Rox Saponare
Rox Saponare
ROX SAPONARE was born January 11, 1892 in Italy to Antonio and Donata Maria Saponare. The family came to America in the early 1900s. Rox Saponare married his wife Elizabeth in 1916. When the 1920 Census was taken the couple had bought a home at 1006 South 4th Street. He was then working as a bolter at one of Camden’s shipyards. Rox Saponare became a member of the Camden Police Department during the 1920s. By 1927 he had been promoted to detective. By April of 1930 he had been promoted to Sergeant, and was still serving in the Detective bureau. Rox and Elizabeth Saponare still lived at 1006 South 4th Street, and by then had five children, Anthony, John, Dina, Frank, and Michelina. Sergeant Saponare’s father Antonio and a nephew, also named Antonio, also lived at that address. The Saponare family resided at that address as late as 1936. By that time Sergeant Rox Saponare had been placed in charge of the Fingerprint and Identification department of the Camden Police Department. When he was succeeded by Detective William A. Deery. By 1947 the Saponare family had moved to 562 Spruce Street. By this time son Anthony C. Saponare had joined the Camden Fire Department. Rox Saponare passed away in September of 1965.
Rocco Saponare’s grandson, Anthony R. Saponare, retired in 1989 from the Camden Police Department as Deputy Chief after 25 years of dedicated service. He went on to serve the Camden County Sheriff’s Department as an Undersheriff for 12 years before becoming Chief of County Investigators with the Camden County Prosecutor’s office. In 2003 he was assigned by Camden County Prosecutor Vincent Sarubbi to assist Acting Chief Edwin Figueroa in implementing recommended changes in the administration of the Camden Police Department’s daily operations.
5 Policemen Added to Detective Detail
Camden Courier-Post —
Dolan, Sapanore, Truax, Kelly and Smith Assigned
Pleas by Captain Golden of the Detective Bureau that the department was undermanned and overworked has resulted in the assigning of five policemen as acting detectives.
They are William Dolan, acting sergeant of the First District; Rox Sapanore [sic], Frank Truax, Edward Smith and Anson Kelly.
Dolans’ place is being taken by Sergeant Ralph Bakely, transferred from the Third District. Sergeant John Potter goes from the Second District to the Third to replace Bakely, and Patrolman John Skolski becomes acting sergeant to replace Potter.
Patrolman William Whaland becomes acting sergeant to take over the duties of Sergeant James Clay, who is seriously ill in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital of pneumonia.
Gropes for Light, Man Is Killed by Fall Down Stairs
Camden Courier-Post —
Stumbling as he groped for a light in the home of a friend, a South Camden man fell down a stairway in a Sycamore street home early today and broke his neck.
Howard Ashton, 45 years old, 1242 South Second Street, was pronounced dead when admitted to Cooper Hospital shortly after 1 o’clock.
City Detective Rox Saponare went to the home of Alfred Marshman, 258 Sycamore Street, after detective headquarters had received a telephone tip that a man had fallen downstairs.
Saponare said Ashton and Marshman apparently had been drinking during the evening. They had retired to a second-floor bedroom, and Ashton apparently had started for the first floor when he fell.
Woman Drinks Poison, Spats With Husband
Camden Courier-Post —
Following an argument with her husband, Mrs. Martha Cowley, 25 years old, 525 Borton street, swallowed a drug with suicidal intent. She was taken to Cooper Hospital where the stomach pump was applied and she was later sent home.
The woman told Detective Saponore that her husband, Harry, came home intoxicated last night with part of his pay missing. An argument started and she went to her bedroom and drank the poison. Her husband heard her groans and notified the police.
Bus Hits Store, Hurls 4 Persons From Beds
Camden Courier-Post —
Window Hit by Bus and Girls Hurled from Beds
Wrecked bulk window in drug store of George H. Williams, 1801 Broadway, is shown in the above photo taken shortly after a Public Service bus, hit by an automobile, crashed into the building on the corner of Broadway and Ferry avenue. Mr. and Mrs. Williams and their daughters, Grace, 20 years old (in the upper oval), and Flora, 17 years old (in lower oval), were thrown from their beds by the force of the crash.
$2000 Damage to Building Estimated by Druggist; Driver Blames Accident on Another Automobile; Same Window Smashed Twice Before
Four persons were tossed from their beds shortly before 5 o’clock this morning when a Public Service bus caromed from a collision, tore its way across a sidewalk and buried its nose in the bulk windows of a Broadway drug store.
Damage of $2000 to the drug store of George H. Williams, located at 1801 Broadway, resulted from the crash. The Williams family live in an apartment on the second floor of the building on the southwest corner of Broadway and Ferry avenue. Williams, his wife, Elizabeth, and his two daughters, Grace, 20 years old, and Flora, 17 years old, simultaneously heard the crash of glass and experienced the sensation of being pitched onto the floors of their bedrooms.
The drug store proprietor said it was the third time his property has been damaged in collisions.
Earl Bogard, 24 years old, of 3175 Westfield Avenue, driver of the bus, which was bound for Woodbury, was alone in the vehicle. Although glass from two windows in the store and the windshield flew in all directions, Bogard escaped injury. He told detectives that he was driving south on Broadway and was about to cross Ferry avenue when an automobile proceeding west on the latter street struck the left side of the bus. Bogard said he lost control of the bus, which leaped across the sidewalk and into the store window. The car which had struck him continued on its way down Ferry avenue, Bogard declared.
Policeman Maurice DeNicoli, standing on the northeast corner of the intersection, witnessed the crash and remembered the license number of the car which disappeared down Ferry avenue. He communicated with detective headquarters and City Detective Rox Saponare later telephoned the Motor Vehicle department at the State House, Trenton.
Saponare said that the automobile was owned by John Salomi, of 221 Clementon road, Blenheim, who would be notified to appear at detective headquarters as soon as possible. Wrecking equipment of the Public Service company pulled the bus which was badly damaged from the storefront. Williams said that the entire front of the store was wrecked, as was also a row of telephone booths inside the store, which was torn from its fastenings. Workmen were making repairs this morning.
The store proprietor today recalled the wrecking of the same bulk window when a runaway horse crashed into it. A few months ago, a motorcycle, skidding on a slippery paving, leaped the sidewalk and smashed through the window.
Cautious Cop’s Call Captures Kaplan
Camden Courier-Post —
Sleuth’s Shout of Quarry’s Name Gives Shore Man Away
Sometimes detectives detect. Take Rox Saponare this morning.
Up in Detective Bureau for several days there has been a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Kaplan, of Atlantic City. He was thought to be in Camden.
Saponare was walking down Benson street at 7:30 a. m. today when he saw two men come out of a boarding house at 450 Benson street. One of them, Saponare thought, looked like the picture of Kaplan sent down with the warrant.
The sleuth walked along the other side of the street, studying the man’s face. When he was certain it was his man he fell back a bit and shouted: “Hey, there, Kaplan.”
Then, according to the detective, Kaplan whirled around.
When placed under arrest, however, the man denied he was Kaplan. Later he admitted it, however. He gave his age as 25 and said he had been living here at the Benson street address.
Kaplan will be arraigned in police court today. He is wanted for desertion and non-support.
Found Wounded on Sidewalk at Kaighn Point
Camden Evening Courier —
Seals Lips as Police Seek to Learn Identity of Assailant
EIGHT UNDER ARREST IN SUSPECT ROUNDUP
Surgeons at Hospital Find Four Jagged Bullet Holes in Body
Victim of the gang feud—he denounced on his death bed, Joseph “Mose” Flannery, 26, picturesque Eighth ward political worker, was dying today in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
Mortally wounded, his body riddled with bullets, Flannery was shot some time shortly before 4 a. m. today as he stood on the sidewalk outside a saloon at Front and Kaighn avenue.
