Samuel M. Shay

Samuel M. Shay was born in New Jersey around 1885. He was appointed to a five-year term as Judge of the Common Pleas Court in Camden County in March of 1922 by Governor Edwards. He was reappointed in 1927.

During this time Samuel Shay was involved with several business and civic groups, and was active in the fund raising drive that culminated in the building of the Walt Whitman Hotel at Broadway and Cooper Street.

Judge Shay married at the age of 41. At the time of the April 1930 Census, he was renting a house at 314 Volan Street in Merchantville with his wife Alice and two daughters, Elizabeth A., not yet 2, and Joan E. Shay, 8 months of age. The Shays lived adjacent to E. Huelings Antrim, whose family business, Antrim Hardware, operated in Camden for over a century. A son, Samuel, was born after the Census was enumerated.

Samuel M. Shay had passed away by the time the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. His wife and children were still residing in Merchantville, at 121 Browning Road, a block which included Albert S. Woodruff at 101; Dr. A. Lincoln Sherk at 106; contractor Edward Ellis at 125; the Bottomley family, who were connected to the Howland Croft & Sons Co. textile mill in Camden, at 129; E. Huelings Antrim at 131, and former Camden Mayor Roy R. Stewart at 226.

Patrons and patronesses for the first military ball of the Camden Post No. 960, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening February 3 in the Elks auditorium, Seventh and Cooper Streets, are announced today.

The following prominent men and women are listed: Mrs. J.W. Connor, Miss C.M. Day, Mrs. J.H. Forsyth, Mrs. H.J. Goodyear, Miss B. Graham, Mrs. R.E. Green, Mrs. E.F. Haines, Mrs. J. Hood Jr., Mrs. W. Hurley, Mrs. J. Jarrell, Mrs. T. Keefe, Mrs. J.F. Kobus, Mrs. L. Liberman, Mrs. F.L. Lloyd, Mrs. M.A. Logan, Mrs. T.P. McConaghy, Mrs. F.F. Neutze, Mrs. L.K. Marr, Mrs. J.A. Pennington, Mrs. M.E. Ramsey, Mrs. E. Truax, Mrs. S.M. Shay, Mrs. W.J. Staats, Mrs. B.G. Tarburton, Mrs. R.W. Waddell, Mrs. E. Watson, Mrs. E.P. Wescott, Mrs. C.A. Wolverton.

David Baird Jr., William T. Boyle, Isaac Ferris, William Hurley, John Hood Jr., John Jarrell, Victor King, William J. Kraft, Thomas Keefe, Joseph F. Kobus, Hon. Edmund B. Leaming, Dr. A. Haines Lippincott, James H. Long, L.K. Marr, Dr. Thomas P. McConaghy, Hon. Frank F. Neutze, Samuel P. Orlando, Albert E. Simmons, Edwin Watson, Ethan P. Wescott.

Convicted by a Criminal Court jury of conspiracy and the possession and sale of narcotics, Joseph Colanduno, 29 years old, 431 Walnut Street, said by police to be a member of a powerful dope ring in Camden, will be sentenced by Judge Shay tomorrow morning.

The jury deliberated less than an hour before returning a verdict of guilty on seven indictments, marking the end of the first of a series of “dope” trials scheduled to be heard by Judge Shay. The most important hearing will be that of Anthony “Babe” Paradise, who has been indicted in eleven counts on narcotics charges, six of them true bills accusing Paradise and James Mucci with conspiracy to sell narcotic drugs. Another alleged member of the gang, Rocco DeCord, 221 Spruce Street, who recently pleaded guilty to six indictments and who turned state’s evidence at yesterday’s trial, will be sentenced later.

DeCord and three confessed addicts testified against Colanduno at the trial yesterday. DeCord said that he had been hired by the defendant and Frumento to sell small packages marked “H” and “C” to certain men who had been introduced to him. DeCord declared that he did not know what the packages contained, nor did he ever use dope.

