Reino A. Thompson
Portrait photograph of Reino A. Thompson, 805 Linden street, convicted of highway robbery with co-defendant Henry N. Mallet in Camden Criminal Court.
REINO A. THOMPSON was in the public eye in the early 1930s in Camden. He was acquitted of the charge of murder in April of 1931, having slain his father, Frederick Thomson, when he assaulted him and his mother Hilda.
He was born Reino Fredrik Alanko in New York City on July 13, 1913 to Onni Fredrik Alanko and his wife the former Hilda Kristina Wahlroos. His parents had emigrated to the United States from Finland in 1910 with his older brother Onni, and in time “Americanized” the family name to Thompson, and had moved to Camden by 1916. Four daughters were born to the family after the birth of Reino — Rose, May, Diamond, and Irene.
Reino Thompson engaged in a series of armed robberies which ended in his arrest in August of 1931. He was convicted of robbery and sentenced to a term in prison by Judge Samuel M. Shay in October of 1931. He was released in June of 1935. After his release from prison, he went back to using the Alanko surname, and worked as a merchant seaman into the 1950s. Last a resident of Cadillac, Michigan, he passed away on August 19, 1993.
Camden Father Dies in Fight With His Son; Both Jobless
Camden Courier-Post —
Quarrel Over Youth Getting Work Is Blamed for Street Battle
ACCUSED WILL MAKE SELF-DEFENSE PLEA
Victim’s Head Hits Curb, Physicians Believe He Died Instantly
A quarrel over his son’s failure to obtain work ended fatally last night for the father of five children who was killed when he struck his head on a curb after the son had hit him on the jaw.
The father is Frederick Alanko Thompson, also known as Elanko, 45, of 805 Linden street. His son, Reino Alanko Thompson, who will be 18 in July, will be arraigned today on a charge of murder.
The fight occurred at the southeast corner of Ninth and Kimber streets.
The story of the alleged murder as told by the boy to Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin differed from that told by two young witnesses. The boy claimed self-defense while the witnesses said he had struck his father first.
Both Out of Work
Reino said he had been out of work for five months and his father had been unemployed for eight. The boy had worked for Todd Rooney, trucker, of Fern street near Eighth street. Shortly before that night, the boy said, his father criticised him for not obtaining work. To end the constant nagging of the father, his mother, Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, gave her son a quarter and he left the house.
Reino was on his way to Tenth and Market streets to meet friends, he said, when his father followed him. “He kept cursing me and when we got to Ninth and Kimber streets, my father struck at me. I sidestepped and hit him in the jaw. He fell to the street and I thought nothing of it. I said to him to get up if he wanted me to hit him again.”
Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, and Francis Zoll, 15, of 912 Kimber street, and John Golden, of 334 Golden street, who saw the fight, told the authorities the father made no effort to hit his son first but the boy hit him “six or seven times.”
Victim Dies Instantly
They notified Detective William Moll who had the father taken to Cooper Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Coroner Melvin Cain will perform an autopsy today.
Detectives Clifford Carr and Anson Kelly went to the Thompson home where they found the boy hiding in a kitchen alcove. They told the mother that he was wanted for questioning about a fight with his father but did not reveal that the father had been killed until they reached police headquarters. The son himself did not know his blow had proved fatal until later.
Thompson’s two older daughters, Rose, 16, and May, 14, accompanied Reino and the detectives to police headquarters. Two other daughters, Diamond and Irene, 10, remained at home.
The boy broke down when he was charged with murder and was led weeping to a cell. Mrs. Thompson, who had remained calm during the questioning, collapsed after her son was taken away.
Fritz Esel, 22, was arrested eight months ago by Detective Carr and turned over to immigration officials because he had no registration card. He was said to have illegally entered this country from Finland six years ago. The other members of the family are all American born, it appears. The father was naturalized.