Four or five men, grouped closely about the prone body of the political worker, hailed a truck which took Flannery to the hospital at 4.15.
Eight men had been arrested by police, seven charged with being a material witness, and the other being held at police headquarters “on suspicion.”
They were James L. Hawkins, 37, declared by police to be proprietor of the saloon at 101 Kaighn avenue; Walter Novak, 22, 442 Jackson street; Russell Sage, 25, of 407 Mechanic street; Joseph Novak, 34, of 508 Jackson street; Eugene Murphy, 51, of 101 Kaighn avenue; “Cuzzy” Scarduzio, 27, who gave police no home address, and Joseph Moll, 25, of 101 Kaighn avenue, all held as material witnesses; and Patrick Driscoll, 25, of 1225 South Third street, held “on suspicion.”
Cause of Shooting Unknown
Despite a far-reaching investigation, Flannery’s assailant or assailants, the details of the shooting, and its cause remained undetermined this noon. Every available county and city detective was engaged in the probe as Camden gangland’s victim hovered between life and death in the hospital.
Realising doctors had given him but a few hours to live, Flannery continued to maintain his silence concerning how he was shot, and which he had adopted when he was carried into the hospital on a stretcher.
“My lips are sealed and if I don’t live to get the fellows who did this my gang will get them,” he told physicians when placed on the operating table at 4:30 a. m.
At 9 o’clock this morning, the doctors had given up hope for his recovery, but Flannery still was alive at 2.30 this afternoon.
South Camden virtually buzzed with rumors to the effect that Flannery’s fate was the result of a war in the bootleg ring; that it was the aftermath of a feud over slot machines; that it was a case of “women,” and that it could be linked up with the shooting in January of Joseph Cimini, by Joseph Devon, known as “Polack Joe.”
At Loss for Motive
Police were at a loss to name the motive. Acting Assistant Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, in charge of the investigation, said the probe had not reached the point where anyone person could be accused of shooting Flannery, or where the gun fire could be traced to anything but a “gang feud.”
“Mose” Flannery had been shot. He probably would die. That much was known. The rumors naturally followed for Flannery was well-known, not only in the close-mouthed circle in which he moved, but throughout the city as well.
“Mose” Flannery is one of the most picturesque figures in Camden’s political “gangland.” For several years he has been a slot machine distributor in Camden and Philadelphia.
When “Polack Joe” Devon shot and killed Joseph Cimini, Philadelphia gambler in the Sixth Ward Republican Club early in the morning of January 14, last, Flannery was arrested as a material witness. It was disclosed by police that Flannery and Cimini had gone into the club together a few minutes before Devon’s gun pumped death into Cimini’s body after the Philadelphian had quarrelled with Devon.
Flannery was considered the most important of the material witnesses connected with the Cimini murder. Sage, arrested on suspicion this morning in connection with the felling of Flannery, was another “important” witness in the Sixth Ward Club shooting affair.
James Bonner, who was mysteriously shot several months ago, was questioned today by detectives but was not held. Walter Selby, a taxicab driver, also was taken before Chief of Detectives Golden and County Detective Chief Doran, but he too was released after being closeted with the officials for more than an hour.
Sage Ordered Held
After questioning Sage, Acting Assistant Prosecutor Orlando ordered that the man be held.
In the meantime, Flannery lay on a hospital cot, propped up on his side, his pain deadened by opiates. He mumbled incoherently to members of his family grouped about him. At times he lapsed into a state of unconsciousness.
The doomed political worker early today had asked for a priest. Rev. Father John J. Henry went to the hospital. “Joe,” he said, “you’re dying. You’d better give police a statement.”
Flannery was said by doctors to have replied he would tell nothing, that if he lived, “he’d settle,” and that if he died, “my gang will take care of that.”
After a session in which more than a dozen men were questioned, Captain Golden and Detective Chief Doran shortly before noon went to the scene of the shooting. They found evidence that a scuffle in the saloon at Front and Kaighn avenue had preceded the shooting.
Tables had been overturned. Glasses had been broken. Forty cents in change was found on a table beside a picture of a small baby. There was an empty glass on one table, another glass half-filled with beer on the bar.
Bullets Meant for Novak?
It was reported that police had been informed by one of those they questioned that the bullets which ripped their way through Flannery’s body had been meant for Walter Novak who they said had been standing at “Mose’s” side at the time of the shooting. The police officials refused to confirm that rumor. Novak had told them, Capt. Golden said, he was not with Flannery at the time. Later Novak admitted to being on the corner near the saloon, police said.
Police recalled that Novak was arrested several months ago in the alleged theft of a slot machine from the store of Louis Schectman, in Broadway near Line street. Novak was apprehended after a wild chase through South Camden streets.
Schectman at first told police Novak was one of two men who entered his store, and at the point of a gun, robbed him of a nickel slot machine. Testifying in a hearing in police court several days later, Schectman said he hadn’t kept a slot machine in his store, and that two men unknown to him stole a box of cigars and escaped in an automobile.
As far as could be learned by an Evening Courier representative, the case against Novak never was settled.
The bullets were fired from a “pump” gun and were of .32 calibre. According to Detective Thomas Cheeseman, they could have been fired only from a gun of the type common to gangsters who “shoot to kill.” Cheeseman said a “pump” gun was designed to hold nine shells or “wads,” as they are commonly known. The leaden bullet is surrounded by a coating of asbestos, which breaks from the lead upon the firing of the gun and allows the lead to enter its target.
Police were following every clue which developed, no matter how scanty. Detectives combed the Front street and Kaighn avenue neighborhood, it was learned, in an effort to discover the haunts of the gang known by police to center in that part of the city.
Chief of Police Lewis W. Stehr was asked if police would act against the owners of the habitats of the “Front and Kaighn avenue” gang or if a routine investigation into the shooting of Flannery would be conducted. Chief Stehr said the usual investigation was being made and would continue.
While members of the political worker’s family talked with Flannery, and while investigation of the shooting by county detectives and police was under way, doctors said the man who lives at 346 Jackson street, couldn’t “live out the day.”
Flannery had a bullet wound two inches in diameter in his back. Another bullet had pierced his abdomen, and he had been shot in both elbows, physicians said. Doctors said the bullets were two inches long and three-quarters of an inch in diameter.
It was shortly after 4 a. m. when Charles Foulk, of 219 Point street, driver of The Courier-Post delivery truck, was hailed by a group of men standing on a corner at Front street and Kaighn avenue.
“Have you got time to take a man to the hospital?” one of the group asked Foulk, according to the story he told Captain John Golden, chief of city detectives.
Flannery was lifted into the rear of the truck, two men jumped on the running board and the run for West Jersey Hospital began.
Walter Wartman, of 315 North Second street, another Courier-Post employe, who had assisted in the delivery of Morning Posts at the Reading Ferries, was with Foulk.
Foulk said one of the men jumped from the truck when it reached Mt. Ephraim and Atlantic avenues. The other went into the hospital, whispered a few words to Flannery, and then raced out the main entrance.
Mose’s Companion Escapes
Mrs. Edward McGrath, supervisor of nurses, called Policeman Frank Malec who for several days has been guarding a man known as “Two-Gun” Kelly, and Malec gave chase to the unknown companion of Flannery. Malec saw the man disappear on Mt. Ephraim avenue, but couldn’t find him in a search of the neighborhood.
In the meantime, City Detective William Boettcher, who had been working the morning shift, had notified Assistant Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando; Lawrence T. Doran, chief of Camden county detectives; Capt. Golden, and had called City Detectives George Ward, Louis Shaw, Thomas Cheeseman and Howard Pike to investigate the shooting.
Boettcher said Flannery refused to “talk.” “You are a policeman and I’m no friend of the police. I’ll never tell,” Flannery told the officer, Boettcher declared.