Colanduno, who until last December operated the Primrose Inn at Barrington with Frumento as his partner, denied that he ever possessed drugs or hired DeCord. His arrest, he said, was a “frame-up” engineered by his “enemies.”

Assistant Prosecutor Joseph A. Varbalow stated that the Paradise case probably would be disposed of next week with the return from Florida of Samuel P. Orlando, attorney for the alleged “Dope King of Camden.”

Found guilty of carrying a gun, Richard H. Morrow, 24, of 2319 Howell Street, was fined $150 by Judge Shay in Criminal Court yesterday. He will be permitted to pay the fine in installments.

The fine was imposed after a plea for leniency was made by Morrow’s attorney, Bernard Bertman. Morrow was arrested in a raid on a house at Second and Spruce Streets.

After he had changed his pleas of not guilty to non vult, Charles F. Squillace, former Camden attorney, was given one year in state prison by Judge Samuel M. Shay yesterday afternoon and then the sentence was suspended.

Squillace was charged with embezzlement, larceny as bailee and issuing a worthless check. He had been a fugitive from justice six years. The court suspended sentence after it was announced he had made restitution to former clients.

A fugitive from justice since the December, 1923 grand jury returned nine true bills against him, Squillace was arrested in Washington, D.C., last July by County Detective Fiore Troncone, who found him and his wife operating a beauty shop.

Squillace is said to have readily admitted his guilt and agreed to return to this city and face the consequences. He was released in $3500 bail on August 3, 1929, his bond being signed by Ralph Cavallo of Kaighn Avenue near Third Street.

The indictments for larceny as bailee, his accusers and amounts involved, are: Frank Canola, $800; Mrs. Marie Fannelli, $600; Albert Covitto, $245; Antonio Di Maio, $350; Angelina Palaia, $600; Aorozio Martines, $125, and Nick Monocchio, $100.

Despite his plea that he was the victim of his estranged wife’s animosity, Charles Yatzus, 45, formerly of 978 Ferry Avenue, but now of Baltimore, was fined $75 in criminal court yesterday by Judge Shay on a charge of carrying a concealed deadly weapon.

M.L. Cobbin, attorney, asked leniency for his client, declaring that Yatzus and his wife had separated, and he took his .32-caliber revolver from the Ferry Avenue home intending to carry it to his rooms in Philadelphia. Cobbin alleged that Mrs. Yatzus telephoned police that her husband was carrying a revolver, resulting in his arrest as he was about to board a ferryboat for Philadelphia.

Judge Shay admitted the story might be true, but imposed the fine because the gun was loaded.

An eight-year controversy over the estate of former City Detective George Murry, one time alleged vice czar of the Third Ward, ended yesterday when Wife No. 2 withdrew her claims.

Murry, who died under mysterious circumstances on the eve of going on trial for graft January 29, 1922, died intestate and Cora J. Murry, who claimed to be his wife, applied for letters of administration. She was the mother of 10 children of the detective. She since has remarried, her name now being Butler.

Elizabeth Murry came forward after the man’s death and made a claim that she was the real widow and the other woman was only the detective’s common law wife.

Former State Senator Albert S. Woodruff yesterday withdrew Elizabeth Murry’s claim in the estate and Judge Shay granted letters of administration to Cora J. Murry Butler upon application of Surrogate George W. Whyte.

Charged with the theft of a $725 diamond ring, two small boys were ordered held for Juvenile Court by Police Judge Pancoast yesterday. One of the boys, William McGinnis, 11, of 2639 Carman Street, had been released from the county detention home last Thursday on probation by Judge Shay. He had been one of six boys held in connection with a series of nine robberies in East Camden.

The other boy is John Auletto, 10, of 2824 Howell Street.

Mrs. Catherine Tydeman testified the pair had come to her apartment at Twenty-eighth Street and Westfield Avenue Thursday afternoon and told her she was wanted on the phone. Returning, she saw the two boys leaving her apartment, and a short time later she discovered that her pocketbook containing a $725 diamond ring was missing. District Detective William Hurlock arrested the pair at the Garfield School. He said he found the ring in their possession.

