Richard Donnelly
RICHARD ROSCOE COMPTON DONNELLY SR. was born September 14, 1890 to Roscoe C. Donnelly and his wife Ella. The Donnelly family was living in Cumberland County as far back as the 1870s.
Roscoe Donnelly was a glassblower by trade. Sometime in the 1890s Roscoe Donnelly moved his family, which consisted of his wife, and sons Richard and Adolph, to the town of Cicero, in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana where he followed that trade. The family was living there at the time of the 1900 Census.
By 1910 Roscoe Donnelly, now a widower, had returned to New Jersey, settling in Bridgeton NJ. He was still working as a glass blower, and sons Richard and Adolph were also working at a glass factory as helpers.
On June 5, 1917 Richard Donnolly registered for the draft. By this time he had wed, and his wife Rose Ella had bore on son Richard R.C. Donnelly Jr. The Donnelly’s were still living in Bridgeton, where Richard Donnelly worked as a laborer at a canning factory. Shortly thereafter Richard Donnelly moved his family to Camden. He found work as a “special officer,” another term for security guard, at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard at Broadway and Morgan Boulevard. When the Census was taken in January of 1920 the Donnellys were boarding at 747 Woodland Avenue with the family of William Marcus, who also was a “special officer” at the shipyard.
Richard Donnelly and his family do not appear in the 1925 Camden City Directory. His brother Adolph does, however, residing at 2205 South 7th Street, in the same neighborhood where his older brother had been living in 1920.
Richard Donnelly joined the Camden Police Department in the early 1920s. By 1928 he had been promoted to detective in the Third Police District, which consisted of Cramer Hill and East Camden. He was often partnered with Detective Louis Schlam. By 1929 the two were neighbors, the Donnelly family living at 1017 Bergen Avenue, the Schlams at 1039 North 34th Street. Father Roscoe was living at the Bergen Avenue address in 1929, employed as a watchman at the Progressive Weaving Company at 3252 River Road.
The 1930 census shows the Donnelly family still renting at the same address on Bergen Avenue. There were three children by April of 1930, Richard Jr., 14; James M, 9; and Rose M., two months old. Father Roscoe still lived with them. In 1932 the family moved to 1243 North 26th Street.
On September 15, 1931 Detectives Donnelly and Schlam escorted James H. Kessler to the Skillman Village for Epilectics in Skillman, New Jersey. Kessler had been committed to Skillman by Judge Samuel M. Shay.
Richard Donnelly Jr. married Grace Berry in 1936. In May of 1940 Richard and Rose Ella Donnelly were at Moore’s Beach in Cape May County when a small house fire broke out and caused their house at 1243 North 26th Street to collapse.
In August of 1942 Richard Donnelly was fishing at Green Creek with ex-Mayor Frederick von Nieda and his partner, Louis Schlam, when Schlam suffered a fatal heart attack.
Richard Donnolly retired on pension on April 30, 1944. He and his wife had moved out of Camden by the time the 1947 City Directory was compiled, and he was not on the force in January of 1949. Richard Donnolly passed away on June 24, 1951.
World War I Draft Registration Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Richard C. Donnelly, 1917
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
Alarm Chases Robber
Camden Courier-Post —
Bell Rings and Would-Be Burglar Flees Hardware Store; Suspect in Custody
A burglar who attempted to break into the Elwood Antrim hardware store, 1541 Federal street, was frightened away when a burglar alarm went off. After a chase, police arrested a suspect, who is being detained at headquarters pending investigation.
The suspect gave his name as Walter Gibbs, 214 Friends avenue. He was arrested at Seventeenth and Federal streets by District Detectives Schlamm and Donnolley.
Worthing Truland, a watchman, 1[?]16 Federal street, was awakened when the alarm went off. He then saw a man leaping the back fence.
The detectives happened to be passing at the time and started a search of the neighborhood. A half hour later they saw Gibbs, at Seventeenth street and placed him under arrest. Gibbs will be given a hearing tomorrow.