Slayer of Father Sobs at Funeral
Camden Courier-Post —
Youth, Handcuffed to Officer, Becomes Hysterical at Grave
Reino Thompson, 17, yesterday accompanied the body of his father, whom he struck and killed during a street fight Thursday night, to its grave.
Handcuffed to a constable young Thompson was led into the undertaking parlors of Melvin Cain, 453 South Sixth street, where the body of his father was on view.
His mother, four sisters and an elder brother walked by his side as he slowly approached the bier. He was sobbing and could hardly control his voice as he said:
Father, it was an accident. I didn’t go to do it. Please believe me that it was an accident. I hope you are in heaven, father.
Following brief services the body of the elder Thompson was taken to the New Camden cemetery.
Reino was placed in the automobile of Constable John Campbell, who followed the funeral procession to the cemetery.
The youth became hysterical as the body was lowered into the grave. After tossing a carnation on top of the casket he was led back to the automobile by Campbell and taken to his cell in the county jail.
Young Thompson will face charges in court later. Prosecutor Baldwin on Saturday said the charges would be no more severe than manslaughter.
‘Real Mother’ Needs Aid
Camden Courier-Post —
To the Editor:
Sir—Your account of the sad misfortune of the boy, Reino A. Thompson, has been read carefully, and I can assure you that the statements are correct, as I have watched and heard the happenings in this family for about ten months, I being the next-door neighbor.
Any effort made by you and the Courier will surely be rewarded, as this remarkable little woman, Mrs. Thompson, a “real mother,” needs the services of this unfortunate boy, and my way of thinking, considering all the circumstances, he should be freed within a short time.
WM. A. FITZGERALD.
Grand Jury Finds Camden Boy Killed Drunken Father in Self Defense
Camden Courier-Post —
YOUTH INSTRUCTED TO “MEND HIS WAYS” IN FUTURE CONDUCT
Reino Thompson Promises to Help Mother as He Leaves Prison
DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL
Seventeen-year-old Reino Alanko Thompson who on April 9 killed his father in defense of his mother and himself was freed yesterday by the April grand jury.
The youth was instructed by the jury never to take the law into his hands again and to mend his ways.
Following the action of the grand jury the youth rushed into the arms of his mother, who was waiting just outside the jury room door. While the tearful mother embraced him Reino promised her he would devote the balance of his life in an effort to make her happy.
The youth struck his father, Frederick, 45, of 805 Linden street, and the latter fell heavily and struck his head on a curbstone, dying from a fractured skull. Reino was formally charged with murder.
The new grand jury, meeting yesterday for the first time, had been instructed to safeguard the county’s youth by eliminating incentives of crime.
It had been freely predicted that a “no bill” would be returned. Such was done after the jurors heard six witnesses, including the youth, his mother, his sister, Rose; two eye-witnesses of the quarrel, Francis Zoll and Herbert Townsend, and City Detective Clifford Carr. Prosecutor Baldwin immediately ordered the youth’s release from the county jail.
“I’m glad it’s all over,” the youth told his friends. “I want to thank the prosecutor, the Grand Jury and the newspapers for all they’ve done for me. It was very kind of them. I am going to lead a good life and help my mother and the family. It was all an accident. I never thought that would happen. I’m sorry it did happen, for I didn’t mean it.”
“The boy told a straightforward story,” averred the prosecutor. “He stated that he struck his father in self defense after the parent berated him for being unable to obtain work. The argument started when the boy reprimanded his father for striking his mother. The death was an accident, and the boy struck without malice. The Grand Jury warned him to better himself and not to take the law in his own hands.”
A brother of the dead man, Frank Thompson, 186 Edison street, New Dorp, L. I., was at the courthouse, and congratulated the boy.
“I’m glad my nephew was liberated,” the brother stated, “for what happened couldn’t be helped. It doesn’t sound right for me to say this, but my brother had no human traits. Drink was the cause of it. My brother came here 16 years ago and continually drank poison liquor.”