The strangest exhibit ever to bob up in a Camden court was produced before Judge Shay yesterday during the trial of Joseph and Fred Klosterman on numbers racket charges.

Walter S. Keown, defense attorney, produced a piece of paper, apparently identical in type style and arrangement to the numbers slips introduced by the prosecution, and declared it was a railroad timetable and not a numbers slip.

“I’ll show it to Judge Shay,” parried Keown. “I don’t want to see it,” laughed Judge Shay, as Keown paced around the courtroom, followed by Gotshalk. “It has nothing to do with this case,” repeated Keown.

Shaw testified that he, Detective Clarence Arthur and Patrolman John Kaighn entered the saloon December 10, and went out the back door. They followed a path to the Green Street house, broke down the door and found Henry Bagroewski, 17, and his mother burning numbers slips in a stove. Shaw said he recovered a half basket of slips.

Shaw and Arthur also declared that they found a bell in the house and that it was connected to a push button in the saloon, allegedly for an alarm.

Mary King, deputy city clerk, testified that at the time of the raid the license for the saloon was in Joseph Klosterman’s name. The case was continued.

Joseph and Fred Klosterman were convicted in Camden Criminal Court yesterday of operating a numbers racket.

A jury returned a guilty verdict against the two South Camden sportsmen-brothers at 6:25 p.m., after deliberating only a short while.

Both were in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, but were allowed to depart under bail pending sentence later by Judge Samuel M. Shay.

Judge Shay delivered his charge to the jury after denying motions by Walter S. Keown, defense counsel, first to quash the indictment on grounds that its language was faulty, and second, to direct a verdict of not guilty for lack of evidence.

Called ‘Big Shots’

The two brothers were characterized as “big shot numbers barons” by Assistant Prosecutor William C. Gotshalk in his closing argument to the jury.

The Klosterman saloon, Mechanic and Green Streets, was raided December 10 by city detectives who testified Tuesday they followed a footpath to an adjacent house at 1312 Green Street. They broke down the door and found a woman and her son burning numbers slips. Acting Lieutenant Louis Shaw, of the city detective bureau, testified he recovered some of the slips and also found a brief case containing numbers slips and a post card addressed to “F. Klosterman.” Detective Clarence Arthur and Patrolman John Kaighn corroborated Shaw’s testimony.

Fred Klosterman, who resides at 1255 Decatur Street, denied he was a “numbers baron” and said he merely “happened” to be there on the day of the raid. Under cross-examination he admitted having pleaded guilty to slot machine charges in June of last year.

Diplomas and certificates were awarded 25 graduates of the Y.M.C.A. naturalization class last night.

They were presented by Herman Hensgen, chairman of the naturalization committee. The new citizens recently were naturalized by U.S. Judge John Boyd Avis and County Judge Samuel M. Shay.

Hensgen delivered the address of welcome. A zither duet was given by Eugene Heilig and John Gruetzer; recitation by Doris Graves, McKinley School; address by Rev. Elwood A. Harrar, pastor of First Baptist Church, and vocal solo by Alfred L. Huttelmeyer.

William C. Cramer, clerk of the U.S. District Court, presented certificates to the new citizens.

Hysterics among three mothers, one of whom fainted, as their young sons were held for court yesterday inspired another attack on Police Judge Garfield Pancoast by Frank J. Hartmann, Jr., secretary of the North Camden Civic Association.

The three women shouted frantically as their sons, each 15, were led from the court to be taken to the Juvenile Detention Home on charges of incorrigibility. They had been accused of vandalism in North Camden. It was brought out, however, that Hartmann did not make the complaints against the boys, who will be detained until the next session of juvenile court is held by Judge Samuel M. Shay.

Pancoast remained adamant in his decision despite the shrill protests of the mothers; the plea of one of the boys, who begged for release with arms outstretched, and of the complainant, who urged leniency.