Later Flannery told physicians, “I have learned my lesson and hope this will be an example to other young men.”
Witness in Cimini Shooting
Flannery was held as a material witness in the fatal shooting of Joseph Cimini, 31, in the Sixth Ward Republican Club, early in the morning of January 14. Joseph Devon, known as “Polack Joe” fired the shot that killed Cimini. Devon was arrested but the case never came to trial.
Devon now is at liberty on bail and is under indictment for manslaughter in connection with Cimini’s death. Flannery also was released under bail.
While police continued their investigation, Flannery, still determined to refuse information to detectives and doctors, was surrounded by his wife, his 4-year-old son, his mother and father, and his 19-year-old brother James. Calling “Jim” to his side, Flannery, according to physicians, said, “I want you to promise me you’ll never get mixed up in these gang wars.” “Jim” promised, Detective Boettcher said.
Novak Under Suspicion
In their search for the “mysterious” companion of Flannery on the ride to the hospital, police pointed a suspicioning finger at Walter Novak who they had held “on suspicion.”
According to information given them by Foulk, the truck driver, Flannery, during the ride from Front and Kaighn avenue to the hospital, whispered, “Where are you taking me, Walt?” He was told the hospital was the truck’s destination, Foulk told police.
Detectives said Novak might have been the “Walt” to whom Flannery spoke. Novak said he was 22, was a “salesman” and lived at 442 Jackson street.
Taken by Strategy
Scarduzio’s arrest resulted from a piece of strategy on the part of Chief of County Detectives Doran. Doran with several members of his staff and city detectives were in the bar-room of the saloon at 101 Kaighn avenue when the telephone rang before noon.
Doran picked up the receiver and the party on the other end asked if Joseph Moll, son of former Policeman Frank Moll, was there.
Figuring that the persons might be some one who could help the authorities unravel the mystery, Doran answered:
“Yes, this is Joe Moll.”
“Well, I want to see you right away,” continued the other party.
“Will you come right down to 674 Fairview street. I want to see you,” finished the unidentified speaker who then hung up.
Doran with Captain of Detectives Golden hurried down to the address given and there found Scarduzio in the home of Garfield Del Duca.
Scarduzio, it is said, was more surprised to see the authorities than they were to find him as Chief Doran had been searching for “Cuzzie” for several hours.
He said he had nothing to do with the shooting of Flannery. Limping when the detectives escorted him from the house, Scarduzio was first taken to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital to discover whether or not he was suffering from any bullet wounds in the legs.
Scarduzio Not Shot
Doctors later said Scarduzio had not been shot and the man who had been surprised at the Del Duca home was taken to police headquarters.
He “knew nothing about the shooting,” Scarduzio told Captain Golden and County Detective Chief Doran. There were stains, possibly bloodstains, on Scarduzio’s trousers, the police said. “Cuzzy,” as he is known in police circles, wore a clean white shirt, and that fact sent detectives from headquarters on another tangent in their investigation.
Scarduzio was asked where he had left a “bloody shirt” he was reported to have been wearing early today. According to police, he denied his shirt was bloody, and refused to give them any information.
City Detectives David Hunt, Samuel Johnson, and Walter Smith were dispatched on the “side” investigation.
Detective Thomas Cheesman, of the city hall staff, also holds two warrants for the arrest of Scarduzio in connection with the holdup of a saloon in Gloucester several weeks ago and the theft of an automobile.
Moll was arrested while sleeping in a room over the saloon near Front and Kaighn avenue. He was arrested by Chief Doran, Captain Golden and Detective Ray Sapanore. Moll has been in police tolls several times recently, the last time in connection with the mysterious shooting of Bonner near the spot where Flannery fell.
Woman Describes Auto
The movements of an automobile bearing Pennsylvania license and containing several men whom she said ran out of the saloon near Front and Kaighn avenue an hour after Flannery was shot, were described to police officials late this morning by Mrs. Mary Brown, who lives near the saloon.
She was questioned at detective headquarters after she had reported seeing the car drive onto the Spruce street pier, four men alight and board a motorboat which set off across the Delaware river in the direction of Philadelphia.
According to Mrs. Brown, the driver of the “mysterious” automobile turned the car about and raced north on Front street.
A city-wide man-hunt had been made for Joseph “Cuzzie” Scarduzio, detectives said after the “surprise arrest” on Fairview street. Police had heard rumors Scarduzio, known by them to be a “pal” of Flannery, had been standing by “Mose” when he was “given the works” by the yet unknown gunman or gunmen. They had heard, detectives announced, that Scarduzio, coatless and hatless, had been seen leaving the scene of the shooting, his clothes spattered with blood from the wounds of his friend.
Camden detectives said they doubted if Philadelphia gangsters were responsible, believing, they announced, that the shooting was local to the Camden gang center they knew existed.
City Detective Walter Smith shortly after noon brought a South Camden bartender into police headquarters for questioning.
The man said he was Frank Smith, and tended bar in a saloon in the 1800 block on Broadway, near Ferry avenue, and said he had overheard three men telephone for a taxicab to take them to Front street and Kaighn avenue. Smith placed the time after midnight, according to police, and detectives doubted if the three men were connected with the Flannery “case.” Smith was not held by police.
Roxie Allen Held As One of Gang in Dice Game Holdup
Camden Morning Post / Evening Courier —
Roxie Allen Held As One of Gang in Dice Game Holdup
Pugilist and Pal Identified As 2 of 4 Bandits in Landisville Robbery
Bandit Suspect
PLAYERS LINED UP, RELIEVED OF $200
Robbers Flee in Stolen Car With Crippled Man at Wheel
Roxie Allen, Camden’s famed welterweight boxer, and one of his pals were arrested last night and identified, according to police, as two of four men who held up a craps game early yesterday at Landisville. Loot is said to have totaled between $150 and $200.
Allen, whose real name is Auletto, and Carmen Passarella, 26, of 1227 Broadway, were arrested by City Detective Theodore Guthrie and Wilfred Dube and George Probert, state police investigators.
Nicholas Dandrea and Nicholas Yennitti, both of Landisville, identified Allen and Passarella at police headquarters. Police said Yennitti is the proprietor of the pool room in which the holdup was staged. It is known as “Poppy’s Place.”
A dozen men were backed to the wall when the four bandits entered.
ROXIE ALLEN
Camden welterweight contender who is accused of being one of four “hoodlums” who staged a holdup early yesterday on a craps game in a Landisville pool room. Allen, according to police, was identified last night by the proprietor of the place and one of the players as the “cripple” who drove the bandit car.
One carried a sawed-off shotgun while the other three brandished revolvers.
One of the bandits was crippled in both legs, according to the victims. They picked up the money laying on the table and then rifled the pockets of the players.
As they fled the license number of their automobile was taken and turned over to Malaga state police. A check-up revealed the car had been stolen from the garage of Harry Whaland, real estate dealer, 1424 Mt. Ephraim avenue. The license tags had been stolen from a disabled automobile of A. Baer, 611 Kaighn avenue. The state police declare the crippled man was driving the car.
Allen was recognized in the poolroom as the Camden boxer by the sportsmen gathered for the game, according to state police. Allen walks with a limp
as a result of being shot August 2 at Third and Pine streets by Charles Areni, 699 Central avenue. Areni was found guilty in Criminal Court October 15.
Allen and Passarella were taken to state police headquarters at Hammonton for further questioning. They will be turned over eventually to Cumberland county authorities.
Dube said charges of robbery and carrying deadly weapons will be lodged against the accused.
Allen gave his age as 21 and his address as 318 Spruce street. At one time he was rated as one of the best welterweights in the country. He and Passarella have been close friends for years.