Wife of Man Killed by Son Is Stricken
Camden Courier-Post —
Illness was added to tragedy in the home of Mrs. Hilda Thompson, 805 Linden street. Late last night the woman, whose husband was killed by her son, Reino, 17, was taken to Cooper Hospital, a victim of nervous breakdown.
Reino was freed by the county grand jury Wednesday for striking the blow that caused his father’s death April 9. He declared he hit in defense of himself and his mother. The mother has been in a highly nervous state since her husband’s death.
Youth Cleared in Killing Dad, Admits Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Confesses He and Pal Robbed Two Bus Drivers in Pennsauken Township
CAUGHT BY POLICE AFTER AUTO CHASE
Boy Who Jury Cleared in Father’s Death, Had Promised to Be ‘Good’
A Camden youth who was cleared by the grand jury in the killing of his father was one of two who confessed yesterday to holding up two bus drivers at Haddonfield road and Park avenue, Pennsauken township, on August 5.
He is Reino A. Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street. His companion is Henry N. Mallett, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, both of Camden.
Thompson was arrested near Maple Shade after their car was driven into a ditch. Mallett escaped but was arrested at his home.
Police say both youths also admitted they were on their way to hold up another bus driver when Merchantville police became suspicious and chased them.
The bus drivers, Leon Garringer, of 4725 Poplar avenue, Pennsauken township and Fred Crowder, of 6308 Shelbourne street, Philadelphia, were seated in Garringer’s bus at the end of the route at 11 p. m., August 5. A coupe drove up beside them. One of the occupants drew a pistol and took $20 from Crowder and $15 from Garringer.
Three hours later a coupe was found abandoned at Cedar and Cooper avenues, Pennsauken. It had been stolen from Warren F. Marshall, of Paulsboro.
Policemen Halt Car
At 2.25 a. m., yesterday, Policemen Edward J. Hare and Herbert A. Davidson, of Merchantville, became suspicious of an automobile, which they had stopped at Maple and Westminster avenues. The driver produced his driver’s license, but said a friend had lent him the car and that he had no registration card. The car is believed to have been stolen.
The police ordered Mallett and Thompson, who was a passenger, to drive to the police station at Maple avenue and Centre street. Instead of stopping at the station, the car turned from Centre street into Park avenue, where a pistol was dropped. The police gave chase. The suspects continued on toward Maple Shade. Near Haddonfield road, a second pistol was thrown from the car.
The police were gaining on the speeding car when it was turned into a ditch on Park avenue near Cedar and Landing road. Both occupants fled from the car.
Thompson was caught a few hundred feet away but the other youth disappeared.
Marshall’s driver’s license stolen the night of the bus holdup, was found in the car.
Both Admit Holdup
Under questioning by Merchantville police, Thompson confessed his part in the bus holdup and named Mallett as his accomplice. Mallett was arrested yesterday afternoon at his home by Camden City Detective Sylvester McGrath. Mallet also confessed.
The youths told the police they were on their way to Moorestown pike and the East End Hotel, Pennsauken township, terminus of another bus line, where they planned another holdup.
Tags on the car ditched yesterday were stolen from the automobile of Fred Musick, 111 North Twenty-second street, Camden.
The youths were held by Merchantville for a hearing today on charges of carrying concealed deadly weapons. They will be turned over later to Pennsauken authorities on the holdup charge.
Thompson was arrested on April 9 for the killing of his father, Frederick, 45. The son and his mother testified the father had attacked them when drunk. The youth punched his father, who fell and struck his head on a curbstone, dying of a fractured skull.
In thanking the grand jury for his release Thompson declared: “I’m going to lead a good life and help my mother and the family.”
Jury Is Selected for Holdup Trial
Camden Courier-Post —
Thompson and Mallett Are Charged With Robbing Bus Drivers
A jury was selected yesterday to hear testimony in the trial of Reino A. Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street, and Henry N. Mallett, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, on an indictment charging them with holding up and robbing two bus drivers at Haddonfield Road and Park Avenue, Pennsauken, August 5, last.
