Introduction
Roy R. Stewart, April 1928 (top) and February 1949
ROY R. STEWART was born in Quakake PA in 1887, a small mining town. He worked as a breaker boy in the mines as a youth. After finishing business college, he came to Camden in 1909 and found a job at Hurley's Department Store at Broadway and Spruce Street. In 1912 he opened up his own men's wear store, R.R. Stewart, at 609 Broadway. By 1914 Roy Stewart had made his residence and place of business at 201-203 Broadway, the corner of Broadway & Mickle Street, later occupied by Broadway Eddie's. During the summer of 1926 he also had a second store in Ocean City NJ. His business was adjacent to the Grand Theater, one of Camden's many movie theaters. In the early 1940s Roy Stewart moved his business to 142 North Broadway, in the Wilson Building.
In 1928 Roy Stewart served as Exalted Ruler of Camden Lodge 293 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Roy Stewart was also interested in politics. He served in the NJ State Assembly in 1925, and from 1926 through 1929. In November of 1929 he was elected State Senator to succeed the late Joseph H. Forsyth, and served through 1932. While in the State Senate, he was elected Mayor of Camden, succeeding Winfield Scott Price. He served as mayor until 1935, when succeeded by Frederick von Nieda.
Roy Stewart began to fight in 1930 for the high speed line that crosses the Ben Franklin Bridge between Camden and Philadelphia. His efforts led to the construction of the line and the two subway stops in Camden. His vision was also to extend the line into South Jersey, and his dream was finally accomplished with the construction of the PATCO High Speed Line in 1969. While serving as the director of public safety in Camden, he oversaw the installation of radios in police cars.
On December 1 of 1932 John H. Lennox was named as acting chief of the Camden Fire Department by Mayor Stewart, succeeding Thomas J. Nicholas. Lennox was made permanent Chief on October 1, 1934.
Mayor Stewart was also concerned with the housing needs of his city. In August of 1933 he chaired a meeting that led to the construction of Westfield Acres, Camden's first public housing project, and the formation of the Housing Authority of the City of Camden.
Besides his men's wear business, he was also the president of the Republic Building and Loan Association, and served as president of the Locustwood Cemetery Association, which operates the cemetery that is still extant in present-day Cherry Hill NJ. He was also active in other fraternal and civic organizations in Camden. He was installed as Exalted Ruler of Camden Lodge 293 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks on April 4, 1928 at the Elks home at north 7th and Cooper Streets. He was a member of Trimble Lodge No. 117, F. & A.M., and the Camden Rotary Club.
After leaving the mayor's office, Roy Stewart returned to his clothing business, and later moved to a home at 221 Browning Road in Merchantville NJ. He passed away on February 29, 1949 in Osteopathic Hospital in Philadelphia PA.
Camden High School, Class of 1919
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden High School, class of 1919. Roy R. Stewart appears in this photo.
R.R. Stewart Advertisement
Camden Courier-Post —
Advertisement for R.R. Stewart, men's wear, Broadway & Mickle Street, Camden, July 1926
Elks Install Stewart as New Ruler Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
With two Assemblymen taking the highest stations, Camden Lodge of Elks will tonight install recently elected officers at the home, Seventh and Cooper streets. The ceremony will be presided over by Past Exalted Ruler James H. Long.
Roy R. Stewart, thrice elected to the Assembly, will become the lodge’s exalted ruler, while Assemblyman William B. Knight will take the esteemed leading knight’s station, the next in line for the higher office.
Other officers to be installed include: William Hopkins Iszard, a former Assemblyman, esteemed loyal knight; William F. Lehman, esteemed lecturing knight; Albert Austermuhl, secretary; Homer F. Lotier, treasurer; Samuel A. Kilpatrick, tyler; George Fisher, trustee; Rud Preisendanz, representative to grand lodge; William L. Sauerhoff, alternate; Preisendanz, delegate to state association.
A social session will follow the installation.
Mayor Orders Cops to Drive All Gangsters From Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Aroused as Bullet Narrowly Misses Small Girl
TWO SHOOTINGS BRING EDICT FOR BIG ROUNDUP
Police Without Clues in Mysterious Affrays Here Yesterday
Aroused because a bullet fired in a gang shooting at Ninth and Chestnut streets yesterday almost struck an 8-year-old girl, Mayor Stewart today launched a drive to rid the city of gangsters and gunmen.
Voicing the fear that innocent bystanders may fall victim to gangdom’s guns, the mayor declared he would have all lawless characters put behind bars or driven from the city.
To effect that purpose, he issued instructions to Lieut. George Frost to order every patrolman to stop all suspicious-looking characters. If, upon questioning, those suspects cannot prove legitimate quests, they will be jailed.
Issues Statement
His statement follows:
“There was another gang shooting in the city of Camden yesterday. While no one was killed or injured, an 8-year-old girl was very nearly struck by one of the bullets.
“These gunmen have respect neither for the law nor the personal safety of the public. They fight out their private feuds on our public thoroughfares, endangering the lives of law-abiding citizens. Unless some preventative is found, there may come a time when an innocent bystander falls victim to gang bullets.
“Those lawless characters must be educated to realize that they cannot carry on their activities in Camden. They must either be put behind bars or exiled from the city.
“Therefore, to that end I have issued orders through Lieut. Frost to every policeman on the force to the effect that all suspicious characters seen in the city be stopped and questioned. If satisfactory credentials are not produced, and the suspect cannot prove that he has a legitimate right on the streets, then he will be arrested. Those orders are in effect today.”
Meanwhile, police are without a single clue to either yesterday afternoon’s affair or a shooting reported early yesterday morning. Detective Captain John Golden expressed doubt that the shooting at Ninth and Chestnut street was provoked by any gang feud. Rather he believes it was the outcome of a quarrel between two men, as the assailant fired a revolver at close range and missed. Capt. Golden declared that gangsters usually use shotguns or machine-guns. However, other police officials attributed the affray to gang warfare.
One of six bullets fired at the intended victim of yesterday’s shooting narrowly missed striking eight-year-old Regina Boskowska, of 824 Chestnut street, as she sat on a front step near the intersection.
No Clues Obtained
No clues have been obtained to the identity of the assailants in either case nor the intended victim of yesterday’s gunfire.
The would-be slayers escaped yesterday from an Oaklyn motorist and the unknown man on the spot eluded Policeman William Stevenson after a 10-minute chase.
Both cars figuring in yesterday afternoon’s shooting bore Pennsylvania licenses.
The intended victim driving east on Chestnut street, stopped his blue sedan at the intersection when the traffic light turned red.
Raymond Scherneck, of 307 Laurel avenue, Oaklyn, stopped his care [sic] behind the sedan.
“While we were waiting, I saw a gray Ford coupe with Pennsylvania tags,” stated Scherneck. “It pulled up on my left, passed me and slowed down as it drew abreast of the Pennsylvania car ahead of me. The coupe had two men in it, and the man on the right side leaned out. He was bare-headed, and as he put his hand out the window, I saw him holding a blue pistol.
“He fired six times. The fellow in the other car threw himself down toward the floor. The coupe continued to go east, passing the red light. I went after the coupe, but I lost track of it near Chestnut street and Mt. Ephraim avenue.”
Assailant Escapes
Patrolman Stevenson said he was walking on Chestnut between Eighth and Ninth street when he saw a man put his hand out the window of a coupe and start firing. The officer ran to the intersection, but both the coupe and the sedan had gone on, the sedan turning south into Ninth street. Then he ran to Eighth and Sycamore streets, where his car was parked. He drove to Ninth and Chestnut, and saw Thomas Ward, 820 Chestnut street. Ward pointed to a sedan which had stopped on Ninth street, and said it was the sedan at which the assailants had fired. As Stevenson drove toward it, the sedan started up. He pursued it on Ninth to Mechanic, through Mechanic to Haddon avenue and out Haddon avenue to Euclid, where the sedan, a faster car than Stevenson’s, pulled away and escaped.
Ward was sitting on his front steps and saw the shooting. He said the Boskowska girl was sitting on the steps next door, and that a bullet struck the steps near her. The girl, who had run home crying, told police she heard something hit the steps near her.
Two bullets entered the wall of the saloon operated by John Bretschneider, 880 Chestnut street.
A short time after the shooting police arrived in bandit chasers. Armed with revolvers and shotguns, the police scoured the neighborhood but could not find the assailants. Major Charles V. Dickinson led the investigation.
Wilkie to Receive Reprimand on Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
(Continued from Page One)
Wilkie, but he refused to sign it. He was granted an audience by Mayor Stewart yesterday. The “note book cop” told the mayor that the transcript was incomplete and did not include many important things which developed at the hearing. He also advised the mayor that he wanted to be heard on some “other things.” His request that he be permitted to submit a detailed report on those “other things” met with no objections from the mayor.
Mayor’s Statement
Mayor Stewart’s decision follows:
“After reading the transcript of the examination given Patrolman John Wilkie by Major Charles V. Dickinson and staff, I have decided as follows:
“Patrolman John Wilkie be reprimanded for taking independent action in the making of a raid without first reporting to his superior officer and that he be warned that a like occurrence in the future will mean suspension.
“I have further decided to call before me Lt. George Ward and the officers under him to ascertain from them why they did not have knowledge of the violation of law existing at 831-833 Market street and why they failed to make a report of the same to either Major Dickinson or myself so that proper action might have been taken by the police department.
“I want it understood that it is the duty of every officer to report and receive orders from his superiors and it must be understood by all members of the department that the decision rendered in this case is equally applicable to them, the violation of which will be punishable by suspension.
“R. R. STEWART, “Mayor.”
2 Held in Raid as Night Club Has Opening
Camden Courier-Post —
2 HELD IN RAID AS NIGHT CLUB HAS OPENING
Proprietors Fight Claim of Police They Operated in Violation of Law
NORTH CAMDEN PLACE HAS SHORT EXISTENCE
Case Sent to Grand Jury After Hearing in City Police Court
Although they were not included among the 500 guests invited to the “grand opening,” First district police last night visited the new Ambassador Club at 519 Main street on orders of Mayor Roy R. Stewart and arrested the two alleged proprietors and six other persons.
Stephen Kirby, 33, of 552 Bailey street, former boxer and city fireman, and Eugene Lorenzo, 33, who gave the club as his address, were held by Judge Garfield Pancoast, in $500 bail each for the grand jury as proprietors after they pleaded not guilty in police court this morning to charges of operating a disorderly house. The other six, including two women, were released in their own recognizance as material witnesses.
Police charged that the establishment had no soft drink license and that two half-barrels of high-powered beer were found on the premises. Kirby held that the place was privileged to operate as it had been incorporated by the state as a club and that he had a half-barrel of near beer.
The raid on the alleged whoopee house follows the raid made Monday night on a Chinese gambling establishment at 507 North Fifth street, one block distant. Both raids are part of Mayor Stewart’s announced program to “clean gangsters and their lairs from Camden.”
Police said that Kirby appeared at police headquarters last Monday night and offered bail for the 57 Chinese prisoners but that the bail was taken from another bondsman.
Although the establishment advertised in invitations a “grand opening” for last night, it had been in operation for some days past, said Lieut. George Ward, commander of the district who led the raid. He was accompanied by Detectives Alfred Shire and Walter Smith.
Incorporation Claimed
Kirby told police the club was incorporated by himself and six men, and that it had been closed on Monday night following a visit there by Lieut. Ward, Shire and Smith. This visit followed the complaint of Eli Carson, of 5101 Chester avenue, Philadelphia, that he had been robbed there of a watch, Kirby said. This was verified by police.
“We held a meeting yesterday,” Kirby maintained, “and decided that as a club, incorporated by the state, we had the right to open irrespective of police orders. We had even an official reopening and it was known as ’grand reopening.’”
Two barrels of alleged high-powered beer were found in the club, and bottles, believed by police to have contained whisky.
Lieutenant Ward ordered all the prisoners to be held as “principals” until identity of the proprietor could be established. On his order Sergt. Gus Koerner refused to accept a $1000 surety bond proffered for release of the seven other prisoners last night.
On Sunday night Detective Edwin Mills went to the club and received the watch Carson contended was stolen from him. Kirby declared that the watch was accepted as security for a $7 loan by Lorenzo and denied an allegation of Carson that women frequented the upper floors of the club.
Following the closing of the place Kirby said that an invitation was “sent out to 500 members for the official reopening.”
Kirby declared last night that the raid was unjust.
“I am an American citizen and ex-service man, as are three others arrested with me,” Kirby said. “We are incorporated as a club and make no disturbance, but we’re raided. I can’t understand that, in view of the fact that that Chinese place raided the other night still shows lights at 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning.
“I was released pending a hearing when I posted $100 cash, but the police would not accept a bond of $1000 for the other seven. They wanted cash, but finally the others were released in $500 bail each for a hearing this morning. And yet those Chinese arrested were released in $10 security.”
Vaudeville and Radio Stars To Feature ‘Relief Ball’ of Shriners Tomorrow Night
Camden Courier-Post —
Popularity Contest Winner to Get Diamond Ring and Lead March
CONVENTION HALL READY FOR SHOW
Nine Entertainment Acts On Program; 400 Newsies Guests
Nine vaudeville acts, radio celebrities and a popularity contest will feature the first annual professional show and dance of the Camden Shrine Club of Crescent Temple tomorrow night in Convention Hall.
The show is being held to establish a permanent relief fund and is being directed by Jerry Baehr. Harry G. Hinchman, president of the club, is general chairman of the arrangements.
The popularity contest will close at midnight and the winner will be crowned “Miss Camden Shrine Club.” She will be presented with a diamond ring and will lead the grand march for the dance.
Four hundred Courier-Post newsboys, invited by Hinchman, will be guests at the big show, a special section having been set aside for them. The newsies will be led to the hall by David Loeb, Courier-Post circulation manager.
The show will open with a concert by the Camden Shrine Club Band, of which Joseph Bossle, Jr., is director, and Paul R. Wiest, assistant director. The opening selection will be a march dedicated to Hinchman and written by Bossle. Other numbers include melodies by Victor Herbert; Concert Mazurka “La Czarina,” by Ganne, and march, “Crescent Temple” by Mayer.
Radio performers will appear in the vaudeville program, which opens with Harry Taylor’s Syncopators, Main Line favorites, singing compositions of the day. Other numbers on the program include: Margaret Freeman, in “The Princess of Presentation”; Will Morris, European novelty in “Fun on the Bike”; Marion Gibney, “Talking About Her Neighbors”; Smith, Strong and Lee, “Three Tin Types”; Bonell and Bay, European sensations from the Hollywood Club, New York; Miss Freeman, songbird; Deluxe Quintet, comedy, singing and musical novelty, and “A Night on Broadway,” one of Gotham’s singing and dancing revues.
John H. Sibley is assistant general chairman and Harry M. Dease, treasurer. Mayor Roy R. Stewart is chairman of the publicity committee, assisted by George W. Williams, Jr., Michael Greenetz and Silas Boyer.
Commissioner Frank B. Hanna, chairman of the advertising committee, is assisted by Ernest L. Bartelt, C. Fowler Cline and J. Fred James.
Other committees are: Tickets, Charles W. Lacey, chairman; Paul R. West, Clarence Ford and William Matthews. Show, Sibley, chairman; Joseph Bossle, Abe Applebaum, Harry F. Ecky and Walter C. Culin. Reception, George C. Shallcross, Howard J. Dudley, past potentate, and J. Blair Cuthbert, past potentate. Ushers, George J. Schneider, Sr., chairman; Arthur E. Armitage, Francis B. Bodine and Richard Baumiller, Jr.
A famous orchestra of radio crooners will provide music for the dance which begins with the grand march at midnight.
The committee last night announced that no seats have been reserved and ticketholders going to the hall early will get the choice of the best seats.
Lippincott Widow Sues for $225,000
Camden Courier-Post —
Haddon Heights Woman Files Action Against Railroad for Mate’s Death
Suit for $255,000 was filed in New Jersey Supreme Court yesterday by Mrs. Margaret Lippincott against the Atlantic City Railroad in the death of her husband, Willet Lippincott, of 106 Station Avenue, Haddon Heights, a real estate operator and son of Benjamin A. Lippincott, first mayor of Haddon Heights.
The widow, mother of four children, charges that her husband met his death on the morning of July 23 at the Warwick Road crossing at Magnolia. Lippincott’s truck, loaded with hay, obtained from the farm of his mother, Mrs. Laura Lippincott, on Warwick road, was struck by a northbound Ocean City-Camden train. Lippincott was killed, and the truck and hay set afire when the gasoline tank exploded.
Papers in the suit have been prepared by former Senator Albert S. Woodruff and S. Huntley Beckett, attorneys. Allegations are made in the suit that the railroad was negligent in failing to protect the crossing, which is termed in the charges as “extra-dangerous and extra-hazardous.”
It is alleged further that a signal light at the crossing failed to work properly at the time of the tragedy, and that a curve of the railroad, a bank of earth, poles and other obstacles obstructed the view of an approaching train. No bell or whistle was sounded from the engine of the train, it is charged.
Lippincott met his death although he alighted from his truck to look up and down the tracks at the crossing, according to Woodruff. He had seen a southbound train pass, but was struck by the northbound train. Passengers on the northbound train included Magistrate Dennis F. Fitzgerald, of Philadelphia; Mayor Roy R. Stewart, Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin, City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly, Byron M. Seabrook, and Jerome Hurley, of the Hurley Stores, all of whom had summer homes at Ocean City.
Children surviving Lippincott include Priscilla, 8; Benjamin, 6; Summitt, 4, and Scott W. Lippincott, 1 year old.
Stewart Calls Clergy for Relief Conference
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Roy R. Stewart announced yesterday he has invited members of Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish clergy to attend a meeting at 10:30 a. m. today in the city commission chambers to discuss unemployment relief.
The mayor said he will ask the clergy of various denominations to cooperate with the municipal relief committee headed by William Strandwitz.
The meeting will be the first at which relief measures will be discussed since the committee was appointed several weeks ago.
Bus Ticket Books Given Cops, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
City to Check Up With Hope of Saving on P. S. Tax Deduction
Mayor Stewart revealed yesterday the the Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the Public Service Corporation, began on the first of the week issuing books of 100 tickets to be used by policemen and firemen riding on buses or trolleys while on duty.
In making known the department’s new policy, Mayor Stewart expressed a belief that policemen and firemen were “riding too much” while on duty.
“The city,” Stewart explained, “has been taking Public Service’s word since a state law went into effect May 6, 1929, allowing policemen and firemen on duty to ride on public transportation without fare, provided that for such transportation an amount equal to the lawful fares shall be considered a credit on account of any franchise tax or charges of that nature.
“By issuing these tickets, we cannot only check up on the number of rides by policemen and firemen, but can also learn accurately exactly how much is coming to Public Service.”
Previously, patrolmen and firemen were permitted to ride free if in uniform and Public Service kept account of the number of rides.
Stewart disclosed the change is the result of his request that Public Service make a survey of the number of rides claimed. Accordingly, on October 23, 1931, E. A. Tuson, general auditor of the company, began compiling records which showed that Public Service deducted $5505.45 from its Camden tax bill in 1931.
So far, for the months of January, February and March, $1144.80 has been deducted this year.
“I have asked the commanding officers of the department to impress the importance of this change to the 238 policemen and 225 firemen in the city,” the mayor continued.
“The system has worked successfully with detectives for some time and I believe that if the other members of the department are careful, we can save the taxpayers some money. Five thousand dollars represents a quarter of a cent on the city’s tax rate and any amount saved in these times is important.”
Police Censured in Pickpocket Case
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Reprimands Pancoast for Freeing 4—Grand Jury Refuses to Indict
Mayor Roy R. Stewart has reprimanded Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, former Acting City Detective Benjamin Simon and Captain of Detectives John W. Golden for laxity in handling the case of four alleged pickpockets and their unwilling accuser.
Meanwhile, the Camden County Grand Jury has exonerated the four accused men and also the complainant, who had been held by Pancoast as a material witness after failing to appear against the quartet in court.
The pickpocket suspects were released in their own recognizance by Pancoast and only one was rearrested after the police judge ordered the case reopened after a conference with the mayor.
Stewart acted after criticism had been made concerning progress of the case. He insisted that the defendants be brought to trial.