Two additional suspects were arrested by Camden police on information received from Hammonton state police. Louis Bottina, 20, of 1440 South
Fourth street, was arrested by Patrolman Joseph Lack at Broadway and Kaighn avenue.
Salvatore Passalacqua, 20, of 339 Clinton street, was arrested at his home by Detective Sergeant Rox Saponare.
Both men were arrested on suspicion and are being detained until today when an attempt will be made to identify them as the second pair of the four bandits.
When Newspapermen asked Guthrie what Allen said when he was arrested, Guthrie declared Allen had made no statement. A similar question at Hammonton state police headquarters brought forth a reply from Trooper Dube that “I am not making any statements right now, I am still working on the investigation. Don’t bother me for a couple of hours.”
BAIL IS DENIED ROXIE ALLEN IN ROBBERY OF 15 IN CRAPS GAME
Three Pals of Camden Boxer Also Jailed at Shore for Grand Jury
QUARTET IDENTIFIED BY POOLROOM OWNER
Limp Betrays Fighter at Landisville—Says He Did Not Aid Holdup
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Identified as four of the five bandits who held up and robbed 15 men at a craps game in a Landisville poolroom yesterday, Roxie Allen, well-known South Jersey boxer, and three other South Camden youths are under arrest today.
The suspects, charged with obtaining money and watches worth $175, are Rocco Auletto, Allen’s real name, 21, of 318 Spruce street; Carmen Passarella, 26, of 1227 Broadway; Salvatore Passalacqua, 20, of 339 Clinton street, and Rocco De Corda, 23, of 221 Spruce street.
Two of the suspects, Passarella and Passalacqua, have made a full confession, according to Captain William J. Carter, Troop “A” commander, of the Hammonton State Police barracks.
Allen and De Corda have denied implication in the holdup. The welterweight pugilist admitted that he drove the holdup car but remained behind the wheel during the robbing, unaware of
the intentions of his companions.
A fifth man, said to be colored, is being sought in Camden by the State Police and Camden detectives.
All four captives, arrested in this city and positively identified by the proprietor of the robbed place as well as by some of the victims, were held without bail pending action by the Atlantic county grand jury on charges of weapons. They were arraigned before Justice of the Peace Peter Capizola, of Luena. Prior to that, they were “booked” at the Atlantic county jail in Mays Landing, and then photographed and fingerprinted at the Malaga state police barracks. They are now in the jail at Mays Landing.
Allen’s Limp Seen, Claim
All four were recognized by the proprietor, Nicholas Yennitti, owner of “Poppy’s Place,” it is alleged. Yennitti said he knew the three white men who entered unmasked, and recognized Allen in the automobile after seeing him limp when he got out. Allen did not enter the place, nor could Yennitti see whether Allen had a gun.
It was at 2:10 p. m. yesterday that four men, three carrying revolvers and the other a sawed-off shotgun, ran into
the poolroom and commanded the patrons to put up their hands. The 15 men inside were lined against a wall and their pockets were looted. The money on the table was picked up by one of the bandits. The total cash stolen amounted to only $75, while the watches and rings taken from the victims were worth about $100.
Captain Carter and other investigators heard reports that if the holdup had been staged 10 minutes later, a richer reward would have fallen into the hands of the bandits. The rumors were to the effect that the “banker” for the place arrived there from Atlantic City 10 minutes after the holdup, with two or three thousand dollars.
Nicholas Dandrea and Yennitti recognized the three white men, and then saw Allen, they said, in the car outside. Allen and Passarella had been in the place Saturday afternoon, the former losing about $15 at pool, according to Yennitti.
The license numbers of the car were observed by several of the victims, and the affair was reported to the state police. Troopers George Probert and Howard Maliff of the Malaga barracks, and Wilfred Dube, state police plainclothesman, were assigned to the investigation. They immediately sped to Camden, where they obtained the aid of Detective Theodore Guthrie.
Allen and Passarella were arrested last evening by the troopers and Guthrie. Passalacqua was arrested at his home last night by Sergeant Rox Saponare, of the Camden detective bureau. De Corda was arrested 4 a. m. today on suspicion and was later identified.
Holdup Car Found
The holdup car was found at Third and Pine streets today and was impounded by the Camden police for Atlantic county authorities. It bore the license plates C25899, but this license was issued, according to the state motor vehicle bureau at Trenton, to
Harry Whaland, 1424 Mt. Ephraim avenue, Camden. An investigation proved that the tags had been stolen from Whaland’s car yesterday. Moreover, Whaland had a car different in make than the one impounded.
In his confession, Passarella declared that the seized car was his and that it was used in the holdup. The plates, he is said to have confessed, were stolen from Whaland.
However, a checkup at the Trenton bureau revealed that the license number C22859, issued for the car claimed by Passarella, had been issued to a Frank Passarella, of 327 Washington street, Camden.
Passarella, the man under arrest, is a nephew of Frank Passarella, also known as Passeralli, 31, of 212 Catherine street, Philadelphia, one of the two Atco National Bank bandits who were convicted here last month and received heavy jail sentences.
Louis Bottina, 20, of 1440 South Fourth street, was also arrested last night on suspicion, but was released when he proved an alibi and when the victims could not identify him.
The limp which betrayed Allen was the result of a bullet wound inflicted on him August 2 by Charles Areni, 699 Central avenue, who later was convicted and sent to state’s prison.
Del Duca Is Freed in Mystery Shots
Camden Courier-Post / Evening Courier —
Former Cafe Owner Denies Revolver Was Fired 5 Times From Car
Garfield Del Duca, former owner of the Ringside Inn and the Embassy Cafe on Federal Street near Second, was released early today after being questioned regarding shots reported to have been fired from his automobile. Policemen William Feitz and Clarence Phifer said they heard what they believed to be five gunshots as Del Duca’s car passed Broadway and Walnut Street shortly before 1:00 AM. There were two men in the rear seat, they said. By the time Feitz and Phifer caught up to Del Duca’s machine in their own car, it was parked at Second and Line Streets. Del Duca was sitting in the front seat. No one was in the rear but the officers said the rear doors were open.
Del Duca was taken to headquarters where he denied any knowledge of firing or even hearing shots. There was no gun in his machine and after questioning Del Duca was freed at 2:15 AM by Detective Sergeant Rox Saponare.
Two women, Katherine Blake, 30, and Margaret Huston, 30, both of 524 Spruce Street, who were walking on Broadway at the time of the alleged shots, also said they heard nothing when questioned at headquarters. They were allowed to go after questioning.
Two men reported seen in front of the Lyric Theatre just before Del Duca’s car passed, disappeared before they could be interrogated by the police, Feitz said.
60 Overcome While at Work in RCA Victor; Probe Started
Camden Courier-Post —
New York Ship Employees Sent to Hospital From Ptomaine
Workers of 4 Firms Listed Among Victims
Sandwiches Served by Philadelphia Caterer Believed to Be Responsible
Nearly 100 Camden factory and shipyard workers were poisoned yesterday after eating food contained in box lunches. More than 60 of the workers, stricken at their machines in the RCA Victor Company plants, were rushed to the company’s dispensary and local hospitals. Many are reported in serious condition. At the New York Shipbuilding Company others became ill after partaking of the lunches. Four are in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital recovering from the effects of the poisoned food. At least three more were stricken at the leather plant of the John R. Evans Company, Second and Erie Streets. In Philadelphia more than a score of laundry workers were carried to physicians and hospitals, all said to be victims of contaminated foods. Physicians believed all would recover.
Dr. David D. Helm, city sanitary inspector, believed the ptomaine condition resulted from the eating of egg sandwiches. Dr. Helm, along with Sergeant Rox Saponare and detectives, last night questioned Ray Konst, 3313 D Street, Philadelphia, owner of a Philadelphia box lunch concern.
