Introduction
Stanley Powell, 1936
STANLEY ANTHONY POWELL was born Stanley A. Pawelek on May 2, 1906 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to John J. Pawelek and his wife the former Katarzyna Zajac. The family moved to Camden shortly after his birth, and settled in the Whitman Park section. Stanley was the oldest of six children, coming before Joseph, Nellie, Teresa, Cecilia, Mary and Angela Pawelek, all of whom were born in New Jersey. His brother Joseph boxed professionally as Joey Powell. By 1927 the Pawelek family had settled at 1256 Whitman Avenue, where they would stay well into the 1990s.
Stanley Powell was in and out of trouble, the newspapers, and jail all too frequently in the late 1920s and 1930s. In April of 1936 he was sentenced to 10 to 15 years imprisonment on charges relating to a January 4, 1936 robbery on Broadway. He applied for parole at the first opportunity in December of 1942. By the end of 1950 he had been released, and was operating a cigar store at 215 South 5th Street. He also was doing some numbers writing on the side, and was caught. He received a one- to two-year suspended sentence, after which he married, settled down, and appears to have stayed out of any further trouble.
Stanley Powell married Mary Wood on December 2, 1953 in Camden at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Broadway. He was employed by the Campbell Soup company and was active in the Holy Name Society of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Camden. Stanley Powell passed away on December 17, 1971 and was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chews Landing, Gloucester Township, New Jersey. He was survived by his parents, wife, a son and seven daughters, his brother and married sisters Teresa Atkinson and Angela Klinzsport.
Player-Piano Looting Lands Youths in Jail
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Camden youths yesterday began serving jail terms of four months each after pleading guilty in police court to looting a player-piano in a pool room at Louis and Mt. Vernon streets.
Stanley Powell, 20, of 1256 Whitman avenue, and Anthony Saratick, 20, of 1159 Whitman avenue, the youths sentenced, were arrested earlier in the day by Detective William Boettcher, assigned to investigate the theft which occurred Wednesday night.
Steve Blake, proprietor of the pool room, testified the place had been burglarized five times in recent months, with the principal loot each time coins from the player-piano.
Player-Piano Looting Lands Youths in Jail
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Camden youths yesterday began serving jail terms of four months each after pleading guilty in police court to looting a player-piano in a pool room at Louis and Mt. Vernon streets.
Stanley Powell, 20, of 1256 Whitman avenue, and Anthony Sarstick, 20, of 1159 Whitman avenue, the youths sentenced, were arrested earlier in the day by Detective William Boettcher, assigned to investigate the theft which occurred Wednesday night.
Steve Blake, proprietor of the pool room, testified the place had been burglarized five times in recent months, with the principal loot each time coins from the player-piano.
Pugilist Fined $100 as Night Prowler
Camden Courier-Post —
Stanley Powelek Given Choice of Paying or Prison for 4 Months
Charged with loitering on the streets during the early hours of the morning and unable to satisfactorily explain his actions, Stanley Powelek, alias Powell, 21, of 1256 Whitman avenue, an amateur boxer, was given the alternative in police court today of paying a $100 fine or spending four months in the county jail.
Powelek was arrested by Policeman John Wilkie, who was attempting to run down four young men who had beaten and robbed a Parkside man.
Wilkie told the court he had been driving through the streets of Whitman Park looking for the youths who assaulted Edward G. Kelly, 25, of 1322 Kenwood avenue, when he saw Powelek and two other boys talking. He said he suspected the men of planning a robbery and followed Powelek for 45 minutes.
When he arrested the pugilist, he said, he found a flashlight, a chance board and a bunch of keys in his car, and, returning to the place where he originally saw the boys talking, he found another flashlight, a chisel and a hack-saw blade. He also told the court Powelek had been arrested for robbery before and had been sentenced to four months in the county jail.
Powelek denied Wilkie’s charges, and said he had been riding around merely “to get the air.”
Freed in One Robbery, Arrested for Another
Camden Courier-Post / Evening Courier —
A suspect, released a week ago in connection with the $11,000 Camden Radio Condenser Company holdup, was rearrested Saturday and held in $3000 bail on a charge of robbing an East Camden bar.