The men exonerated gave their names to the police at the time of their arrest as Thomas Anthony, 30, of 1112 Federal street; Harry Smith, 44, of 1338 Oxford street; Harry Miller, 29, of 629 North Tenth street, and Sam Berman, 46, of 606 West Girard avenue, all of Philadelphia.
Their attorneys at the police court hearing were Walter S. Keown and L. Scott Cherchesky.
Accused by Theatregoer
Their accuser was Charles Wilder, of 567 Liberty street, who had charged the men with taking $22 from his pocket in March as he was leaving a theatre at Broadway and Newton avenue.
The mayor said Wilder informed him, in a formal statement, that the reason he did not appear against the defendants at the original hearing was because he was more interested in getting his money back than in pressing the charges. Wilder is said to have given police the name of the man who gave him back his money.
“Wilder said he felt that if his money was returned to him there was no more to the case,” the mayor said.
“Will contempt proceedings be instituted against Wilder?” the mayor was asked.
Warrants Out for Four
“No,” he replied. “I don’t think so because we are still waiting to get the other fellows. Warrants are out to pick up the four defendants at any time.”
“Can they still be rearrested, even though they have been exonerated by the grand jury?” the mayor was asked.
“Well, that’s something you will have to ask Police Judge Pancoast,” he replied.
The quartet cleared of pocketpicking have long police records in Philadelphia.
In his formal decision yesterday, after reviewing the case, the mayor censured Simon for “failure to properly handle the case and dispose of same before the police judge”; Pancoast, for his “overzealousness in calling this case as the first of the morning” and for releasing defendants with criminal records in their own recognizance, and Golden for “not seeing that each and every member of the detective bureau was familiar with the rules, regulations, responsibilities and duties of their positions.”
“After reading all the evidence submitted in the case, I do not believe that Officer Simon has the qualifications to be assigned to the detective bureau,” the mayor said at the conclusion of his decision.
Simon, according to the mayor, failed to press the charge against the defendants in the absence of Wilder at the hearing. He also accused Simon of permitting release of the accused and with failing to rearrest them.
Notes Witness’ Absence
The mayor, other than to comment on the absence of the witness at the police court hearing, does not go further into failure of Wilder to appear after receiving back the money that had been stolen from him. The mayor said, in answer to a question, that he was concerned mainly with laxity in the case.
Mayor Stewart’s formal decision is dated May 27. He handed Judge Pancoast, Simon and Golden a copy of it the next day after conferring with each man separately.
Simon, he said, regarded the reprimand as “rather severe,” but did not attempt to shift responsibility; Pancoast explained that he heard the pickpocket case first because it is his custom to do so when defendants are represented by counsel, and Golden received the censure “graciously.” Pancoast freed the men, it was reported, after Simon testified the police “have nothing against them” and when Wilder failed to appear in court.
The exoneration of the four men charged with being pickpockets was voted Thursday when Wilder testified before the grand jury that he would not be able to identify them, Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin said.
The prosecutor said that although the four have long criminal records, the grand jury could not indict them on their records. Wilder, he added, had “testified fairly” that he could not identify them; therefore the no-bill was returned.
Of the men who had been arrested on Wilder’s complaint, only Miller, alias Harry Cohen, was rearrested after Judge Pancoast had reopened the case. He was held in $1000 bail in Philadelphia pending extradition after a hearing before Magistrate Edward F. Roberts.
Pancoast postponed hearings in the case several times to permit Simon and other detectives to rearrest the defendants. He also postponed the case of Wilder, whom he had held in $1000 bail as a material witness when he did not appear at the original police court hearing. The bail was fixed to assure Wilder’s appearance against the men in the event of their reapprehension.
On April 1, Judge Pancoast severely rebuked Simon for his inability to rearrest the four Philadelphians sought as pickpockets. The police judge said: “There has been a lot of criticism in this case and yet nothing has been done to apprehend the men.” Simon said he was doing all within his power in the case.
At a continued hearing before Judge Pancoast May 6, the court informed Wilder that he would be sent for by the grand jury.
“This case has been going on since March 15 and is now in the hands of Prosecutor Baldwin,” Pancoast said at that time. “He has complaints against all four of these men and they will be indicted. I shall continue your bail so that you will be sure to appear before that body when wanted.”
Text of Statement
The text of the mayor’s conclusions, after reviewing the case, follows:
“On March 15, 1932, Harry Miller, Sam Berman, Harry Smith and Thomas Anthony, all of Philadelphia, known as pickpockets, were apprehended after picking the pocket of Charles Wilder by a motorcycle policeman, William Taylor. After the arrest was made, Acting Detective Benjamin Simon was assigned to the case.
“I feel that Officer Simon should be reprimanded for his failure to properly handle the case and dispose of same before the police judge.
“The latter recommendation is based on the following facts: First, for Simon’s failure to press the charge in the absence of the witness. Second, inasmuch as he was familiar with the records of the four men, and, according to his own statement that Acting Detective George Zeitz telephoned from the Philadelphia detective bureau and gave the information that the prisoners had long records and that it would require from two to two and one-half hours to prepare a copy of the same. Third, for permitting the court to try this case as the first case in the morning, realizing the record of the men, and not requesting the judge to lay it over until he could furnish the information being furnished by the Philadelphia bureau. Fourth, that Officer Simon carried in his pocket for several days the necessary warrants to arrest these men after they had been released in their own recognizance and the very weak statement from him that he hoped to have the men surrender without extradition being necessary. I feel that it was preposterous to believe that criminals of this type would be lured into any such scheme. Fifth, that Officer Simon should have made the charges against these men instead of leaving the matter to Judge Pancoast. Sixth, for Simon’s unwillingness to sign the statement which he gave to the detective bureau.
Censures Pancoast
“Judge Pancoast should be reprimanded for his overzealousness in calling this case as the first of the morning. Certainly, four men arrested as pickpockets should not be swept aside and released without holding them until their complete record could be obtained. Judge Pancoast realizes that we are not inviting criminals of this type to our community, and the rougher we treat them the fewer we will have in our midst. He certainly should not release men with criminal records, such as these, in their own recognizance.
“Captain Golden should be reprimanded for not seeing that each and every member of the detective bureau was familiar with the rules, regulations, responsibilities and duties of their positions, as in this case it was very evident that Detective Simon did not show any of the aforesaid qualifications. I also believe that in cases of this nature that Captain Golden should make sure that the complaining witness would appear in court and that the court be instructed to hold the men until they had a complete record of them. To my mind, the laxity in any department is and should be placed directly on the man in charge, in this instance, the captain of detectives.
“After reading all the evidence submitted in this case, I do not believe that Officer Simon has the qualifications to be assigned to the detective bureau.”
Commenting on the no-bill exonerating the men accused by Wilder, Prosecutor Baldwin said:
“The man who had his pocket picked (Wilder) appeared before the grand jury Thursday. He was very fair about it and he said he could not identify the men who were arrested as the ones who picked his pocket because the moving picture theatre, where he said he was jostled, was dark. When the grand jury heard this testimony, it returned a no-bill.
Jostled in Theatre
“It is true that these four men who were accused have criminal records, but we cannot indict them on that. Wilder said he was brushed against in the aisle of the theatre as he was putting on his overcoat. When he reached the sidewalk, he said he saw an automobile pulling away. He testified that he did not know how long the men had been in it when they started off, but that he automatically jotted down the license number of the car. However, when we questioned him as to whether there was any possible way he could identify them as the men who picked his pocket, he said ‘No, because it was dark in the theatre’.”
Wilder, on March 23, was reported as having identified Miller as the man who picked his pocket and said the others jostled him as he was leaving the motion picture theatre. He saw the four men leave in a car, he told Policeman Taylor. The policeman chased the car to Broadway and Federal streets and arrested the occupants.
First Legion Burial Section Will Be Dedicated June 18
Camden Courier-Post —
Aaron Heine — Martin C. Delaney
FIRST LEGION BURIAL SECTION WILL BE DEDICATED JUNE 18
State and Civic Leaders Invited to Exercises at Locustwood Memorial Park — Aaron Heine to Present Gift to Veterans of State
The first and only burial section set aside exclusively for American Legion members in New Jersey will be dedicated Saturday, June 18, in elaborate public ceremonies at Locustwood Memorial Park, Marlton pike, Delaware township.
Aaron Heine, president of the Locustwood Cemetery Association, will make the formal presentation of the gift to Rex W. McCrosson, department commander of the American Legion. The gift to the legion comprises 400 plots in Locustwood Memorial Park, which have a value of $35,000. The lots are in Section 21 of the park, which has been assigned exclusively, with the lots, to legionnaires and their families.
The gift has been made possible through the efforts of Heine, J. E. Laurencelle, chairman of the Memorial Graves Committee of the American Legion of the state of New Jersey, and Martin C. Delaney, president of the Camden Memorial Park Sales Company, which is representing the Locustwood Cemetery Association.
15,000 to Attend Exercises
Delaney estimated that approximately 15,000 persons will attend the ceremonies, including the general public, veterans and Boy Scouts.
George W. Harley, of Collingswood, county commander of the American Legion, is chairman of the local committee on arrangements.
Rowland F. Cowan, department adjutant, American Legion, and General Frederick W. Gilkyson, of the National Guard, have agreed to send an air squadron from the Forty-fourth Division, stationed at Newark, to the ceremonies. Delaney announced. The plans are to drop many poppies as they fly low over the park.
Governor A. Harry Moore, Mayor Roy R. Stewart and his fellow city commissioners of Camden and officials of the various suburbs have been invited to attend.
McCrosson and his Legion staff will accept the gift of the Legion section in the park in behalf of 24,000 members of the organization in the state.
The gift is in addition to proposed erection of a $100,000 Chimes Tower of Memories to be erected in memory of Legion men who gave their lives to their country during the World War. W. H. Lee, architect, and his associates, Sidney Jelinek and Armand D. Carroll, are preparing the tower plans. Delaney said the monument will require an acre of ground.
The base of the tower will measure 30 feet and will rise to a height of 126 feet. At the base, looking south, a mirror pool is to be built, measuring 30 by 110 feet, according to the plans.
Including the dedicated lots—the section reserved entirely for Legion men and their families, and the Chimes tower, the portion set aside for exclusive American Legion use comprises three acres. The dedicated area is located at the extreme end of the Mall.
Delaney said the deed to the parcel to be presented as a gift will be enscrolled in parchment and will hang in the War Memorial Building at Stacy Park, Trenton.
Laurencelle has advised Delaney that all Legion posts throughout the state would be requested to muster all members to be present at the dedication ceremony, and in that way show their appreciation of the gift.
In a letter to all American Legion posts and auxiliary units in New Jersey, Department Commander McCrosson informs them that the gift in the Memorial Park has been accepted and that they are invited to the formal exercises of dedication.
2 Cops Go on Trial Tuesday as Echo of Election Row
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey City Democrat Charges Bakley and Truax Violated Law
2 COURTS IN SESSION
Two Camden police officers, Lieut. Ralph W. Bakley, commander of the Second district, and Sergeant Frank Truax, are scheduled to go on trial in Criminal Court tomorrow on an indictment charging them with violation of the election laws.
The charge resulted from the arrest of Joseph Tumulty, Jersey City attorney and Democratic challenger at the Camden city polls during the gubernatorial election last November. Mayor Roy R. Stewart will be summoned as a defense witness, according to the officers’ counsel, T. Harry Rowland. The latter added that Major Charles V. Dickinson, deputy superintendent of police; Captain Arthur Colsey, business men, several bankers and a score of other character witnesses will be called to the stand.
Two Courts in Session
The case is one of a large number listed for trial, pleas or sentences this week by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin in an attempt to clear up the Criminal Court calendar to permit adjournment in July. Two criminal courts will be in session today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Judge Samuel M. Shay will preside in the fourth-floor courtroom, while Judge Austin H. Swackhamer will hold court on the second floor.
Thirteen defendants will face court today, 11 for trial and two to enter pleas.
One of the two who will enter pleas is Mrs. Mable J. Steyer, of 4603 Conshohocken avenue, Philadelphia, who is under indictment on the charge of manslaughter by automobile. She is charged with the death of William Sharkey, of Berlin, on the White Horse pike last February. Six times Prosecutor Baldwin has endeavored to have the woman in court, but she refused to appear. She visited in the prosecutor’s office several days ago and was released under $1000 bail. She had previously forfeited the same amount of bail. She is charged with driving her automobile on the wrong side of the pike and crashing into the car operated by Sharkey.
The other defendant who is scheduled to appear to plead is Harry Willingmyer, charged with assault and battery.
The 11 defendants who are listed to stand trial today include Dr. C. N. Mason, of 85 Lincoln avenue, Delaware township. Dr. Mason is charged with false pretense in obtaining $1000 from Gustave Huseman, of 616 Rogers avenue, Merchantville. The other defendants are John Uboldi, larceny; Albert Cohen, false pretense; James Jordan, assault and battery; Herman Romaine, statuatory [sic] charge; Harold Nickturn, larceny, and four indictments against the much arrested Howard C. Franklin, Oaklyn automobile dealer who is charged with false pretense.
Tomorrow, Arthur “Gyp” Del Ducca, convicted disorderly house keeper, will be sentenced by Judge Swackhamer. Del Ducca was convicted in the criminal court last Wednesday of operating a resort at 764 Fairview street. Charles Fanelli, of 319 Penn street, who was convicted of holding up John Weeks, of Eighth and Tabor road, Philadelphia, on November 13, last, and robbing him of $50, will also be sentenced on Tuesday.
Several roadhouse proprietors whose establishments were recently raided, are also scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for trial. They include Harry Fleisher, 300 Rand street; John Cernivo, of Camden; Thomas Gibbons, of Gloucester; Walt Mills, alleged proprietor of the Maze Cafe in Stratford; Edward J. Walsh, alleged proprietor of the Little Grill, in West Collingswood Heights; Owen Sweeney, alleged proprietor of the Haddon Lake, at Mt. Ephraim; William Marshall, alleged proprietor of the Royal Haven Inn, at Berlin; Conrad Bittner, 456 Broadway, Gloucester, and Harry Underwood, also of Gloucester. There are two indictments against Underwood.
Walter Kennedy, former Camden boxer who fought under the ring name of Walter West, is also scheduled to go on trial tomorrow on a charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons. Kennedy, who is a shell-shocked World War veteran and former Camden soft drink parlor proprietor, is charged with attempting to hold up a Public Service bus on State street, four months ago.
Other defendants on tomorrow’s trial list are Louis Ward and Dean Kessler, larceny; Pasquale Massi, Jacob Melzer and Frank Atwater, attempted breaking and entering; Louis Scott, Edward Brady, Carl Pisco, Joseph Pisco, carrying concealed deadly weapons; Jim Jackson and Woodrow Stevens, breaking and entering; Frank Mucci, disorderly house; W. H. Seckel, false pretense; Davis Keese, statuatory [sic] charge, and Gustave Seletos, three indictments for false pretense.
On Wednesday ten defendants are scheduled to go on trial in the criminal courts. They are:
Roland Davis, desertion; William Bopergola, Tony Basile, Joseph Gogenti, Frank Carofolo, statuatory [sic] charges; Edward North, larceny; Joseph Carboni, larceny from person; George Huber, larceny; Roland Davis board bill; George Walters, tampering with meter.
Judge Shay will be asked tomorrow to sign court orders authorizing the prosecutor’s office to destroy all the liquors seized in the various roadhouse raids during the past year. The liquor is at present stored in the cellar of the old court house under lock and key.
COP SHAKEUP TODAY; AX FOR 4TH DISTRICT
Camden Courier-Post —
Humes Due to Be Personnel Inspector, Replaced by Ward or Anderson
A resolution abolishing the fourth police district will be adopted by the City Commission Thursday at its semi-monthly meeting.
A general shakeup in the police department is scheduled for announcement immediately after the meetnig [sic] by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety.
Chief among the scheduled changes is appointment of Inspector Charles T. Humes, now stationed at police headquarters, to inspector in charge of personnel of the entire department.
Humes would be succeeded at police headquarters by either Lieut. Herbert Anderson or Lieut. George Ward.
Anderson commands the fourth district, which will merge with the second police district under command of Lieut. Ralph Bakley.
Ward heads the first district police. In the event he replaces Humes, he will be succeeded by Anderson.
A number of sergeants also will be shuffled. Sergt. Edward Hahn, now stationed in the third district, and Sergt. John Garrity, of the fourth, will be transferred to the traffic squad. Two acting sergeants now in the traffic bureau, George Jefferis and James Wilson, will be patrolmen.
Sergt. Edward Carroll, of the fourth, will go to the third district to replace Hahn. The other sergeant from the fourth district, John Skolski, will become a desk sergeant at headquarters.
Skolski will replace Sergt. Stiles Whitaker, now a headquarters desk sergeant. Whitaker will return to his former post, duty at the city banks.
Bennie Approval Awaited in Senate
Camden Courier-Post —
Governor Sends in His Name as Camden County Jury Commissioner
Trenton, June 11 (Saturday) — Nomination of former Freholder [sic] Joseph Bennie, Camden Democrat, as Camden county jury commissioner, was sent to the Senate yesterday afternoon by the governor. It had not been acted on early today as the Legislature prepared to adjourn.
Bennie, who would serve a one-year term at $750, would succeed George Kleinheinz, also a Democrat. Kleinheinz has been acting jury commissioner since April 1, when his term expired, being named temporarily by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
Bennie has been slated for the job for some time but Senator Stewart said he had been holding up his approval of Bennie’s appointment while awaiting a report on the case of Judge Frank F. Neutze, of Camden district court, from the ethics committee of the Camden County Bar Association. The committee is investigating charges made by Stewart that Neutze was guilty of “ambulance chasing.” Stewart cited the charge as one of his reasons for refusing to approve the governor’s re-appointment of Neutze.
“I have changed my mind,” Stewart said yesterday, “because the Neutze matter cannot be settled now and the jury commissioner appointment might as well be approved.”
Bennie’s appointment was recommended by Harry L. Maloney, and Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, Democratic state committee members from Camden county.
Mayor Stewart Calls High Speed Line Meeting
Camden Courier-Post —
Roy R. Stewart — Camden High Speed Line meeting, June 15, 1932
Dr. Neulen Appointed to New Welfare Unit
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Roy R. Stewart yesterday appointed Dr. Leon N. Neulen, superintendent of schools, and Miss Lillie T. Osler, retired school principal, to the newly-established Juvenile Delinquency and Welfare Committee.
Previous appointments by the mayor to the committee included Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, C. Paul Nay, school attendance officer, and Police Captain Arthur Colsey.
The committee of five will meet at an early date at the call of the mayor, it was announced.
Mayor Stewart at the Circus
Camden Courier-Post —
Named: Roy R. Stewart, Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, and Poodles Hanneford, June 16, 1932.
Blair Indicted by Grand Jury for Threat to Blow Up Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Boxer Must Stand Trial With Pal on Pennsauken Man’s Charge
DRY RAIDERS CLEARED IN COOK’S GRILL CASE
Two Agents and 4 Truckmen Absolved of Mischief in Bar-Wrecking Episode
The April grand jury yesterday returned a true bill against Mickey Blair, Camden pugilist, on a charge of threatening to kill a Pennsauken man by bombing his home.
It was the first time Blair has ever been indicted, although his police record shows he has been arrested 10 times for various offenses.
In addition the grand jury “no billed” a malicious mischief charge made by Basil Cook, owner of Cook’s Grill, 939 South Fifth street, against two prohibition agents and four employes of a trucking firm who tore out the bar and fixtures of the cafe in a raid several weeks ago.
Dismissal of the charges against the federal men and their collaborators had been forecast by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin. The agents are Nelson Snedecor, 38, of 138 North Tenth street, Allentown, N. J.; and John J. Stokes, 41, of 6100 North Seventeenth street, Philadelphia, both of the Philadelphia prohibition office.
Controversy Ends
The Grand Jury’s action, taken in a first partial presentment made to Justice Frank T. Lloyd while Judge Samuel M. Shay was busy in Criminal Court, officially concludes a case that attracted wide attention and brought stormy conferences between Prohibition Administrator John D. Pennington, Mayor Roy R. Stewart and United States Attorney Philip Forman.
Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, who issued the warrant for the agents’ arrest, freed them on their own recognizance at the request of federal authorities. Cook contended the agents unlawfully destroyed his property after leaving the place following a raid, and entering it again without a warrant. The agents said they stayed in the hotel all night following the raid, excepting for the time they were forcefully taken out by police.
The workman [sic] are Floyd E. Slamp, 20, of 148 Marne avenue, Haddonfield, son of the secretary and treasurer of the Troth Warehouse and Trucking Company, Fifth and Byron streets; Robert McKee, 45, of 4837 Duffield street, Philadelphia; John Shrom, 19, of Moorisville, Pa., and John Adams, 20, of 542 Erie street.
Pal Accused With Blair
Blair, whose true name is Michael Tenerelli, was indicted on charges made by Calvin Bell, 45, of 7349 Remington avenue, Pennsauken. Thomas Bonelli was indicted with Tenerelli on the same charge. Tenerelli is 23 and lives at 833 South Fourth street. Bonelli is also 23 and lives at 270 Walnut street. Bell, who is colored, had them held in $2500 bail each by Police Recorder George W. Yost, of Pennsauken, last May 6. Bell charged they threatened to bomb his home unless he paid them $100 to make good for 100 gallons of liquor they allegedly purchased from one of his sons and found it worthless. The defendants were arrested in Bell’s home.
Tenerelli and Bonelli were released on bail a week ago in connection with the alleged holdup of Mrs. Barbara Lehman in her cigar store at 1209 Arctic avenue, Atlantic City. Although Tenerelli has figured in police records since he was 12 this is the first indictment to be returned against him, police say.
Other indictments returned yesterday are:
Desertion and non-support: John Councellor, John Morgan, Joseph Casini, Raymond Sykes, August Remler, Thomas Early, Isadore Kramer, Martin O’Toole, Harry Gallagher, William Johnson, Charles Krown, Curtis Myers, Clarence Brinning, George Price, William Slaughter, Grover C. Bennett.
Breaking, entering and larceny: Elisha and Anna Coleman, Theodore Ruteski and Anton Zakrewski, Patrick Williams and Louis Thomas, Henry Parzewicz, Tony Renczykowski and Stanley Kidzierski.
Robbery—John Duboski, John H. Linicky; assault and battery—John Barr, Louigi Celeni, Fred D. Coleman, Benjamin Wallace, Zack McGriff, John Collins, Max Platkin, Joseph Panacola, Albert Pickering, Adolph Smith, Millard Wallace.
Larceny and receiving stolen goods—Warren Cormulewicz, Harold Wolf, William Mitchell, Stanley Kramer and Frank Gymuszuk.
Possession of liquor—Herman Fleisher, Gene Geffner, David Gold.
Statutory charge—Robert J. Sutters.
Legion Burial Lots to Be Dedicated
Camden Courier-Post —
City and Veteran Officials Will Speak Tomorrow at Locustwood Ceremony
American Legion and Locustwood Cemetery officials yesterday completed the program for dedication tomorrow afternoon of the first and only burial section set aside exclusively for American Legion members in New Jersey.
The ceremonies will be conducted at Locustwood Memorial Park, Marlton pike, Delaware township, amid impressive military display. Prominent Legion leaders, cemetery officials, and rulers of South Jersey municipalities will attend, with the general public, veterans and Boy Scouts.
The occasion will be the gift of 400 lots in Locustwood Memorial Park to the Legion. The lots are in Section 21 of the park and have an approximate value of $35,000. The gift has been made possible through the efforts of Aaron Heine, president of the Locustwood Cemetery Association; J. E. Laurencelle, chairman of the Memorial Graves Committee of the American Legion of New Jersey, and Martin C. Delaney, president of the Camden Memorial Park Sales Company, which is representing the Locustwood Cemetery Association.
Band Will Play
The dedication program will open with the playing of “America,” by bands composed of Burlington county and Millville veterans, and the advancing and massing of colors. The invocation will be delivered by Rev. John Pemberton, Jr., Centenary Tabernacle M. E. church.
Mayor Roy R. Stewart will deliver the address of welcome, after which Department Commander W. Rex McCrossen, of the American Legion, and Emma Florence Beach, state president of the American Legion Auxiliary, will place a wreath for the Unknown Soldier.
Salute by the battery of the 112th Field Artillery of Camden, accompanied by an air salute, air maneuvers and the dropping of flowers by the 44th Air Squadron of the New Jersey National Guard, under Major Croppsy, will follow. Remembrance will be rendered by the ritual team of the Thoirs Post 47, American Legion, the champion ritual team of the state.
Lt. Commander Thomas B. Mulroy will deliver the message for Gov. A. Harry Moore, who has been suffering from hoarseness due to a recent cold. After this message, Heine will present the deed to the Legion section, with the acceptance speech to be delivered by Department Commander McCrossen. The exercises will close with a band playing the “Star Spangled Banner,” and benediction by R. E. Brestell, D. D., of St. Paul’s Episcopal church.
Reception Committee
The reception committee includes J. E. Laurencelle, chairman; Harry A. Kelleher, Roland Cowan, department adjutant, American Legion; Herbert H. Blizzard, Heine and Delaney.
George W. Harley, of Collingswood, is chairman of the local committee on arrangements. Herbert H. Etter, county Scout executive, will be in charge of the Boy Scouts.
The field piece at the ceremonies will be from the 112th Field Artillery, under direction of Major Charles V. Dickinson, deputy director of public safety. The battery has been obtained through Brigadier Gen. Winfield S. Price and Gen. Frederick W. Gilkyson, of the New Jersey National Guard.
Murphy and Pedigree To End Long Service With Camden Police
Camden Courier-Post —
Veterans at City Hall, Lauded by Superiors, Will Be Among 13 Cops and Firemen to Go on Pension Before First of Year
By William A. Gaffney
Sergeant Thomas J. Murphy, one of Camden’s best known and most efficient policemen, and Joseph “Si” Pedigree, police switchboard operator, are among the 13 members of the police and fire departments who have already retired from active duty on pension, or are to accept half-salary on retirement before the first of the year.
Nine men have turned in their “tools” within the past month and four other applications have been approved and will become effective in the next two months. Two other vacancies left by the deaths of Deputy Chief William W. Patterson and Policeman Fred Schaar, will make the entire number of the two departments 15 men less on January 1, 1933. None of the vacancies will be filled, according to Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Although the actual reasons for the large number of men retiring is not known, it is reported through the police and fire departments that the men are anxious to have their applications approved before a rumored 5 percent pay cut is ordered.
Murphy Praised
Sergeant Murphy’s pension will become effective December 30. Both Acting Chief of Police John W. Golden and Captain Arthur Colsey, chief clerk of the police department, expressed regret at the veteran officer’s decision.
“Sergeant Murphy is one of the most efficient officers we have ever had in the police department,” the two officials said. “He is well-versed in the law and for many years has handled his position as desk sergeant at police headquarters with unerring judgment.”
He is 65 years old and resides at 545 Vine street. He was appointed on August 13, 1902. His son, Thomas J. Murphy, Jr., is also a policeman and is now covering the “beat” his father “worked” years ago.
Pedigree entered the city service as a fireman in 1900 and served in that department. He is also 65 and lives at 49 South Twenty-seventh street. He has worked on Sergeant Murphy’s shift as operator for the past 10 years.
Chief Pensioned
The pensioners’ list is headed by Thomas J. Nichols, chief of the fire department, whose application to retire will become effective on Dec. 1. He was appointed a fireman on Dec. 1, 1900, and will receive $163.30 each month.
Capt. Daniel W. Leach, also of the fire department, was pensioned on Sept. 15 at a monthly salary of $93.10. He is 68 and lives at 624 Bailey street. He was appointed Jan. 1, 1908.
Enginemen Harry V. Hankins and James McDermott also recently accepted pensions and will receive $83.30 each month. Hankins is 56 and lives at 424 Taylor avenue. He was appointed Jan. 1, 1908. McDermott is 64 and lives at 23 North Twenty-eighth street. He was appointed in 1906. Both men left the fire department Oct. 1.
Fireman Joseph T. Johnson, 60, of 1433 South Tenth street, who was appointed March 1, 1900, will retire on Dec. 1 at $83.30 a month.
Horner to Retire
Sergeant William C. Horner, of the police department, a member for 33 years, tops the list of veterans to bid adieu to the trials and troubles of a policeman. He will receive $90.65 a month.
Horner is well known in East Camden. He has worked nearly all of his 33 years as an officer in the third district and commanded that section for several years. He recently was made desk-sergeant at police headquarters and decided to “take the pension” after spending several months “booking” prisoners. He is 6[?] and lives at 2129 Forty-third street. His pension was granted and made effective Sept. 15.
Policeman Harry Bakely, 60, of 918 State street, a policeman for 24 years; Irving Varley, 56, of 1703 South Fourth street, a policeman for 25 years, and James M. Ellis, 52, of 776 Walnut street, a fireman for four years and a policeman for 17, all have accepted pensions effective Oct. 1.
Policemen William Bryant, 51, of 228 Cedar avenue, Woodlynne, and Samuel Hibbert, 55, of 730 Market street, will cease their official duties on Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, respectively. Bryant was appointed Jan. 1, 1908, and Hibbert July 10, 1911. All of the policemen retiring will receive $83.30 a month.
May Not Be Replaced
When asked if the men leaving the service would be replaced, Mayor Stewart said they would not.
“I don’t know what I will do later on,” the mayor said, “but as far as I know now, these men’s places in the police and fire departments will not be filled.
“I feel that under present conditions, the men now policing the city can do it almost as efficiently as with the added number, that is if we do not have any outbreaks of crime.
“Chief Nicholas will be replaced by an acting chief whose salary will not be advanced.”
5 Camden Police Granted Pensions
Camden Courier-Post —
Laib, Kay, Guthrie, Smith and Till to Be Retired Next Month
Petitions for pensions were granted yesterday to five members of the Camden police department.
The retiring men are: Lieutenant Charles Laib, in charge of the traffic bureau; Sergeant Charles J. “Jeff”. Kay, City Detectives Theodore “Dory” Guthrie and Howard Smith, and Patrolman J. Oscar Till.
The retirements are to become effective Jan. 1, it was announced after a special meeting of the pension committee in city hall. Mrs. Louise F. Walsh, secretary of the board, presented the five applications.
Eventual retirement of Lieut. Laib has been rumored in the department for several months, but it was not until recently that the report was regarded seriously. It is understood that his associates as late as yesterday had requested him to remain on duty. He is recognized as one of the most competent officers in the department. Failing health, however, is said to have prompted the pension committee to approve his application.
Successor Not Named
No announcement as to Lieut. Laib’s successor was made by Acting Chief John W. Golden.
Lieutenant Laib was appointed to the police force January 12, 1912, by former Mayor Charles H. Ellis. He was promoted to sergeant in 1916 and became a lieutenant in 1929. He has been in charge of the traffic department for a year, succeeding Captain Charles L. Humes, who has been named inspector of personnel.
Laib is but 51 years of age and is one of the youngest men in the department to apply for pension. If his pension is approved he will receive a monthly salary of $102.08. His home is with his wife at 76 South Twenty-fourth street.
For many years, Laib has been conducting a “one-man” relief organization and is recognized by charitable organizations throughout the city for his generosity among the destitute.
Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, he personally collects funds for dinners for the children of the Sheltering Arms Home, Seventeenth street and River avenue, and has also been responsible for the home getting a daily supply of bread from a Camden bakery for several years.
Kay Served 38 Years
Sergeant Kay is a veteran member of the police department and has been an officer for 38 years. He is 72 and lives at 606 North Fourth street. He will receive $90.65 monthly. He has been on the sick list for several months, recovering from injuries received in an accident.
Detective Smith is 58 and lives at 933 Penn street. For several years he was loaned to the county as a detective and helped in solving a number of Camden county murders. He was recently returned to the police department and Detective Fiore Troncone turned over to the county in his place. He will receive $90.65 a month. He was appointed March 20, 1906.
Detective Guthrie served 19 years as a policeman and two as a fireman. He resides at 570 Chestnut street. He will receive $92.50 per month, the additional $2 being added because he will not have the usual two per cent deducted for the pension fund.
Patrolman Till, who is 56, resides at 1002 North Twenty-fifth street. He served 25 years as a policeman and two and one-half years as a fireman. He is attached to the Second district. Till will receive $83.60 monthly.
The members of the pension committee who passed on the applications is headed by Mayor Roy R. Stewart and includes, Newton W. Ash, fire department representative; William Michalk [sic], police department representative; John J. Robinson, citizen member, and Mrs. Walsh.
Cops Are Shifted by Mayor Stewart
Camden Courier-Post —
Retirements on Pension Cause Changes; Sergeant Petit, Traffic Head
Police Sergeant Nathan Petit yesterday was named head of the city traffic bureau to succeed Lieut. Charles L. Laib, who will retire on pension tonight.
A number of other transfers to fill vacancies left by other members of the police department who are to accept pensions were made yesterday by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Lieut. Samuel Johnson will be assigned in charge of police headquarters in place of Capt. A. Lincoln James and will serve also as a desk-sergeant on the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift daily. Policeman William Robertson will be made an acting desk-sergeant to fill the vacancy left by Johnson.
Policeman Frederick Watson, who has been doing special work in the detective bureau, will be returned to police headquarters to work at his old position of jailor in place of Samuel Hibbert, another pensioner.
Detective William Boettcher will be assigned to take over the duties of Detective Thomas Stanger, who also will retire tonight. Stanger has been in charge of Bertillion [sic] records and police photographic work for many years.
Rumors to the effect that Lieutenants George Ward and George Frost would be shifted from their present positions were spiked in the announcement that Petit would take charge of the traffic division.
The reports at city hall had it that Frost would be named to succeed Laib and that Ward would be placed in charge of the detective division in place of Lieutenant Louis Shaw, but Mayor Stewart announced that both Ward and Frost will remain in the present positions. Ward is acting desk sergeant in charge of police headquarters during the day shift. Frost has been in charge of the police school and pistol target range.
Although not announced by Mayor Stewart, Frost is expected to be named inspector of personnel, taking over the duties formerly performed by Inspector Charles T. Humes, in addition to his former duties as head of the police school.
Petit will not be named an acting lieutenant, the mayor said, but will hold his title of sergeant. He will, however, be in absolute charge of the traffic division and will not alternate on the three shifts with the other two sergeants.
Policeman Robertson is named desk sergeant in place of Sergeant Thomas Murphy, who will retire on pension tonight with the others.
In announcing the changes, Mayor Stewart said that they would not mean anything more financially to the men and would not be actual advancements.
Pensions Awarded 6 Cops, 17 Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Inspector Humes Refuses to Withdraw Application in Spite of Requests
Pensions for six policemen and 17 firemen took effect with the dawn of the New Year yesterday.
Proposed Salary reductions from five to 30 percent prompted the wholesale requests for pensions which were approved Saturday at noon by the Police and Firemen’s Pension Commission, of which Mayor Roy R. Stewart is chairman.
The proceedings were delayed one hour while efforts were being made by political leaders and friends to have Inspector Charles T. Humes reconsider his application. But he refused to withdraw his application and it was approved.
Two sergeants, a city detective and four captains of the fire department were included in the list of applicants.
Sergeants Albert York and Clarence Thorn, Detective David Hunt and Fire Captains Harry Haines, John Lutts, James R. White and William H. Miller, Jr., were included among the pensioners.
Major W. Greenwood and Adrian Bateman, two patrolmen, completed the list from the police department, while the others receiving pension awards who are member [sic] of the fire department were:
Elmer Burkett, 66; Robert M. Coffman, 57; Howard E. Currie, 52; James E. Navin, 67; George W. Hollins, 64; Richard S. Marter, 60; Arthur A. Wingate, 64; Joseph T. Earnest, 63; Samuel E. Harring, 64; Andrew Miller, 73; Stewart Bakley, William K. Buzine, 63, and Daniel Grimes.
The application of Marter’s was passed, but an improviso [sic] was made by the commission which gave him the opportunity of recalling his decision but he failed to take advantage of it.
It was explained that the city commission’s resolution passed at noon, providing that members of the police and fire departments could continue in their employment under the 1933 wage scale, but that their pensions would not be affected by the cut and they could retire under the 1931 basic pay, might cause Marter to want to rescind his action.
Mayor Stewart and Commissioner Bennett, both members of the commission, said they regretted so many “young men” were asking to be pensioned at this time.
Greenwood, 54, was appointed to the police department 21 years ago and during nearly all of this time has been attached to the First district. He lives in the First ward, at 220 York street, and will receive a pension of $83.30 monthly.
Buzine is a veteran of nearly 28 years’ service. He is 63, lives at 856 Haddon avenue and will be pensioned at $90.65. He was classed as an engineer in the fire department.
The applications of Captain John Lutts, of Engine Company No. 6, Front and Linden streets, and Elmer Burkett, engineer of the No. 4 Company, were filed shortly before noon.
Captain Lutts, 62, lives at 456 Royden street, and will receive a pension of $100 monthly. He was appointed 33 years ago.
Burkett, 66, lives at 330 North Ninth street. He was appointed to the fire department in 1907 and spent a great portion of his service at the fire station at Front and Linden streets, recently being transferred to the Vine street house. He will be pensioned at $90.65 monthly.
Three Veteran Cops Will Go on Pension as Old Year Fades
Camden Courier-Post —
Painter, James and Stanger to End Long Service in City Employ
ONE ON JOB 49 YEARS
To Get Pension
CAPT. A. LINCOLN JAMES
Whose application for pension was granted yesterday, to become effective Dec. 30. On that date, Capt. James, who is 69, will have served 40 years, nine months and 18 days in the Camden police department. He resides at 922 Cooper street.
Three veterans of the Camden police department yesterday were granted pensions by the Police and Fire Pension Fund Committee. A widow of another who died recently, also received approval of an application.
Those who applied were Captain A. Lincoln James, attached to police headquarters; Detective John Painter, Camden’s “oldest cop,” and Detective Thomas M. Stanger.
All three will be placed on the retirement list Dec. 30 next. Capt. James will receive $130.66 a month, while the two detectives will each be paid $92.50 monthly pension.
Detective Painter, who is 76 years old, lacks only six months of a half century of service to the city of Camden, having been appointed to the police department in June of 1883. He has been attached to the city detective bureau and, according to his superiors, has been “faithful and efficient.” He figured in a number of widely publicized murder cases.
When he applied for pension Painter stated he took great pride in the fact that during his nearly 50-year service he has never once been “on the carpet.” He gave as his reason for retirement that he has not been feeling well for several months. He resides at 1242 Princess avenue.
Captain James, who is 69 and resides at 922 Cooper street, was appointed to the force March 12, 1892. He gave no reason for his wish to retire.
Stanger, who is 70 and resides with a daughter at Collingswood, has been on the force for nearly 25 years. He is in charge of the Bertillon records at the city detective bureau, having been official “photographer” and finger-printer in many spectacular cases.
Mrs. Rose Caputi, of 1263 Park boulevard, widow of Detective Joseph Caputi, who died last week, applied for and was granted a widow’s pension by the police and fire group. Mrs. Caputi will receive $1000 yearly.
Stewart Joins Shay In Battle on Vice
is suspicion or evidence of vice and graft,” inasmuch as Judge Shay, in declaring the vice war voiced the belief that vice could not exist without the consent of police.
Mayor Stewart expressed the opinion that the city has “cleaned up virtually all of the ugly conditions” prevalent here in the past.
Two More Women Held
Judge Shay deferred sentences on the five disorderly house-keepers and remanded them to jail when he learned that several of them were willing to make complete statements to authorities about the white slave racket. Two more accused vice den proprietresses were arraigned yesterday and they too were sent back to jail to be further questioned. They [cut off at the crop edge]
Café License Fees Deadline Extended
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Stewart Gives Proprietors Until Feb. 15 to Pay $100
Inability of 72 of 142 proprietors of Camden soft drink establishments to pay their 1933 license fees of $100 by yesterday resulted in Mayor Roy R. Stewart extending the time limit for payments until February 15.
The original deadline set by the mayor for the payment of the fees was Wednesday and was extended upon the recommendation of City Clerk Frank S. Albright. No further extensions will be granted, the mayor said.
“Unless those whose 1933 applications have been approved have paid their $100 license fee by February 15, the police will order their places closed.”
