Thomas Walton
THOMAS WALTON was born in Pennsylvania in February of 1851. He married in 1870 and was living in Philadelphia when the census was taken in 1880. The family at that time consisted of Thomas Walton, his wife Caroline, and children James, 9, Florence, 7, William, 4, and Thomas, 2. All three of the Walton sons would become plumbers in Camden as adults. Thomas Walton was working as a wagon driver when the census was taken. The Waltons moved to North Camden shortly afterwards. Another son, Jesse Walton, was born after the family had moved to Camden.
The 1881–1882 and 1882–1883 Camden City Directories show Thomas Walton working as a laborer and living at 225 Bailey Street. Directories from 1883 through 1896 show that he lived at 227 Bailey Street. He had moved to 314 Vine Street by the time the 1897 Camden City Directory was compiled, and remained at that address until his death.
Directories show that Thomas Walton worked as a wagon driver in 1883 and 1884, and as a lumber counter in 1885. A staunch Republican in Camden’s First Ward, in mid-1885 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served as a ladderman with the Hook and Ladder Company. On July 1, 1886 he began working as a patrolman with the Camden Police Department, where he served until May of 1893. He then took a position with the Pennsylvania Railroad’s police department.
In 1899 Thomas Walton was appointed to Camden County’s Board of Elections.
On November 22, 1903 Judge Charles G. Garrison appointed Thomas Walton to the eleven person court jury charged with witnessing the execution of murderer Paul Woodward, on January 7, 1903. The execution was carried out as scheduled.
Thomas Walton was serving as President Camden County’s Board of Elections when he took ill in 1904. He passed away on February 7, 1905. Thomas Walton was survived by his wife, and sons James F. Walton, George Walton, Thomas Walton.
(news brief — Walton appointed policeman)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
(news brief — Walton appointed policeman)
The resignations of Policemen Abraham Bradshaw and William Jones take effect to-day. Harry Miller and Thomas Walton have been appointed as their successors.
The resignations of Policemen Abraham Bradshaw and William Jones take effect to-day. Harry Miller and Thomas Walton have been appointed as their successors.
(news briefs — Walton appointed policeman)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
(news briefs — Walton appointed policeman)
John Harris, a deck hand on the excursion steamer Republic, attempted suicide on Tuesday night by jumping from one of the Federal street ferry boats as it lay in the dock. He was taken in charge by Policeman Streoper.
The resignations of Policemen Abraham Bradshaw and William Jones take effect to-day. Harry Miller and Thomas Walton have been appointed as their successors.
George Hunsingor, residing at No. 341 Pine Street, Camden, was yesterday held in $200 ball for assault and battery on his wife.
John Harris, a deck hand on the excursion steamer Republic, attempted suicide on Tuesday night by jumping from one of the Federal street ferry boats as it lay in the dock. He was taken in charge by Policeman Streoper.
The resignations of Policemen Abraham Bradshaw and William Jones take effect to-day. Harry Miller and Thomas Walton have been appointed as their successors.
George Hunsingor, residing at No. 341 Pine Street, Camden, was yesterday held in $200 ball for assault and battery on his wife.
(news brief — Harry Curtis appointed fireman)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
(news brief — Harry Curtis appointed fireman)
At a meeting of the Fire Commission last night Harry Curtis, of the First ward, and Charles Todd, of the Fourth ward, were elected regular firemen in the places of Charles Walton and Isaac Schreives, recently appointed on the police force. Isaac Lovett was elected an extra man in the department.
At a meeting of the Fire Commission last night Harry Curtis, of the First ward, and Charles Todd, of the Fourth ward, were elected regular firemen in the places of Charles Walton and Isaac Schreives, recently appointed on the police force. Isaac Lovett was elected an extra man in the department.
Didn't Like a Policeman's Lot
Philadelphia Inquirer —
After one day’s experience on the police force James Conners, a Democratic appointee, presented his resignation to the Camden Police Commissioners yesterday. James Murphy was given the place. Policeman Benjamin Thomas resigned, Alfred Hayden was dismissed and Thomas Walton and Godfrey Eisenhardt were suspended. They are Republicans. John Foley, a Democrat, was given Hayden’s position.
(news brief — Harry Curtis)
Philadelphia Inquirer —
(news brief — Harry Curtis)
Policeman Harry Curtis, of the First ward, has resigned to accept a position as special officer at the Federal street depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He will succeed Detective Thomas Walton, who has been assigned to duty at the ferries on the Philadelphia side.
Policeman Harry Curtis, of the First ward, has resigned to accept a position as special officer at the Federal street depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He will succeed Detective Thomas Walton, who has been assigned to duty at the ferries on the Philadelphia side.
Over in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
OVER IN CAMDEN
Chairman William Browning, of the County Republican Executive Committee, has named Thomas Walton, of the First ward, as a member of the County Board of Elections, to succeed County Detective John Cherry. Chairman Clarence T. Atkinson, of the Democratic County Committee, has named David S. Barry, of the First ward, as a member of the board.
First Ward Club Had a Jolly Time
Camden Daily Courier —
Annual Election and Feast of Fun Held Last Night.
PATTERSON ELECTED PRESIDENT
Hospitality was rampant at the First Ward Young Republican Club last night. The occasion was the annual meeting. Following the election of officers there was a delightful entertainment and a splendid feast, the honors being done by Captain William E. Alberts, simply resplendent facially in his new bunch of whiskers; Recorder O. Glen Stackhouse, who salivated more buttered ham sandwiches than George Kappel did fried oysters; Eph Hires, the school janitor, who saw to it especially that no one was unattended to; Exciseman Joseph Kolb, who insisted on everybody taking something every other minute; John Beard, who was happy over being elected a ward committeeman, and a number of others who looked after the comfort of the many guests in fine style.
