Introduction
DR. RALPH A. WARWICK was born in Camden NJ on February 12, 1904 to Alva B. and Rosa Warwick. He was the youngest of four children, coming after sisters Verna and Evelyn, and brother Burton Warwick. When the Census was taken in 1910, Alva Warwick was working as a shoe maker, and was following that trade 10 years later as well. The Warwick family was living at 13 North 24th Street in East Camden when the 1900 census was taken, and was still there in 1910. Alva Warwick would take a position as a salesman with the Victor Talking Machine Company in the 1910s. By the end of 1919 the Warwick family owned the home at 3300 Federal Street in East Camden.
Ralph Warwick was a 1922 graduate of Camden High School. He graduated from the Hahnemann School of Science in 1924 and Hahnemann Medical College in 1928. After interning at West Jersey Hospital on Mount Ephraim Avenue in 1929, Dr. Warwick began to practice medicine, eventually specializing in pediatrics. He also married Margaret Dilworth at this time. At the time of the April 1930 Census Ralph and Margaret Warwick were living at 3300 Federal Street in East Camden. Two children, Margaret Ann and David Arthur would follow.
He continued his education with post-graduate work at the University of Michigan in 1931, Flower Hospital in New York City NY in 1934, Columbia University in 1936, and the Lahey Clinic in 1943, where he garnered a diploma from the American Board of Pediatrics.
By 1936 Dr. Warwick had also established a medical practice at 3300 Federal Street. When America became involved in World War II, Dr. Warwick answered his nation’s call, and served from 1942 through 1946 in the United States Marine Corps, and had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by the time he was discharged from military service. He returned to his home, family, and medical practice in East Camden. Dr. Warwick had been appointed Chief of Pediatrics at West Jersey Hospital by 1956, and was still in practice on Federal Street as late as October of 1970. Last a resident of Cherry Hill NJ, Dr. Warwick passed away in February of 1972.
John Doris Trial Coverage
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: John Doris, Joe O’Connor, Abraham Lutz, Rose Gibbs, Samuel M. Shay, Eli Conaghy, Joseph Leonhardt, John B. Toland, Rocco Palese, Dr. Ralph Warwick, Walter S. Keown, William King, Nonpareil Club, Russell Sage, William Jones, Lillie R. Kelton, Bessie Kunitz, William Wescott, Bernice Branch, Mrs. F.L. Barber, David Rolle, Abbie Lewis, Mary Heake, Stella McGowan, Catherine LeSage, Michael Carrigan, Alva P. Joseph, Frank Doris, Clifford A. Baldwin, and Joseph “Mose” Flannery.
WOMAN MISSING AS DORIS TRIAL IS OPENED HERE
Key Witness in Cafe Shooting Fails to Appear; Jury Selected
ONLY THREE ARE MEN; PRISONER PICKS THEM
Police on Guard to Block Any Attempt to Free Gangster
A key witness in the shooting of Joseph Connors, of Gloucester, by John Doris, Philadelphia gangster, Mrs. Rose Gibbs, 18, of 411 Henry street, failed to answer her name when called during the trial of Doris today in Criminal Court.
Mrs. Gibbs had been held in $500 bail as a material witness. Her bondsman, Abraham Lutz, was ordered by Judge Shay to produce her this afternoon in lieu of forfeiture of bail.
It was Mrs. Gibbs, according to police, who recounted details of an argument between Connors and Doris, after her pocketbook was missing, while the three and Eli Conaghy, 28, of 818 South Sixth street, were at a party in the 2200 Block on Broadway on the morning of April 28 when Connors was wounded.
The trial of Doris opened shortly before noon before Judge Shay and a jury comprised of nine women and three men whom Doris had virtually selected single-handed.
Doctor Is Called
Doris is charged with atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill Connors, and also is charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons, to wit, a loaded revolver.
The first witness called by Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese, representing the state, was Dr. Ralph Warwick, an interns in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Walter S. Keown and William King are representing Doris.
Dr. Warwick testified Connors was admitted to the hospital, suffering from bullet wounds, at 7.45 a. m., April 28, and was discharged on May 15.
Patrolman Joseph Lenhardt testified he heard a disturbance and saw a man trying to break into the Nonpareil Club, Second street and Kaighn avenue, the morning of the shooting. The man was bleeding from the head, and there was blood on his coat and shirt, Lenhardt said.
John B. Toland, 1043 Haddon avenue, caretaker of the club, said he was awakened and recognized Doris as the man trying to enter the place. He said Doris threatened him when warned to leave.
