trenton in expiation of that crime.
He investigated the murder of Bradway Brown in Riverton, first developing the holdup theory which unlocked the mystery surrounding that tragedy. He spent many months chasing fruitless clues down the labyrinth of trails following the Atlantic City murder of Mike Duffy, then South Jersey’s racket overlord. He covered many investigations and murder trials in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and was working on the investigation of the murder of Lorraine Hess in Millville when he was stricken ill.
Had Many Facets
During the interim he had been writing a daily column, “What Do You Think”, but relinquished that to devote full time to reporting crime, courts and political activities, writing editorials and handicapping horses. Several years ago he again returned to the columnists’ fold by writing a daily column. The title, “Life Hereabouts,” was adopted by Charley with the express permission of Harry T. Saylor, nationally known newspaper editor who made that title a byword in South Jersey when he wrote it in the old Evening Courier.
A North Camden boy, Charles L. Humes was the son of the late Police Inspector and Mrs. Charles T. Humes. Except for few years’ residence in Pennsauken, he lived in this city all of his life, moving to Fairview several years ago. He resided at 2924 Constitution road, Fairview, at the time of his death.
The name Humes was well known in Camden before Charley turned to the newspaper profession. The family was large and extremely popular. Charlie is survived by five aunts—Mrs. Bertha Burns, Miss Avalon Humes, Mrs. Ivy Humes, Mrs. Mae James and Mrs. Hattie Krouse—an uncle, John Humes, and numerous cousins. His father was an old-time two-fisted fighter both as an officer of the law and with the old Republican organization. “Cap” Humes also was a friend of the newspapermen, and indeed, it was his friendship with Ryan that drew Charley Humes into the newspaper profession. Charley, too, loved politics and often claimed and proved, he held the “balance of power” in the First Ward when he resided there.
Well-known in Sports
Before coming to the Courier-Post, Charley Humes was well known in the sporting world. He was a graduate of the Camden Commercial College, and played first base on Commercial’s nine as well as for other teams. He developed and managed several championship baseball and basketball teams. He liked to boast of his young players, such as Eddie Brandt, Charley Sheets, Ed Lobley, Udge Quicksall, Ott Laxton, Toots Benedict, Joe Sheehan and Ham Hamilton, to mention only a few. He regarded Sheets as one of the best all-around athletes ever developed in Camden.
In fact, Charley was quite a ball player, and loved to recount the episode of a home run he hit in the old ballpark at Third and Erie streets. When the ball sailed out of the park, his father jumped up and down so excitedly that his section of the temporary stands collapsed.
He was active in many sports organizations, and was president of the Aaron Twilight League back in 1940.
Charley also became a fight manager and handled a number of boxers, including Roxie Allen during the latter’s nationwide fame as a clever lightweight. Reds Haines and Joe “Kid” Fisher.
Nose for News
After leaving school, Charley worked as a ticket-taker at the Market street ferryhouse for several years, and during that period the “nose for news” that is the mark of every great newspaperman began to show. Charley began calling the old Courier with many news “tips.” He also was employed in the office of the late County Treasurer J. Wesley Sell before coming to the Courier-Post.
The Courier-Post is the only newspaper he ever worked for. As the years passed, his quick wit and alertness not only won him fame but his unlimited love for children and his kindness to all who needed a lift endeared him to thousands. Of all children he knew, he loved his daughter most and bragged best about his grandchild, Charles Lawrence Running.
Back in 1938, his friends of the First ward gave him a dinner that drew more than 200 persons who could call him one of their best friends. And last October, his friends arranged another testimonial dinner for him, and more than 500 persons in all walks of life—from congressmen to truck drivers—heaped accolades upon “our Charley.” Charley had the committee which arranged the dinner turn over all proceeds to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital equipment fund.
Through all of his activities, he was loyal to his paper and his friends, never letting them down.
“The newspaper always came first with Charley,” Frank Ryan wrote as an epitaph.