Police Invite Bandits to Nice Shooting Party
Camden Courier-Post —
But Yeggs Must Leave Gats at Home While Cops Practice With Camden’s new Desperado Eliminators
Wanted: Targets for Camden’s new desperado eliminators. Bandits, burglars, snipers and their ilk are requested by Chief of Police James E. Tatem to apply at police headquarters Monday morning at 10 o’clock, when a practice shooting party will be held.
Chief Tatem said today Camden’s bandit-chasing squad is “just rarin’ to go” with six new automatic rifles guaranteed to shoot full of holes the toughest bandit in less time than it takes to say “Aligoop.”
For the further enlightenment of the bandit fraternity, Chief Tatem announced detailed instructions on how to use the new carbines will be given this afternoon at 3 o’clock to bandit chasing police by Captain Arthur Colsey and Herman Engle, a representative of Stein Brothers, this city.
The rifles arrived at police headquarters yesterday afternoon. They will be distributed in each of the city’s three police districts in the campaign to rid the city of desperadoes.
The weapons can fire a magazine of 20 shots in a few seconds. They will be mounted in the three red bandit chasing coupes used by the district squad members. One of the coupes is now being used by Archie Reiss and Vernon Jones in South Camden, while two others are expected to be delivered within a few days, according to Chief of Police James E. Tatem. They will be assigned to Walter Smith and Joseph Carpani, First district detectives and Louis Schlam and Richard Donnelly in the East Camden district.
Swivel attachments make it possible to fire the guns from a fixed point in an automobile. Detached they may be fired from the shoulder. Besides firing a magazine of 20 shots without stopping, they can be adjusted to single fire, using .45 caliber cartridges.
Instruction in the adjustment and use of the weapons will be given today by a representative of the company that sold them— at $175 each— to the city.
Camden Burglar Slain; Cop Wounded in Gun Duel
Camden Courier-Post —
TWO SUSPECTS HELD IN FATAL FIGHT AT STORE
Detective Robert Ashenfelter in Serious Condition at Hospital
NO WARNING IS GIVEN AS SLEUTH IS FELLED
‘Tip’ on Robbery at Thirty-Second and Pierce Given By Telephone
Wounded Sleuth and Companion
—Courier-Post Photo
City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, wounded three times in a gun battle with a burglar suspect early this morning, is shown in his bed at the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, talking to Detective Benjamin Simon. The latter, who was two feet behind Ashenfelter when the latter was hit, is shown telling the wounded man that the burglar, Charles Rettberg, 21, was killed in the volley of machine gun and revolver shots. The shooting occurred at the rear of a chain store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue.
CHARLES RETTBERG
Twenty-one-year-old East Camden burglar who was shot to death during a gun duel with police early this morning. Trapped in a chain grocery store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue, Rettberg seriously wounded Detective Robert Ashenfelter. The latter emptied his pistol at Rettberg, while Policeman Frank Evans opened fire with a machine gun.
A burglar was shot and killed by policemen armed with a machine gun after he critically wounded a city detective during a gun duel in the rear of an East Camden store early this morning. The slain man was Charles Rettberg, 21, 1189 North Thirty-sixth street.
In grave condition at the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital is City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, 39, of 119 Manheim avenue, Oaklyn. Ashenfelter, who is married, was shot three times, one bullet lodging over his heart, another in his right shoulder and another went through the right hand.
Two men are under arrest on suspicion of being Rettberg’s accomplices in the fatal attempt to rob the American Store on the southeast corner of Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue. They are Theodore Rettberg, 24, brother of the dead man, and a man who gave his name as Melvin James, 38, of Pottstown, Pa.
Theodore Rettberg was arrested at his home after the shooting when detectives found his clothing soaked by rain. James, who is believed to be a Camden man despite the address he gave, was found lying on the front step of the store prior to the shooting, ostensibly intoxicated. He was armed.
Police believe that James was feigning intoxication and actually was the lookout. Clothing worn by a third man seen running across a vacant lot immediately after the shooting tallied with that found in Theodore Rettberg’s room, according to the police.
A truck said by the police to be owned by Theodore Rettberg was found parked within half a block from the store.