Thompson was exonerated of killing his father, Frederick, 45, April 9 last. He pleaded self-defense before Judge Shay at that time. He alleged his father attacked him and his mother.
The police charge Thompson has confessed to 13 robberies in Camden and Gloucester Counties and implicated Mallett in them. However, Thompson pleaded not guilty after his indictment.
Thompson and Mallett are going on trial for holding up and robbing Leon Garringer, 4725 Poplar Avenue, Pennsauken, and Fred Crowder, 6308 Shelbourne Street, Philadelphia, while they were seated in a bus at the end of a route at 11 p. m. It is alleged they took $20 from Garringer and $15 from Crowder at the point of revolvers. They are said to have made their escape in a coupe.
Thompson was captured by Merchantville police near Maple Shade after Mallett’s car ran into a ditch after a chase. Mallett is said to have escaped and was arrested later in a house at Lansdowne Avenue near Norris Street.
The car the pair used in the hold-up is said to have been stolen from Warren F. Marshall, Paulsboro.
‘Bus Bandits’ Found Guilty; Face 15 Years
Camden Courier-Post —
Bus Bandits' Found Guilty; Face 15 Years
'BUS BANDITS' FOUND GUILTY; FACE 15 YEARS
Thompson and Mallet Convicted of Robbing Drivers in Short Time
'CONFESSION' FORCED, DEFENDANT DECLARES
Juror Slugged, Case Goes on With Eleven in the Box
Reino A. Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street, and Henry N. Mallet, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, were both found guilty of highway robbery by a jury in Criminal Court yesterday after one hour and 20 minutes' deliberation.
The maximum penalty for this crime is 15 years in state prison. Judge Samuel M. Shay will sentence the pair next week.
At the opening of the case yesterday, it was revealed that one of the jurors had his head bandaged. An inquiry from the court brought out the fact that the juror had received two alleged beatings and was "put on the spot."
Judge Shay allowed the man to leave the jury box and proceeded with 11 persons, an unprecedented situation in the history of the county court.
Mallett Scores Police
Thompson in his testimony exonerated Mallet of the crime and told the jurors he did the robbery. Mallet, who had made a signed confession, which was introduced into court, testified he was given rough tactics by the police and compelled to sign the statement.
Mallet said that at the time of the robbery he was eating in a Camden restaurant. Later he met Thompson (Continued on Page Twenty-four)
Thompson and Mallet Convicted of Robbing Drivers in Short Time
‘CONFESSION’ FORCED, DEFENDANT DECLARES
Juror Slugged, Case Goes on With Eleven in the Box
Reino A. Thompson, 19, of 805 Linden street, and Henry N. Mallet, 21, of 119 North Ninth street, were both found guilty of highway robbery by a jury in Criminal Court yesterday after one hour and 20 minutes’ deliberation.
The maximum penalty for this crime is 15 years in state prison. Judge Samuel M. Shay will sentence the pair next week.
At the opening of the case yesterday, it was revealed that one of the jurors had his head bandaged. An inquiry from the court brought out the fact that the juror had received two alleged beatings and was “put on the spot.”
Judge Shay allowed the man to leave the jury box and proceeded with 11 persons, an unprecedented situation in the history of the county court.
Mallett Scores Police
Thompson in his testimony exonerated Mallet of the crime and told the jurors he did the robbery. Mallet, who had made a signed confession, which was introduced into court, testified he was given rough tactics by the police and compelled to sign the statement.
Mallet said that at the time of the robbery he was eating in a Camden restaurant. Later he met Thompson and they went for a ride through the country. When several policemen approached, Thompson wrecked the car in attempting to escape and Mallet suffered a severe cut over his right eye.
When taken to the station house, Mallet testified, Bangs struck him repeatedly on his injured eye “until I would have agreed to almost anything” and signed without knowing what I was doing.”
