Introduction
VERNON CULLEN JONES was born in Delaware in September of 1897 to Edward and Evelyn Jones. His father was a teamster. The third of five children, he was living with his widowed mother and siblings Camley, Rueben, Clufford and Edith in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey by the summer of 1910. Edward Jones passed sometime after 1904.
Vernon Jones married at 19, and when he registered for the draft in September of 1918 he was living with wife Olive at 1011 South 6th Street. Vernon Jones was then working as a truck driver for P. Mealy & Sons in Gloucester City, New Jersey.
Shortly after the compilation of the 1929 Camden City Directory, Vernon Jones and family moved to 1017 South 6th Street. The Census of April of 1930 shows the Jones family, which consisted of Vernon C. Jones, wife Olive and sons Vernon E. and Harry C. Jones at a house they now owned at 1017 South 6th Street. Vernon C. Jones was by this time a member of the Camden Police Department.
Vernon C. Jones had been promoted to Detective by 1932, and was still serving in that capacity as late as the summer of 1940. The City Directory for that year shows him back at 1011 South 6th Street. A Vernon and Sally Jones are listed at 779 Spruce Street in the 1943 City Directory, but it is unclear as to exactly who they were.
Vernon C. Jones appears to have left Camden by 1947. He passed away in 1961 and was buried at Locustwood Cemetery, where he rests besides his wife.
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
Police Invite Bandits to Nice Shooting Party
Camden Courier-Post —
But Yeggs Must Leave Gats at Home While Cops Practice With Camden’s new Desperado Eliminators
Wanted: Targets for Camden’s new desperado eliminators. Bandits, burglars, snipers and their ilk are requested by Chief of Police James E. Tatem to apply at police headquarters Monday morning at 10 o’clock, when a practice shooting party will be held.
Chief Tatem said today Camden’s bandit-chasing squad is “just rarin’ to go” with six new automatic rifles guaranteed to shoot full of holes the toughest bandit in less time than it takes to say “Aligoop.”
For the further enlightenment of the bandit fraternity, Chief Tatem announced detailed instructions on how to use the new carbines will be given this afternoon at 3 o’clock to bandit chasing police by Captain Arthur Colsey and Herman Engle, a representative of Stein Brothers, this city.
The rifles arrived at police headquarters yesterday afternoon. They will be distributed in each of the city’s three police districts in the campaign to rid the city of desperadoes.
The weapons can fire a magazine of 20 shots in a few seconds. They will be mounted in the three red bandit chasing coupes used by the district squad members. One of the coupes is now being used by Archie Reiss and Vernon Jones in South Camden, while two others are expected to be delivered within a few days, according to Chief of Police James E. Tatem. They will be assigned to Walter Smith and Joseph Carpani, First district detectives and Louis Schlam and Richard Donnelly in the East Camden district.
Swivel attachments make it possible to fire the guns from a fixed point in an automobile. Detached they may be fired from the shoulder. Besides firing a magazine of 20 shots without stopping, they can be adjusted to single fire, using .45 caliber cartridges.
Instruction in the adjustment and use of the weapons will be given today by a representative of the company that sold them — at $175 each — to the city.
Police Bandit Car Drilled by Cop on Search for Sniper
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden policemen hunting for the “phantom sniper” almost sniped themselves in the Second district police station last night. The only casualty, however, was a hole in the side of one of the nice new red bandit chasing automobiles.
Patrolman Vernon Jones, armed with one of the old fashioned police pump guns was starting out last night on the trail of the “ghost gunner.” The gun was on the seat beside him. Jones examined the weapon and found it was jammed.
Seated in the car, he started working with the mechanism when suddenly the gun went “floole” and the bandit car filled with smoke. A bullet had torn its way through the side of the car. The damage was repaired at the city garage this morning.
2 Sniper Suspects
County Detectives Admit Evidence Against Unknown Individuals Is Slight; Inactive Past 24 Hours
Camden county detectives today stated that they had two men under observation as the phantom sniper. They admitted however that the evidence against the men is not very strong.
County Detectives Howard Smith and William Cleary, believe that imitators have followed in the footsteps of the original sniper and that there are several. The detectives believe that an air gun firing pellets is being used.
It was said that the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company is making experiments with various guns and bullets in an effort to find a weapon which would make a hole similar to the one fired by the sniper.
For the past twenty-four hours the mysterious sniper has been taking a vacation. No cases were reported to the police yesterday or today. To date, the sniper has made eighteen attacks in Camden and suburbs since the latter part of December.