Both James and Theodore Rettberg denied any implication in the attempted robbery, although they were subjected to questioning for several hours by Captain John Golden, of the city detectives, and Chief Lawrence T. Doran, of the county detectives.
Police was unable to determine how many times Charles Rettberg had been shot, or who had killed him. Detective Ashenfelter emptied his revolver at the trapped men, while Policeman Frank Evans manned the machine gun.
The fatality occurred at about 3.1[?] a. m. Desk Sergeant Gus Koerner received an anonymous telephone call at police headquarters shortly after 3 a. m. The caller declared that burglars were breaking into the American Store at “Thirty-second Bergen avenue.”
“You meaned Thirty-second and Pierce?” quizzed Koerner.
The caller mumbled something and hung up without giving his name. His mistake in the address — Thirty-second street and Bergen avenue run parallel to each other—led police to believe the caller was a stranger in that section of the city, if not in the city itself.
Koerner dispatched Policemen Evans and Charles Wainwright to the scene in a bandit chaser, which is equipped with a portable machine gun. Koerner also notified the detective bureau, and Ashenfelter and Benjamin Simon started out in another car. A third call was made to the Third district police station by Koerner, and the patrol crew, Joseph Shreeves and Elwood Humphreys, hastened to the store.
Evans and Wainwright arrived first, parking their car when they saw James sprawled on the front step. They questioned him, but he talked incoherently. Ashenfelter and Simon arrived in their car. Believing James was a lookout and that the burglar or burglars might still be in the place, the two detectives ran toward the rear to cut off escape from that exit.
Ashenfelter was about two feet ahead of Simon. With his gun in hand, Ashenfelter reached the rear of the building and started to turn the corner.
Burglar Opens Fire
Without warning a shot rang out from the interior of the shed at the rear. The bullet struck Ashenfelter in the right hand, tearing the butt off his revolver and then entering his chest. The revolver dropped from his hand.
Ashenfelter sank to his knees, crying, “They got me!” Nevertheless, he grasped his revolver in his uninjured left hand and emptied it into the shed, as four more bullets ripped through the door from the inside at the already wounded detective. One bullet struck Ashenfelter in the right shoulder, but the other three missed him.
Unable to reload, Ashenfelter drew himself to his feet and staggered out of line of fire. He fell into the arms of Simon, who pulled him out of danger.
Meanwhile Evans, hearing the shots, left Wainwright in front of the building with their prisoners, James. Seizing the machine gun, Evan’s [sic] ran to the rear. He pointed it at the door and shouted.
“Come out or I’ll shoot.”
There was no answer. Evans waited a moment, again shouted his warning, and then fired a burst from the machine gun. Seven bullets crashed through the door and wall of the shed.
The Third district patrol arrived and Ashenfelter was placed in it. He had attempted to rise three times, but on each occasion he slumped to the ground.
Hearing no sound from inside, police tore the door off its remaining hinge. They found Rettberg lying on the floor in a line with the door. He was dead. In his right hand was a 25-calibre pistol. All its cartridges had been discharged. Near his body also were a brace, bit and jimmy.
Policeman Wainwright then saw a man running east across the vacant lots in the rear of the store. Humphreys shouted to him to stop but when his command was not heeded, fired a shot at the fleeing figure. The fugitive disappeared on Bergen avenue, but not before Humphreys ascertained that he wore a yellow shirt.
Gun Found on Suspect
James was searched, and a .38-calibre revolver was found in his possession. He denied knowledge of the attempted robbery, and was taken to police headquarters.
A short time later, District Detectives Louis Schlam and Richard Donnelly, and Policemen Charles Johnson and Lewis Smith, all of the Third District, went to Rettberg’s home. There they found Theodore Rettberg clad only in underwear. He denied he had been at the store or with his brother, but the officers declared they found a bright yellow shirt and a pair of duck trousers in his room. The two articles of clothing were wet. As it had been raining at the time of the robbery, Theodore Rettberg was arrested on suspicion.
The manager of the store, Charles Schultz, 1618 Pierce avenue, stated it was the second time burglars had visited the establishment. About a month ago robbers stole $100 worth of goods, entering the place by forcing the shed door and then drilling a number of holes around the lock of the inner rear door.