Thompson, who admitted his part in the holdup and named Mallett as his accomplice. Mallett was arrested yesterday afternoon at his home by Camden City Detective Sylvester McGrath. Mallet also confessed.
The youths told the police they were on their way to Moorestown pike and the East End Hotel, Pennsauken township, terminus of another bus line, where they planned another holdup.
Tags on the car ditched yesterday were stolen from the automobile of Fred Musick, 111 North Twenty-second street, Camden.
The youths were held by Merchantville for a hearing today on charges of carrying concealed deadly weapons. They will be turned over later to Pennsauken authorities on the holdup charge.
Thompson was arrested on April 9 for the killing of his father, Frederick, 45. The son and his mother testified the father had attacked them when drunk. The youth punched his father, who fell and struck his head on a curbstone, dying of a fractured skull.
In thanking the grand jury for his release Thompson declared: “I’m going to lead a good life and help my mother and the family.”
Garringer testified he stopped his Public Service bus at Park avenue and Haddonfield road, Pennsauken, at 11 p. m. that night. Later, Crowder parked his bus and came counting his receipts when two men pulled up beside them.
One of the couple’s occupants entered the bus, levelled a revolver at the two drivers and yelled, “Stick ‘em up.” He stole $20 from Garringer and then ran back to the coupe, where his companion had been waiting at the driver’s wheel.
Crowder corroborated Garringer’s testimony, and Chief of Police William H. Linderman was called by the state. Chief Linderman said his men captured Thompson near Warren F. Marshall. The following day, Thompson sent for him, saying he wanted “to make a deal.” Through Thompson’s confession to the bus holdup, Chief Linderman said, and implicated Mallett. Palese succeeded in having the confession secured in evidence Aug. 7 after it was read to the jury.
Charles B. Kay, 53, of 435 Liberty street, was the juror who said he had received two beatings. He was put “on the spot.” He volunteered no further explanation than he was put “on the spot” as he had to report back to the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital today for treatment.
Kay walked into the hospital at 4 a. m. and asked for treatment. He said that a man offered to give him a lift in an automobile while he was standing at Third and Mechanic streets. A woman was with the “good samaritan,” according to Kay, who was being driven to the Market street ferries the man drove the car out Mt. Ephraim avenue.
Kay asserted that when he protested the man struck him and threw him out of the machine. No attempt was made to rob him. Police investigating the attack at first found that Kay had been drinking and told varying stories, first saying he had met the couple and later denying he knew who they were.
Reino, who was exonerated of killing his father last April, and Mallett are said to have confessed to 13 robberies in Camden and Gloucester Counties and were then placed on trial on charges of holding up Leon Garringer, 4725 Poplar avenue, Pennsauken, and Fred Crowder, 6308 Shelbourne street, Philadelphia, as bus No. 5 drivers and were on the witness stand today.
Completes Sentence, Faces Another Charge
Camden Courier-Post —
Woodbury, Feb. 26.—Henry N. Mallet, 25, of 115 North Ninth street, Camden, who completed a three-year sentence in state prison for a robbery in Camden county, was brought back to this county by Sheriff William A. Downer on a detainer.
Mallet, according to records in the prosecutor’s office, is one of two men who staged a holdup at a Gulf gas station at Crown Point road and Gateway boulevard, Westville, Aug. 1, 1931, and stole $2.30 from a cash register. The other man is said to be Reino A. Thompson, 22, of 805 Linden street, Camden, serving a five-year term in prison on the same charge as Mallet.
Mallet was to be arraigned before Judge J. Forman Sinnickson in criminal court today but the jurist was ill.
Camden Youth Freed of Sentence in Theft
Camden Courier-Post —
Woodbury, June 28.—Reino Thompson, 21, Camden youth recently released from Rahway Reformatory, was given a suspended sentence of 2½ to 3 years in state prison today by Judge Elmer B. Woods in special sessions court.
Thompson was indicted for having robbed a service station at Westville on August 1, 1931. He pleaded guilty.