New Vice Squad in 3 Raids Nabs 6 as Suspects in Bandit Gang
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Believe Prisoners Know Something of Wierman Murder
PROSECUTOR BALDWIN SEEKS SPEEDY TRIAL
Indications Point to Sextet Staging Recent Holdups Netting $25,000
Arrested by the new Camden police vice squad today in three East Camden dwellings, four men and two women are believed by county authorities to be members of a bandit gang which collected $25,000 and murdered a Camden man in a series of eight holdups during the past two months.
Prosecutor Baldwin expressed belief that the suspects were either implicated in, or know who executed the shooting of William “Big Bill” Wierman, alleged Camden beer runner, during a holdup April 28 at the Bellmawr County Club.
He announced he would ask the grand jury this afternoon to indict them on charges made against them this morning by the city police, and would probably place them on trial here next week.
Meanwhile, all victims and witnesses to the daring holdups in and near the city will be summoned to the courthouse to attempt to identify the prisoners.
He highly complimented the newly created vice squad on its efficient raids made after a week of painstaking investigation.
Firearms Seized
In each residence police seized a veritable arsenal of revolvers, sawed-off shotguns, repeating rifles and hundreds of ammunition, all hidden in closets or secret caches under the floors. An opium “layout,” hacksaw, pairs of colored eyeglasses and silverware were also confiscated.
The discovery of the tinted eyeglasses in the residence was of significance to Police Lieutenant Ralph Bakley, who pointed out that one of the armed bandits who held up the son of Freeholder Leonard Brehm at Front and Kaighn avenue two weeks before the Wierman slaying wore green glasses to escape identification.
The detectives aided by state troopers executed their raids with a precision which prevented any of the suspects from resisting or escaping. Two men attempted to slip through the ring, but one surrendered after a single shot was fired at him, and the other was captured while trying to scale a rear fence.
The suspects gave their names as:
John Fisher, 38, of 41 South Thirty-third street, Camden.
Nicholas Bartluci, 23, of 764 South Berwick street, Philadelphia.
Joseph Conti, 34, of 708 South Eighth street, Philadelphia.
Catherine Christman, 28, of 2202 Filbert street, Philadelphia.
Marco Reginelli, 32, of Apartment 2, at 143 North Thirty-fourth street, Camden.
Mrs. Mary Reginelli, 24, his wife, same address.
Committed Without Bail
All six were arraigned before Judge Pancoast in the city police court this afternoon. As they were arrested in a joint complaint charging each with carrying concealed deadly weapons was lodged against them by Detective Louis Schlam, member of the vice squad. An additional complaint charging possession of narcotics was placed against Conti and Catherine Christman.
All of the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to the county jail without bail. Prosecutor Baldwin stated he did not immediately fix bail, but would hold them for further investigation. They will be finger-printed and “mugged” so that county authorities can obtain their police records.
Bartluci has been arrested four times in Philadelphia since 1926, but each time was released or exonerated. The charges were inciting a riot in 1926.
[The page-one text breaks off here; the lines joining it to the page-two text below are not in the crops.] suspicion of hold-up and robbery in 1927, 1928 and 1929.
Conti is a familiar figure in the Philadelphia underworld, according to police, and it is believed that he may be the same Joseph Conti who was arrested as a witness in a recent gang murder in that city.
All of the prisoners treated their arrest with levity. Conti, while being led from the courtroom after his hearing jocularly remarked to Patrolman Everett Joslin:
“Wait, and I’ll get a machine gun out of my shoe for you.”
All the men were handcuffed when arrested in police court.
Conti and the Christian [sic] woman were arrested when police broke down the door of a house at 3719 Highland avenue, Camden. Fisher and Bartluci were seized at the South Thirty-third street address, while the Reginellis were captured in their apartment.
Conti made a desperate bid for freedom when he saw the detectives, armed with shotguns, repeating rifles, revolvers and tear bombs. The suspect dashed through the rear door, but came to an abrupt standstill when a member of the vice squad, Detective James Paradise, fired one shot at him.
Bartluci also attempted to escape and was clambering over a rear fence when he fell into the arms of Detectives Walter Smith and Vernon Jones.
All were arrested “on information received,” the only explanation the police would give. It was revealed that the special vice squad, organized by police heads a few days after a Camden bank messenger was robbed of $6700 in broad daylight May 23, has had the three dwellings under surveillance for the past week.