The accused is Stanley Powell, 26, of 1256 Whitman Avenue, alleged to have stolen, with the help of two other men of unknown identity, a marble machine and 100 cigars from Marty’s Olde Tappe Room, operated at 1990 Federal Street by Marty Segal.
Powell pleaded not guilty.
City Detective George Zeitz testified that he learned that Powell’s new expensive car had been seen near the taproom early on Thursday, when the robbery occurred. Zeitz said he obtained this information after Powell had been quizzed and released in the radio firm holdup.
Upon further investigation, Zeitz asserted, he found a witness, Daniel Danter, 1985 Carman Street, who allegedly saw Powell and two other men carrying “something” from the store and loading it in the car. Zeitz, according to Zeitz, identified Powell. Elwood Cox, of 1981 Carman Street, is alleged by Zeitz to have seen Powell’s car in that neighborhood on the morning of the robbery, but didn’t know any of the men in it.
Acting Police Judge James Smith fixed the amount of bail.
Camden Fisherman Picked Out Wrong Spot
Camden Courier-Post —
Swedesboro, June 20— Fishing in the private Narraticon Lake, owned by William Cook, cost a Camden man $5 fine today and a similar amount was suspended in the case of a companion.
Justice of the Peace Harold S. Twiss fined Stanley Powell, 24, of 1256 Whitman Avenue, after his arrest by Marshal William Jordan. Constant Grienkwicz, 21, of 1469 Louis Street, Camden, was released with a suspended sentence.
5 Men and Woman Held in P.S. Bus Barn Holdup, Marlton Bank Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
Four of Notorious ‘Forty’
COPS ARREST 4 IN PHILA. HOTEL COUNTING CASH
Camden Police to Seek Extradition of Gang at Hearing Thursday
LICENSE NUMBER OF CAR LEADS TO RAID ON ROOM
Scores of Crimes Charged to Members of ‘Band of 40 Thieves’
Five men and a woman, reputedly members of Camden’s notorious “band of 40 thieves,” were arrested yesterday and formally charged with the holdup of the Public Service bus garage at Fifteenth and Mickle streets.
Efforts are also being made by local and state police to link the sextet with the $4000 Marlton National Bank holdup last Friday, and more than a score of other recent crimes throughout South Jersey.
All six will be given hearings Thursday. The five men are held without bail; the woman is in jail in default of $5000 bail.
Stanley Powell, 28, of 1256 Whitman avenue, and Stephie Ciesla, 22, of 1224 Chase street, were taken into custody in Camden.
John Lenkowski, 28, of Chestnut and Louis streets; Stanley Geda, 22, of the 1200 block Everett street; Stanley Krause, 19, of 1252 Sycamore street, and Mitchell Sadowski, 18, of 1200 Sycamore street, were arrested in Philadelphia. Lieut. George Ward, of the Camden detective bureau, is preparing extradition papers to have them returned to this city.
Suspected in Holdups
The six are also suspected of complicity by local and state police in the holdup ten days ago of the Genova Cafe, Third and Arch streets; the $900 payroll robbery last month of the Young and Metzner Company at Sixth street and Atlantic avenue; the attempted robbery of a Westville chain store last Friday when shots were exchanged with police; the holdup of an ice cream stand at Central Airport; the larceny of an automobile from the Cadillac-LaSalle agency in Westville, Friday, and the theft of more than a score of other automobiles.
A total of $187.50 was found in the possession of the quartet nabbed in Philadelphia yesterday. This was described as part of the loot from the Public Service garage job by Lieutenant Ward.
The spectacular capture of the four was hailed by local authorities as the first step in the breaking up of the notorious gang that has been operating in South Jersey for so long. The arrest of Powell and the Ciesla girl came a few hours later.
Lieutenant Ward and Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, aided by (Continued on Page Two)
STANLEY POWELL (Above) STANLEY GEDA (Above) JOHN LENKOWSKI MITCHELL SADOWSKI
Lenkowski, Geda and Sadowski are three of the four suspects in the Public Service garage holdup early yesterday nabbed in Philadelphia and held without bail to await extradition at a hearing Thursday. The other is Stanley Krause. All are Camdenites. Powell was arrested with Stephie Ciesla in Camden, and also held without bail for a hearing Thursday. Bail of $5000 was placed on the girl. The six are suspected of complicity in the Marlton bank holdup last Friday, also.