This leads police to believe that Rettberg was implicated in the first robbery, as the same method of entrance was tried this morning. The thieves took off one hinge of the rear shed door and in that manner, opened that door this morning. Then the thieves attacked the door leading from the shed to the rear room of the store. A number of holes had been drilled around the bolt and a hole large enough to admit a man’s hand had been punched through the door.
However, Schultz had barricaded the inside door to prevent a second burglary. He had braced a heavy timber against the door, nailing the other end to the floor.
Hospital physicians at first feared that Ashenfelter had no chance for recovery. This forenoon, they said his condition had become fair, although it was too serious to permit them to remove the bullets.
The wounded detective was conscious this afternoon, and when Simon visited him, asked,
“Did they get him?”
“Yes, he’s dead,” Simon informed him.
“That makes me feel better,” sighed Ashenfelter. “That does me more good than medicine, and now I’ll get better quick. I’m glad they got him, for he tried to kill me and almost did.”
Where Burglar Was Killed and Cop Wounded
Here is the scene of this morning’s gun battle between a burglar suspect and police, as reconstructed by photographer and artist. The photo shows the rear of the American Store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue, in which Charles Rettberg was shot to death as he opened fire on police who trapped him. Rettberg is pictured lying in the shed, a small revolver, discharged, grasped in his hand. Outside the shed is the figure of City Detective Robert Ashenfelter, wounded three times. Detective Benjamin Simon is shown pulling Ashenfelter out of the line of fire, not knowing whether the trapped man was dead or alive.
Burglar Is Killed
Cleveland Plain Dealer —
Burglar Is Killed. CAMDEN, N. J., Aug. 24—(U.S.) Police, with a sub-machine gun, trapped two burglars in a grocery here today and killed one. Robert Ashenfelter, detective, was shot and is in critical condition. The second burglar escaped.
3 Men Quizzed in Gun Fight of Cops and Thief
Camden Courier-Post —
Detective Ashenfelter, Wounded in Battle, Improves
TWO CONFESSIONS IN THEFT REPORTED
Girl is Held by Police as Witness in East Camden Affray
While city and county authorities continued to question three alleged accomplices of the young robber who was fatally shot by police yesterday, City Detective Robert Ashenfelter was waging what apparently will be a successful fight for life today.
Shot over the heart, in the right shoulder and the hand, Ashenfelter’s life was at first despaired of by West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital physicians yesterday morning. However, his remarkable stamina and his expressed determination to “pull through” led physicians to state today that his condition is no longer critical, though he is not yet out of danger.
He was wounded by Charles Rettberg, 21, of 1189 North Thirty-sixth street, who died a few seconds later when a slug tore through his heart as he tried to shoot his way out of a shed in the rear of a chain grocery store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue at 3.15 a. m. yesterday. Another bullet struck the youth in the arm.
Whether Rettberg was killed when Ashenfelter emptied his gun into the shed after he was wounded, or when Policeman Frank Evans opened fire with a police sub-machine gun will be determined from the two bullets which struck the youth. The bullets were extracted at a post mortem held at the city morgue yesterday by County Physician Edward B. Rogers and Coroner Melvin Cain.
Meanwhile three men, one a brother of the dead man, are being held without bail on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill, and breaking and entering, while a young woman is being detained as a material witness. All four will be arraigned in police court tomorrow morning.
Under arrest are James Melbourne, who first gave his name as Melvin James, 38, of 820 Beideman avenue; Theodore Rettberg, 24, and Gordon L. McCrea, 20, of 820 Beideman avenue.
Melbourne is the alleged “lookout.” He and McCrea are from Pottstown, Pa., and have lived in East Camden only a short time.
According to Captain of Detectives John Golden, Melbourne and Theodore Rettberg confessed to their part in the robbery after questioning last night. They implicated McCrea, who steadfastly denies he had anything to do with it.
The girl detained is Miss Emmalinda Canilus, 22, who lives at the Rettberg home and who declares her only connection with the Rettbergs is that she is a close friend of Theodore Rettberg’s wife. Miss Canilus said she is a resident of Trenton and has lived in Camden only a short time, stopping at the Rettberg place until she might obtain employment.