Put Ban on Sales
Following the quizzing, Konst was ordered to refrain from further selling of the box lunches in Camden, pending the result of an investigation. The boxes, distributed by Konst, are labeled “The Majestic Lunch.” Konst declared that never before had complaint reached him as to the quality of his food. “I have ordered distribution of Majestic Lunches in Camden be stopped,” Dr. Helm said, “until the investigation has been completed and the health authorities in Philadelphia to whom all evidence will be given because they supervise this company, give them a clean bill of health.” Two of the box lunches have been obtained by police and will be chemically analyzed today by order of Dr. A. L. Stone, city health officer.
Woman First Victim
The first illness occurred shortly after 3 p. m. at the RCA Victor plant. A young woman was overcome after partaking of a glass of water. She was taken to the dispensary where Dr. Reuben L. Sharp said she was suffering from ptomaine poisoning. Within a short time several other girls and men in various sections of the plant were stricken. Some fainted at their machines and had to be carried to the dispensary. Soon Dr. Sharp and his staff of nurses had more than they could handle. Private automobiles were pressed into service and many of the victims taken to Cooper Hospital, where stomach pumps were used to clear their bodies of the poisonous food. One man, B. H. Poole, 40, of 144 North Sixtieth street, Philadelphia, was admitted and his condition described as serious.
Girl Describes Scene
Miss Clara Shaeffer, 19, of 226 South Fifth Street, Gloucester, employed at the RCA Victor, told of the scenes near her shortly before she became ill and was rushed to Cooper Hospital for treatment. “I saw many of the girls running upstairs to the restroom,” Miss Schaeffer said at her home, where she is confined to bed, “but paid little attention to them. Suddenly I felt sick at my stomach and had a desire for a drink of water. I asked the girl next to me to get me a drink. After taking the drink everything seemed to whirl about and I thought I was going to faint. I told my foreman and he ordered me to the dispensary. When I arrived there the place was filled and someone took me to Cooper Hospital.”
Fall at Machines
Others told similar stories of the scenes as worker after worker was stricken. Plant officials said many had fallen where they stood at their machines. Konst told Detectives Benjamin Simon and John Opfer that he sells more than 200 box lunches in Camden daily. The lunch yesterday was made up of a cheese sandwich, an egg and lettuce sandwich, a piece of apple pie, cupcake and fruit.
Man’s Condition Serious
According to Dr. Helm, all of those taken ill had eaten the egg sandwiches, some had partaken of the tuna fish and others of the cheese. One man became ill when he ate half an egg sandwich given him by a fellow employee late in the afternoon. The laundry workers affected were employed at the Forrest Laundry, 1225 West Columbia Avenue, Philadelphia.
A partial list of the nearly 100 persons poisoned by food at local factories yesterday follows:
RCA Victor Employees:
Treated at Dispensary: Barbara White, 3136 North Twenty-ninth Street, Philadelphia; Vera White, 825 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia; E. B. Bauers, 1255 Kenwood Avenue; Mary Mossman, 3163 Amber Street, Philadelphia; Anna Cullen, 2124 Memphis Street, Philadelphia; Clyde Lape, 562 Mickle Street; William H. Scott, 222 Crestmont Terrace, Collingswood; M. E. Wagner, 581 Carman Street; A. Burman, 1466 Kenwood Avenue; Miss M. Brennan, 2141 North Dover Street, Philadelphia; Emma Randelbach, Lindenwold; John Derry, Camden; Helen Shevlin, 854 South Fifth Street; Miss Shaefer, 2825 Amber Street, Philadelphia.
Treated at Cooper Hospital: B. H. Poole, 40, of 144 North Sixtieth Street, Philadelphia, admitted to hospital; Miss Violetta Brown, 21, Brooklawn; Miss Clara Schaeffer, 226 South Fifth Street, Gloucester; Dorothy Kurtz, 32, of 308 Penn Street; Alfred Shaefer, 42, of 932 Cooper Street; Gertrude Carl, 17, of 820 Brown Street, Gloucester; Peter I. Cassell, 42, of 353 East Cambria Street, Philadelphia; Willard Stipezell, 25, of 3918 Camden Avenue; Frank Di Nardo, 24, of 222 Second Street, Schenectady, N. Y.
New York Shipyard Employees:
Treated at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital: Howard Fryer, 42, of 214 Bergen Street, Gloucester; William Shaeffer, 54, Woodbury Heights; Philip Saponaro, 33, of 422 Evans Street; John Joyce, 32, of 310 Manton Street, Philadelphia.
3 Masked Holdup Men Line 4 Against Wall, Get $6 Loot From Cafe
Camden Courier-Post —
Three masked and armed stick-up men obtained $6 loot early today when they raided the Cafe of Stanley Wojciechowski, at 2051 Arlington Street. The holdup men, shabbily dressed, directed Wojciechowski, his wife, their daughter, Stella, and Mrs. Mary Miller, of Westville, to turn their faces to the wall. Cowing the four with revolvers, one of the trio rifled the proprietor’s pockets; then all three fled in an automobile they had left parked in front of the cafe.
Camden Detective Sergeant Rox Saponare said each of the four victims expressed belief the bandits could be identified.
Trucker Eludes Quiz on Technical Theft
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with “technical larceny of a motor vehicle,” Eugene Clark, colored, of 1003 Ferry Avenue, this city, was sought by police last night after he escaped from a state motor vehicle inspector. Complaint against Clark, according to Inspector H. C. Wilson, of Audubon, was made in a letter written to Commissioner Harold G. Hoffman by another trucker. It is alleged Clark has been using a license plate not issued for his truck. Inspector Wilson told Detective Sergeant Rox Saponare that Clark fled from his home after evading inquiry. The accused man leaped over several fences in making his escape, Wilson said.
Jobless Son Kills Jake Schiller Who Saves Boy’s Wife From Gun
Camden Courier-Post —
Crazed by Separation, Relatives Say
Dazedly Insists He Had No Intention of Shooting Sire
Estranged Wife Seen in Suicide Try
Slain Man Long Was Prominent Figure in Camden Politics
Jacob Schiller, 72, for 45 years a political figure here, is dead, shot by his own son. The slayer, William Schiller, 30, a former summer policeman now unemployed, was held over today to the grand jury on a charge of murder. He made no comment whatever during his police court hearing. A few hours later, young Schiller’s wife, Augusta, whom he had also tried to shoot, was found wandering through the city streets in a hysterical condition. She had written a note which police believed showed intent to commit suicide, and had staggered dazedly through the streets last night. Both in her note and in her incoherent statements to detectives she declared she was to blame for the tragedy. She said her father-in-law had tried to save her and was killed in the attempt.
The slaying occurred Saturday night at the elder Schiller’s home, 2420 Carman Street. It climaxed an estrangement between young Schiller and his wife, with “Jake” Schiller attempting to reconcile the couple. Mrs. William Schiller, who had had her husband arrested several months ago, said she believed he had become mentally deranged, but Police Judge Pancoast was informed that an alienist had examined young Schiller in July and pronounced him sane.
Couple Separated
Young Schiller had been living with his father at the Carman Street address, while Mrs. Schiller had been residing with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John I. Green, 409 North Thirty-seventh Street. The cause of the estrangement has not been revealed by police, but it is stated that young Schiller refused to consent to a reconciliation. “Jake” Schiller was a Republican worker in the Twelfth ward for years, and was at the time of his death inspector of city street lights.
Were Alone at Home
The father and son were at home at 9:00 p. m. Saturday night and apparently were quarreling when the young Mrs. Schiller, her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. William Miller and another sister, Mrs. Lottie Bennehler, reached the house. “Don’t come in here,” the older Schiller shouted as they started to enter the front sun parlor. But Miller did enter and said young Schiller was clutching a revolver in his right hand. He declared he closed in on his brother-in-law and tried to wrench the revolver from him. Two shots rang out and the father fell to the floor.