Criticizes Hartmann

Pancoast criticized Hartmann for “condemning him for showing leniency in such cases, yet never making formal complaint himself against youthful vandals in a specific case.”

The boys are: Lester Jamison, of 326 North Second Street; Frank Smith, of 521 Elm Street, and Henry Egerton, 15, of 212 Bailey Street.

Complaint against the youths was made by G.T. Moore, of 313 State Street, who charged that he had found the boys destroying a property at the northeast corner of Third and State Streets.

Value $25,000, Now 25 Cents

“That property once was worth about $25,000,” Moore testified, “Today it could be bought for 25 cents because of vandalism.”

Hartmann’s Reply

In replying to Pancoast’s criticism Hartmann said: “I learned from the father of one of the boys committed to jail by Judge Pancoast that the three boys could not be released unless I gave the word. This parent was quite alarmed, and I am told made threats against me. He declared that he had a gun and was going to use it. I can appreciate this man’s feelings… But I can’t go to the detention home and order release of the boys. That’s impossible. Only the judge can do that.”

Hartmann, in company with Frederick von Nieda, president of the Congress of Civic Associations, and George I. Shaw, vice president of the uptown group, conferred with Captain Arthur Colsey, at police headquarters. Captain Colsey promised further co-operation of the police in stamping out the practice of wrecking vacant dwellings and invited all citizens to report such instances to the police.

Millville, June 29.—A number of South Jersey jurists were guests today of the Cumberland County Bar Association on a cruise of Delaware Bay and a fishing trip.

Among them were Judge Samuel M. Shay, Camden; Circuit Court Judge V. Claude Palmer, Mt. Holly; Vice Chancellor W. Frank Sooy, Atlantic City; Judge Palmer M. Way, Cape May; former Judge Austin H. Swackhamer, Woodbury; William B. Knight, Camden, special master in Chancery; Judge J. Forman Sinnickson, Salem, and Judge Francis A. Stanger, Jr., of Bridgeton.

Other Camden attorneys in the party were Samuel T. French and Frank T. Lloyd Jr. Leon Bardfelt of Vineland, was chairman of the committee.

The party consisted of 60 barristers, who embarked on the state guard boat Firman M. Reeves, which left Bivalve at 11 a.m. The boat went as far as Cape May Point. Stops were made at the fishing banks and some large catches were reported. Luncheon and dinner were both served aboard the boat, which docked at Bivalve at 9 p.m.

A court room crowded to the doors was thrown into a turmoil of excitement yesterday when five women became hysterical upon hearing Judge Samuel M. Shay impose prison terms on three men who pleaded guilty to vandalism in special session of criminal court.

Completely losing control of themselves, the women threw their pocketbooks, hats and gloves across the court room. Screaming at the top of their lungs, they were joined in the bedlam by small children they had brought to court with them.

All five women fainted and were carried from the court room by attendants. When they were revived they continued the disturbance in anterooms and corridors.

The jail sentences were meted out by Judge Shay as the opening shot in his campaign to stamp out vandalism in Camden County. The three men and their sentences are Elmer Baxendale, 32, of 1647 Forty-ninth Street, Pennsauken, two to three years in state prison; Thomas Henry, 32, of 1211 Bergen Avenue, 18 months, and John Schwab, 31, of 1739 Lexington Avenue, Pennsauken, 18 months.

Judge Shay sounded a warning that he will show no mercy to convicted vandals, who may, in the future, expect a sentence of 10 years.

“The kind of stuff you fellows have been doing strikes at the very foundation of organized government,” said the court. “We can lock our automobiles and jewelry, but owners of unoccupied houses are at the mercy of men like you. I am not going to tolerate it.”

“You can broadcast to the city and county,” the court then said, “that I have a way to break up this vandalism. I’m going to sentence convicted vandals to 10 years.”