Although he would not disclose the nature of her statement, Captain Golden said it was through Miss Canilus’ help that confessions were obtained from Melbourne and Rettberg. The girl is being held until questioned today by Prosecutor Baldwin.
The burglary was planned several hours before the accused were surprised by the police, according to Captain Golden. The four men talked over their plans while playing cards at the McCrea home, he said.
They reached the scene in a truck belonging to the Rettbergs. The truck was parked about 100 yards from the store and police believe the four men were planning to carry away much of the store stock. The truck was impounded.
All Work in East Camden
Captain Golden said all of the men are employed by an East Camden concern. The two who are alleged to have confessed place the blame for the affair on the shoulders of the slain robber.
He was the “brains,” they declare, and induced them to accompany him. They also declare he was the only one to fire on the police.
A revolver found on Melbourne was loaded with “dum-dum” bullets, Captain Golden said.
Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran co-operated with Capt. Golden in questioning the suspects last night.
The city detective head praised Ashenfelter for his fearlessness and also complimented District Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly and Detective Benjamin Simons, for the efficient manner in which they cleared up the entire case.
“There was nothing left to do, after Schlamm, Donnelly and Simons got through their work,” Golden said.
Alleged Pals of Slain Burglar
Camden Courier-Post —
Three alleged accomplices of Charles Rettberg, 21-year old East Camden burglar shot and killed by a detective, are shown during their police court hearing today. From left to right they are Gordon McCrae, Theodore Rettberg, a brother of the slain youth, and James Melbourne. All three were charged with atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill and breaking and entering, while Melbourne was additionally charged with carrying a gun. They were held without bail for the grand jury.
Bullet Upsets Theory Thief Shot Detective
Camden Courier-Post —
[Bu]llet Found in Ashenfelter Declared From Gun of Slain Burglar’s Pal
[O]PERATING SURGEON TAKES OPPOSITE VIEW
[W]ounded Cop ‘Got His Man’ With Left Hand, Police Reveal
[I]nvestigation of the attempted [rob]bery which ended with the [dea]th of a young burglar veered [off] on a new tangent today when [it w]as reported that City Detective [Rob]ert Ashenfelter may not have [bee]n wounded by the slain youth [but] by an accomplice.
[A] ballistic expert may have to be [calle]d in to examine the bullet which [was] removed from above the detective’s heart in a delicate operation at [the] West Jersey Homeopathic Hos[pital] yesterday afternoon. It was [offi]cially reported at the hospital [this] morning that the bullet was of […]alibre, whereas Charles Rettberg, [… ] North Thirty-sixth street, the [slain] burglar, had a .25-calibre Luger [auto]matic. However, Dr. H. Wesley [… ], who performed the operation, [sai]d that in his opinion the bullet [is a] smaller calibre than a .32, and [possi]bly is a .22 or .25.
Probe Ordered
[Bo]th County Detective Chief [Law]rence T. Doran and Captain of [Dete]ctives John Golden, stated that [they] would obtain determination of [the b]ullet’s calibre. It was pointed [out t]hat the bullet struck and sev[ered] the butt of Ashenfelter’s gun [befor]e it entered the detective’s [body], so that it might have flattened [b]efore hitting the sleuth. There [is al]so the possibility that the dead [ma]n’s revolver, empty when he was [foun]d dead, might have contained [dum-]dum bullets, which also were [use]d in the gun of an accomplice. [Dum-]dum bullets flatten out when [they] hit a target, making a much [large]r wound than the original size [of th]e bullet.
[Ca]ptain Golden also announced to-[day t]hat the shot which was fatal to
(Continued on Page Two)
Bullet Casts Doubt in Shooting of Cop
(Continued from Page One)
Rettberg when he was trapped robbing a chain store at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue Monday was fired by Ashenfelter.