Dr. Warwick testified Connors was admitted to the hospital, suffering from bullet wounds, at 7.45 a. m., April 28, and was discharged on May 15.
Patrolman Joseph Lenhardt testified he heard a disturbance and saw a man trying to break into the Nonpareil Club, Second street and Kaighn avenue, the morning of the shooting. The man was bleeding from the head, and there was blood on his coat and shirt, Lenhardt said.
John B. Toland, 1043 Haddon avenue, caretaker of the club, said he was awakened and recognized Doris as the man trying to enter the place. He said Doris threatened him when warned to leave.
(Continued on Page Three)
Woman is Missing at Trial of Doris
(Continued from Page One)
Conaghy was the next witness. He told of entering a restaurant at Broadway and Kaighn avenue with Connors and Mrs. Gibbs. When he started to tell a different story than that which was revealed to the prosecutor’s office in a statement, Palese announced that the witness had “turned hostile to the state.” Palese quickly excused Conaghy and called Mrs. Gibbs.
There was no answer. It was at this point Judge Shay ordered the girl’s bondsman to have her in court not later than 1.30 p. m.
How Doris attempted to board a bus for Pitman after the shooting and how he was prevented by Russell Sage, a friend of Doris, was described by William Jones, of Barnesboro, driver for an independent bus line between Philadelphia and Pitman.
Court recessed at 12.30 for lunch.
Mrs. Lillie R. Kelton, a clerk, of 405 State street, Camden is foreman of the jury, selection of which took almost an hour, with Doris questioning each of the 29 veniremen called.
The spectators’ gallery was bare, however, more than a score of lawyers and law students were seated in the courtroom.
Besides Mrs. Kelton, the jury is composed of:—Bessie Kunitz, housewife, 926 Fern street; William Wescott, painter, 628 Walnut street; Bernice Branch, clerk, 722 Mt. Vernon street; Mrs. F. L. Barber, housewife, 204 Maple avenue, Merchantville; David Rolle, retired, 1047 North Twentieth street; Abbie Lewis, housewife, 119 North Thirty-sixth street; Mary Heake, housewife, 105 Kingston avenue, Barrington; Stella McGowan, housewife, 780 Walnut street; Catharine LeSage, housewife, Haddonfield; Michael Carrigan, Laurel Springs; Alva P. Joseph, 327 Harvard avenue, Collingswood.
Before the trial began, the jury was used to settle a “friendly” damage suit. After being out of the room 15 minutes, the jury returned and the Doris trial was opened, with Palese making his opening argument.
Palese outlined the shooting of Connors by Doris near Broadway and Kaighn avenue. It was the shooting that led the April grand jury into the investigation of vice and crime in Camden county.
John Doris is a brother of Frankie Doris, who participated in the Olney Bank robbery in Philadelphia nearly two years ago and in which a policeman was killed. Frankie Doris was electrocuted in the penitentiary at Bellfonte, Pa.
Several days ago Assistant Prosecutor Palese received a tip that a number of Philadelphia gangsters were coming to Camden to hear the trial. Prosecutor Baldwin then announced that during the trial only newspapermen and witnesses would be allowed in the courtroom.
Doris also is under indictment charged with the murder of “Mose” Flannery, in a saloon at Second and Kaighn avenue one year ago. While police searched the eastern United States for him in connection with the Flannery murder Doris was living with his mother at Second and State streets. When he was arrested in the Connors shooting he was recognized as the man long wanted in the Flannery murder.
On the night of the Connors shooting Doris and Russel Sage, his companion, were drinking in a night club at Second and Kaighn avenue. An argument started and Connors left and went to a restaurant on Kaighn avenue, east of Broadway.
The men met again there and a fight started. Doris is alleged to have drawn a revolver, chased Connors from the restaurant to the street and fired several shots. He was captured several hours later.
First Aid Saves Baby From Death By Poison
Camden Courier-Post —
First aid administered by an East Camden physician saved the life of a 2-year-old boy.
Frederick Smith, 2, of 27 Terrace avenue, while playing around his home Tuesday found some, tablets of a poisonous nature. He swallowed them before his mother, Mrs. Anna Smith, could take them from him.
The mother rushed to the office of Dr. Ralph Warwick, Thirty-second street and Federal Street, where Dr. Warwick administered first aid and then had the child removed to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
3300 Federal Street
3300 Federal Street — Dr. Warwick’s residence and office
Photographed March 13, 2004
The brick home/business on Federal street at 3300 was the residence and office of a pediatrician by the name of Dr. Warwick from before World War II into the 60’s. He served in World War II but returned to his practice. He was an extremely popular and well liked pediatrician.