The raiders first visited the Highland avenue place at 5:15 a. m. An automobile was in front of the house, and Conti and the Christman woman were in it, according to detectives. When the suspects saw the police, they leaped from the car and ran into the house, locking the door after them.
Batter Down Door
Under the leadership of Detective Theodore Guthrie, the vice squad members quickly surrounded the place, and Detectives Smith and Jones knocked at the front door. There was no response, and the detectives then battered the door down, rushing into the dark interior with drawn revolvers.
They found Catherine Christman, but Conti had fled out the rear. Detective Paradise’s shot changed his mind about escaping.
Then a thorough search was made of the premises for weapons or possible loot. In closets, under beds, the detectives found weapons of all description. Baseboards and the floors were hammered, and several traps were found to contain weapons when floor boards were ripped up.
The raiders took their prisoners to City Hall, and then descended upon the South Thirty-third street house, at 6:30 a. m. There they had to force open the front door when their demands for entrance met no response. They arrested Fisher, who made no attempt to resist when he saw it was futile. Bartluci, however, dashed into the rear yard, but was captured.
Here, another thorough search uncovered weapons, and when the prisoners and confiscated material had been disposed of, the raiders sped to the North Thirty-fourth street apartment, forcing the front door open at 7.30 a. m., after surrounding the place.
Those who participated in the raids were the following members of the vice squad, headed by Detective Guthrie: Paradise, Jones, Walter Smith, Clarence Bunker, Louis Schlam, Clarence Arthur, Howard Smith and Joseph Mardini. With them were Sergeant Wilfred L. Dube and Detective Andrew Zopesky, of the state police.
Seized in Raid
The following is a list of what was seized in each place:
At 3719 Highland avenue: One automatic 12-gauge shotgun, serial numbers filed off to prevent tracing to the buyer; one bolt action high-powered .38-calibre rifle; one .38-calibre short-barrelled revolver, loaded; one .38-calibre long-barrelled revolver, loaded; one hacksaw and blade; one box of 50 12-gauge buckshot cartridges, one pair of green glasses, three dozen silver spoons, 10 rifle bullets, 33 .38-calibre bullets, two bunches of keys, one handbag and a complete opium layout, including an extra pipe and a quantity of opium.
At 41 South Thirty-third street: One .45-calibre Colt automatic, loaded; one .45-calibre side-break revolver, loaded; one extra clip of 20 bullets, one 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun, two barrels; four dozen 12-gauge shells, four dozen rifle bullets, 32 .38-calibre bullets and three .45-calibre long rifle bullets.
At 143 North Thirty-fourth street: One automatic .12-gauge shotgun, Remington, Model 11, serial number 324870; one sawed-off shotgun, serial number filed off; one .32-calibre Savage automatic, six dozen 12-gauge shells, 13 .38-calibre bullets for a Luger revolver, eight dozen .32-calibre bullets, one dozen .25-calibre bullets and a pair of amber-colored glasses.
Vice Squad and ‘Arsenal’ Seized in Raids
Camden Courier-Post —
The arsenal collected by Camden’s special vice squad in raids on three East Camden houses today is shown above. Members of the squad are shown with various exhibits, including repeating rifles, shotguns and revolvers. From left to right they are Detectives Walter Smith, Vernon Jones, Lieutenant Walter Welch, Joseph Mardini, Theodore Guthrie, James Paradise and Howard Smith. Four men and two women were arrested in the raids, and are being held on suspicion of being members of the bandit “mob” which conducted eight large holdups, netting them $25,000, and murdered an alleged Camden beer runner.
—Courier-Post Photo
4 Nabbed in Drive on Disorderly Houses
Camden Courier-Post —
Two women charged with soliciting, another with operating a disorderly house and one man were arrested by Second district police over the weekend in a drive against disorderly persons.
One of the women, Louise Noel, 23, and the man, Jake Keller, 45, of 3061 Mickle Street, were arrested when District Detectives Vernon Jones and Thomas Cheeseman raided an alleged disorderly house at 652 South Second street.
The Noel woman was released in $500 bail while Keller was freed in $25 security as a material witness.
The other arrested and held in $500 bail were Ethel Morgan, 34, of 626 South Third Street, and Frances Randolph, 25, of 312 Pine Street. They were “picked up” on South Camden street corners.
Camden Sleuths Nab Man for State Police
Camden Courier-Post —
Phillip Attardi, 39, of 320 Vine street, was arrested by Detectives Vernon Jones and Thomas Cheesman last night as he was waiting for a bus at Broadway and Line streets.