It was first thought that Policeman Frank Evans, who fired into the store with a machine gun after Ashenfelter fell wounded, had slain Rettberg. But Captain Golden said the calibre of the bullet taken from the dead youth’s heart proved to be 38, the size fired by Ashenfelter’s gun. The detective’s gun was shot from his hand, but, though wounded in the chest and shoulder, the game detective picked up the weapon with his uninjured left hand and emptied it at the shed from whence the robber bullets came.
Three Arraigned
Three alleged accomplices of the slain robber and a girl witness were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in police court this morning and held without bail for the grand jury. They are Theodore Rettberg, 24-year-old brother of the dead robber; Gordon McCrea, 20, of 820 Beideman avenue; James Melbourne, 38, of the Beideman avenue address, and Miss Emmalinda Canilus, 20, who lives at the Rettberg home.
Theodore Rettberg and Melbourne are alleged to have confessed to taking part in the attempted robbery; but McCrea has denied any connection with it. However, when stolen goods worth about $500 were found in his room yesterday, he confessed to three other robberies, implicating two men.
McCrea, Rettberg and Melbourne were arraigned first on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill. Rettberg pleaded not guilty, McCrea asserted that he had nothing to say, while Melbourne pleaded “guilty to what I confessed.” That was that he helped plan the robbery and acted as lookout. Then they were charged with breaking and entering, to which all three pleaded not guilty. Melbourne was further charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon, as he had a 38-calibre revolver loaded with dum-dum bullets when nabbed. He pleaded guilty to that complaint. All of the complaints were signed by Detective Benjamin Simon, who was two feet behind Ashenfelter when the former was wounded.
Girl Hysterical
Miss Canilus was arraigned as a material witness. Judge Pancoast said he would have to hold her without bail but that the prosecutor’s office could fix bail for her release. After being taken back to her cell, the young woman became hysterical, attracting a crowd to the corridor outside the city jail cells. She repeatedly cried out:
“I have nothing to do with this. I told them all I know. Why are they keeping me here?”
McCrea and Melbourne are newcomers to this city, having recently moved here from Royersford, Pa. They boarded with Mrs. Anna Bowden, an aunt of McCrea’s, at 820 Beideman avenue. Mrs. Bowden was taken to city hall for questioning yesterday after the loot was found in her house but satisfied Chief Doran and Captain Golden, chief of the city detective force, that she knew nothing of the robberies.
The loot was located by District Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly and Detective Benjamin Simon. With Chief Doran and Captain Golden they moved the stolen merchandise to city hall.
Last night, McCrea admitted that some of the loot came from three robberies, but he said he knew nothing about the rest of the merchandise. He confessed to robbing the store of Jacob J. Friedman, 18 King street, Gloucester, on Aug. 13, of shoes, hats and other articles of clothing worth $123. Friedman identified some of the loot at headquarters today.
Tells of Tire Theft
McCrea also said he stole two tires from the S. M. Brothers on Crescent boulevard in Pennsauken, and five boxes of cigars and a sprinkler from a road stand owned by Ida Carver on Burlington pike in Burlington county.
He implicated two companions, giving the police the name of one and saying that the other was a close friend of the one he had named.
Chief of Police Jesse Neiman, of Royersford, Pa., identified McCrea and Melbourne yesterday as two youths wanted in Pennsylvania for questioning in several recent robberies there. He declared the two were “well known hoodlums who were always in trouble.” According to Chief Neiman a brother of McCrea’s is serving a long prison term in the Eastern Penitentiary for highway robbery.
3 E. Camden Youths Nabbed as Suspects
Camden Courier-Post —
Three East Camden youths were arrested and held “on suspicion” early yesterday when policemen said they failed to explain satisfactorily why they were at Twenty-fourth and Howell Streets at 1:30 a. m.
Sergeant Edward Hahn and District Detective Richard Donnelly made the arrest. The youths gave their names as Charles Bowers, 17, of 1024 North Twenty-sixth street, Henry Allhiser, 17, of 2415 Howell Street, and James Devenney, 17, of 1161 North Thirty-third street. They will be questioned today.
Motorist Is Fined $25 for Passing Red Light
Camden Courier-Post —
Benjamin Rosner, 35, of 1443 Mt. Ephraim avenue, paid $25 in police court yesterday for passing a red light. He explained to Judge Garfield Pancoast that he didn’t stop when chased by detectives because he thought they were holdup men.