Patrolman Joseph Keefe was standing at Twenty-fifth and Federal Streets when two boys ran up and told him there was a shooting at Twenty-fifth and Carman Street. He ran to the scene and said he reached there in time to see young Schiller shooting up the street at his wife. Keefe said Schiller ran into the house when he saw him. Aided by Miller, Keefe overpowered Schiller and placed an iron claw on his right hand after disarming him. Jacob Schiller Jr., another son, learning of the shooting, went to his father’s home and took him to Cooper Hospital in a passing automobile. As he was being taken into the hospital he failed to recognize City Detective Robert Ashenfelter and died five minutes later.
Expresses No Regret
Police Sergeant John Potter joined Keefe and Miller and they took young Schiller to police headquarters. Keefe said the son expressed no regret at shooting his father.
The officer saw a note on a smoking stand. Picking it up, he read: “Dear Everybody: ‘Please forgive me … You have all been so wonderful … But I couldn’t go on to see you all suffer for what is my fault … Lottie was right … He killed his father because of insane love for me … But he didn’t. I killed Pop and now am sending Bibs to jail for my weakness. ‘Tell him I love him and ask my poor mother and dad to forgive me. I should have done this long ago and saved everyone all this suffering … I love Billy and I know he loves me but I am afraid he has been turned against me. But I forgive him for all. ‘Gussie’”
City Detectives Rox Saponare and Maurice DeNicoli went out Federal Street and took her back with them to detective headquarters. “I want to take the blame—if I hadn’t gone to Pop’s home he would be living now.” “Pop wanted to save me,” she said. “and he was shot. I can’t eat or sleep. I think I’m going crazy.”
Young Schiller was represented by counsel, C. Lawrence Gregorio, who said he had been retained “by friends.” City detective Benjamin Simon had signed the complaint in which he charged that Schiller did feloniously and with malice aforethought shoot and kill his father. Schiller was held without bail pending grand jury action.
Declared Sane
County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran, who was among the first to question young Schiller Saturday night, said the man did not seem repentant over what he had done.
“Poor Bill. He must have been crazy. He idolized his father. You can blame this all on the depression. He has been without work since they eliminated summer policemen two years ago. Bill intended to shoot me but his father tried to get the gun away from him and I believe it went off accidentally. Nothing could convince me that Bill would shoot his father in cold blood. I went to his father’s home last night to try to effect a reconciliation with my husband. He had been drinking.”
Registered as Sober
The police docket at headquarters shows Schiller registered as sober. Coroner Holl and Dr. Edward B. Rogers, county physician, yesterday performed an autopsy on the senior Schiller’s body and ascertained that death was due to an internal hemorrhage caused by a bullet wound of the upper portion of the abdomen.
Figured in Shaw Case
Few political workers were better known than “Jake” Schiller. He was originally a Democrat but became a Republican through persuasion of the late U. S. Senator David Baird and remained a friend of the former leader for 40 years. He made his last political stand for leadership of the Twelfth Ward in 1926 when he supported the candidacy of Sergeant Ray Smith against Commissioner Clay W. Reesman for ward committeeman. Schiller was supporting Congressman Charles A. Wolverton and the late Senator Joseph H. Forsyth in a campaign against former Congressman Francis F. Patterson. Commissioner Frank B. Hanna also visited the hospital.
Long Excise Inspector
For more than 20 years Schiller was inspector of the Excise Commission in Camden. He was considered pretty good at that job, by no means an unimportant one from the organization viewpoint. Schiller was virtually raised with the saloon trade since his father was one of the old time German beer garden owners here, having had a place at Fourth and Line Streets.
Never Ran From Scrap
Throughout his career Schiller never quite forgot his training in the navy, particularly with reference to boxing or fighting at the drop of a hat. He made his last political stand for leadership of the Twelfth Ward in 1926 when he supported the candidacy of Sergeant Ray Smith against Commissioner Reesman for ward committeeman. Reesman won and among the first to visit the hospital after learning of the shooting was the city commissioner.
Colsey Leads City-Wide Hunt for Bandit Killers of Cop
Evening Courier —
12 Questioned, 2 Men Held in Murder Probe
Comrades Eager to Avenge Feitz, Shot 4 Times in Back at Holdup
Orlando Conducts Own Investigation
Mad Scramble of 20 to Escape Tragedy Scene Described by Sleuth
The greatest man-hunt in the history of the Camden police department was under way today to apprehend the murderers of Detective William T. Feitz, slain early yesterday when he surprised bandits holding up 20 persons in a South Camden disorderly house.
Feitz, recently promoted from a patrolman, was shot four times in the back as he attempted to reach the front door of the establishment at 243 Sycamore street to summon aid.
Police today said they “had a pretty good idea” as to the identity of his slayers, although none has been charged with the crime.
A “mystery blonde” was arrested in the case early today in Atlantic City by Detective Stanley Wirtz. Police refused to reveal her name and will not allow anyone to talk to her.
A man, first believed to have been the trigger-man, arrested in Philadelphia early today, was released by police after a few minutes’ questioning. Two men are being held “incommunicado” in connection with the case, while a dozen material witnesses were being questioned at detective headquarters.
Probe Rushed
The investigation into the shooting, begun within a few minutes of the slaying continued throughout the day and night without a break.
Police Chief Arthur Colsey took personal command of the probe with Detective Lieut. George Ward and Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner.
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, who “sat in” yesterday as police questioned a score of witnesses, stated this morning he will open his own investigation today. He intimated “new developments” may throw a startling light on the case.
Feitz’ slayers escaped as 20 inmates and frequenters of the alleged disorderly house scrambled mainly for freedom beneath the eyes of Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt, who sat inside the place in a police radio car.
Leonhardt told his superiors he was so startled by the shooting he failed to act until after the slayers had escaped.
Feitz and Leonhardt had driven to the scene in the radio car, after trailing a suspicious sedan for 15 minutes through a maze of South Camden streets.
Followed 3 Men
The sedan had stopped near the Sycamore street place and three of the men had entered the dwelling. Feitz followed and Leonhardt remained in the car.
Mrs. Emma Hejsler, 38, alleged proprietress of the house, and Cornelius Murphy, 50, doorkeeper, headed a list of 14 witnesses held by police for questioning or as material witnesses.
Murphy was booked early today as a material witness, with Thomas Bonelli, 27, of 207 Walnut street; Edward Grapatin, 32, of 246 Kaighn avenue; Joseph McKenna, 30, and Catherine Lougheed, 32, an inmate, and Edith Miller and Edna Butler.
Colored domestics employed by Mrs. Heisler.
Joseph Powell, 25, former Camden boxer, and Stanley, his brother, were the two men held incommunicado. Police refused to reveal what connection either had with the murder, although stating they were merely being held pending investigation.
Feitz died five minutes after being admitted to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, where he was taken by Leonhardt and McKenna, who stopped in his flight from the house to assist the wounded policeman. Three .32-calibre slugs were buried in his back and a fourth had pierced his wrist.
Lieutenant Ward today clamped down on news of the investigation, ordering all detectives and police to refuse information to news reporters.
Orlando said he would make known facts in the case known to him later today.
The Heisler woman, said by police to be the sister-in-law of Patrolman George A. Ward on duty at Second and Sycamore streets the night Feitz was killed, was questioned by Detective Sergeant Stanley Wirtz. Officers refused to disclose the results of their inquiry.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd last night declared the case would be investigated by the September Grand Jury. It will not, he said, assume more importance in that body’s deliberations than the numbers racket.