A charge of “on suspicion” was placed against Attardi. Deputy Director of Public Safety Charles V. Dickinson said Camden police had been requested to look for him by state police. He did not know the nature of the charge they have against him.
Police Raid Five Camden Places in Weekend Cleanup of Rum Sellers
Camden Courier-Post —
LIQUOR IS SEIZED AND PROPRIETORS HELD FOR HEARING
Four Alleged Speakeasies Downtown and One in East End Visited
PATRONS ARE ‘SLATED’
Police raided five alleged disorderly houses over the week-end, seizing whisky in four South Camden places and arresting ten men in an East Camden dwelling.
Early yesterday a squad of Third district police descended upon the home of Mrs. Carrie Becker, 38, at 1245 North Thirty-third street. With ten men arrested as material witnesses, she was committed to the city jail in default of $500 bail to await arraignment in police court today.
The men are Joseph Backer, Jr., 22; Harry E. Renders, of National Park; Charles Luers, 27, of 612 North Second street; George W. Rush, 25, of 3337 Farragut avenue; Joseph Benson, 21, and Charles Benson, 17, of 2132 Watson street; Edward Marshman, 21, of 20 Morse street; John Ferall, 25, of Maple Shade; John Grogan, 20, of 1028 North Twenty-second street, and Charles Dudley, 23, of 1012 North Third street.
The South Camden raids were made by Lieut. Ralph Bakley, Detectives Vernon Jones and Thomas Cheeseman and Patrolman Marshall Thompson.
The first place visited was the home of George Thomas, 44, colored, at 134 Clinton street. Police said they confiscated five gallons of whisky and 100 bottles of home brew.
James Williams, 44, colored, of 519 South Second street, was arrested in his home and a small quantity of whisky taken.
John B. Simons, 36, proprietor of a cigar store at 207 Clinton street, was arrested and a small quantity of whisky taken. Six one-gallon jugs of alleged whisky were seized in the grocery of Samuel Arnow, 45, at 534 Kaighn avenue. All four men were released in $100 bail each on charges of allowing disorderly persons to congregate on their premises.
Disorderly House Case Postponed Fifth Time
Camden Courier-Post —
The police court hearing of a man arrested on charges of operating a disorderly house and of two women arrested there, was postponed yesterday because District Detective Vernon Jones, who made the raid, was not in court to testify. It was the fifth time within a month that the case had come up for a hearing and was postponed.
The defendants are Alexander Lopez, Irene Brodowicz and Jean Welsh, all of 1334 Dayton Street. Lopez has been at liberty in $1000 bail since his home was raided January 9, while the two women have been released in $25 security each.
On the other occasion, postponements were granted for various reasons, among them being the fact that defense counsel was not in court for one hearing while Lopez pleaded illness for not appearing for another scheduled hearing. Today, Lopez was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge, but Jones was not in court, whereupon Judge Pancoast deferred the case.
It was the fourth time that the Dayton Street house had been raided. On one occasion the police said they found a bar in the basement and ordered Lopez to remove it.
Raiders Arrest Three, Seize Wash Boiler Still
Camden Courier-Post —
Second District police seized a “wash boiler” still and arrested three persons last night when they raided a dwelling at 954 South Ninth Street.
Arrested were George Young, 29; his wife, Ethel, 19, and Anna Fussel, 37, of 614 Chestnut Street. Police also took along the Young’s three-year-old son, Julian, and lodged him in the detention room under the care of a police matron until his parents obtain bail.
The raid was staged by Sergeant Walter Mattison and District Detectives Vernon Jones and Thomas Cheeseman.
Young was held as proprietor and the others as material witnesses. He will be given a hearing today.
Two Storekeepers Are Penalized for Illegal Beer Sales
Camden Courier-Post —
One Goes to Jail in Default of Paying $50 Fine
60 DAYS FOR TIPSY MAN
Two excuses offered by two men for the presence of beer in their stores failed to impress Police Judge Pancoast yesterday. One storekeeper went to jail for 30 days in default of a $50 fine and the other storekeeper was fined $200.
Charles Yatzus, 43, of 1036 Central Avenue, went to jail because he was unable to explain how he was able to purchase beer and whiskey when he was on the verge of becoming a charge of the city emergency relief administration.
After Lieutenant Ralph Bakley had testified beer and whisky were found in his store, Yatzus said he was expecting friends from Wilmington and had purchased the liquor for use while they were at his house. Then he said he didn’t have any money and was running a small store to keep from becoming an emergency relief charge.