Albright said that before closing time Wednesday at the new City Hall, a total of 70 proprietors had paid their fee. The clerk said several others had expressed willingness to pay on time but have been unable to do so because of depleted revenues.
Virtually all the applicants for the 1933 licenses had been operating under their 1932 permits until the mayor approved their applications last week. Last year’s permits will be void February 15 in all cases, the mayor said.
Camden Elks to Honor Past Exalted Rulers
Camden Courier-Post —
Past exalted rulers will be honored tonight by Camden Lodge of Elks with a dinner, ceremonial and entertainment.
The program will be nation-wide. A dinner will be served at 6:00 PM, followed by a business session. Harry G. Robinson, present exalted ruler, will open the ceremonial and turn the lodge over to the past officers.
The past exalted rulers expected are Samuel Kilpatrick, who served in 1900 and 1921; Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, Alexander J. Milliette, J. Harry Switzer, James H. Long, Marian Moriarity, Allen Jarvis, Albert Austermuhl, William L. Sauerhoff, former Mayor Frank S. Van Hart, D. Trueman Stackhouse, Harry Ellis, William G. Ferat, Judge Garfield Pancoast, Rudolph Preisendanz, Jr., Theodore T. Kausel, Edward J. Kelley, Mayor Roy R. Stewart, William H. Iszard, William S. Lehman and J. Harry Todd.
Stewart Answers Civic Congress Demands For Additional Economies
Camden Courier-Post —
MAYOR ANNOUNCES CITY WORKERS MUST PAY TAX ARREARS
TRAFFIC CHIEF UPHELD
Efforts will be made to have all city employees pay up their back taxes within three weeks, Mayor Roy R. Stewart promised yesterday. The mayor and Commissioner Clay W. Reesman issued statements to the press answering recommendations by the Congress of Civic Associations and other organizations which urged abolition of certain city jobs and municipal services.
One of the economies suggested by the Civic Congress was that all municipal workers be forced to pay whatever taxes they owe.
“I feel that this is entirely proper and an effort will be made to see that taxes on properties owned by city employees are paid within three weeks,” Stewart said.
Answering a recommendation that the city eliminate electric inspection and have the work done by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, the mayor replied that Camden could not call upon the board to do the job. He said the work was imperative as a fire prevention measure. Stewart answered criticism of his personal city-owned automobile by saying it is used only in case of emergency and on special occasions, and that his chauffeur has been returned to police duty. Other cars formerly operated by the city have been eliminated as far as possible, he added.
It was urged that the position of transportation supervisor be abolished. The mayor declared that it would be inadvisable because the supervisor now is doing, in addition to his own job, the work of the mechanical inspector, who has been dropped from the payroll. Furthermore, Stewart stated, the supervisor’s salary is more than paid for by fees collected from the transportation companies.
The mayor defended the maintenance of telephones, at the city’s expense, in the homes of some employees. These phones, he said, are necessary for the efficient operation of the department of public safety. Those employees are required to be on call for any emergency. Many telephones found to be unnecessary have been eliminated, he said.
Regarding a suggestion for separate control of the police and fire bureaus, Stewart answered that “arrangements” already have been made to accomplish that purpose. He recalled that in the police department there are now only two captains, six lieutenants and 16 sergeants on the force where there used to be six captains, eight lieutenants and 19 sergeants.
Another recommendation concerned elimination of policemen in the parks. The mayor said he interpreted that to mean the elimination of park guards. He asserted that park guards have been released except three in Farnham park. Isolation of the park, he said, would create a rendezvous for disorderly persons.
Reesman declared that Convention Hall could not be closed, as urged by one group, or turned over to a board or private interests because under the law the responsibility for maintaining the building rests with the city commission.
Mayor to Decide on Fire Alarm Bids
Camden Courier-Post —
Conducts Hearing on Firm’s Failure to Accept Specifications
Mayor Roy R. Stewart will rule within two or three days on whether the city will accept the bid of the Horni Signal Manufacturing Corporation, of New York, to install the new fire alarm and police signal system in the new city hall courthouse annex. The corporation submitted the lower of two estimates recently.
The mayor cited the corporation to show cause at a hearing before him Wednesday why the corporation’s bid of $44,995 should not be rejected as irregular in that it allegedly did not follow specifications, failed to reveal the corporation’s financial responsibility to complete the work, and made no provision to accept city bonds, warrants or other form of municipal security in payment for the work, as provided in the specifications. Mayor Stewart said the corporation, through three representatives at the hearing yesterday, pointed out that it would take city securities in payment, provided the city agreed to make up the difference should the value of the securities drop.
As a result of the hearing, the mayor can reject the corporation’s bid, accept that of the Gamewell Company, of New York, the rival bidder with an estimate of $51,837, or re-advertise for bids.
City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly and William Dilmore, acting city purchasing agent, attended the hearing in the mayor’s office.
38 Eligibility Fight Losers Have Long Wait for Cop Jobs
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Stewart Reveals Lack of Funds Makes Appointments, Either as Summer or Regular Police, Now Out of Question
It’s going to be one long wait for a police department appointment for 38 Camden men who lost an appeal recently to the State Civil Service Commission to extend an expired eligibility list.
Mayor Roy R. Stewart revealed yesterday there is no hope in sight for the employment of the men, either as summer cops or regulars, because there is “no need for them, no appropriation and no money.”
The state board had recommended, in denying the men’s appeal to extend their eligibility, that they be employed by Camden city as summer cops, if needed.
The eligibility list was voided by the state commission March 11, when it was two years old, explanation having been made that it would be against the board’s policy to continue the list beyond that time. Mayor Stewart at the time had asked a three months’ extension of the list.
Later, 31 of the 38 men, headed by William J. Rose, Jr., president of the Tenth Ward organization Republican Club, appeared personally before the state board in Trenton in an appeal, which was denied, but with the recommendation to the city that they be hired for summer duty, if they could be used.
“There will be no need for them,” Mayor Stewart said yesterday, when asked if there was any probability the men may be employed temporarily.
“The city has no money to employ them, and there has been no appropriation. The men, of course, don’t intend to work without pay, and why should they? Without money, we cannot pay them and so we cannot employ them, even temporarily, should we need them, but we don’t.”
“Although the department personnel is lower than in former years,” the mayor said, “it is functioning efficiently with fewer men because of recent changes. I have no idea when we shall need additional men, if any at all.”
Camden Elks Hope to Get Convention
Camden Courier-Post —
The twenty-first annual reunion and the convention of the New Jersey State Elks Association will be held in Camden next June if efforts of the advisory board of Camden Lodge of Elks are successful at the state meeting in Newark on June 15, 16 and 17.
Members of the advisory board for the local lodge, who are past exalted rulers of the Camden lodge, will present the invitation to hold the 1934 meeting in Camden, at the twentieth reunion and convention in Newark.
Past exalted rulers who comprise the advisory board, and the year they took office, follow: Samuel Kirkpatrick, 1900; Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, 1901; Alex J. Milliette, 1906; J. Harry Switzer, 1908; James H. Long, 1911; Marion Moriarty, 1913; Allen Jarvis, 1914; Albert Austermuhl, 1915; William L. Sauerhoff, 1917; Theodore T. Kausel, 1918; Garfield Pancoast, 1919; William G. Ferat, 1920; Harry Ellis, 1921; Samuel A. Dobbins, 1923; D. Trueman Stackhouse, 1924; Frank S. Van Hart, 1925; Edward J. Kelly, 1926; Rud Preisendanz, Jr., 1927; Roy R. Stewart, 1928; William H. Iszard, 1929; William Lehman, 1930; J. Harry Todd, 1931, and Harry G. Robinson, 1932.
Low Signal Bid Rejected by City
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Says Cost Might Have Been Greater Than Estimated in End
Mayor Roy R. Stewart Saturday wrote the Horni Signal Manufacturing Corporation, of New York, that the city had rejected its bid of $44,195 to install the new fire alarm and police signal system in the new city hall-courthouse annex.
The mayor explained in the communication that the estimate of the corporation was not accepted because it was “not in substantial compliance with the requirements of the specifications.” The letter is a sequel to a hearing Stewart granted the company to show cause why its bid should not be rejected.
Mayor Stewart said as a result of the rejection, the city will accept the bid of the Gamewell Company, of New York, the only other bidder for the contract, whose estimate was $51,837. He insisted that no influence was used to favor one bidder over the other.
The mayor explained that the Horni Corporation had so modified the specifications that the city was put in the position of probably paying much more in the end to that company than its bid through possible additional requirements in installing the system.
Borden to Be Guest of Realty Board
Camden Courier-Post —
Newly Elected President of Commission Will Be Honored at Dinner
Edward J. Borden will be guest of honor tonight of the Camden County Real Estate Board at a banquet in honor of his election as president of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission.
The banquet, to be held in the Camden Club, 315 Cooper Street, will be attended by lawyers, real estate men and public officials from all sections of the state.
Among the guests who will attend are former U. S. Senator David Baird, Jr., Assemblyman Frank M. Travaline, Jr., Mayor Roy R. Stewart and other members of the Camden City Commission; Dr. Leon N. Neulen, city superintendent of schools, and Police Judge Garfield Pancoast.
The speakers include William S. Abbott, president of the Camden County Real Estate Board; Leon E. Todd, former president; Vincent P. Bradley, of Trenton, retiring president of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission; Carleton E. Adams, of Atlantic City, vice president of the New Jersey Association of Real Estate Boards; Samuel P. Orlando, former assistant prosecutor of Camden county, and C. Armel Nutter, general chairman of the banquet committee.
George B. Robeson, former president of the Real Estate Board, is toastmaster of the banquet, which will begin at 7:30 p. m.
Stewart Gives Permission to Use Daylight Time Loophole
Camden Courier-Post —
Saloon Men’s Protest at 1 A. M. Closing Wins Quick Action
SCREENS ARE SCRAPPED AS WORD IS PASSED
Most of Camden’s saloons started selling beer over the bar last night. No arrests were made.
Proprietors of “soft drink” parlors are said to have received an “O. K.” to sell over the bar with the understanding they would not be molested.
At the same time it was learned that Mayor Roy R. Stewart had issued an official order at 5 p. m. to acting Chief of Police John W. Golden permitting all beer dispensaries, cafes, etc., to remain open until 2 a. m., daylight saving time, except on Saturday when they must close at midnight.
Through their own organization saloonkeepers are known to have put up a vigorous protest on closing at 1 a. m., while in Philadelphia the same closing hour is enforced in standard time, permitting places there to do business until 2 a. m. daylight time.
Word is understood to have been passed to the saloon men by high authority that the existing state law “will be changed Monday, sure” when the legislature meets at Trenton, and would knock out the clauses requiring screens and forbidding sale of beer over the bar.
As if by some mysterious communication system, all saloons seemed to receive the advice at the same time. About 6 o’clock they started removing tables and screens. From official sources in Trenton there was firm denial that the beer law even would be taken up Monday.
Camden Makes Bid Today for Meeting of Elks in 1934
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Stewart to Present City’s Claim at Convention in Newark
PARADE TO CLOSE EVENT
The 1934 convention of the New Jersey Elks Association will be sought for Camden today by more than 500 members of the Camden lodge who will attend the twentieth anniversary convention of the association in Newark.
Camden’s claims as next year’s convention city will be presented by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, past exalted ruler of the Camden lodge.
The Camden lodge has engaged 18 rooms in the Hotel Riviera as its headquarters. In the lobby has been placed a large banner proclaiming: “Brother Bill, we want you in Camden in 1934.”
The parade will start at 7 p. m. Camden lodge, in the third division with Atlantic City, Trenton and Bridgeton, will be led by James MacMillan, exalted ruler, followed by 16 past exalted rulers.
Camden lodge’s band of 40 pieces, led by William Townsend, will precede the patrol of 30 members headed by Harry Rathbone. New uniforms have been provided for the patrol.
Bus service has been planned for Saturday to carry members and friends of Camden lodge to the parade. According to William H. Iszard, past exalted ruler and chairman of the transportation, publicity and parades committees of Camden lodge, buses will leave the Elks Home, Seventh and Cooper Streets, at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p. m. Saturday, returning that night after the parade and grand ball which is to close the convention.
Harry Robinson, past exalted ruler, is the Camden lodge delegate to the convention. Francis P. Boland, of Jersey City, is president of the association, which is composed of past exalted rulers of all New Jersey lodges.
‘Depression’ Tiger Conquered As Sales Drive Starts Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Clyde Beatty Tames ‘Beast’ on Court House Steps
Richards Opens Three ‘Co-operation Days’ With ‘Fight’ Talk to Crowd
“Old Man Depression” went down for the count before the skill of Clyde Beatty, famous wild animal trainer, on the Court House plaza yesterday.
Some 1000 Camden citizens watched the death throes as “Co-operation Days” — a three-day community sales event — got under way.
Beatty, in Camden with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, staged a wrestling match with a man dressed in a tiger’s skin and bearing a banner across his chest reading “Depression.” Beatty won in one quick fall. Beatty was introduced by M. L. Gates, general manager of the Sears, Roebuck store.
This horse-play followed a speech by Senate President Emerson L. Richards in which he declared the way to lick the depression is to “go out and fight.” He urged citizens to co-operate in the three-day sales saying that prices are more attractive now than ever.
Before his speech, Richards went to the seventeenth floor of city hall to pay his respects to Mayor Roy R. Stewart. The mayor was not in his office and his secretary said he did not know the mayor’s whereabouts.
Pancoast Frees Nude Bathers, Scores Those Causing Arrest
Camden Courier-Post —
Boys and Young Men, However, Are Asked to Carry Bathing Suits on Next Visit To Cooper River
Fourteen boys and young men arrested as nude bathers Thursday as the sequel to a city commission meeting, were freed yesterday by Judge Garfield Pancoast with the advice that they wear bathing suits when swimming.
The nude bathers were apprehended in Cooper river in the vicinity of Tenth and Pearl streets after Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., secretary of the New Jersey Congress of Civic Associations and of the North Camden Civic Association, complained at the commission meeting Thursday that shocking conditions exist among the male bathers in the river, causing women in the neighborhood to protest.
After Taylor informed the court he did not know who made the complaint to Mayor Stewart, Pancoast said the complainant “is probably the same man who, at the age of these boys, did nothing in the Summer but read the New Testament.”
“He probably is the same man who never went swimming when the temperature went up to 92 degrees,” the court commented, “and is probably the same man who does not know that the cost to the taxpayers for every arrest in the city averages $3.87.”
“I have nothing to say to you boys, but appeal to you to take a bathing suit with you the next time you go swimming, because someone might be passing who does not like to see your nude figure.”
Hartmann Denies He Complained in Nude Bathers Case
Camden Courier-Post —
Resents Imputation by Judge Pancoast of Being Prudish ‘Person’
SAYS MAYOR SENT COPS
Mayor Roy R. Stewart made the complaint which led to the arrest of 14 nude male bathers in North Camden Thursday, Frank J. Hartmann declared Saturday. Hartmann so stated in a letter expressing resentment to an indirect reference made by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast against him as the complainant.
“During a meeting of the Commissioners in City Hall, that day, it was clearly brought out that vandalism in Camden was a disease, running unchecked; that at that very moment vandals were practically tearing the Bernstein building apart, piece by piece, and that lawlessness was spreading along other lines; for instance even at that moment men and boys could be seen bathing in the nude. It was at this point that the mayor demanded to know where; it was the mayor who called the police out; it was the mayor who made the complaint, and I suppose it was the mayor to whom you referred.”
Sunday Beer Here Is Up to Reesman As Four Rulers Split
Camden Courier-Post —
Commissioner Says, However, He Awaits Public Sentiment
MOORE SIGNS ACT, NEW FEES FIXED
Stewart and Bennett Against, Hanna and Rhone For
With four members of the city commission deadlocked on the issue, Commissioner Clay W. Reesman last night appeared to hold in his hands the final decision as to whether Sunday beer sales will be permitted in Camden.
On April 26 Mayor Roy R. Stewart and Commissioner Harold W. Bennett declared they would vote against any resolution permitting Sunday sales, while Commissioners Frank B. Hanna and Dr. David S. Rhone declared they would favor such a resolution. Reesman asserted at that time that “it would be foolish for him to comment until the measure before the legislature becomes a law.”
The state measure, which permits Sunday beer sales upon resolution of municipal bodies, became law yesterday when Governor A. Harry Moore signed it.
When asked last night how he stood on the Sunday beer sale question in Camden, Reesman said: “I can’t state any opinion at this time, for I really have none. I want to sound public sentiment first. Whatever the people want, that is the way I’ll be guided.”
Lafferty Seen as Loan Chief; Stewart Acts to Save Homes
Camden Courier-Post —
Charles I. Lafferty, Camden Home Loan Bank
Shore Political Leader Believed Sure of Managing U. S. Banks Here
MAYOR ASKS OFFICIAL TO STAY FORECLOSURES
Tells Administrator 30 May Lose Their Houses Here on Friday
With the announcement last night that Charles I. Lafferty, Atlantic City real estate broker and political leader, is slated to become director of the Camden Home Loan Bank branch, Mayor Roy R. Stewart appealed to Frank Shanley, state administrator, N. J. Home Loan Association, to act to prevent 30 foreclosure sales here Friday.
The mayor sent a telegram to Shanley to his home at Union City asking him to intercede with Sheriff George R. Pelouze to postpone the sales until the Home Loan branch can function here.
“I know of 30 cases,” the mayor said, “and there may be more. I think it would be a fine thing for Shanley to have these postponed and I hope he acts quickly.”
Sunday Beer Faces Test Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Commissioners Deny Knowing Which Will Sponsor Ordinance
The Camden City Commission may consider a Sunday beer sale ordinance today. A conference of the commission is scheduled for noon, prior to today’s regular meeting at 2:30 PM. It is believed that if an ordinance is to come up it will first be considered in caucus.
Request for Sunday beer was made in a resolution adopted unanimously by the Camden County Division of the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association. Proprietors of more than 60 of the city’s leading establishments voted in favor of Sunday beer at the time the resolution was adopted, a week ago.
Commissioners Frank B. Hanna and Dr. David S. Rhone are known to favor Sunday beer sales. Mayor Roy R. Stewart and Harold W. Bennett, director of finance, have expressed disapproval of it. Commissioner Clay W. Reesman has been straddling the issue.
Wilkie Denies Charge Brought by Girl
Camden Courier-Post —
Mayor Roy R. Stewart yesterday opened a secret hearing on charges brought against Patrolman John V. Wilkie, Camden’s “notebook cop,” by Miss Tessie Iusiak, 19, of Mechanic Street near Mt. Ephraim Avenue. The nature of the charges was not revealed, but it was said Wilkie made an emphatic denial of the accusation.
Mayor Stewart Greets Wiley Post at Central Airport
Camden Courier-Post —
At Central Airport. Front row, left to right: Wiley Post, Roy R. Stewart, and Miss Betty Moore (Miss Collingswood NJ of 1933). Photo republished August 1938.
Circolo Italiano Honors 6 Tonight
Camden Courier-Post —
Six youths of Camden city and county, graduates of various institutions of higher learning, who have embarked upon professional careers within the past ten months, will be honored tonight at a dinner-dance, to be tendered them by the Circolo Italiano of Camden County. The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p. m. in Hotel Walt Whitman.
Common Pleas Judge Eugene V. Alessandroni, of Philadelphia will be one of the principal speakers. Others include State Senator Albert S. Woodruff, Mayor Roy R. Stewart of Camden and Dr. A. A. de Porreca, noted Philadelphia architect.
Rocco Palese, assistant prosecutor of Camden County and president of the Circolo Italiano of Camden County, will preside as toastmaster.
Mayor Stewart Helps Capture Burglar, 17, in Cellar of Theatre
Camden Morning Post —
Mayor Roy R. Stewart early today aided in capturing a youthful burglar who broke into the Grand Theatre, next door to his home.
The mayor heard a noise in the theatre and notified detective bureau. Detectives Walter Smith and John Trout discovered a side door broken open and found Willard Bishop, 17, of 405 Liberty street, hiding in the cellar of the theatre. He had a flashlight, table knife and bicycle wrench.
He told detectives a companion was with him. He had escaped before the officers arrived. They believe the youths were attempting to break open a candy vending machine in the lobby when the mayor heard them.