Note Lack of Noise
Investigators were at a loss to understand, with Leonhardt, seated in an automobile on a quiet side street within 20 feet of where a holdup was taking place, did not hear any accompanying sounds. The belief was expressed that 20 men and women, being robbed, would become hysterical and noisy. The Sycamore street house is a ramshackle, two-story structure, with no vestibule leading into the parlor. There is no porch.
Powell drove first to the Lougheed woman’s home, where Mrs. Hiegler, the Lougheed woman and Grapatin alighted. He then drove to Atlantic City with the unidentified girl, he said.
Police, advised of Powell’s presence in the house, dispatched the license number of his green sedan over the police teletype system.
Powell was apprehended at Folsom, 40 miles from Camden, as he was heading to Atlantic City with the unidentified girl. Sergeant Albert T. Varreiman of the Mt. Ephraim state police barracks stopped Powell’s machine and took him into custody. Powell was alone.
Feitz’s murder was a climax to half an hour’s scrutiny by him and Leonhardt, into the suspicious actions of the four bandits. A car in which they were riding was sighted in the neighborhood by the two detectives at 2 a. m.
Trailed Car Fifteen Minutes
They trailed it in their police car for 15 minutes, as it wound through the narrow streets, repeatedly passing the Sycamore street house. Finally, the detectives saw the bandits park their machine on Locust street. Three of them emerged, walked down Sycamore street, and entered the house.
According to Leonhardt, neither he nor Feitz obtained the license number of the bandit car.
Upon seeing them enter the place, Leonhardt drove the police car around the block and stopped in front of the house.
Feitz and Leonhardt sat outside in their machine for 15 minutes. Finally, Leonhardt said, Feitz opened the door and stepped to the sidewalk.
“I’m going in there and see what’s going on,” he said.
Turning, he walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Leonhardt said the door was opened after a short pause, and Feitz entered. The door was closed.
Hears Bandits’ Guns
Almost immediately, Leonhardt heard the muffled roar of the bandits’ revolvers. Feitz’s body came flying through the door. Pandemonium followed as the persons in the house went wild, neighbors came to doors and windows. Almost immediately, the street was filled.
Leonhardt was so shocked he was unable to drive. An unnamed witness drove the police car with Feitz’s body in it to the hospital.
Prosecutor Orlando indicated his office will step into the probe today.
Shooting Reconstructed
With the aid of witnesses, police yesterday were able to reconstruct the shooting.
“Feitz walked into the house just as the three bandits were holding up the inmates,” Detective Gus Koerner said.
“Witnesses say that when the doorbell rang, the three bandits conferred briefly and decided to admit whoever was at the door. They thought it was another frequenter. ‘They let him in; we’ll take his money too,’ one of the witnesses said a bandit ordered.”
One of the bandits went to the door, opened it and admitted Feitz. The detective took five steps into the living room, pausing at the door of the dining room, where he was recognized by a bandit who was frisking the inmates. “This bandit shouted: ‘It’s a dick; let ’im have it!’”
Shot in Back
As Feitz reached for his revolver, the man who had admitted him shot him in the back. Feitz attempted to reach the front door, apparently to call Leonhardt, “and three more slugs tore into his body.”
“It is not known whether the shooting was done by only one of the bandits, or whether all three fired. We do not know whether Feitz opened the front door himself or whether the bandits opened the door and pushed him to the street.”
“The front door was broken later by police, who struck it with their blackjacks in order to gain admittance. Leonhardt told me he is unable to clear up this point, as everything happened too quickly.”
“He said he suddenly heard shots, and a moment later, saw Feitz’ body on the pavement.”
Under the direction of Detective Lieut. George Ward, Camden was subjected yesterday and last night to a fine tooth-combing for suspects. All police leaves were cancelled, and all patrolmen volunteered to do active duty until some results of the probe are forthcoming.
A series of raids on known disorderly houses resulted last night in the arrests of more than 20 persons, all of whom were taken to police headquarters and lined up for the perusal of witnesses. It is not known whether this scrutiny brought results.
Chief Colsey declared last night the murder will be the signal for an intensive “cleanup” of the city. Policemen in patrol cars were dispatched on prowl duty, ordered to pick up everyone of a suspicious nature.
City officials and citizens voiced their regrets at the killing. Feitz was the father of two children, a boy and a girl. Their names could not be obtained last night. He was estranged from his wife, who resides in Cape May with the children.
Woman Questioned
Mrs. Heisler, regarded by police as a key witness, was questioned several hours in detective headquarters by Chief Colsey, Ward, Orlando and Koerner. The officers refused to disclose the results of their questioning.
No adequate description of the bandits could be furnished by any of the witnesses, Koerner said. Two were described as being of average height, one taller. Two were dark, the third blond.
None of the three was masked. Each was armed.
Mrs. Heisler and Murphy were held without bail as material witnesses. Powell, accompanied by Camden detectives, left for Atlantic City to show them where he dropped off the unidentified girl inmate of the house. They had not returned at a late hour last night.
According to Murphy, two of the bandits previously had visited the house as patrons, and at one time attempted to “shake down” Mrs. Heisler. She resisted their demands, Murphy declared.
Other persons arrested as material witnesses who, after hours of questioning, were released in their own recognizance, include:
Frank Adams, 21, of 938 Atlantic avenue; Joseph McDonald, 20, of 1605 South Sixth street; Henry Gorba, 19, of 17 North Twenty-first street and Edward McKenna, 31, of 1304 Broadway.
Edith Miller, 28, colored, of 205 Sycamore street, and Edna Butler, 32, also colored, 1122 South Second street, who were arrested and held as witnesses, are inmates of the house, Koerner said.
Police said the bandits, in their search for booty, forced their victims to remove their shoes during the holdup to ascertain whether they were concealing any money. Only $8 was taken.
An autopsy performed on Feitz’s body yesterday by Coroner Arthur H. Holl and County Physician Edward B. Rogers showed that two of the bullets had penetrated the detective’s body. Coroner Holl, in whose undertaking establishment the detective’s body lay last night, declared Feitz was virtually instant.
Chief Colsey last night denied Feitz and Leonhardt were acting under orders to watch the Sycamore street house.
“There have been general orders out to clean up all disorderly houses for a long time,” Colsey said.
“I imagine the detectives were more interested in what the four men were doing than they were in the house. I talked at great length with Leonhardt and he told me neither he nor Feitz knew the place was a disorderly house.”
Leonhardt could not be reached last night to give his version of the affair. Colsey said Leonhardt was taking an active part in police efforts to solve the crime.
“If I had known the house in Sycamore street was a disorderly house,” Colsey said, “I course have ordered it raided long ago.”
Feitz and Leonhardt were assigned to detective duty from the uniformed ranks last week, replacing former Detectives Thomas Cheeseman and Vernon Jones, who are now reduced to the rank of patrolmen.
Chief Colsey said the reason Cheeseman and Jones were reduced was “merely for the good of the department.” He would not amplify that statement.
According to Detective Rox Saponare, Cheeseman is the brother-in-law of Mrs. Heisler, charged with operating the house. According to Orlando, he was active in the investigation of the killing, could not be reached last night to comment.
Commended for Bravery
Feitz was appointed to the police force March 1, 1928. He was appointed to the detective bureau last week by Mayor Roy R. Stewart. In 1931, Feitz was commended for bravery in arresting three men in a holdup at a chain grocery store at Locust street and Kaighn avenue.
Last week, the same store was robbed, and Feitz arrested three other men for the theft.
Leonhardt, 39, resides at 512 Division street. The last arrest he made in company with Feitz was at 12.45 a. m. the morning of Feitz’ death. The officers nabbed Cecilia Spencer, 28, colored, at 806 Locust street, a block from the Sycamore street house, on charges of soliciting.