Angelo Teto, 42, of 1024 South Third Street, insisted Earl Foy, 1016 South Sixth Street, came into his store to buy a bottle of root beer and not 3.2 beer. Foy, who said he was directed by Lieutenant Bakley to make a “buy” of beer at Teto’s store, testified Teto told his 11 year-old daughter to get a bottle of beer from the ice box. Before the deal could be completed, Foy said, Detective Vernon Jones entered the store.
Foy said Teto ordered his daughter to return the beer to the icebox, saying he recognized Jones. The beer, Teto said, was purchased for his own use. Teto insisted that Foy had asked for root beer and was to be served root beer. Judge Pancoast said he did not believe Teto’s excuse and fined him $200.
Because he refused to follow the friendly advice of a policeman and “go home to sober up,” Louis Schechtman, 48, of 2374 Broadway, is in the county jail today, beginning a 60-day sentence, in addition to paying a $25 fine.
He faces another hearing tomorrow on charges of selling beer illegally.
Schechtman, according to Motorcycle Policeman George Jefferis, was creating a disturbance at Broadway and Fairview Street yesterday. He became abusive when told to “go home and sober up,” Jefferis said, so he went to jail. Judge Pancoast sentenced him to 60 days on the charge of being intoxicated.
Robert Powell, 430 Stevens Street, a taxicab driver, filed a charge of disorderly conduct against Schechtman, alleging Schechtman refused to pay a taxicab bill of $12.35. The disorderly charge brought a fine of $25.
Lieutenant Ralph Bakley alleged Schechtman had been violating the temporary beer law of New Jersey by selling beer without a license. Judge Pancoast said Schechtman will be taken into court tomorrow morning for a hearing on the beer charge.
Missing Husband Is Found in Daze
Camden Courier-Post —
Runnemede Man Wandering on Street, Identified by Driver’s License
Missing since Wednesday night when he failed to return home after work, Albert J. Berberick, 39, of Pine Avenue, Runnemede, was found last night wandering about Camden in a dazed condition.
He was discovered by City Detective Vernon Jones on Chestnut Street near Ninth. In fear he might have suffered from poisoning he was taken to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital where a stomach pump was administered.
He was so weak he was unable to answer questions but he was identified through his driver’s license and by troopers from the Mt. Ephraim barracks who were summoned to take him home.
Berberick’s car was found abandoned Wednesday night on Forrest Avenue, three blocks from his home. On the front seat was a note reading: “The finder of the car kindly deliver to my home on Park Avenue, signed, Albert J. Berberick.”
He obtained work at the RCA Victor plant here several days ago after having been without employment several months. His wife said he had been despondent.
Raiders Capture Still, ‘Mule’ and 3 in House
Camden Courier-Post —
A 40-gallon still and five gallons of “white mule” were seized and three persons arrested last night when Detectives Thomas Cheeseman and Vernon Jones raided a house at 828 South Second Street.
Crayton Hopkins, 19, of that address, was held in default of $500 bail as the proprietor pending a hearing today. Lucille Johnson, 28, also of that address, and William Makson, 26, of 3709 Warren Street, Philadelphia, were held in default of $100 bail as material witnesses.
3 Caught in Raid Are Sent to Jail
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Judge Garfield Pancoast expressed indignation Saturday against what he termed “lying defendants” and sentenced three of them to jail in default of fines as the result of a South Camden liquor raid.
A 40 gallon still and five gallons of “white mule” were seized by Thomas Cheesman and Vernon Jones, detectives, at 838 South Second Street Friday night. After Crayton Hopkins, 19, arrested as the proprietor, testified that he did not know who owned the still, and that he was merely hired at the place, the court expressed skepticism and sentenced Hopkins to 100 days in default of a $100 fine. Hopkins had named “George Smith” as his employer.
Lucille Johnson, 28, also of the South Second Street address, and William Makson, 26, of 3109 Warren Street, Philadelphia, were sentenced to 90 days each in default of $100 fine when they testified they knew nothing about the place or its ownership.
“I’m tired of people lying who are caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing,” Pancoast said, imposing the sentences.
The still was found on the second floor of the house, according to Detective Jones. He said Makson was arrested as he left the rear of the place with a 2 gallon container of liquor around his waist.
13 Still Operators Jailed by Pancoast in Effort to Smash Huge Chain
Camden Courier-Post —
CAMDEN ‘PLANTS’ ARE CALLED PART OF PHILA. OUTFIT
Police Nab Men and Woman in Early Morning Raids
90-DAY TERMS GIVEN
Camden police believed they had broken the first link in a chain system of stills yesterday when Police Judge Pancoast sentenced 13 persons, several of them from Philadelphia, to 90 days each in the county jail. None was able to pay a $200 fine.