The officers elected were: President, County Clerk Frank F. Patterson, Jr.; Vice President, Freeholder George P. Pechin; Treasurer, Thomas Walton; Board of Directors, Court House Superintendent Joseph Burt, Captain William E. Alberts, Walter Banks, E. T. Hires, William Lyons, Charles Cook, William Weaver and Robert Finley. Joseph Baumeister was re-elected secretary and none better could have been selected as he had everything down pat.
An Italian orchestra with an Irishman playing the flute furnished the music, and there was great fun when Walter Banks got under a rubber plant and roared out “Under the Bamboo Tree.” The cosy club rooms were prettily and patriotically decorated and pretty nearly everybody in the town was there, from Cooper’s Point to Centreville. Among them were Senator William J. Bradley, ex-Mayor J. Leighton Westcott, Fire Chief Samuel S. Elfreth, who warmed up on ginger ale; President of City Council Samuel P. Jones, Councilman Joseph Potter, County Clerk Frank F. Patterson, Jr., whose re-election as president of the club was hearty and unanimous; Dr. John F. Leavitt, whose heroism and devotion to duty where disease stalks, has made Camden the healthiest city in the world; ex-County Physician William Iszard, Freeholder George Pechin, Fireman Joseph Logue, the owner of the great and only “Dewey;” Tony Mecca, president of the popular Italian Republican Club, and many others of equal note. The cigars were elegant, the menu grand, the orchestra in full harmony with the happy occasion, outside of playing “In the Good Old Summer Time,” and the guests will ever remember the event as one of the pleasantest of incidents.
Special Officer T. A. Walton Very Ill
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Thomas A. Walton, president of the Camden County Board of Elections, and special officer at the Market street ferry, Philadelphia, is seriously ill. Yesterday he was removed to the German Hospital to undergo an operation.
Woodward to Go to Gallows on January 7
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Murderer Hears His Doom With a Smile, Then Curses Wildly
VISITED BY PARENTS
They Tell the Prisoner an Effort to Secure Life Imprisonment Will Be Made
Justice Garrison in Camden yesterday sentenced Paul Woodward to be hanged on January 7 for the murder of John Coffin and Walter Price Jennings near Haddon Heights on October 1.
Smiled, Then Swore
When sentence was pronounced Woodward smiled. As Sheriff Mines escorted him across “the bridge of sighs” he uttered vile curses and said that everybody connected with the case was a liar and that he was innocent. The prisoner’s counsel withdrew the motion for a new trial. The death watch will be placed on duty to-morrow.
Visited by Parents
Yesterday afternoon the condemned man was visited by his father and mother, who buoyed him up with the statement that every effort will be made to have the Court of Appeals commute his sentence to life imprisonment. So far the young murderer has refused to have a spiritual adviser.
Judge Garrison named the following as the court jury to attend the execution: Patrick Harding, Frank S. Albright, William J. Paul, Thomas Walton, David E. Barry, Edward Wilcox, Drs. William H. Iszard, J. F. Leavitt, William H. Knowlton, William Miles and George H. Chapman.
Thomas Walton in a Weak Condition
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Thomas Walton, chairman of the Camden County Board of Elections, who is at the German Hospital, Philadelphia, was reported last night to be in a very weak condition. He is suffering from a throat trouble of a serious nature.
Camden Politician Dead
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Thomas A. Walton Succumbs to Disease of the Throat
Thomas A. Walton, chairman of the Camden County Board of Elections, died at the German Hospital, Philadelphia, yesterday from a cancerous disease of the throat. Mr. Walton was removed to the hospital last Saturday from his home, 314 Vine street, Camden.
Mr. Walton was 52 years of age, and was a resident of Camden for over thirty years. He was prominent in Republican circles. After serving as a fireman for several years he was appointed to office under Mayor Pratt. When the Democratic Police Commission came into power he resigned and became a detective for the Pennsylvania Railroad. For the past several years he was a special policeman on the Philadelphia side of the ferry. He was a member of the Camden and the First Ward Republican Clubs. A widow and four sons survive him.
The disease which caused the death of Mr. Walton is one of the most peculiar with which physicians have to cope. It was known as acute lymphatic leukaemia, and as far as medical records show there have been only seven similar cases in the entire United States in the past fourteen years.
Mr. Walton’s case sorely puzzled his first attendant, who was a homeopathic physician, and he promptly called into consultation a Philadelphian, who in turn summoned a specialist. The case continued to be a puzzle, and Mr. Walton was removed to the German Hospital, where the X-ray revealed in part the source of the disease.
The tonsils of the deceased will be removed for microscopic examination, and physicians hope to gain thereby a better knowledge of the disease.
Funeral of Thomas A. Walton
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The funeral of Thomas A. Walton, chairman of the Camden County Board of Elections, took place from his late residence, 314 Vine street, yesterday, and was largely attended. The services were conducted by Revs. Kittridge Wheeler and C. K. Binder. The honorary pallbearers were John Stowe, Rudolph Preizendanz, George Kappel, Recorder O. Glen Stackhouse and Powell Steele. Interment was made in Harleigh Cemetery.
Curtis in Thomas Walton’s Place
Detective Harry Curtis, of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Camden, has been promoted to succeed the late Thomas A. Walton as special officer at the terminal ferries, Market street, Philadelphia.