Wiley Post Greeted at Central Airport
The above picture was taken when Wiley Post, famous world flier, visited Camden nearly two years ago. In the photo Post is shown as he was greeted at Central Airport, Jan. 23, 1934 by (left to right) Mrs. Emma E. Hyland, former Mayor Roy R. Stewart and Keith Morgan. Mrs. Hyland and Mayor Stewart met Post and Morgan on that occasion to confer on arrangements for the Roosevelt Birthday Ball.
William J. Malinowski
Camden Courier-Post —
William J. Malinowski, Camden police, May 1, 1934
Mayor Doubts Need of 50 Extra Cops as Emergency Wanes
Camden Courier-Post —
May Not Employ ‘Summer Police,’ Says Stewart as Soup Strike Ends
TESTS GIVEN ELIGIBLES
Extra policemen may not be employed by the city after all. Mayor Roy R. Stewart made that statement yesterday. “Settlement of the strike at the Campbell Soup Company,” said the mayor, “removes one of the emergencies for which the extra men were sought, and if the strike at the New York Shipyard is settled in the next couple of days, then all of the immediate emergencies will have been removed.”
“Therefore,” continued the mayor, “we may not need the men; we will be able to get along without them. The strike situations in the city were the immediate cause of our going ahead with plans to put the additional men to work in the police department as temporary employes.
“It is true that the department, as at present constituted, is undermanned, and we have been considering for some time the question of placing more men to work.”
Meanwhile, however, plans were proceeding to have additional men ready for work in the department in the event that it is finally decided they should be put on.
Physicial [sic] examination of all those eligibles who desire the positions were conducted by Dr. Garnett Summerrill, police surgeon, in the detective bureau on the fifth floor of city hall.
Eligibles Notified
Acting Chief of Police John W. Golden said that all whose names are on the list have been notified they will be given first choice and if they are interested [sic] may appear for the examination.
One of those who appeared at the office of Chief Golden yesterday was William J. Malinowski, whose name is contained on the list of former Summer policemen, but who has been working as a stenographer.
Malinowski, who was recently beaten on the fifth floor of City Hall by an unknown person shortly after he had taken notes at a police hearing in the mayor’s office, said he will not return to work as a stenographer, but will accept a “street job.”
He said that as a stenographer, [sic] was given $17 a week, but if permitted to work as a “Summer cop” would get $25.60 weekly. He was ordered to appear for the examination.
The decision to hire the extra policemen following the action of the city commisioners [sic] at a special meeting Thursday. They authorized an emergency appropriation of $8500 which would pay the wages of the men and pay for necessary equipment.
19 Temporary Cops Sworn In by Mayor
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Tells New Officers Jobs Will Last During Strike Emergency
Nineteen temporary policemen were accepted for duty yesterday by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who administered oaths to the men, including 13 former “Summer cops” and six who took initial appointments.
In swearing in the men Mayor Stewart informed them that the positions were temporary because of local labor trouble which had compelled the regular police to work extended hours. The ceremonies took place at the mayor’s office.
“The regular men on the police force need relief and we are giving you the appointments temporarily. It may be for a day, a week, or six weeks and your appointment will remain during the period of the emergency,” the mayor said.
The appointees were turned over to Acting Chief of Police John W. Golden who gave brief instructions to the men. The group will be drilled today by Lieut. George Frost and will start their shifts tomorrow, it was announced by Capt. Arthur Colsey.
The list of names given out by Mayor Stewart numbered 21 and included that of Oliver Passeri, 24, of 446 South Third street, a former “Summer” policeman.
Later Captain Colsey announced that Passeri had asked that his appointment be withdrawn, and that Passeri’s request had been complied with.
Included among the former “Summer” police appointed are the following: Joseph Granese, 38, of 417 Line street; John K. Voll, 35, of 408 Evans street; Lorenzo Jordan, 34, colored, of 226 Mt. Vernon street; Joseph Buck, Jr., 28, of 925 South Third street; David Luke, 45, colored, of 1010 Francis street; Frank Tulliback, 32, of 1623 Maryland street; George T. Miller, 29, colored, of 1733 South Ninth street; William J. Brodbeck, 31, 733 Elm street; Solomon Carpenter, 42, colored, of 2917 Mitchell street; John Schott, 29, of 1115 Liberty street; William Malinowski, 27, of 1217 Morton street; Joseph J. Bunker, 34, of 1268 Everett street; Thomas P. Greenan, 29, of 729 Sylvan street.
The following will serve initial appointments: Harry Donaldson, 28, colored, of 236 Washington street; William Burton, 33, colored, of 843 West street; William Joyner, 31, colored, of 433 South Third street; Ernest Emmons, 30, of 910 North Seventh street; George R. Thompson, Jr., 34, of 1201 North Twenty-eighth street; George W. Johnson, 30, of 1231 Langham avenue.
Thompson is a son of Detective George R. Thompson, and was formerly attached to the Camden bridge police department. He is a veteran of the World War and was first on the list of eligibles when the civil service examinations were held in 1931.
Malinowski, former police stenographer, who was slugged in a mysterious attack on the fifth floor corridor of the city hall several weeks ago, announced that he resigned his post as police stenographer because of inadequate pay, and was willing to accept a temporary appointment to cover a police beat.
Dismissed as Tipsy, Fireman Is Heard in Civil Service Plea
Camden Courier-Post —
‘Drunk on Duty’, Former Associates Testify at Garner’s Hearing
DECISION IS RESERVED
Testimony by fellow firemen that he “was so drunk he had to be lifted off a fire truck” marked the hearing of George W. Garner, a city fireman of 1266 Kenwood avenue, before Civil Service Commissioner William S. Etiles [sic] yesterday.
The case was the first Civil Service hearing in Camden in two years. Commissioner Stiles reserved decision.
Garner was dismissed on May 4, 1934, by Mayor Stewart in his capacity of director of public safety. The charge was “continued disobedience of orders and intoxication while on duty.” The defendant is married and has two children, one four years and one only three days old.
Capt. James Young, Garner’s superior officer at Engine Company No. 2, 619 Kaighn avenue, testified that he found Garner in a saloon with a woman on the evening of April 30 last.
Ignored Orders
“Garner had asked permission to go out about 7 o’clock and get coffee for the men,” said Captain Young. “Two hours later he went out without permission.
“Senior Captain Lawrence Newton and I went looking for him and found him in a saloon operated by Umberto DiClaudio at Sixth and Kaighn avenue. He was sitting at a table with a woman.
“I asked him what he was doing and he said the woman had a toothache.
“At 2.29 a. m. an alarm sounded, and when we went to take out the fire truck Garner was on the running board unconscious. We couldn’t rouse him and I had to assign two men, Chester Price and Irving Bishop, to carry him off. He was too intoxicated to move.”
Price and Bishop corroborated the testimony of their captain, as also did James A. Creato and William Cummerford. Battalion Chief Leonard Magee, of Engine Company No. 3, testified he saw Garner after the fire and “the man was in a stupor.”
Looked Bad Next Day
Acting Fire Chief John H. Lennox said the next morning when he saw Garner, “He looked to me as if he had had a bad night.”
DiClaudio, the saloon proprietor, denied that Garner had bought anything to drink, saying he sold him 12 boiled eggs to eat.
Garner, on the stand, entered a general denial of the charges. He was represented by Morris Tartar.
Assistant City Solicitor Lewis Lieberman showed the court a resignation signed by Garner and dated March 10.
Grand Jury Vice Probe to Be Ordered by Lloyd; Stewart Quizzes Cops
Camden Evening Courier —
FEITZ MURDER, CITY GRAFTING TO FACE INQUIRY
Action Follows Parley With Orlando and Mayor on Conditions
MORE SUSPENSIONS OF POLICE INTIMATED
Mickey Blair Quizzed on Detective’s Killing; Stewart Warns, ‘Clean Up’
Questioned in Feitz Murder
Michael Tenerelli, 25, known in pugilistic circles as Mickey Blair, is shown above during a lull in the questioning by detectives investigating the murder of District Detective William Feitz. Tenerelli surrendered to police yesterday and on order of Prosecutor Orlando was held without bail on charges of being a material witness and with conspiracy in a robbery in connection with the holdup in progress in the South Camden alleged disorderly house at the time Feitz was shot.
Ward Reported on Way Out as Detective Chief
Reports around Camden police and detective headquarters today were to the effect that Lieutenant George Ward was on “his way out” as head of the Detective Bureau.
Dissatisfaction with the manner in which both police and detectives have handled the investigation so far into the Feitz murder will result in Mayor Stewart, director of public safety, ordering a change in detective chiefs today, it was authoritatively learned.
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, commander of the First Police District, will succeed Lieutenant Ward as it was reported, the latter being sent back to that police precinct which he formerly commanded.
“A sweeping investigation of all phases of “crime” in Camden County, will be the first order given the new September Grand Jury today after it is sworn in at Camden Courthouse by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
That was the decision reached by Justice Lloyd after three hours of separate conferences with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, of Camden County, and Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety. During the conferences held in Justice Lloyd’s offices at City Hall-Courthouse, the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz, alleged graft and corruption in the Camden police department and protected vice were thoroughly discussed.
Today, Mayor Stewart, who has inaugurated his own personal investigation of existing conditions in the police department, continued to question and take statements from police officials, patrolmen and detectives. Twenty-three patrolmen and detectives were ordered before the mayor yesterday in addition to the 12 others who were indefinitely suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey.
Tenerelli Quizzed
Michael Tenerelli, 25, also known as Mickey Blair, former Camden lightweight boxer, was still being questioned at police headquarters in connection with the murder of Detective Feitz. Tenerelli who surrendered to police here yesterday after returning from New York, is booked as a material witness and on a charge of conspiracy in a robbery. Both charges were ordered placed against Tenerelli by Prosecutor Orlando who has assumed direct charge of the investigation. He is being held without bail.
Seven other men and women taken into custody by police after the shooting of Feitz in the alleged disorderly house operated by the late Mrs. Emma Heisler at 243 Sycamore street, were to have been arraigned in Camden Police Court today on orders of Prosecutor Orlando and then turned over to the county authorities. Bail, Prosecutor Orlando declared, would be “sufficiently high” to insure their later appearances when wanted.
However there were no appearances of material witnesses or others in the Feitz investigation before Judge J. Harry Switzer in Camden Police Court during its session today and it was unofficially reported that the prosecutor had changed his plans.
Police Chief Colsey warned all detectives and patrolmen in the department that further suspensions will follow justified complaints of vice anywhere in the city limits if it can be traced to police neglect.
Chief Colsey also admitted that the 12 patrolmen and detectives suspended yesterday on his orders, will receive no pay as long as their suspensions last.
In addition to Lieutenant Bakley, Sergeant Cornog and Acting Sergeant Leonard, the others suspended include Sergeant Walter Mattison of police headquarters; Sergeant John Garrity, District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was with Feitz when he was shot; Patrolmen Leon Branch, George Weber, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmot, John Houston and Vernon Jones, all attached to the Second district station.
Interviews Police
Three of the suspended officers, Mayor Stewart revealed, were among those interrogated yesterday. They are Lieut. Ralph A. Bakley, commander of the Second Police District or Division “H” in which territory the alleged disorderly house existed where Feitz was fatally shot; Sergeant Richard Cornog and Acting [lines between the bottom of crop 15 and the top of crop 16 are not captured in the scanned crops]
Edwin Andrews, Winslow township; Joseph Dougherty, 140 Prospect avenue, Merchantville.
William Tomlinson, Glendale, Voorhees township; Edmund S. Stafford, 546 Stevens street; Harry Buffington, 123 East Clinton avenue, Oaklyn; Samuel A. Dobbins, 2599 Baird boulevard; Charles H. Thatcher, 129 Kendall boulevard, Oaklyn; Richard S. Thompson, East Zane avenue, Collingswood; Benjamin F. Stemmer, 420 Third Avenue, Haddon Heights; Horace J. Harvey, 721 Amherst avenue, Audubon; H. B. Cox, Evesham avenue, Voorhees township; Dr. Walter F. Wood, Collingswood; John W. Underwood, 801 Cumberland street, Gloucester; Clarence Alloway, Blackwood; Charles A. McWilliams, Blackwood; Louis G. Clark, Barrington; Albert J. Cline, 18 East Crystal Lake avenue, Westmont; Robert Bushbeck, First avenue, Pine Hill, Harry Burkhardt, Bell road, Mt. Ephraim; George T. Schuster, 223 Woodland terrace, Collingswood; Chesley L. Hutchins, 711 Market street, Gloucester and Otto Vierling, Evergreen avenue, Runnemede.
The order of Justice Lloyd for a wide grand jury probe of crime follows upon a decision he made 10 days ago to have the same body open an investigation into the “numbers” racket in Camden city and county. At that time he declared he did not believe any graft or corruption existed in the Camden police department in connection with the operation of the lottery game here.
Tenerelli was identified, Colsey said, as a frequenter of Mrs. Emma Heisler’s disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street, where Feitz was killed, and was booked as a material witness in the Feitz murder, and on a charge of “shaking down” Mrs. Heisler by force, prior to the murder.
Unlike Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death after 60 hours freedom in the detective bureau, Blair was slapped without bail into the “cold storage” or incommunicado cell in the bureau.
Blair, after surrendering to Colsey, was sent to the “downstairs” jail and kept there until about 4 p. m. yesterday. Then he was questioned for an hour and a half by Prosecutor Orlando and Colsey.
Blair denied all knowledge of the murder, Colsey said, after the grilling ceased, but added that two inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s house, whom he would not identify, named Blair as one of several men who had come several times to Mrs. Heisler’s place, attempted to extort money from her and, failing, had “held up the place” or a “shakedown.”
This coincided with the statement of Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, on the day Feitz was killed, that the place had been held up several times, and Mrs. Heisler, because of the nature of her occupation, would not report the holdups.
Prosecutor Orlando, subsequently, had stated that Feitz met death in an attempt to block a “shake-down” holdup of the place.
Boxer Is Identified
Both the inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s place, held incommunicado, looked at Blair in the new detective bureau “lineup” room and identified him as a shakedown visitor, but said he was not in the house on the night of the murder, Colsey said.
The chief then was asked if he believes friends of Blair staged the fatal shake-down and killed Feitz, and replied:
“That’s what we want to know. We don’t know yet. But we are getting somewhere and will solve this case.”
The two inmates of the Heisler house were brought back to the lineup room a second time, took another look at Blair through the screen that made him a “high-lighted” figure and prevented him from seeing them and reaffirmed their previous statements, Colsey said.
Upon the suspension of the twelve members of the force and the installation of a new acting second district commander and new acting sergeants to relieve those suspended, Chief Colsey said he issued the following order to the entire department:
Calls for Cleanup
“All vice must be eliminated absolutely and entirely in Camden. This means all types of vice, including the numbers racket, gambling houses, disorderly houses, horse-race bookmaking speakeasies and everything else though it may not be specifically enumerated here.
“In the future if any complaint of vice comes in, and is proved to be justified, and is attributable to negligence on the part of any patrolmen of police officer [sic], immediate suspension of the negligent members of the force will follow without exception.”
Chief Colsey also said he will recommend that bail of $2000 be set in all numbers racket cases in future, and that all arrested be held for grand jury action, except in cases where innocent players are brought in.
‘Prompted by Facts’
In making public the suspensions of the policemen, Chief Colsey said his action was “prompted by facts” uncovered during the course of his investigation.
In announcing the taking over of the murder investigation, Prosecutor Orlando said:
“As a result of my conference with Justice Lloyd it has been decided that the prosecutor’s office from this time on will take charge of the murder investigation.
“In doing so, however, it does not mean that the city police will cease acting in the matter and will act with just as much zeal as is within their command in bringing about the apprehension of those responsible.
“This investigation has been taken over by this office by reason of the policy assumed in other murder investigations. Hereafter all murder investigations in Camden county will be under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office and at the same time through co-ordinated efforts of this office and the police department of the particular community where the murder takes place.
“As far as developments are concerned, there is nothing new in the case except the arrest of Mickey Blair, who was surrendered by his counsel and who is in the custody of the police until he is committed.”
Lieutenant Walter Welch in command of the Third Police District was assigned by Chief Colsey to replace Lieutenant Bakley and make the suspensions of all sergeants and patrolmen in that precinct effective immediately. Sergeant John Potter of the Third District was named an acting lieutenant to replace Lieutenant Welch as commander of that precinct.
Welch said he will instruct every policeman under his new command that he must work in harmony with earnest efforts to stamp out vice.
“If they do not do this,” Welch said, “I do not want them. They will be of no use to me. They know what to expect if they fail to cooperate. My efforts will be directed to maintaining order without vice in the Second district, just as I have done in the Third.”
Feitz Funeral Photographs
Camden Evening Courier —
Police officials and fellow officers of Detective William T. Feitz, Jr., slain last Sunday in a disorderly house in Sycamore street, attended the funeral services Saturday. Top photo shows pall-bearers removing Feitz’s body from the undertaking establishment of Coroner Arthur H. Holl at left. The pall-bearers, left to right, are Patrolmen Joseph Leonhardt, Feitz’ companion the night he was slain; Otto Taperscer, Delaware Palmer, William Weaver and Paul Jackson. Lower photo shows police officials at the services. Left to right, Lt. Herbert Anderson, Chief Colsey, Lt. Ralph Bakely, E. Howard Broome, secretary to Mayor Stewart, and Lt. George Ward.
12 Questioned, 2 Men Held in Murder Probe
Camden Evening Courier —
COLSEY LEADS CITY-WIDE HUNT FOR BANDIT KILLERS OF COP
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 Wertz [sic]. 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 outside 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 Heisler, 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 Leonardt [sic] 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 Thomas Cheeseman, recently demoted city detective, was not booked on the police docket this morning, but Ward declared he was not through questioning her and that she would be “booked” later in the day.
Several of the witnesses made their escape from the vicinity of the shooting in Powell’s car, police stated, one of whom was the mysterious woman arrested early today in Atlantic City.
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 why Feitz and 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. Heisler, 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 returning to Camden from Atlantic City. 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 fled, 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.
“’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 and fell to the street; whether he fell through the glass, or whether the bandits opened the door and pushed him to the street.
“The glass in 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.”
One of the bandit’s bullets went wild, imbedding itself in the wall near the front door. It was fired from the dining room. Ballistics tests will be made of the bullet.
City-wide Raids Follow
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 was 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 the quiz.
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 MacDonald, 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, also were arrested and held as witnesses. They 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’ 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 death 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 would of 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 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. Cheeseman, also 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.
Before the estrangement from his wife two years ago, Feitz 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 chief 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.
Tenth Arrest Made Here in Numbers Quiz
Camden Courier-Post —
1 ADMITS GUILT AND POLICE SAY LINKS OTHERS
Klosterman Named by Man Found With Slips on Him After Arrest
3 BIG BANKS INVOLVED IN MOVE TO CLEAN UP
Others Must Face Trial; More Arraigned and Bonds Fixed By Court — Campaign Against Writers Pushed With Feitz Probe — ALLEGED ‘BARON’ IS HELD IN BAIL — Mayor Pledges Aid of Camden Cops to State on Illicit Liquor
Arrests in the numbers racket in Camden continued today simultaneously with the continuation of the inquiry into the murder of City Detective William T. Feitz Jr.
With the Feitz slaying probe in its eleventh day—the detective was slain September 2 at 243 Sycamore Street, an alleged disorderly house—city and county authorities were still questioning witnesses in an endeavor to obtain sufficient evidence to name the murderer or murderers.
The arrest this morning of Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman Street, as a numbers writer, brought the total of those apprehended this week in the numbers racket to 10.
At the same time Police Judge J. Harry Switzer held Fred Klosterman, 33, of 1050 Mechanic Street, in $5000 bail for the grand jury on a charge of operating a numbers game.
Klosterman’s brother, Joseph Klosterman, 35, of 1400 Mechanic Street, was released in $3000 bail yesterday by Judge Switzer on a charge of operating a numbers lottery.
The Klostermans, according to police, are among the topnotch numbers barons of the city. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
No Testimony Taken
Fred Klosterman surrendered voluntarily yesterday afternoon when he learned that police were seeking him as an alleged numbers operator.