The prisoners were arrested in three raids by District Detectives John Trout, Walter Smith and Vernon Jones early yesterday. All the defendants are colored.
“I believe you’re all implicated in this chain system,” said Judge Pancoast in sentencing the first group. “I believe it is directed in Philadelphia and that the police have broken the first link. I think your stills are scattered all through Camden.”
Smith and Trout arrested Martha Norman, 38, of 833 Jackson Street; Margaret Baner, 35, same address; Jessie Fife, 23, of 1120 Carpenter Street, and Jolie Brandy, 33, of 618 North Forty-sixth street, Philadelphia, in a raid at 432 Senate Street.
The detectives testified they had been watching the place for some time. Trout, alone, saw Brandy drive up and take three bags of sugar inside. Trout left to get Smith and when they returned all four defendants were sitting in Brandy’s automobile. The Norman woman, they said, had a one-gallon can of moonshine on her lap.
Inside the detectives stated, they found a 50-gallon still in operation and four barrels of mash. Brandy denied he was the operator and said the owner was a man known only as “John.”
Ray Shedrick, 22, of 433 Senate Street, pleaded guilty to operating a 50-gallon still in his home. He said he sold his whisky where he could but refused to name his buyers. He also was arrested by Trout and Smith.
James Green, 32, of 749 Division Street, admitted operating a 25-gallon still at that address but said it was for his own use only and that he sold none of it.
Arrested with him were Marion Smith, 26, of 615 North Forty-fifth Street; Charles Marton, 34, of 2131 North Twenty-first Street; Felix Carroll, 31, of 2006 North Gratz Street; Gladys Little, 28, of 612 North Forty-sixth Street, and Beatrice Hill, 32, of 5733 Commerce Street, all Philadelphia.
The alleged operators all were charged with violating the city speakeasy ordinance, which prohibits gathering of “disorderly persons.” The others were charged with being material witnesses or frequenters.
Beer Seller Is Fined for Lack of License
Camden Courier-Post —
One man was fined $25 and another was freed today when they were arraigned in police court before Judge Pancoast, charged with selling beer without a license.
Herbert Reuben, 30, of 1634 North Thirteenth street, Philadelphia, was the man fined. District Detective Vernon Jones testified Reuben sold beer in his restaurant at 925 Liberty street.
Frank Tomiczwicz, 49, of 1111 Louis street, was discharged with a warning after Jones testified the man was destitute and only sold a few bottles at his cigar store.
Rodgers, Ex-Boxer, Nabbed Again in Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
Whisky and 65 Bottles Also Seized by Cops in Segal Street Speakeasy
Modest Moonshinery Found in ‘Empty’ House
James “Jimmy” Rodgers, 28, former boxer, fell into the hands of police again last night when they raided a speakeasy at 1000 Segal Street, allegedly operated by him.
One gallon of whisky and 65 pint bottles were confiscated by the raiders, who were led by District Detectives Walter Smith, Marshall Thompson and Harry Kyler.
Three others were arrested. One of them, James Greer, 35, of 332 North Second street, placed a charge of possession of stolen goods against Rodgers when police unearthed some articles stolen from Greer two months ago.
Others arrested were Thomas Spencer, 33, of the Segal Street address, and John D. Wood, 35, of 928 Kimber Street.
Rodgers has fallen afoul of the law on numerous occasions. He has been arrested several times for operating speakeasies. He was also arrested as a material witness in the “Shooey” Bonner murder two years ago.
He will be given a police court hearing today.
Detectives raided a vacant dwelling at 225 Chestnut Street last night and seized a “moonshine” plant consisting of two stills, 36 barrels of mash and oil and gas stove cookers.
The place had been under observation by Detective Vernon Jones for two weeks.
No one was inside when Jones and Patrolmen George Hemphill and John Houston entered. A 50 gallon still was on the second floor and a 35 gallon still on the first floor.
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.
Lieut. Bakley and 11 Police Suspended in Feitz Inquiry
Camden Evening Courier —
3 Sergeants Included in List Set Down by Chief Colsey
JUSTICE LLOYD JOINS PROBE INTO MURDER
Chief of Police Arthur Colsey at noon today announced the indefinite suspension of Lieut. Ralph Bakley, commander of the Second district of Camden police, and 11 other policemen in connection with the investigation into the killing of Detective William T. Feitz.