Chief Colsey and other city officials reached Feitz’ bedside in the hospital too late to see him alive. The officer died without regaining consciousness. Funeral arrangements were not completed last night.
The estrangement from his wife two years ago. He lived with her and their children at 1062 Langham avenue. He resided recently at the Liberty street address with his widowed mother, Mrs. Pauline Feitz, who last night was prostrated at the news of her son’s death.
Chief Colsey last night absolved Leonhardt of any negligence in not chasing the killers. The police declared Leonhardt’s first duty was to look to the condition of Feitz.
Chief Colsey said Mayor Stewart, vacationing in Ocean City, will not return until tomorrow morning. Any investigation into possible negligence on the part of police in permitting the Sycamore street house to operate, will be conducted after the mayor returns, Colsey said.
“I consider it more important at this time to lend all our efforts toward solving the crime rather than in conducting any side-bar probe into the question of negligence by any policemen,” Colsey said.
Fingerprint Record of City Jail ‘Guests’ Ordered by Colsey
Camden Courier-Post —
All lodgers spending nights in the city jail will be fingerprinted in the future, Police Chief Arthur Colsey announced last night. He explained that this order has been issued to expedite the identification of lodgers in case something happens. A few nights ago a Gloucester man was found dead in the jail and the police were several hours establishing his identity.
Between 20 and 40 men seek shelter these cold nights in the jail, Colsey said. Detective Sergeant Rox Saponare, fingerprint expert, began recording their prints last night.
Safe Crackers Get $515 in Camden Job
Camden Courier-Post —
Raid Grocers’ Exchange Successfully; Foiled by WPA Office Strongbox
Cracksmen rifled one safe of $310.16 in cash and $100 in city scrip, and attempted to pry open a safe at WPA headquarters over the weekend. They also obtained $105.99 from a cash register in the first robbery. Police said they did not think two jobs were done by the same band.
The safe that was ransacked was in the office of the Camden Grocers Exchange at Ninth street and Atlantic avenue. Elias Kline, manager of the grocers organization, told Detective Harry Kyler that the cracksmen had obtained $20 in cash from one compartment, $153.73 which had been made ready for bank deposit, $87.43 which had been turned in by drivers on Saturday, $50 which was in a pay envelope for one of the employes, and $100 in city scrip. Kline told police he did not have the numbers of the city scrip.
In the attempted WPA robbery at Sixteenth and Mickle streets, Henry Young, district director, said that nothing was taken. They had broken open the door, forced open a cabinet and had taken office supplies then devoted their attention to the six-foot safe in the office of A. H. Lazalier, chief clerk in charge.
The intruders used a pick, the type utilized in road construction work, and a piece of lead pipe in attempting to pry off the combination. They had first attempted to get the door off by taking out screws from the hinges. Young said the implements used were found in the building.
Sergeant Rox Saponare, head of the fingerprint and identification department of the Camden police, wanted to take finger prints on the safe. He was prevented from doing so. Detective Robert Ashenfelter told Saponare that Lazalier stated WPA officials in Newark had issued orders not to let anything be touched and not to give any information because government investigators would be assigned to the case.
A can of nitroglycerin was found on the floor in front of the safe.
Janitor Calls Police
When Philip Corrado, of 219 South Fifth street, a janitor, came to work at midnight Sunday he discovered the safe had been tampered with and got in touch with Camden police at once. Young said that cash is not kept in the strong box, and there were only a few federal government checks. In their search for valuables, the cracksmen ransacked a desk of C. J. Lederer and that of his secretary, Miss Mary Elizabeth Curran, of 509 Middlesex street, Gloucester.
Mattson Suspect Has Crime Record
Camden Courier-Post —
Man Held by Police Here is Being Investigated by Federal Bureau
A suspect in the Mattson kidnapping case, arrested last Thursday by Camden police when he applied for a night lodging at police headquarters, has a criminal record dating back to 1922, a checkup yesterday revealed. He is Edward F. Keach, 40, with no home. He was arrested because of his alleged resemblance to the sketched portrait of the suspect wanted for the kidnap-murder in December, 1936, of Charles Mattson, 10-year-old son of a Tacoma, Washington physician.
Sergeant Saponare of the Camden police identification bureau said replies from various police departments showed Keach had served terms in New Jersey and New York prisons for larceny. Newark police records, Saponare said, reveal that Keach was arrested there on minor charges during 1922 and that he served short terms in jail. He was arrested the following January on a larceny charge in New York and sentenced to serve two to three years in Auburn prison. February 6, 1925, Keach was arrested on a larceny charge in Newark and sentenced to a two-to-three-year term in state prison at Trenton.
The suspect is being held without bail here pending further investigation by the Federal Bureau of Criminal Identification, where Keach’s photograph and fingerprints were sent by Camden police.
Movie Patrons Getting Fingerprinted
Camden Courier-Post —
Movie Patrons Getting Fingerprinted
As part of the government’s plan to have an index of fingerprints of all citizens, Camden police yesterday took prints of patrons of the Lyric Theatre, Broadway and Newton avenue. Sergeant Rox Saponare is shown taking the fingerprints of Birk Binnard, manager of the theatre. Also in the picture are Patrolmen Charles Hance and Paul Jackson. —Courier-Post Photo
Taproom Robbed for Second Time
Camden Courier-Post —
Thieves Take Key on First Trip, Use It to Enter on Later Visit
Rudolph Di Paolo, proprietor of a taproom at 826 Locust street, has learned that it is lightning that never strikes in the same place twice—not thieves. According to Detectives Edwin Mills and Gus Fortune, thieves entered the Di Paolo tavern Saturday night by breaking a window in the cellar. This episode netted them $5 in cash from a register and $20 in war stamps. Also included in the loot was a key to the front door.
Yesterday the thieves returned and entered by the front door. This trip enriched them to the extent of a case of whisky, a case of gin, 10 quarts of whisky, a large radio and three cartons of cigarettes, all valued at $200. He reported the second robbery. Asked why he did not inform the authorities of the original breaking, Di Paolo said: “What’s the use?”
Sgt. Rox Sapanore [sic] examined the premises for fingerprints.
The restaurant of Agnes Abrams, at Fifteenth and Mickle streets, was entered between Saturday night and yesterday afternoon and 13 cartons of cigarettes and 20 one-half pound bags of coffee stolen. According to Detective Frank Crowford [sic], the thieves broke the glass in a door and turned the lock.
Odorisio Swears in New Cops
Camden Courier-Post —
Twelve men were sworn today by City Clerk Odorisio as new patrolmen in the police department. Attending the ceremonies was Director of Public Safety Kauffman. The men, Kauffman said, will attend a police training school for six weeks beginning Monday. They will receive a starting salary of $4,800 and after two years a salary of $5,975.
Two of the new patrolmen are relatives of fire department officials. Anthony R. Saponare, 22, of 348 Boyd st., Apartment B, one of the new recruits, is the son of District Fire Chief Anthony C. Saponare and a grandson of Rocco Saponare, former city detective sergeant.
Frank Martelli, 25, of 569 Line st., is the son of Fire Capt. Louis Martelli and a nephew of Fireman Casper Martelli.
The other new patrolmen are Joseph L. Grace, 24, of 342 Pfeiffer st.; Richard C. Hailey, 29, of 2111 Kossuth st.; Frank E. Valora, 21, of 1608 Pierce ave.; Francis S. McHugh, 23, of 619 Clinton st.; Charles A. Taylor, 26, of 1161 Magnolia ave.; Anthony S. Gambone, 30, of 3827 Myrtle ave.; George C. Corson, 26, of 918 Penn st.; William J. Horay, 22, of 813 N. 2nd st.; Vincent L. Miller, 28, of 1443 Greenwood ave., and John D. Stinsman, 22, of 913 N. 22nd st.