5 Men, Woman Held in Bus, Bank Holdups
(Continued from Page One)
Philadelphia detectives, swooped down upon Irving Hotel, 917 Walnut street, Philadelphia, and smashed in a door to a second-floor room. There they found the four men, according to Ward.
Were Dividing Money
“They were dividing up some money,” explained the detective head. “It was stolen in the Public Service holdup yesterday. We are lodging a detainer against them with a warrant accusing them of that job. The Marlton bank holdup is a Burlington county matter. Once we get them over here we will question them about other local jobs.
“We have been looking for them for some time. We understood they had been living in Philadelphia for the past six weeks, and yesterday we learned they had moved to the Irving Hotel. So we planned the raid. The biggest factor in finding them was the cars they have been using. Police in both states were on the lookout for the car used in the Marlton holdup.”
The arrest of Powell and the girl came as a result of the Philadelphia raid. The license number of the car in which the four had driven to the hotel was checked, and traced to the girl’s mother.
Patrolmen William Feitz and Joseph Schultz went to her home and waited for the car to appear.
Powell was driving the car as it approached the Chase street address. When it stopped, the two policemen placed both Powell and Miss Ceisla [sic] under arrest. The man jumped from the car and ran, with Schultz in pursuit. After a chase of half a block, the cop fired a shot over Powell’s head. Powell stopped and surrendered.
Powell Denies Holdup
Powell denied any part in the garage holdup, saying he had slept at the Ciesla home Sunday night. He was held without bail as an accessory after the fact, however, and the girl was placed under $5000 bail as a material witness. They will be given hearings Thursday.
The four arrested in Philadelphia were given preliminary hearings today before Magistrate Charles Medway at Twelfth and Pine streets police station. They were held without bail for another hearing Thursday, when Lieut. Ward will ask that they be extradited to Camden.
At today’s hearing, all four denied any connection with the garage holdup. They testified that two men had come to their room in the hotel and left a bag in their care. They were in the act of counting the contents of the bag—$187.50 in nickels, dimes and quarters—when the police entered, they said.
Lankowski and Sadowski told the Court they did not know the identity of the two men, saying they were friends of Krause. But Krause said he didn’t know them either, whereupon Magistrat [sic] Medway held all four without bail for a further hearing Thursday.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia police are checking on recent holdups there in an effort to link the quartet with them.
Identified by Victims
Witnesses to the Public Service holdup yesterday were taken to Philadelphia and identified the suspects, according to Lieut. Ward. They also identified a photograph of Powell, he added.
Corporal George G. Small, of Berlin barracks, New Jersey State Police, and Detective Sergeant William P. Kelly, of Hammonton headquarters, went to Philadelphia last night in an effort to link the quartet with numerous robberies throughout South Jersey, including two chain stores in Pine Hill last week. Sergeant Kelly was the only one to question the men. Lieut. Ward did not, but explained that he will Thursday.
Thomas Thorpe, chief of Pennsauken township police, today asked Lieut. Ward for permission to question the suspects when they are returned to Camden, in an effort to link them with holdups in that community. Chief of Burlington County Detectives Ellis Parker is also interested in the case. The Marlton holdup comes under his jurisdiction.
Four Youths Get Terms in Prison
Trenton Times —
Convicts Also Wanted for Burlington County Bank Raid
CAMDEN, N. J., July 2 (P).—Four boys, 16 to 19 years old, were sentenced in Camden Criminal Court today to terms of seven to ten years each after they pleaded guilty to a series of holdups.
A detainer was lodged against them by Burlington County authorities who charge the group robbed the Marlton National Bank on June 14, when $4,119 was taken.
The prisoners are Stanley Geda and Stanley Krause, 19; John Lenkowski, 18, and Mitchell Sadowski, 16. Two others allegedly involved in the same crimes pleaded not guilty and will be tried. They are Stanley Powell, 20, and Edward Guegryc, 19.