Detectives Richard Donnelly and Louis Schlamm testified they were waiting today in their automobile for the light to change at Haddon and Newton avenues, and when Rosner passed it, they chased him.
They caught up with him at Haddon avenue and Carman street and when Schlamm opened the door of his car the detectives said Rosner attempted to kick Schlamm.
Man Saved From Gas
Camden Courier-Post —
A man who, according to the police, attempted suicide by inhaling illuminating gas, was saved yesterday afternoon by his sister who found him unconscious.
Louis Fox, 23, of 2406 Federal Street, was found in his room by his sister, Mrs. Sarah Finkelstein, of the same address. Mrs. Finkelstein and her husband conduct a store at 2501 Federal Street. When Mrs. Finkelstein returned to her home shortly before 3 p.m., she found her brother.
Detectives Richard Donnelly and Louis Schlamm took Fox to Cooper Hospital, where physicians said he would recover.
Young Man Recovers From Inhaling Gas
Camden Courier-Post —
Louis Fox, 23, of 2406 Federal Street, whose unsuccessful attempt at suicide landed him in Cooper Hospital suffering from inhaling gas fumes, is out of danger.
The young man was found unconscious at his apartment Tuesday with a gas jet open in the room. Detectives Louis Schlamm and Richard Donnelly took him to the hospital where he was questioned by Detective George Zeitz.
Fox will be arraigned before Police Judge Pancoast upon his release from the hospital, according to Zeitz.
Dozen Battles Draw 1000 as Victory March Pays Serenade
Camden Courier-Post —
Youth Cut in Chest by Bullet; Bystander Cut on Head
POLITICAL LEADERS PUT TO QUIZ BY DETECTIVES
At least one person was shot and many were hurt in a street battle last night that was the aftermath of a bitter political contest at the primary election between rival Republicans [sic] factions in the Eighth ward.
When nearly a score of police arrived in response to a riot call from Sixth and Viola streets a crowd of 1000 excited residents of the ward had gathered there and a dozen or more individual combats were in progress.
Bullet Hits Boy
Nicholas Sustich, 15, of 1804 Hale street, was treated at Cooper hospital for a flesh wound of the chest, which police said was caused by a ricocheting bullet.
Joseph Samenick, 1005 South Sixth street, was treated at the West Jersey Homeopathic hospital for cuts on the forehead. He claimed to be an innocent bystander.
Others were treated for minor injuries by local or family physicians, having been taken away from the scene of the riot by friends before the arrival of the police.
Detectives investigated a report that Isaac D. Shute, former city detective and former county committeeman from the Eighth Ward, had been shot in the leg. According to Detective George Zietz, he learned from a member of Shute’s family that he had received treatment by a physician for cuts of the right hand resulting from a fall.
After questioning a score of persons at detective headquarters last night, including leaders of each of the rival Republican factions, John Hess, 34, of 1825 South Sixth street, was arrested on the charge of illegal possession of firearms and held in $1000 bail for a hearing in police court this morning.
Parade Starts Melee
According to Zeitz, the melee started when a parade led by Nicholas Scarduzio, of 1863 South Fourth street, a former summer policeman, stopped in front of the saloon of William Tansky, Jr., 1903 South Sixth street, two doors below Viola street.
Tansky was unsuccesful [sic] candidate for the post of county committeeman in the Tuesday primaries. He was reputed to be backed by the Woodruff-Verga faction.
The parade was in celebration of the victory of Dr. Orris W. Saunders, who won the Republican nomination for freeholder, defeating Walter Sekula, the incumbent, of Edmund A. Walsh, who defeated Tansky, and of Maime F. Piraine, re-elected county committeewoman over Theresa Malony Di Lello. The successful candidates were of the Baird-Baker faction.
Walsh and Miss Piraine were in the parade, according to Zeitz. The celebration of victory had started the night before and centered largely throughout the day in the saloon of Celie Ellis, across the street from that of Tansky.