Ex-Policeman Who Turned Bandit Jailed 18 Months For $70 Holdup — 10 Lawbreakers Imprisoned Out of 12 Arraigned Before Judge Shay — Alibi Fails Gun Toter

Five state prison sentences, four “light” terms in the county jail, a fine, a suspension of sentence and a sending of a youth to reform school were among the rulings of Judge Samuel M. Shay yesterday in Special Sessions of the Camden County Criminal Court.

Leniency was accorded a father who abandoned and failed to support a boy, but with the promise he must stay away from women to keep out of jail.

Parker Hunter, of 1722 Ferry Avenue, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a gasoline service station at Broadway and Webster Streets, on the night of July 14 and stealing seven quarts of oil. Hunter’s plea that he was intoxicated at the time did not save him from a 60-day sentence in the county jail.

Girder Thieves Jailed

George Edmonds, 48, and Alonzo Martin, 31, both of 1300 South Eighth Street, were sentenced to from one to three years each when they pleaded guilty to the theft of steel girders and beams belonging to the Acres of Diamonds Realty Co., near Central Airport. The beams were valued at $957.

Two Years for Gun Toter

Emmanuel Trappan, 33, 473 East Rittenhouse Street, Philadelphia, a paroled convict from the Eastern Penitentiary, was sentenced to from two to three years when he pleaded guilty to a charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons.

He was arrested at 3 a.m. on July 17 by William Markward, 513 North Tenth Street, a special officer, near Second and Vine Streets. The prisoner told the court he had come to Camden to attend a fireworks display in connection with the celebration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel day.

“So you came to see the fireworks,” said Judge Shay. “I imagine you saw them well at 3 a.m., didn’t you?” “No, Your Honor, they were over.” “Well,” continued the judge, “I would hate to see you disappointed.” He paused to look at the clock. “I’ll show you some at 11 a.m. Two to three years.”

Ex-Cop Sentenced

William F. McKittrick, Somerdale, was given a one year’s suspended sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of deserting his 12-year-old son and failing to support him. In suspending sentence, Judge Shay told McKittrick, “If I hear of you running around with any women back to jail you go.”

Floyd Griffin, Lucaston, a World War veteran and a former Philadelphia policeman, was sentenced to state prison for a term of from 18 months to seven years on a charge of holding up and robbing Edward Glassburg, a milk wagon driver at Lindenwold on July 10. He took $70 away from the driver at the point of a gun.

Three Years on Girl’s Charge

Marvin Taylor, of 931 Howard Street, was sentenced to serve 18 months to three years when he pleaded non vult to a statutory charge brought by the parents of a 9-year-old girl.

Roland Greer, of 332 North Second Street, was given a three months county jail sentence when he entered a guilty plea to a statutory charge, preferred by a 14-year-old girl.

Garry Denney, 1070 Sycamore Street, was fined $100 when he pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of his sister-in-law, Marie Sims, 358 Walnut Street.

Edward Lewis, of 327 Cole Street, and Charles Dunn, 611 Mt. Vernon Street, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the plumbing supply house of the J.D. Johnson Co., Newton Avenue and Division Street, on July 5, and taking a quantity of copper beer coils. They were sentenced to serve six months each.

Two youths who pleaded guilty to tearing fixtures from a Clementon home were sentenced to serve indefinite terms in Rahway by Judge Shay. They are Ralph Ernst, 16, of 19 Atlantic Avenue, Clementon, and Frank Medick, 16, of Lucaston.

William Schiller, 30-year-old former summer cop, was indicted for murder today and must stand trial for the fatal shooting of his father, Jacob Schiller, 72, well-known and well-liked politician.

The indictment was one of 39 true bills in a presentment made by the new September term of grand jury to Judge Samuel M. Shay.

In addition to Schiller, five other men were indicted for murder. These are Peter Citeroni, 28, of 919 South Fifth Street; Samuel DiGiacomo, 18, of 314 Berkley Street; Stanzo Palumbo, 20, of 314 Clinton Street; Joseph Patricci, 21, of 320 Berkley Street, and Fred Williams, colored, of Camden. All are in the county jail without bail and awaiting trial.