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.
Man Held in Robbery of Mrs. Shane as Cops Plan 2 More Arrests
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Character Jailed Without Bail; Another Questioned
JOHNSON SEES SOLUTION NEAR
Asserts Witnesses Link Suspect To Crime
Jailed and Quizzed in Holdup
Stanley Powell, 28, of 1256 Whitman avenue, right, who was jailed without bail last night on suspicion of holdup and robbery in connection with the $10,380.50 robbery of Mrs. Mary Shane, and Frank Gromacki, 28, of 412 Broadway, left, who is being questioned by detectives investigating the case.
Stanley Powell, 28, Camden police character, was jailed without bail last night in connection with the $10,380.50 robbery of Mrs. Mary Shane, wife of a Camden State motor vehicle agent.
Powell is charged with “suspicion of holdup and robbery.”
Meantime police were questioning Frank Gromacki, 28, of 412 Broadway, in connection with the same case.
Arrest of two others was predicted as Harry Gassel, 27, of 1282 Liberty street, owner of the car allegedly stolen and used in the holdup, still was being detained at headquarters.
Lieut. Samuel E. Johnson, in charge of the detective bureau, predicted police would solve the holdup before morning, or less than 48 hours after it occurred.
“Powell has been linked definitely to this job by witnesses,” he said.
Mrs. Shane was robbed early Thursday morning while en route to the American National Bank on Broadway, near Kaighn avenue, to deposit funds taken in by her husband, Samuel, at 1289 Kaighn avenue, she told police.
Bandit Flees in Auto
A man snatched the money, representing December 31 license fees from Mrs. Shane as she carried it across Broadway in an ordinary shopping bag near the bank. The thief escaped in an automobile with three accomplices. First break in the case came when the car believed abandoned by the bandits was found late Thursday night in West Collingswood Heights. A West Collingswood Heights woman, after reading the abandoned car had been used by the bandits, in the Morning Post appeared at police headquarters and declared she believed she could identify one of the men.
Detectives refused to divulge the woman’s name but said she was convinced the man had waited on her when she patronized a Kaighn avenue store.
Gromacki was taken into custody at Broadway and Kaighn avenue, a few feet from the scene of the holdup, by several Camden detectives and two motor vehicle inspectors.
Powell was arrested by Detectives Clifford Carr and Heber McCord as he was preparing to eat a meal in a restaurant on Market street near Second.
Both were taken to detective headquarters, where Powell calmly denied any implication in the holdup. He was removed to police headquarters, and after being “booked” was placed in a cell. Commissioner Mary W. Kobus was present during the grilling of Powell.
The State Motor Vehicle Department ordered the closing of the agency operated by Mrs. Shane’s husband. The order closing Shane’s office pending an investigation came from Acting Motor Vehicle Commissioner Arthur W. Magee.
“All agents were recently ordered to carry holdup insurance,” Magee said, “and since Shane reported he had none, this was in direct violation of the rules of the department.”
The number of the bandit car, which crashed into a truck while making a getaway, was obtained and the vehicle was reported stolen shortly after the holdup, police said.
Shortly before midnight Thursday detectives received a call from Fred Cannady, New Jersey and Washington avenues, West Collingswood Heights that the car probably used in the holdup had been found abandoned at Pennsylvania and Washington avenues. Cannady said he saw a man leave the car at 11 a. m.
Detective Clifford Carr made a preliminary investigation and declared all the glass in the windows and windshield was unbroken. Acting Sergt. Joseph Carpani ordered the car impounded at Lane’s garage, Haddon avenue and Line street, where it was investigated for fingerprints.
Carr reported the finding of a shopping bag, believed to be the one carried by Mrs. Shane at the time of the holdup, and a roll of adhesive tape in the car.
Following the holdup Mrs. Shane was taken to police headquarters and questioned for more than 11 hours. She was taken to her home at 11 p. m. by state motor vehicle inspectors, who talked to her there until 1 a. m. Previously, at police headquarters, she was shown numerous rogue’s gallery pictures and partially identified one of them as the suspect who stole her bag.