More than 100 persons were in the procession, which was led by an improvised band of accordians [sic], fifes, drums and bugles.
When it stopped in front of the Tansky place, according to the police, Benjamin Tansky, 30, a brother of the proprietor, came to the door of the saloon and objected to the political jibes that were hurled by the parading factionalists.
Bloody Free-For-All
When the paraders remained, the police said, hot words were exchanged, a dozen or more others who were in the Tansky place came out, and the battle started.
Eye-witnesses described it later as a bloody free-for-all in which fists and “billies” were used. The riot call was sent to police at 7.30.
Motorcycle policemen converged to the scene and a squad of detectives arrived led by Zietz and including Leon Branch, Fiore Troncone and Richard Donnelly. Many of the combatants fled, but hundreds remained as police and detectives strove to locate the injured, most of whom had been removed.
Scarduzio Beaten Badly
They learned that Scarduzio had been badly beaten on the head and that two shots had been fired in the melee.
According to Zietz, Hess admitted at detective headquarters that he had fired the shots from a revolver which he had procured from back of the Tansky bar, and that he had aimed the shots at the pavement for the purpose of “scaring” the parade crowd away.
Benjamin Tansky told police that when he remonstrated with the rival political group about 15 of them attacked him. They knocked him down, he said, and poked him in the eye with a pole. He exhibited a black eye to substantiate his story.
Zietz said he found a loaded revolver, with two shells fired, in a radio cabinet in the living room behind Tansky’s barroom.
Merchantville Driver Held on Tipsy Charge
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with drunken driving, Preston Fisher, 33, of [?]124 Fisher avenue, South Merchantville, was held by Camden police last night in $500 bail for a hearing in police court this morning.
The charge was made by Policeman Richard Donnelly, who with Policeman Fred Garbrecht arrested Fisher at Twenty-seventh and Thompson streets. Donnelly said Fisher was driving his car “in circles” and that he found a half-pint bottle of whisky in the machine.
At police headquarters Lieutenant George Ward and Sergeant Raymond Stark, after Fisher had undergone tests to determine whether he was intoxicated, said that in their opinion he was not and so informed Policeman Donnelly. The latter, however, insisted that the charge stand.
Camden Detective Dies While Fishing
Camden Courier-Post —
Heart Attack Kills Louis Schlamm; Thrown into Water as Boat Capsizes
Avalon, Aug. 14 — Louis J. Schlamm, 55, veteran Camden city detective, died of a heart attack while fishing in Townsend’s Inlet near here today.
The outboard boat capsized when Schlamm toppled over and tossed him and Billy Schlamm, a 14-year-old nephew, into the Inlet waters. The boy swam about until a nearby coast guard boat of the Inlet station reached him.
The coast guardsmen recovered the body within a few minutes. Dr. Frank Dealy, a local physician, examined the body and reported no water in the lungs.
Richard Donnelly, a Camden patrolman, and who had been Schlamm’s “partner” as a district detective for several years, was vacationing here also. He said Schlamm had difficulty getting the motor of the boat started to go on the trip, and expressed belief the exertion may have induced the attack.
Schlamm was here with his wife, Mary, in a cottage on Fourth avenue.
Yesterday Schlamm fished at Green Creek with former Mayor Fred von Nieda, and other Camden friends. He had organized many fishing parties for Camden patrolmen during the Summer months.
In addition to his widow, the veteran detective is survived by two daughters and two sons, one of whom was at Pearl Harbor with the Navy when the Japanese made their Dec. 7 attack. Several brothers and sisters also survive.
Schlamm had been a member of the police department for 25 years. He was appointed Aug. 27, 1917 by the late Mayor Charles H. Ellis.
He was promoted to detective in 1924 during the term of Mayor Victor King and in March, 1932, was awarded a merit badge for his part in foiling a chain store robbery at Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue which resulted in a gun fight with armed men. Detective Robert Ashenfelter was seriously wounded in the battle.
Schlamm had been a resident of East Camden for 40 years. His home was at 804 North Thirtieth street.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at funeral parlors, 804 North Twenty-seventh street, Camden. Burial will be in Arlington cemetery.