The full list of those suspended is as follows:
Lieut. Ralph Bakley, Sergt. John Garrity, Sergt. Walter Mattison, Acting Sergt. Edward Leonard, Sergt. Richard Cornog, Policemen George Weber, Joseph Leonhardt, Leon Branch, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmont [sic], John Houston and Vernon Jones.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd today entered the investigation into the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz in an alleged South Camden disorderly house Sept. 2.
The jurist, upon returning from his Summer vacation at Seaside Park, called an immediate conference with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando of Camden county and Police Chief Arthur Colsey of this city.
Although no confirmation could be obtained officially, it was learned from authoritative sources that Justice Lloyd would take up the charges made earlier in the week by Prosecutor Orlando that graft and corruption exist in the Camden police.
May Probe Suicide
The jurist was also expected to delve into the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, alleged operator of the disorderly house where Feitz met his death at 243 Sycamore street.
Mrs. Heisler, who was detained in the Camden detective bureau at the order of Detective Lieutenant George Ward instead of being locked in a cell, jumped from the fifth floor window of Ward’s office September 4 while two detectives assigned to guard her were nearby.
The progress of the police investigation into the killing of Feitz, whom police declare was shot when he surprised three bandits in the act of holding up 20 inmates and patrons, will be presented by both Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey.
Mickey Blair to Give Up
Mickey Blair, boxer whose real name is Michael Tenerelli, 25, who has been living in New York City, but whose Camden address is 833 South Fourth street, is to be surrendered to Camden police for questioning in connection with the murder of Feitz.
He has been sought by detectives for grilling since a few hours after the shooting of Feitz.
His attorney, Edward V. Martino, of 540 Cooper street, notified Chief Colsey today that he would surrender Tenerelli or Blair to the police in his office at 1 p.m.
“Mickey knows absolutely nothing about the killing of Feitz,” Martino told newspapermen. “Learning through a friend that police were seeking him for questioning, he called me Saturday night and asked me to ascertain the facts.”
“I learned that police wanted to talk to him and telephoned him to that effect in New York City where he has been staying for the past few weeks. He later called me back and told me that he would be in Camden at 1 p.m. today.”
‘Attended Funeral’
Martino revealed that Tenerelli or Blair said he had been in Camden prior to the killing of Feitz and also on Labor Day, the day following the shooting of the detective. He was here to attend the funeral of a brother-in-law, Martino said.
Neither Chief Colsey or other police or detective officials would comment upon what they hoped to learn from Tenerelli that might bring an early solution of the murder and lead to the arrest of the killers.
Prosecutor Orlando at the conference with Justice Lloyd in his City Hall-Court House offices, was to present a complete report on the murder of the detective together with statements obtained from all persons who figured in the crime.
Will Probe Numbers
Prosecutor Orlando stepped in and assumed nominal charge of the investigation last Thursday when he ordered police to submit to him all reports and statements of witnesses. However it was learned that the police are still directing the search for the killers.
The conference between Justice Lloyd, Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey comes on the eve of swearing in the September Grand Jury tomorrow at which time the grand jurors wil [sic] be ordered among other issues, to probe into the “numbers” racket in Camden county.
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.”
Police Admit Feitz Slaying Is ‘Mystery’
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.”
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.
Cops Nab Store Owner in Horse Betting Raid
Camden Courier-Post —
City detectives late yesterday raided a cigar store at 460 Carteret street and seized alleged horse racing sheets and gambling paraphernalia, they said.
Richard Everett, 59, said to be the proprietor of the store, was arrested and posted $200 security for a hearing today before Police Judge Lewis Liberman for violation of a city ordinance prohibiting gambling.
City Detectives Joseph Mardino, Benjamin Simon, George Weber, and Vernon Jones conducted the raid.
Sleuth Battles Judge on ‘Bookie’
Camden Courier-Post —
Liberman Frees Man Over Protests of Police Who Raided Place
Frequent clashes between an attorney and detectives marked a police court hearing yesterday in which an alleged horse race bookmaker was freed for lack of evidence.
According to detectives who raided the defendant’s store Thursday, he had a “private telephone book” containing the numbers of a police station, several policemen and a number of city and county officials.
The defendant was Richard Everett, of 460 Carteret street. Detectives Joseph Mardino, Benjamin Simon, George Weber and Vernon Jones, testified they found the book, a number of racing forms and a mysterious tablet.
Simon began testifying to the effect that while he was in the store he took several bets over the telephone. The instrument was later ripped out and offered as evidence.