He was arraigned in police court today on complaint of George Zeitz, a city detective, who charged him with operating a numbers game. Police did not reveal where Fred Klosterman allegedly operated.
There was no testimony taken at the hearing of Fred Klosterman. His bail bond was signed by John Zubien. Police say they do not know Zubien’s address. Mrs. Anna Bubnoski, of 1426 Mount Ephraim Avenue, posted the $3000 bail for Joseph Klosterman. Zeitz also had made complaint against him.
Fred Klosterman surrendered yesterday, according to police, after a defendant in police court testified that he was employed at an alleged numbers bank operated by Fred Klosterman. Zeitz swore to a warrant for Fred Klosterman’s arrest based on the police information, he said.
Hearing Tomorrow
Smith, who was arrested by George Clayton, a policeman, will be given a hearing in police court tomorrow as an alleged numbers writer.
Meanwhile no disposition was made in the case of Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 42, who was arrested yesterday on a charge of operating a still at a double dwelling at 3404 Rosedale Avenue. Police Lieutenant John Potter said the woman admitted operating the still.
A man said to be a brother of Mrs. Schwartz fled in his undershirt at the time of the raid, as Sergeant Edward Hahn and Policeman Joseph Keefe were making the arrest and seizure. The seizure included 13 barrels of alleged mash, a stove, one cooler, three gallons of liquor, and a 75 gallon still. Police reported that one of two cars without license tags which had been parked in front of the house disappeared later.
Cops to Aid State
Strict cooperation with the State Alcoholic Beverages Commission in the detection, closing up, and prosecution of speakeasies is being given by the Camden Police Department.
That statement was made today by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who is the director of the department of public safety, and came as a result of an interview which Howard B. Dyer, an investigator with the state beverage commission had with the mayor. Dyer was formerly deputy city clerk.
“Dyer came in and asked for the cooperation of the police department,” said Mayor Stewart, “and I told him we would cooperate fully.”
The state alcoholic beverage commission, through its investigators, has been busy in running down speakeasies, stills and other illicit liquor practices.
Crawford Smith Trial
Camden Courier-Post —
Mickey Blair Admits Visit to Heisler Home on Fatal Night
Boxer Tells of His Attempt to Borrow Money From Woman
STEWART LAUNCHES BANK ACCOUNT PROBE
Mickey Blair yesterday admitted to the Courier-Post that he was in Mrs. Emma Heisler’s house trying to borrow money a few hours before Detective William T. Feitz was shot to death.
Mayor Roy R. Stewart, at the same time, announced that he will launch an investigation of the bank accounts of “certain policemen” to determine their wealth.
The two statements summarized the day’s progress in the search for Feitz’s slayers and in the mayor’s investigation of police connections with vice graft.
Blair not only admitted to a newspaperman that he was in Mrs. Heisler’s house to negotiate a loan a few hours before the slaying but charged the police with manufacturing a fake alibi for him, for the purpose of tearing it down later.
Reports that patrolmen drawing from $25.50 to $36 a week were owners of expensive automobiles and spending money lavishly and still were amassing fortunes were believed to have stimulated the mayor to action in his bank account probe.
He would not amplify his statement other than to say that he will question those policemen whom he desires to question and are now on leave when they return.
In his broadside against the police, Blair said:
“Chief Colsey lies if he says police have broken down my alibi. I have no alibi, only that I know nothing about this murder.
“I told Lieutenant Ward, after I had voluntarily walked into detective bureau, where I had been from Saturday night until last Monday. At no time did I say that I was in New York at the time of the shooting.
“I told them I was at a roadhouse in Berlin at the time of the shooting, that I returned to Camden on Sunday and remained here for the funeral of my brother-in-law on Monday. I did not leave for New York until Tuesday afternoon, almost three days after the killing of Feitz, and I did not know they wanted to question me then, or I would not have gone away.
“Police have given out statements to the effect that I told them I was in New York at the time of the shooting. That is a lie. Many of my friends and acquaintances saw me Saturday night at Berlin and others saw me the following day and on Monday. I can prove everything I have told the police to be true.
“I knew Emma Heisler and have known her for several years. I wouldn’t say she was a close friend, but I did know her fairly well. Police have accused me of attempting to shake her down for money. That is not my racket.
“I did attempt to borrow from Emma on Saturday, but I can’t see anything wrong in that. I tried several friends, because I needed a little money at the time to purchase flowers for my brother-in-law’s funeral.
She Promised Loan
“When I saw her early Saturday night, she told me to come back on Monday and she would lend me the money. I was thankful because of the favor, so why should I try to do the woman any harm?
“Police say I am the ’finger-man’ in the shooting. That makes me laugh. They know they haven’t a shred of evidence to prove such a lie. They’ve got to hang it on somebody, so they blame it on me.
“It’s been the same in all big cases. Somebody has to get blamed. It was just unfortunate for me that I happened to be talking with Mrs. Heisler a short time before the slaying. I had nothing to hide when I went to her for a loan and I have nothing to hide now.
“Two or three persons were there when I asked to borrow the money. Do you think anyone who was attempting to frighten the woman would do it before all these witnesses? I knew this woman when she had a place down the street from where Feitz was shot. I knew her when she conducted many other places in the city, and she knew me. I would have been crazy to try anything wrong with her, even if I wanted to, which I didn’t, because everybody in Camden knows me and would recognize me.
Says He Attended Wake
“I told police that I left Fourth and Spruce streets about 1 a. m. Sunday, and arrived at the roadhouse in Berlin about a half hour later.
Many people saw me there. I stayed at the place until late Sunday afternoon and then returned to Camden.
“I was at home all of Sunday night until I attended a wake at the home of my sister on Decatur street. Then on Monday I was at the funeral and Monday night I visited several places in the city. I had made arrangements to go to New York, but postponed my trip until Tuesday after my brother-in-law’s death.
“While in New York I heard from a friend who told me police were looking for me. I immediately telephoned Edward V. Martino, who has represented me in other matters, and asked him to learn if that were true. He called me back and said it was. I told him my business in New York would be completed on Monday and that I would return to Camden at that time and visit detective headquarters.
“I paid my own expenses to get here, and since the time I gave myself up, police have constantly walked me about with handcuffs on. Do you think I would have surrendered to police if I had any intentions of running away?”
Martino Raps Police
“I have told the truth and I am innocent of any connection with the death of Detective Feitz. If police want to give out the true story, they will verify that everything I have told you is what I told them. And every word of it is the truth.”
Martino, who was present during the interview, added that it was “a disgrace” to the police department in the manner in which Blair has been treated since his surrender.
“When Blair gave himself up,” Martino said, “I instructed him to go to detective bureau by himself. I did not request the right to protect his constitutional rights, because it was my idea that by not interfering, the police could not find any excuse in their failure to solve the crime. They not only failed to appreciate the co-operation given them, but are continually giving out so many contradictory statements that the general public is given the impression that Blair is deliberately lying.”
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, meanwhile, disclosed yesterday that the new grand jury will not hear witnesses in the Feitz murder case, or open a probe into vice conditions in Camden at its first session next Thursday.
“Facts in the murder probe and pertaining to vice conditions will not be ready in time for consideration by the new grand jury next Thursday,” the prosecutor said. “The veniremen will act on pending cases, including those of several alleged numbers barons arrested during the last week.”
Meanwhile, the police continued their crusade against the numbers racket, making their tenth and eleventh arrests in a week.
At the same time, Fred Klosterman, an alleged numbers baron, who surrendered Wednesday, was held in $5000 bail by Police Judge J. Harry Switzer for the grand jury. His brother, Joseph Klosterman, was held in similar bail previously, also on a charge of operating a numbers game.
The two men apprehended yesterday were arrested by George Clayton, a policeman, charged with being numbers writers. They will be given a hearing in police court today. The men gave their names as John Geronio, 52, of 1042 Cooper street, and Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman street.
Fred Klosterman is 33 and gave his address as 1050 Mechanic street. Joseph Klosterman, 35, gave his address as 1400 Mechanic street.
The Klostermans, according to police, are among the topnotch numbers barons of the city. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
No disposition was made in police court of the case of Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 42, who was arrested Wednesday on a charge of operating a still at a double dwelling at 3404 Rosedale avenue. Police Lieut. John Potter said the woman admitted operating the still.
Strict co-operation with the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission in the detection, closing up and prosecution of speakeasies is being given by the Camden police department.
That statement was made yesterday by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who is the director of the department of public safety, and came as the result of an interview which Howard B. Dyer, an investigator of the state beverage commission had with the mayor. Dyer was formerly deputy city clerk.
An anonymous letter to Camden police led yesterday to the arerst [sic] of Glenn Brown, 48, colored, on a charge of operating a 50-gallon still at 141 Mt. Vernon street. Brown was held in $500 bail at police headquarters for a hearing today in police court.
Brown was arrested by Police Lieut. Walter Welch, who said the still was found in the basement of the Mt. Vernon street address and it had been in operation shortly before the raid.
The technical charge against Brown is violation of Section 48
Crawford Smith Trial (Continued)
Camden Courier-Post —
POLICE ADMIT FEITZ SLAYING IS ‘MYSTERY’
‘Still in the Dark,’ Cops Say After Three Weeks of Vice Probe
BLAIR LAWYER SCORES ‘FARCE’
Editorial: “The Cop, the Criminal—And Who Else?” appears on page ten.
Three weeks after the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz, police admitted yesterday that they are “completely in the dark” in their efforts to solve the murder and find the slayer.
Although Mickey Blair, former pugilist, is held as the most important witness in the case and police say they believe Blair knows who killed Feitz, they have no one under direct suspicion, the police said.
This was in direct contradiction to a police statement of several days ago, in which it was said that a New York gunman of peculiar appearance was sought as the trigger man.
Lawyer Flays Police
The conflicting stories coming from the police department yesterday drew a scathing fire of ridicule from Blair’s attorney, Edward V. Martino.
In a review of Blair’s surrender, Martino flayed the police for “many contradictory statements” and said their handling of Blair is a “disgrace to the department.”
The handling of the case drew this comment from Martino:
“Such conduct on the part of an intelligent police force is detestable.”
Martino’s criticism of the department and the announcement that Mayor Roy R. Stewart will present such facts and evidence as he has gathered in his probe of police connivance with vice or dereliction in duty to Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd constituted the only developments in the case yesterday.
Double-cross Hinted
Stewart said he will give Justice Lloyd and Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando his complete data on the police and Feitz probes and is ready to present the same data to the grand jury if Lloyd and Orlando consider this course advisable.
Martino, describing step-by-step the events leading to Blair’s surrender and his subsequent examination drew the conclusion that Police Chief Arthur Colsey is “either telling a deliberate falsehood” or has been double-crossed with misinformation by his detectives. Martino said:
Police Admit Defeat In Vice Slaying
“On Saturday past, I received a New York telephone communication from Mickey Blair, and he told me that he had been advised that the police were looking for him. He requested me to ascertain whether this was true, and if so he would gladly come to Camden.
“I talked to Lieutenant George A. Ward on Sunday afternoon, and he told me that they did want Mickey. I talked with Mickey that afternoon, and he told me that he would come to Camden at about 1 p. m. on Monday.
“He entered my office at about 12 noon, and after talking to me about five minutes, during which time he told me that he knew absolutely nothing about the shooting, I advised him to go to the detective bureau alone.
Would Not Interfere
“I did not request the right to protect his constitutional rights, because it was my idea that by not interfering, the police could not find any excuse in their failure to solve the crime.
“They not only failed to appreciate the co-operation given them, but are continuously giving out so many contradictory statements that the general public is given the impression that Blair is deliberately lying. Chief Colsey has repeatedly told the newspapers that Blair stated that he was in New York at the time of the crime.
“Colsey is either telling a deliberate falsehood or he has been misinformed by one or two of his examiners. I talked with Blair at the county jail, and although he appeared tired and worn, he was surprised to learn of the story given out by Colsey.
“It is difficult to understand why the police did not arrest Mickey before he left Camden for New York, since he was in Camden until the Tuesday following the murder.
“He attended a wake at the home of his sister on Sunday, and attended the funeral on Monday (Labor Day) from his sister’s home on Decatur street, Camden. He did not leave Camden for New York until some time on Tuesday afternoon.
Called a Disgrace
“The general physical appearance of Blair before Judge J. Harry Switzer was a disgrace to the Camden City Police Department. He was handcuffed and chained, although he was thoughtful enough to pay his own expenses in traveling from New York, and willingly submit to the police. Such conduct on the part of an intelligent police force is detestable.
“My only hope is that the crime is solved, but in doing so, the officials in charge should be careful that they charge the guilty man or men with the crime.”
The sweeping grand jury investigation of crime and vice ordered of the grand jury by Justice Lloyd is not expected to start, Prosecutor Orlando disclosed, for at least two weeks.
“Our evidence is not entirely at hand,” said Orlando, “and until it is ready I will not proceed. Another reason why I can’t go ahead with it is the large number of cases which I have ready at this time and which must be presented to the grand jury when it opens its sessions next Thursday.”
Earlier, both Prosecutor Orlando and Police Chief Colsey admitted that the authorities were no nearer a solution to the murder of Feitz than they were 20 days ago when he was shot and killed in an alleged disorderly house in South Camden.
Furthermore, previous statements of the police notwithstanding, the identity of the killer or killers is shrouded in as much mystery as it ever was.
“Who killed Feitz?” was a question asked Prosecutor Orlando.
“I don’t know—do you?” was Orlando’s “two-way” reply.
Still ‘In Dark’
The prosecutor’s statement was the first revelation that police and Camden county authorities are still in the dark.
Police Chief Colsey echoed Prosecutor Orlando’s statement by telling newspapermen upon being questioned that he “wished he did know who killed Feitz.”
“We’re entirely in the dark,” he added.
Heretofore the police, through statements made by Chief Colsey, have expressed their confidence that they knew who the slayer or slayers of the detective were and were following important clues which would lead to their arrest.
While the authorities were admittedly groping about for clues in the Feitz murder, the police drive on gambling continued yesterday with the arrest of two alleged “numbers” bankers.
Held in $2000 bail to await the action of the grand jury on charges of operating a “numbers” lottery by Police Judge Switzer were Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman street, and John Deronio, 52, of 1042 Cooper street. Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge which grew out of Deronio’s admission to police that he “wrote” the “numbers” for Smith for a considerable period of time.
Both Smith and Deronio were arrested by Patrolman George Clayton. Deronio pleaded guilty to the charge.
Will View 3 Suspects
Three suspects charged with the robbery of a South Camden candy store Wednesday night were either to be brought to Camden or material witnesses in the Feitz murder were to be taken to Chester, Pa., where they are being held, to learn whether either suspect could be identified as one of the killers.
Mayor Stewart continued his questioning of police yesterday, seeking data on crime and vice in this city.
Questioned by the mayor in his office were Lieutenant George Frost, commander of the police department’s one-man vice squad who is said to have told the mayor considerable about conditions, former City Detective Ben Simon who is now a patrolman; Vernon Jones, one of the 13 suspended policeman [sic] and the officer on the beat at Second and Sycamore streets the night Feitz was killed, and Detective Stanley Wirtz.
Chief County Detective Lawrence T. Doran, who is conducting Prosecutor Orlando’s investigation into the murder, said a search of the records of the city assessor’s office revealed the property in which the late Mrs. Emma Heisler was charged with operating a disorderly house is owned by the Hyman Varbalow Building and Loan Association.
Rented in Oct., 1933
It was rented, Chief Doran said, by Nathan U. Katz, a real estate agent of 410 Kaighn avenue, to a “Mary Dudley” on October 18, 1933, for $15 a month. However, the occupants did not enter the house immediately, according to Doran, because of needed repairs, which were made.
Katz told detectives that the rent was always paid in advance by a man who called at his real estate office. There was no lease on the property, it being rented from month to month.
“Had I known the place was being used for immoral purposes I would have ordered the people out long ago,” Katz told detectives.
At the same time, Chief Doran disclosed that after a conference with Police Chief Colsey, orders were issued that every person arrested in Camden, whether the charge is trivial or serious, will be placed in a police “lineup” and the material witnesses will face them to see if any of Feitz’s killers are among them.
Chief Doran was not sure whether Camden county authorities would be able to bring the two robbery suspects to Camden because they are also wanted in Pennsylvania for almost a score of other holdups and burglaries.
In the event Chester authorities will not turn the two men over to Camden detectives, the witnesses will go to Chester to examine them, Chief Doran said.
“We are letting nothing slip through our fingers at this stage of the investigation,” Chief Doran said. “There is a bare possibility that either of these two suspects may be implicated or have some knowledge that would be useful to us in solving this crime.”
Walter Smith Gets Pension From City
Camden Courier-Post —
Detective to Be Retired as of Feb. 15 After 18 Years’ Service
Walter Smith, for 18 years city and district detective, has been placed on the pension list.
Smith applied for a pension to take effect April 1 but the Police and Fire Pension Commission voted to place him on the retired list as of February 15. Attending the hearing on the application were Mayor Roy R. Stewart, Fireman Newton Ash and Policeman George Clayton. Commissioner Harold W. Bennett and John J. Robinson, other members of the commission, were absent.
The widow of former Police Chief Elisha A. Gravenor applied for a pension. He died recently in Maryland. She will receive $1000 yearly.
The chief had received $1700 on the retired list.
Smith was appointed to the force by Mayor Charles H. Ellis on April 30, 1914, and three years later was made a plainclothesman.
He was paired with the late David Kates, Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, and Detectives John Trout, Louis Schlam and Joseph Carpani.
Sleuth to Retire
WALTER SMITH
Bribery Charged by Grand Jurors
Camden Courier-Post —
26 Other Persons Named in 111 True Bills on Numbers
KLOSTERMANS TO FACE TRIAL
A bumper crop of 111 indictments was returned yesterday by the September vice probing grand jury against alleged numbers operators alone.
In addition, Mickey Blair, free on bail as a material witness in the slaying of Detective William T. Feitz was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to rob Mrs. Emma Heisler, in whose house Feitz was slain.
The 111 numbers indictments were aimed at 26 individuals, including Fred and Joe Klosterman, long known as numbers barons. Each of the brothers was indicted on six counts of engaging in the lottery business and on 12 additional indictments charging sale of lottery tickets.
The complete list of true bills were handed up to Judge Frank F. Neutze of the Camden County Common Pleas Court.
The numbers indictments follows [sic]:
Engaged in lottery business—Antonio Macio, 2125 Haddonfield road, Pennsauken township, one count; Fred Klosterman and brother, Joseph, Mt. Ephraim avenue and Mechanic street, six counts each.
Selling lottery tickets—Geneva Harden, beauty parlor operator in Pennsauken township, ten counts; Marshall Howard, 1912 Derousse avenue, Delair, 10 counts; Frank Martz, 235 Erie street, Camden, two counts; Arthur Woodridge, 7910 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Albert Young, 519 North Second street, Camden, one count; Andrew Pointkowski, 1475 South Ninth street, six counts; Crawford Smith, 702 Carman street, five counts; Charles Simonin, 709 Fairview street, Camden, five counts; John Studinger, 2504 Federal street, Camden, 10 counts; Lucille Barber, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken township, two counts; Samuel Ford, 1124 South Ninth street, two counts; John Geronio, 1042 Cooper street, one count; James Davis, 100 Mt. Vernon street, Camden, one count; Oscar Conway, 2803 Mitchell street, one count; John Barnes, 7805 Pleasant avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Nathan Boston, Parry, Burlington county, one count.
James Gantt, 8302 Park avenue, Pennsauken, two counts; Mary Angelo, 600 Pine street, two counts; Thomas Kirk, 935 Carpenter street, two counts; Samuel Kane, 211 Walnut street, Philadelphia, one count; Samuel Karon, 1528 Mt. Ephraim avenue, one count; Walter Hart, 1245 Thurman street, Camden, five counts; Frank Kulzcnski, 1100 Orchard street, two counts.
The presentment required only three minutes and the grand jury immediately withdrew to its chambers to consider new evidence in its probe of vice and gambling here.
It was indicated that the first batch of indictments found by the grand jury was just that, and that further true bills would be forthcoming as the work of sifting the mass of evidence continues.
A quartet of former city detectives who were transferred to regular police duty June 14, and seven attaches of the county jail were among the list of witnesses subpoenaed.