Schiller shot and killed his father at their home, 2420 Carman Street, last Saturday night. The elder Schiller had long tried to act as a conciliator between his son and the latter’s wife, Augusta, who were estranged.

Bill in ‘40-Cent Murder’

Palumbo, DiGiacomo and Patricci are indicted in the “40-cent murder” of Archie Pidgeon, who was found slain at Third and Berkley Streets August 21. The three are said to have admitted they held up Pidgeon and got only 40 cents from him, which they spent for “hot dogs” and coffee.

Other Indictments

Receiving stolen goods—Richard A. Wiggins, Lawnside; Harry Smith and William Bow, Camden; Joseph Hampton, Gloucester; Edward Hendricks, Gloucester.

Non support—Charles Van Dusen, Camden; Elmer P. Peters, Gloucester; John Shoemaker, Clementon; Martin Burns, Camden; William Lachzynska, Camden; George A. Spingler, Barrington; William Patten, Camden; Jerry Fagen, Gloucester; Harry L. Blaetz, Merchantville, and Frank Kunitz, Camden.

Breaking and entering—Ira Munroe, 10 indictments for breaking into houses at Haddonfield; Charles Priesly, indicted with Munroe in two true bills; Charles Hill, Camden.

Carrying concealed deadly weapons—Trim L. Austin, Pennsauken, for carrying brass knuckles.

Embezzlement—Raymond Weaver, Pennsauken, $543.50 from the Standard Oil Company.

Six alleged slayers will appear in Camden Criminal Court Monday to enter pleas to indictments. That is the largest number of persons charged with murder to appear in the court at one time for more than 20 years.

Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin intends to move for speedy trial of defendants who will plead not guilty. Those who will stand trial will be tried before Judge Samuel M. Shay, who has been designated by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd to conduct the murder trials alone.

Among those who will plead will be William Schiller, of East Camden, who is charged with shooting and killing his father, Jacob Schiller, 72, former Republican leader of the Twelfth Ward and city light inspector.

Three youths also will face Judge Shay on a murder charge. They are John Petracci, Sam DiGiacomo and Stanzo Palumbo, who are charged with beating Archie Pidgeon to death at Fourth and Berkley Streets several weeks ago and robbing him of 40 cents.

Peter Citeroni, who shot and killed his sweetheart, Jennie Zucchi, at Wright and Haddon Avenues on the night of August 13, will plead to a murder indictment.

Other defendants who have pleaded not guilty and who are scheduled to be placed on trial include Joseph Hendricks and Edward Hendricks, charged with possession of stolen goods; Robert Carey, assault and battery; Tony Tzaskowski, embezzlement; James Jordan, assault and battery; Ray Weaver, embezzlement; Lacy Mooney, Joseph Rizzo and Hackle Gamble, attempted larceny; Harry Sheer and John McShany, larceny and breaking and entering.

Woodbury, Jan. 31—A truck owner was absolved of liability today in a suit in the Supreme Court to recover damages for injuries suffered by a six-year-old National Park boy last June.

Judge Samuel M. Shay directed a verdict in favor of Burt Casey, National Park florist, but ruled the suit, also directed against his driver, Maynard Gayner, be continued tomorrow.

Eugene Szostak Sr. brought the suit to recover damages for his son, Eugene Jr. Szostak testified his son’s back was injured by the truck while playing on St. James Walk, near his home.

Casey testified Gayner borrowed the truck to go home to dinner on the day of the accident.

Woodbury, February 1.—A jury in Supreme Court today awarded $1500 to Eugene Szostak, Sr., of National Park, and the same amount for his son, Eugene, Jr., six, for injuries sustained by the boy when he was struck by a truck while playing on St. James Walk near his home last June. The jury deliberated two and a half hours.

The verdict was against Maynard Gayner, of National Park, who was driver of the truck, owned by Burt Casey, National Park florist. Yesterday Judge Samuel M. Shay, who presided at the trial, directed a verdict clearing Casey, who was also named as defendant in the suit.