Man Pleads Guilty in Shane Robbery
Camden Courier-Post —
Four Other Suspects Deny Guilt When Arraigned Before Neutze
One of five suspects held in the $10,380 robbery of Mrs. Mary Shane, wife of a Camden motor vehicle agent, entered guilty pleas to two of four indictments yesterday before Judge Frank F. Neutze. The others pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Frank Gromacki, 28, of 412 Broadway, pleaded guilty to larceny from person and highway robbery without instilling fear in the victim. He entered not guilty pleas to conspiracy and highway robbery and instilling fear.
The other suspects are Stanley A. Powell, 28, of 1256 Whitman Avenue; Harry Gassel, 27, of 1282 Liberty Street; Leon Grenkwicz, 23, of 1469 Louis Street, and Edward Giedrye, 21, of Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Liberty Street.
Mrs. Shane, wife of Samuel Shane, who served as motor vehicle agent at 1289 Kaighn Avenue, was robbed on January 2, near the American National Bank, Broadway south of Kaighn Avenue. She was about to enter the bank to deposit $8930 in cash and $1450 in checks, representing receipts from motor vehicle licenses issued at the agency on December 31. A bag containing money was snatched from her hand.
Approximately $6000 has not been recovered.
Gassel was continued in $5000 bail while the others were returned to cells to await trial. Gassel’s car was alleged to have been used by the others in fleeing from the robbery.
Judge Neutze said Gromacki “will be given consideration” when sentence is imposed as a result of his two guilty pleas.
Numbers Operator Fined $1000 by Palese
Camden Courier-Post —
Stanley Powell, 42, of 509 Mickle street, was fined $1000 and given a suspended one to two year prison sentence Friday by County Judge Palese after pleading guilty to possession of numbers slips.
Powell, arrested Jan. 23 by Detectives Louis Schmidt and Joseph Carpani in the rear of a cigar store at 213 South Fifth street, also was placed on probation for one year. The detectives said they found Powell accepting bets on numbers and confiscated a quantity of slips.
Ira Sands, 31, of 10 North Second street, was sentenced to serve six months in the county jail by Judge Palese on a charge of atrocious assault and battery on his wife, Lillian, 30.
Powell-Pawelek
Camden Courier-Post —
On Dec. 17, 1971, Stanley, beloved husband of Mary (nee Wood) of 1202 Liberty St., Camden, N.J. Age 63 years. Also survived by his parents, John and Kathryn Pawelek of Camden, seven daughters, Elizabeth Ann, Jean Marie, Catherine Grace, Cecilia Mary, Stella Rose, Angela Mary and Bernadette Ann, one son, John Anthony, brother, Joseph Powell of Camden and two sisters, Teresa Atkinson of Camden and Angela Klinszport of Camden. Relatives and Friends of the family; also employes of Campbell Soup and Holy Name Society of St. Joseph’s Church are invited to attend the funeral on Monday, at 8 a.m., at the Zembruski Funeral Home, 1643 Mt. Ephraim Ave., Camden. Mass of Resurrection 9 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Church, 10th and Mechanic Sts. Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Viewing Sunday evening.
Powell-Pawelek (death notice)
POWELL-PAWELEK
On Dec. 17, 1971, Stanley, beloved husband of Mary (nee Wood) of 1202 Liberty St., Camden, N.J. Age 63 years. Also survived by his parents, John and Kathryn Pawelek of Camden, seven daughters, Elizabeth Ann, Jean Marie, Catherine Grace, Cecilia Mary, Stella Rose, Angela Mary and Bernadette Ann, one son, John Anthony, brother, Joseph Powell of Camden and two sisters, Teresa Atkinson of Camden and Angela Klinszport of Camden. Relatives and Friends of the family; also employes of Campbell Soup and Holy Name Society of St. Joseph's Church are invited to attend the funeral on Monday, at 8 a.m., at the Zembruski Funeral Home, 1643 Mt. Ephraim Ave., Camden. Mass of Resurrection 9 a.m., at St. Joseph's Church, 10th and Mechanic Sts. Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery. Viewing Sunday evening.