The erstwhile plainclothesmen are Clarence Arthur, Benjamin Simon, Clifford Del Rossi and Leon Branch. All were put into uniform without explanation, and with the understanding, they declare, that they would not be displaced. All expressed surprise at their removal, inasmuch as others were later appointed to their posts, because they had good records while members of the detective bureau.
Arthur and Branch appeared briefly before the probing body.
Crawford Smith is the brother of Detective Walter Smith and former Detective Howard Smith, it was reported by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Michael Tenerelli, known in fistic cicles [sic] as Mickey Blair, was among those waiting in the grand jury anteroom when the jury adjourned to be called before the probers. All those called were subpoenaed on “John Doe” warrants.
Mickey told reporters he has no idea what form of questioning will be followed when he is called into the grand jury room. He was recently released under bail of $5000 as a material witness in the Feitz killing investigation.
Those who could not be heard by the grand jurors before adjournment yesterday were told to come back next Thursday.
Among the witnesses in the vice probe called into the jury room were two Camden county jail attaches, Mrs. Lillian Vincent, matron, and Frank Tyson, jail clerk.
Both were asked questions regarding the proceedure [sic] followed in releasing prisoners from the pail [sic], it was learned. Tyson was not asked by the grand jurors if the prisoners were ever allowed to leave jail before their terms were up, he said.
“We never discharged a prisoner during my long experience in the county jail,” he told reporters, “without the proper release slip. I do not know of any prisoner ever being released before his time was up.”
Other members of the county jail staff waiting to appear were Edmund Powell, former warden; William Kinsler, Walter Taylor, Joseph Rea and John Feitz.
Another witness to testify was Mrs. Anna Smallwood, of Fifth and Chestnut, who posted $5000 bail for Mickey Blair to effect the former boxer’s release in the Feitz murder case.
It is thought that the county jail attaches will be questioned in an endeavour to learn how prisoners are released before time, although confirmation of this report was lacking.
The grand jury also returned indictments against Robert R. Young and Fred H. Schmitz, both of Philadelphia, former employes of the RCA Victor Company, charging them with the theft of four automobile radio sets from the plant on September 19.
Harry Smith, John Lockwood, Edward Troutman and Thomas Moreland, of Camden, were charged with larceny of merchandise from the American Stores Company on August 30.
Stanley Gaisor and Henry Parewicz, both of Camden, were indicted on charges of the theft of an automobile owned by County Physician Edward B. Rogers. The automobile was stolen in Camden, August 31.
Paul Pralas was indicted on charges of atrocious assault and battery on Rocco Piliro on September 19 in Camden.
The following were indicted on charges of desertion and non-support: Cornelius Chambers, charged by his wife, Ethel, with deserting her and three small children.
Thomas Porter, of Clementon, with non-support of his three small children. Frank Drew, Camden, desertion and non-support of his wife, Martha, and three minor children. Walter Butterfield, Brooklawn, with desertion of his wife, Verna, and one minor child. Eugene Morselander, of Camden, with desertion of his wife, Gladys.
2 Speakeasy Owners Paid Hush Money, Graft Probers Hear
COLSEY DROPS ACCUSED MEN
Sixty-two indictments charging six Camden policemen with graft and bribe-taking were returned by the new grand jury yesterday.
The wholesale indictments constituted the first visible results of the probe into Camden’s vice affairs and connection of the police with vice, ordered by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
They are charged with taking hush money.
Those indicted:
Patrolman Thomas T. Cheeseman, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Vernon Jones, 20 indictments.
Patrolman Howard Fisher, 10 indictments.
Patrolman George Weber, also known as Buck Weaver, 10 indictments.
Detective Joseph Leonhardt, one indictment.
Patrolman Frank Wilmot, one indictment.
All are attached to the Second district except Leonhardt, who was dismissed from the force two weeks ago by Mayor Roy R. Stewardt [sic], and has appealed his case to the Civil Service Commission.
Leonhardt was with Detective William T. Feitz on the night of September 2, when Feitz was slain in Mrs. Emma Heisler’s alleged disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street. He and Feitz had been made district detectives less than a week before the shooting. They had been assigned to the “beat” in which Mrs. Heisler’s house was located, relieving Cheeseman and Jones, who were demoted to patrolmen.
Cheeseman was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death from a city hall window while being held as a witness in Feitz’s death.
12 Drew Suspensions
Those indicted, with the exception of Fisher, were among the 12 members of the force suspended by Mayor Stewart in connection with his personal investigation of police connections with vice.
Wilmot, Weber and Jones were returned to duty Wednesday after serving 30-day suspensions.
Cheeseman and Jones are named jointly in nine indictments; jointly with Fisher and Weber in nine other indictments; the four are lister [sic] separately in one set of indictments. Jones and Cheeseman are listed separately in another pair of indictments, while Leonhardt and Wilmot are named in one joint indictment.
Two men, Glenn Brown and Michael Tocco, are named in each indictment as having paid the policemen sums verying [sic] from $5 to $80 since last March. They are reported to be operators of illegal liquor establishments.
Jury Indicts 6 Cops On Vice Graft Charge
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando announced evidence had been given the grand jury to support charges that each of the men indicted had been accepting graft from racketeers and underworld characters.
The nine indictments against Cheeseman, Jones, Fisher and Weber charge them with having received the sum of $5 from Brown on nine different dates in March and April of this year, for a total of $45.
Cheeseman and Jones are jointly indicted on nine counts for having received from Tocco the sum of $160, in various amounts ranging from $10 to $80 on various dates in May, June and July.
Cheeseman and Jones are each indicted on two separate counts. Jones is charged with having accepted a $40 bribe from Tocco on May 24 and with having received another $5 from Brown on March 3. Cheeseman is indicted for receiving the same sums from the same persons on the same dates.
Fisher is indicted alone on one count of having received a $5 bribe from Brown in March. Weber was also indicted alone for the same offense.
Leonhardt and Wilmot, mentioned in only one indictment, are charged with having accepted $20 from Tocco in March.
Cheeseman has been a member of the police department for 16 years, most of which he served in the capacity of a detective. He was demoted on Sept. 3, 1930, to the rank of a patrolman, but later was again promoted to district detective. Two months ago he was demoted back to patrolman again and has been patrolling a ‘beat’ in South Camden since that time.
Cheeseman Appointed in 1918
Cheeseman is 48. He was appointed to the police force on January 11, 1918, and lives at 249 Rand street. He has served in various capacities since appointment, having been a member of the city vice squad, detective bureau, district detective and patrolman. His rank in the department was listed as a detective, although recently he has been assigned to uniform in South Camden.
Fisher, 42, of 1139 Baring street, was appointed to the force September 29, 1919. He has spent comparatively all of his time in the department as a patrolman in the Second Police district.
Jones is 37 and lives at 1011 South Sixth street. He received his appointment April 27, 1924. He has served on the vice squad, as a detective and plainclothesman. He was recently demoted to a patrolman’s rank.
Leonhardt lives at 553 Division street and is 39. He was appointed a member of the police department on April 25, 1924, two days before Jones. He served until recently as a patrolman, but was promoted to district detective when Jones suffered demotion. He was discharged from the police payroll on September 26 by Mayor Stewart, who said he had gathered evidence against him in his probe of the department which followed the murder of Feitz.
Wilmot is 32 and lives at 201 Kaighn avenue. He was appointed a policeman on July 1, 1928, and has served as a member of the Second district since his appointment.
Weber, 47, of 1369 Princess avenue, was made a member of the force on May 17, 1922. He also has served his entire time as a patrolman in the Second district.
The indictments were presented to Judge Frank F. Neutze in Justice Lloyd’s absence.
Five Are Suspended
Mayor Stewart and Police Chief Arthur Colsey conferred shortly after the indictments were returned.
[Text between this point and the next crop is not on the scan; crop 09a is not in the archive.]
and Judge Neutze to grant these men a speedy trial,” the mayor declared, “so that the cases against them will be disposed of and their guilt or innocence established. In this way the community will have the benefit of their services, if they be found not guilty, as soon as possible.”
None of the policemen indicted had been arrested last night.
Chief of County Detectives Lawrence T. Doran said he expects them to surrender today and post such bail as may be set.
Named by Jury
THOMAS CHEESEMAN
VERNON JONES
Twenty indictments against each of these policemen, formerly assigned as detectives to the beat where Detective William T. Feitz was shot to death in a disorderly house, were returned yesterday by the grand jury. Cheeseman and Jones preceded Feitz and Leonhardt, dismissed and also indicted, on the death beat.
Quartet Indicted on Graft Charges
Four of the six policemen indicted yesterday on charges of bribery. They are George Weber, (upper left) also known as “Bucky Weaver”; Frank Witmot [sic] (upper right), Howard Fisher, (lower left), and Joseph Leonhardt, (lower right), who had been dismissed from the police department.
Howard J. Dudley — Roy R. Stewart
Camden Courier-Post —
Howard J. Dudley — Roy R. Stewart, August 30, 1935
“Bob” Ashenfelter, Shot in Duel With Burglars, Asks Pension
Camden Courier-Post —
John Sheeran Claims Disability
Gladney and Roy Smith Ask to Leave Fire Service
Applications of four policemen and two veteran firemen for pensions will be considered today at a special meeting of the Police and Firemen’s Pension Commission in the offices of Mayor Roy R. Stewart.
Included in the list are Detective Robert Ashenfelter and Accident Investigator John Sheeran, both seeking retirement because of disability suffered while members of the department.
Others whose pension request will receive consideration at today’s session include Patrolmen Robert Ward and Jesse Smith and Charles M. Gladney and Roy M. Smith, members of the fire department.
Ashenfelter, who is 40, and lives at 352 Berwood street, was one of the first members of the police force to receive the Gold Star when that award for bravery was established by Mayor Stewart in 1931. He was appointed to the force by Mayor Victor King on July 1, 1926, and served as a motorcycle policeman until April 17, 1929, when he was appointed acting detective.
His physician stated that Ashenfelter was suffering from an infected right lung as a result of wounds he received in a sensational pistol battle with a burglar whom he killed in the robbery of the American Store, Thirty-second street and Pierce avenue, on August 24, 1931.
Receiving the report of the robbery, Ashenfelter went to the store with Detective Benjamin Simon. Ashenfelter walked to the rear of the store. As he reaced [sic] the door of a shed in the rear, he met a volley of seven shots fired from inside. One bullet knocked the gun from his right hand, another pierced his arm and a third entered his chest over his heart.
Despite his wounds, Ashenfelter was able to pick up his pistol with his uninjured hand. He emptied it through the door.
A moment later other officers arrived. When they opened the door they found Charles Rettberg, 21, of 1189 North Thirty-sixth street, lying dead on the floor.
Arrested on the scene were the dead man’s brother, Theodore, who later was acquitted, and Melbourne James and Gordon McCrea, who were sentenced to five years each in prison.
Ashenfelter was in the hospital for several weeks after the shooting.
During the World War he served as a lieutenant in the ordnance department attached to the 118th Field Artillery.
“Johnny” Sheeran, 57, was appointed to the police department July 15, 1913. He still lacks several months of the required years service but is seeking the pension on the disability clause because of a wound received several years ago.
Sheeran, attached to the Second Police District at the time, was helping to move some large steel cases in the old city hall when one of them fell on his left hand. Physicians at Cooper Hospital managed to patch the hand up, but Sheeran has never had the use of it since that time.
Lately he has been working in the Accident Bureau. He lives at 777 Wright avenue.
Ashenfelter Pension Decision Is Deferred
Camden Courier-Post —
Three policemen and two firemen were granted pensions yesterday afternoon by the Camden Police and Firemen’s Pension Commission but action was deferred on the application of Detective Robert Ashenfelter.
Ashenfelter seeks retirement because of disability. As his application was not accompanied by a proper medical report action was delayed. He will be examined by Dr. Garnet P. Summerill, police surgeon.
The commission approved the applications of Robert Ward, police investigator of accidents; Patrolmen John Sheeran and Jesse Smith and Firemen Charles M. Gladney and Roy M. Smith.
Roy R. Stewart’s World — 1936
Looking South on Broadway from the Elevated Railroad Tracks at Mickle Street
On left 200 to 222 Broadway, known as the Holl Block. The 12 story Stevens Building was at 300 Broadway, is gone; the site made into a parking lot. On Right, Broadway beginning at 201, which was at the time the home of Borstein Electric. It had been the home and place of business of Roy R. Stewart, Mayor of Camden from 1931 to 1935. In 1936 Roy R. Stewart’s business was at 203. The second building is the Grand Theater. The movie playing was the 1936 release “The Princess Comes Across,” a comedy starring Carole Lombard and Fred McMurray.
17 Democratic Assemblymen Reported Pledged to Baird
Camden Courier-Post —
Former Camden Jobholders at Trenton Trying to Line Up Votes to Retain Ex-Leader on Bridge Board; Hoffman Hinted Back of ‘Deal’
With both sides at a stalemate over the Delaware River Joint Commission appointment, local political circles today were agog over a state house report that all 17 Democratic Assemblymen are pledged to vote for David Baird.
State Senator Albert E. Burling and Assemblyman Rocco Palese were reported prepared to submit former State Senator Albert S. Woodruff’s name Monday night. Assemblymen Lawrence Ellis and Millard Allen, on the other hand, had been reported ready to submit Baird’s name.
Among the vote-for-Baird lobbyists in the State House corridors were present and former jobholders. These included Mrs. Florence Baker, State committeewoman; City Commissioner Frederick von Nieda, former Mayor Roy R. Stewart, former Assemblyman Edwin G. Scovel, and William Lehman, who is a candidate for appointment to William A. E. King’s job on the county board of elections.
Hanna, Alfred Driscoll, Haddonfield commissioner, and Assistant City Solicitor Edward V. Martino were among those who lined up votes for Woodruff.
Roy R. Stewart
Camden Courier-Post —
Roy R. Stewart
Camden Courier-Post —
Vincent Gallaher to Be Named County Solicitor
Camden Courier-Post —
by Freeholders To Replace Keown Tonight
Vincent J. Gallaher, of Collingswood, a Camden attorney and chairman of the Camden County Democratic Committee, will be elected county solicitor at tonight’s regular meeting of the coalition-controlled Camden County Board of Freeholders.
Gallaher will be chosen despite claims of Walter S. Keown, present county solicitor, that he cannot be removed from the position. It is understood that City Solicitor Firmin Michel recommended the appointment of Gallaher, who also is said to have the endorsement of Commissioner Mary W. Kobus.
3000 Face Loss Of Parkway Jobs In Board Threat
Camden Courier-Post —
Delay on Bond Issue By Freeholders Brings Lay-off Ultimatum
MARKEIM DECLARES HE’S READY TO QUIT
Showdown Demanded on County Fund for WPA Work
“Complete shut-down of all county parks projects and the dismissal of approximately 3000 WPA workers was threatened yesterday by the Camden County Park Commission.
A resolution was adopted advising the Board of Freeholders of such action unless the pending $350,000 parks bond issue is approved or the board, at its adjourned meeting next Wednesday night, provides emergency funds to carry on the parks program until March 9.
The resolution was dictated by Goodwin who asked for a vote. The vote was unanimous. Those voting were Brewer, Dunn, Markeim, former Mayor Roy R. Stewart, George Kleinheinz and Goodwin.
R. R. Stewart Dies, Former Mayor, Merchant Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Haberdasher, 61, Was Assemblyman and State Senator
Roy R. Stewart, well-known Camden haberdasher, former mayor of the city and former member of the state Legislature, died Saturday night in Osteopathic hospital, Philadelphia, four days after he had undergone an operation. He was 61.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p. m. in the residence, 221 Browning road, Merchantville. The Rev. Dr. Charles I. FitzGeorge, former superintendent of the Camden district of the Methodist Church, will officiate. Friends may call at the residence tomorrow night. Burial will be in Locustwood Memorial park. The funeral will be under the direction of Charles W. Hiskey.
A native of Quakake, a Pennsylvania mining hamlet, where he worked as a breaker boy, Mr. Stewart came to Camden in 1909 after completing business college. He obtained employment in the Hurley store here, and in 1912 started his own clothing business at 609 Broadway, specializing in men’s furnishings. Later he moved to Broadway and Mickle street. In 1942, Mr. Stewart moved his men’s wear shop to its present quarters, 142 North Broadway. Meanwhile, in 1938 he took residence at the Browning road address, his home since then.
Mr. Stewart served in the State Assembly in 1924, skipped 1925 and served again from 1926 to 1929 inclusive. In the fall of 1929 he was elected State Senator to succeed the late Senator Joseph H. Forsyth. He took office in 1930. He served through 1932.
While still State Senator, Mr. Stewart ran for the city commission in 1931 and was elected. He was inducted as a commissioner on May 19, 1931, and served as mayor and State Senator through 1932 when his Senate term expired. His tenure as mayor ended in 1935.
In 1930, shortly after taking office as State Senator, Mr. Stewart began to fight for high speed lines across the Camden bridge and a passenger terminal in Camden. He advocated the construction of the subway between the bridge and terminal in order to protect real estate. At that time, Mr. Stewart visualized extension of the high speed lines to other South Jersey communities under the belief “it would build up the population in the section to 5,000,000.” He also saw the high speed line as an aid to development of the port. He also saw in the speed line a means to reducing “high fares” between South Jersey and Philadelphia. He held the fares retarded the growth of the area.
During his first year as State Senator, the Legislature passed a bill appropriating $375,000 for the laying of the bridge rails.
While serving as mayor, Mr. Stewart instituted a “stagger system” of employment, which enabled jobholders who would otherwise lose their positions to remain on parttime. The plan was instituted to relieve the growing unemployment situation which was beginning to make itself felt throughout the nation in 1932.
Mr. Stewart, who was director of public safety during his term as city commissioner, put the police radio cars in operation for the first time. The first system, that of RCA Victor, was for one-way communication, which later was changed to two-way.
He was a member of Trimble lodge 117, FAM; member of Excelsior Consistory, Collingswood; past potentate of Crescent Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Trenton; past exalted ruler of the Camden lodge of Elks; member of the Camden Rotary club and the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, president of the Republic Building & Loan association and president of the Locustwood Cemetery association, operators of Locustwood Memorial park. He was also president of the Reciprocity club.
Surviving are his widow, Augusta; his mother, Mrs. Florence Faust, 92, of Quakake; four sisters, Mrs. Katie Schaeffer, and Mrs. William Burt, both of Tamaqua, Pa.; Mrs. Anna Davies, Reading, Pa., and Mrs. Annie Donat, Hagerstown, Md., and two brothers, James Faust, Quakake, and Claire Faust, Ocean City.
Life Hereabouts
Camden Courier-Post —
DOWN MEMORY LANE with that Old Gang of Yours . . . in a few of the years when Our Town was as good a sport town as any in the land . . . from the time that Taylor and Gunnis promoted fights through the years to Roxey Allen . . . Mickey Blair . . . Eddie Chaney . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Pee Wee Ross . . . Jackie Hindle . . . Watson Finch . . . Georgie Abner . . . Nick Nicholas . . . Dixie Allen . . .
The days when Camden was the Mecca for Philly fight fans . . . with champions like Mike O’Dowd . . . Benny Leonard . . . Pete Herman . . . Jimmy Wilde . . . Gene Tunney . . . fighting in the Armory on Haddon avenue . . . for One, Two and Three . . . tax included . . . the days of John Smith . . . whose son, Lee, became one of our great friends . . . the days when Philly came to Camden to see the best fighters in the land . . .
AND THEN DOWN through the years with Lou McFarland . . . Higgins and Kaplan . . . Tommy James . . . the man named Doyle who always gave us a smile when we called him “Mister” because he was so kind . . . When Sergeant Ray Smith became a referee . . . “Pose” Robinson . . . the days of Willie Davis . . . Harry Smith . . . Jim Kelly . . .
Fights in the ball park at Twelfth and Federal streets . . . at the Fairview Ball Park . . . in the Temple Theatre . . . the Star Theatre . . . Newt Blanchard, the only promoter who gave us MORE money than we asked for . . . The Broadway Theatre . . . the early days of Convention Hall . . .
THE TIME they opened the Plaza Hotel Gym and all the fine lads on the program . . . with the late Mayor Stewart in the audience . . . and many other dignitaries . . . and being “dared” into a match with Ray Smith, because his opponent failed to show . . . the same guy who fought Tunney . . . Mike Brennan . . . Gibbons . . . Martin . . . Dempsey . . . Loughran . . . and seeing the Sergeant’s body covered with blood in the second round . . . our very own blood . . .
THE YEARS when Gloucester city was the fightenest town in the nation . . .
The days of K. O. Joey O’Donnell . . . who fought them all. . . Of Frankie Conway . . . who never took a backward step . . . and still has the same courage today. . . . Of Willie Spencer . . . who headlined show after show. . . . Charlie Daggert . . . now a referee in Philly. . . . Jimmy Rafferty . . . Eddie (Kid) Wagner . . . Young Sherlock . . . Abe Wustbond, later an instructor of boxing at Herman’s gym in Philly . . . Eddie Forrest . . . and his brother, who fought Battling Nelson . . . the crowd-pleasing Willie Fuller . . . Joey O’Connor.
Back when “Chick” Hunt fought under the name of Eddie Melson . . . and later, in professional ranks, the night he fought Joe “Kid” Fisher at the Apollo theatre in Gloucester. . . . Chick is our friend today . . . but we don’t believe he ever will forgive us for that night when we yelled at Joe to . . . well, we yelled at Joe . . . The days of Harry “Dick” Donohue, trainer and manager of Nick Nichols.
AND THE BEST, learning the business under the incomparable Eddie Prince . . . who knows how to condition fighters . . . then and now . . . with the best in the nation. . . . The days when they called Mister Georgano “Lemons” . . . but affectionately . . . not because he was ever sour.
When Johnny Sapio . . . who only days ago was honored at a banquet at Weber’s Hof Brau by so many people the walls bulged . . . fought under the name of Young Joe Grim.
HOW MANY will remember when our own Eddie Garrity, now the sedate deputy director of public safety in Our Town, was a boxer . . . with plenty on the ball? . . . When George Murphy boxed around here . . . and the Tighe brothers, Eddie and Jimmy . . . Remember Richie Hoehner? . . . Jimmie Jordan? . . . Eddie Douglas? . . . Bobby Graham, then a soldier stationed in Gloucester? . . . Steve Jackson? . . . Frankie McLaughlin (whose brother Neil WAS on Retreat with us, Mrs. McLaughlin, and gave us much of this information)?
Recall Johnny “Homo” Bryan? . . . Duncan Carswell, Jimmy and Jack Dean, referees, all three? . . . Theo Ellick, the matchmaker. . . . And who could forget Joe Spearing, afraid of nobody then and now . . . he fought our boy Fisher three times to our knowledge . . . once in Atlantic City . . . another at one of the ball parks here and the third (the windup, no less) in Gloucester. . . . Who won . . . who cares?
THE DAYS when a Cook was a promoter . . . and a Politician(?) got the gravy. . . . The time “Red” Haines fought Roxey Allen over top the old Standard movies at Second and Vine streets . . . amateur against a near-champ . . . and what a battle . . . when Everett Joslin and Johnny Taylor were on the First district wagon and backed it up to the door leading to the second floor, and all the people gathering around because they thought it was a raid . . . and all they came to see was a round or two of the fights.
Back when Joey Powell had an iron fist . . . and Soldier Freedman an iron jaw. . . . When Mayor Victor King was always in the front row at the bouts . . . when Augie Oswald “worked” the river in his boat for shad and other fish . . . when a dollar was a dollar and not 27 cents . . . when the downtown fight gym was operated by Charley Mack . . . whose brother Battling Mack was a great drawing card and a great fighter . . . and Charley was no softie, either.
THE SUMMER BOUTS in the ball park when you could get a swell bleacher seat for half a buck—and be closer to the bouts than $50 seats at some of the big clubs now . . . and see better fights, too.
When Camden had growing pains . . . and its people started moving to the suburbs . . . when a guy who made 40 slugs a week was a “big executive.” . . . When copy boys on the papers got $4 a week . . . and had enough left over from their salary to lend money to reporters who made the tremendous sum of $25 a week. . . . Great days, say you . . . great days, say us. . . . Nostalgia.
Stewart Says Laxity on Vice Will Be Probed
Camden Evening Courier —
Pushes Inquiry in Killing With Chief Colsey Lending Co-operation
WHOLESALE CHANGES LIKELY IN DEPARTMENT
Chief Executive Refers to Official Who Scored Lashing of Cops
A wholesale shakeup of police officials, patrolmen and detectives in the Camden police department is expected to follow the slaying of District Detective William T. Feitz, in a South Camden disorderly house.
That was indicated strongly today by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of the department of public safety, after his return from a weekend vacation at Ocean City.
“I intend to get at the bottom of this matter and punish the guilty person or persons,” Mayor Stewart declared upon his arrival at city hall.
“There is something wrong in the police department when no action is taken against a disorderly house which I ordered closed on numerous occasions.
Blames Police
“If the police in the department had followed my instructions we wouldn’t have a dead detective as a consequence of their laxity.
“Chief Colsey and myself are going into the investigation very thooughly [sic] to find out who was responsible for failing to close this place.”
Questioned as to whether the killing of Detective Feitz would bring shifts in district commanders, sergeants, patrolmen and detectives, Mayor Stewart said:
“Yes—anything can happen—for I’m not satisfied with the actions of the department.”
Mayor Stewart also disclosed that since his charge of laxity against the police department, he has been criticized by at least one city official—whose name he would not make public.
“I’ve been told that as head of the department of public safety I shouldn’t make such a statement as I did yesterday because of the effect it would have on the morale of the police department.
Will Shield None
“Well, I want it to be known that I am not guilty of shielding anyone in the operation of this disorderly house. I have a right to protect anyone in the department who is not involved in this violation of my orders and that is what I intend to do in my investigation.”
Mayor Stewart’s first move when he reached his offices was to call Chief Colsey into conference to discuss the events leading up to the death of Detective Feitz early Sunday in the disorderly house allegedly operated by Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, at 243 Sycamore street.
Later, he announced, he would confer with the district and detective lieutenants and sergeants to find out why his orders issued a number of times to close up Mrs. Heisler’s establishment, were not carried out. The conference, Mayor Stewart indicated, would take place this afternoon.
To Quiz Demoted Pair
Two district detectives who were demoted and returned to beats a few days before Detective Feitz was killed, who covered the neighborhood of Second and Sycamore streets, are also to be grilled by Mayor Stewart. One of the detectives, according to police, is a relative of Mrs. Heisler.
While Mayor Stewart and Chief Colsey were conferring, police and detectives still were engaged in running down clues to the identity of the slayers of the detective who was shot when he walked in on a holdup of 20 persons in the disorderly house.
Three bandits who shot Feitz then rushed out the door and directly past District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was bending over Feitz’s body which had hurtled through the front door and dropped down the steps to the street.
The two detectives in a police radio car had been trailing a suspicious car containing the bandits for some time prior to the shooting [text between crops not shown]
Colsey Speaks Freely
Chief Colsey unlike Detective Lieutenant Ward who has persistently refused to talk to newspapermen or give them any information, spoke freely about the police investigation of Feitz’s death.
“I feel confident that within a few days we will have the killer or killers of Feitz under arrest,” Chief Colsey said.
He admitted that all of the suspects arrested here, in Philadelphia and Atlantic City to date had not been identified as members of the bandit mob.
A suspect who was arrested last night by Chief Colsey and a detective in cruising about the city was released after being questioned.
Another suspect arrested early today was still being held by the police, who refused to reveal his identity. Chief Colsey stated that he did not think the man was involved in the killing of Feitz.
8 Still Held
However, four men and four women are being held in cells at police headquarters as material witnesses.
Only seven are listed on the police blotter, the name of Mrs. Heisler being omitted. The others are Thomas Bonelli, 27, of 207 Walnut street; Cornelius Murphy, 50, of 239 Sycamore street, said by police to have been the doorman of Mrs. Heisler’s establishment; Edward Grapatin, 32, of 246 Kaighn avenue; Joseph McKenna, 31, of 1404 Broadway; Edith Miller, 28, colored, of 205 Sycamore street, and Edna Butler, 33, colored, of 1122 South Second street, domestics in Mrs. Heisler’s place; Catherine Lougheed, 32, of 626 Pine street, an alleged inmate.
Released after being held as material witnesses were Edward Gorba, 20, and his brother, Henry, 19, of 17 North Twenty-first street; Frank Adams, 21, of 938 Atlantic avenue, and Joseph McDonald, 20, of 1605 South Ninth street. All were released in their own recognizance to appear tomorrow.
All of the persons taken into custody after the shooting, were in the disorderly house at the time, police said.
Police disclosed that Ed Gorba was the only eye-witness to the killing who was proving of any value in remembering the description of the killers or in attempting to identify suspects arrested.
Chief Colsey Dies at 67 of Heart Attack
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Head Succumbs During Sleep While Suffering From Cold
MEMBER OF FORCE IN CAMDEN 27 YEARS
Chief of Police Arthur Colsey, veteran of 27 years in the department, died of a heart attack in his sleep at his home, 2937 Stevens street, last night. He was 67.
Apparently in good health except for a slight cold, Chief Colsey left his office in City Hall at noon yesterday, telling his assistants he was going home “to nurse the cold.”
Shortly after 5 p. m., Chief Colsey asked his son, Arthur, Jr., to take Mrs. Colsey on a shopping trip. When they returned two hours later, they found him dead on a couch. The son said his father told him he was going to take a nap before he went to a doctor’s office to receive treatment for the cold.
Chief Colsey was a Camden merchant before entering the police department. For years he was active in the Republican party. He was highly respected by all men in the department. The chief was quiet in manner and the excitement pertaining to strikes in the city a few years ago found him calm in the most delicate situations.
Born in Kidderminster, England, in December, 1872, he came to this country when 17. He was in the department store business with his brothers at Ninth and Market streets for years. He served in the old City Council from 1907 to 1911 from the Second ward. At that time he lived at Eighth and Linden streets.
Joined Force in 1912
Colsey was appointed a patrolman by former Mayor Charles H. Ellis on March 13, 1912, while Elisha A. Gravenor was chief. After several months as a street patrolman he was assigned to the First District patrol wagon. Then he was made a district detective. Next he was promoted to a full ranking detective under Detective Chief William Schregler.
After being appointed a detective he was assigned as a plainclothesman and secretary to Mayor Ellis. He served in this capacity seven years. In 1923 he was appointed chief clerk of the police department with the rank of captain.
In 1924 he was made chief of the vice squad, which made 380 raids for prohibition law violations. The squad also assisted the federal authorities in 180 more liquor raids and participated in 54 raids on disorderly houses and 38 gambling places.
In 1927 the City Commission abolished the rank of captain in the department and Colsey remained as chief clerk without the title. The rank of captain was restored to him by the City Commission in 1932 by motion of Commissioner David S. Rhone.
When former Chief John W. Golden retired on a pension on June 11, 1934, Colsey was named acting chief by Mayor Roy R. Stewart. He was named permanent chief on August 30, 1934, by Mayor Stewart. At the same time John H. Lennox was named permanent chief of the fire department.
During the absence of City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, Chief Colsey was acting director.
Colsey was one of the most popular men who served as chief, both in his department and in civic and political circles. After he was made a full ranking captain in 1932 a series of testimonial dinners were given by the East End Republican League, Twelfth Ward Republican Club and Eleventh Ward Republican Clubs. He was boomed for chief at each of the dinners. Another testimonial was given when he was acting chief by the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
In February, 1931, his appointment as chief was urged to succeed Chief Lewis H. Stehr but Golden was named.
While a resident of North Camden he served as president of the Second Ward Republican Club. He was president of the Twelfth Ward Republican Club in 1932.
Prominent Lodgeman
Chief Colsey was a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of Trimble Lodge, No. 117, Free and Accepted Masons; Crescent Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Camden Forest, No. 5, Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He also was a member Camden Lodge, No. 293, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Camden Lodge, No. 111, Loyal Order of Moose; Camden Aerie, No. 65, Fraternal Order of Eagles; Sons of St. George, Foresters of America, Improved Order of Red Men, Camden Local, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association; International Police Chiefs’ Association, New Jersey State Police Chiefs’ Association, Camden Police and Fire Association, and the Camden County Republican Association.
Coroner Ernest Larossa issued the death certificate due to a heart ailment.
The funeral will be held at 2 p. m., Wednesday with burial in Arlington Cemetery. Other arrangements have not been completed. The body will be on view from 7 to 9 p. m., Tuesday at the home.
The chief is survived by his widow, Lillie; a brother, Thomas Colsey, a merchant and ranking officer of the Loyal Order of Moose; and two grandchildren, Arthur Colsey, 3rd., and Lillian Colsey. The grandson, a student at Western Maryland College, was notified last night of his grandfather’s death and left immediately for Camden.
Motorization of Camden Fire Department Completed Under Chief P. B. Carter in 1915
Camden Courier-Post —
Above is shown a photo of part of the Camden Fire Department after it was motorized. The above companies are stationed at Fire Headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets.
This is the fifth installment of a history of fire fighting in Camden from the time of the formation of the first volunteer company in 1810 to 1936. It is the first complete history of the fire department written since 1886 and links the old volunteers with the new paid motorized department. It is being published in the interest [sic] with Fire Prevention Week, which was sponsored last week by the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association and the Camden Fire Department. Saturday’s installment told of the formation of the paid fire department.
Samuel S. Elfreth was reappointed for several terms as chief by the fire committee of city council before he was made permanent head of the department.
After more than 30 years of service he retired in October 13, 1913, and was succeeded by Charles Worthington, captain of Engine Compony [sic] No. 6, on November 1, 1913. Worthington was killed in a fall from a roof on May 14, 1914, and was succeeded by Deputy Chief John A. Stockton. Stockton retired the following year and was succeeded by Peter B. Carter on October 1, 1915.
Under Carter the motorization of the department was completed. Carter was injured in a fall from a roof when fire destroyed the interior of State Street Methodist Episcopal Church. He retired on a pension on March 31, 1926, to become chief of the Collingswood Fire Department. He remained as Collingswood’s chief until August 29, 1927, when he resigned. He was succeeded as chief of the Camden department by the late Thomas J. Nicholas. Nicholas retired in November, 1932, and was succeeded by John H. Lennox, who was named acting chief by former Mayor Roy R. Stewart on December 1, 1932. He was sworn in as a full-fledged chief on October 1, 1934.
Lennox Heads Department
Lennox is now chief. The deputy chiefs are William R. Harring and Walter A. Mertz and the battalion chiefs, Charles Erickson and Rollo R. Jones. Bernard J. Gallagher is fire marshal, James A. Howell, chief of the electrical bureau, and James H. Long, chief of the water department.
Deputy chiefs were known as assistant chiefs until the two-platoon system was inaugurated in Camden on January 1, 1921, under fromer [sic] Mayor Charles H. Ellis.
Company commanders were at first called foremen. Later they were named lieutenants. When the two-platoon system was adopted, requiring the men to be on duty one-half day instead of 24 hours the ranks of senior and junior captain were created.
The present equipment of the department includes two pieces of apparatus at Engine Companies No. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and one piece at Nos. 10 and 11. The department also has four hook and ladder trucks. Three of these are aerial trucks stationed at Nos. 1, 2 and 4. Company No. 3 has a city service truck. The department also has a supply wagon, four chief cars and a coffee service wagon for third alarms.
Fire headquarters is now maintained at Fifth and Arch streets and the Electrical Bureau is in modern offices on the eighth floor of the new city hall. Engine Company No. 2 is housed with Truck Company No. 1, at headquarters.
The other companies are housed as follows: Engine Company, No. 1, Fourth and Pine streets; Engine Company No. 3, Broadway and Ferry avenue; Engine Company No. 6, Front and Linden streets; Engine Company No. 7, Kaighn avenue above Mt. Ephraim avenue; Engine Company No. 8, and Truck Company No. 2, Sixth street and Kaighn avenue; Engine Company No. 9, and Truck Company No. 3, Twenty-seventh and Federal streets; Engine Company No. 10, and Truck Company, No. 4, Ninth street and Morgan boulevard; Engine Company No. 11, Twenty-seventh street and Hayes avenue.
Engine Company No. 4, Fourth and Vine streets, was abolished in 1932 for economy reasons. Engine Company No. 5, Federal street and Cooper river, was closed with the building of the Federal street viaduct in 1926.
Company Commanders
Company commanders at present are: Engine Company, No. 1, Acting Senior Captain Harry Wagner, Jr., Acting Junior Captain Joseph Gentlesk; Engine Company, No. 2, Acting Senior Captain Rocco Fanelli Acting Captain Edward Ellender; Engine Company, No. 3, Senior Captain Leonard Megee, Junior Captain Eli Hunt; Engine Company, No. 6, Acting Senior Captain George Salnders, Junior Captain George Townsend; Engine Company No. 7, Senior Captain William F. Rose, Junior Captain Henry Zook; Engine Company No. 8, Senior Captain Lawrence Newton, Junior Captain Alvin Thompson; Engine Company No. 9, Senior Captain Daniel Smith, Junior Captain Howard Glick; Engine Company No. 10, Acting Senior Captain Jarrett Zanders, Acting Junior Captain Maurice O’Brien; Engine Company, No. 11, Senior Captain Charles Watkins, Junior Captain Herman Kreher.
Truck Company No. 1, (hook and ladder), Senior Captain William Van Pfeferle, Acting Junior Captain William Judge; Truck Company, No. 2, Acting Senior Captain James Young, Acting Junior Captain Frank Oberman; Truck Company No. 3, Senior Captain Clarence Madden, Acting Junior Captain David Humphreys; Truck Company No. 4, Senior Captain Mordecai Clark, Acting Junior Captain William Scholl.
The coffee wagon was presented to the department by Mrs. Laura Frey, widow of former City Treasurer George A. Frey, on July 20, 1930. The wagon was presented at the request of Frey. It is a modern kitchen on wheels, according to Chief Lennox.
The pumpers of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 6 have pumping capacity of 1000 gallons per minute. Companies 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 can pump 750 gallons a minute. Nos. 9, 10 and 11 have three-in-one chemical, hose and pumping units. Companies No. 1 and 6 have booster tanks with 100 gallon capacity, replacing chemical, with three-quarter-inch rubber hose.
City Council authorized the motorization of the Camden Fire Department on January 1, 1913. The first motor car was assigned to Chief Elfreth. The motorization was completed under Chief Carter. Camden was one of the first cities in the country to motorize its department and was so equipped before Philadelphia began to use the modern equipment with powerful pumpers.
When the fire department was motorized City Council retained two of the steam pumpers, having them mounted on tractors. After a survey of the city’s fire, water and police equipment and building codes in 1932 by the National Board of Fire Underwriters a recommendation was made that this apparatus be replaced by more modern motor driven and operated equipment. This was done two years ago while former Mayor Roy R. Stewart was director of public safety.
Six Killed at Fire
Six men have been killed in the line of duty fighting fires. The worst catastrophe was at a fire which destroyed the old Fifth Regiment Armory at West and Mickle streets on March 16, 1905. The fire broke out at 5.55 p. m. William Jobes, Engine Company, No. 1; George Shields and William Hillman, Truck Company, No. 2, were trapped in a room in the building and were killed.
Chief Worthington was killed in a fall from a roof while directing the fighting of a fire at Delaware avenue and George street on May 14, 1914.
Capt. Martin Carrigan, of Engine Company, No. 2, was killed directing a fight against a fire which wrecked the interior of the Morris Handle department store at 427 and 429 Kaighn avenue on January 18, 1922.
Hoseman John J. Reilly was killed on January 19, 1925, when a fire extinguisher exploded while fighting a fire at 924 North Second street.
Two Camden firemen were crippled as a result of being caught under a falling wall while battling a fire at the Enterprise Wall Paper plant at Collingswood on January 6, 1915. Injured with them was a Westmont fireman and former Judge John B. Kates, of the Collingswood department, then a member of the General Assembly of New Jersey. The late Battalion Chief George B. Wade and the late William E. Laird, a hoseman, were caught under the falling debris and were in the West Jersey Hospital several weeks. Kates, Wade and Laird suffered crushed limbs.
(Tomorrow’s installment will tell of the most serious fires in the history of the city.)