Meyer L. Sakin, counsel for Everett, objected to any testimony regarding Simon’s telephone conversation as not binding on his client, and when Judge Lewis Liberman agreed, Simon threw down his papers and said he was quitting.
City Prosecutor John H. Reiners, Jr., placated the detective, however, and he resumed. Again he got around to the telephone call, and again Sakin objected and again Liberman upheld Sakin.
“I’m done, then,” exclaimed Simon. “I’ll testify no more.”
“I have my suspicions in this case,” said Judge Liberman, “but I have to be guided by the rules of evidence, and there has been presented here no proper evidence of a violation. I’ll have to discharge the defendant.”
As the judge finished, Sakin, Simon and Mardino reached for the pile of papers and books which the detectives had seized. Simon beat Sakin to them.
“I want these back,” said Sakin. “They include records of this man’s business profits.”
“What kind of business?” asked Mardino. “You’re not going to get them. We want to study his business ourselves and see if we can make out this code.”
Finally, Judge Liberman ruled that Sakin could copy the records but the police could keep the originals.
“And who’s going to put this telephone instrument back?” inquired the lawyer.
“Maybe the company, we’re not,” said Simon.
As Sakin left the court room, Mardino shouted at him:
“Tell that client of yours he might as well close down. We’re not through.”
Jewels and $341 Hard Cash Escape Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Jewels and $341 Hard Cash Escape Fire
The ruins of the home of John “Pete” Brecker, Court House employe, at 914 Cooper street, a victim of the Hollingshead fire, yielded a little box yesterday. In the box were charred bills totaling $341 and $800 in jewelry. The money belongs to Mrs. Brecker and the jewelry to her sister, Miss Kathryn Simon, who made her home with the Breckers. Miss Simon is shown above holding the precious box. With her, left to right, are Detectives Vernon Jones and George Weber, who found the box, and City Hall Elevator Operator Paul Zuest, who took the money to the Camden Trust Company for redemption.
Vernon Jones — George Weber — John “Pete” Brecker — Paul Ziest — Kathryn Simon — Cooper Street — Hollingshead Fire — Camden Trust
Camden Man Held as Drunken Driver
Camden Courier-Post —
A hearing on drunken driving charges against John Czetyrka, 48, of 1176 Morton street, was ordered held over until tomorrow in Police Court yesterday.
The charges were lodged following an accident at Ninth street near Fairmount street Sunday at 3 a.m., when an auto assertedly driven by Czetyrka hit the car of Elwood Urbanowicz, of 1326 Jackson street, then continued going until it crashed into a pole on Fairmount street. Officers Vernon Jones and George Weber, who arrived on the scene a short time later, testified Czetyrka was intoxicated but the case was continued so that Urbanowicz might be present to identify him as driving the car.
Jewels and $341 Hard Cash Escape Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Courier-Post Photo
The ruins of the home of John “Pete” Brecker, Court House employe, at 914 Cooper street, a victim of the Hollingshead fire, yielded a little box yesterday. In the box were charred bills totalling $341 and $800 in jewelry. The money belongs to Mrs. Brecker and the jewelry to her sister, Miss Kathryn Simon, who made her home with the Breckers. Miss Simon is shown above holding the precious box. With her, left to right, are Detectives Vernon Jones and George Weber, who found the box, and City Hall Elevator Operator Paul Zuest, who took the money to the Camden Trust Company for redemption.
Crash Complainant Faces License Loss
Camden Courier-Post —
Cohen Threatens Move as Driver Refuses for Third Time to Sign
City Prosecutor Mitchell Cohen said he would recommend revocation of the license of a complainant in a drunken driving charge for “failing to co-operate with the court.”
Cohen made this statement in Police Court yesterday when Elwood Urbanowicz, of 1328 Jackson street, appeared in court before Judge Gene R. Mariano, and for the third time refused to sign a drunken driving complaint against John Czetyrka, 48, of 1176 Morton street.
The charges were lodged following an accident at Ninth street near Fairmount on July 20, when an automobile assertedly driven by Czetyrka was in collision with Urbanowicz’ car, then continued until it crashed into a pole on Fairmount street.
The following day at the first hearing, Detectives Vernon Jones and George Weber, Patrolman Frank Whipple, and Acting Sergt. Earl Hamby testified that Czetyrka was drunk, but could not identify him, as the driver of the car. At this hearing Urbanowicz did not appear. The case was continued until July 23 so the complainant could be in court to identify the driver.
In the meantime a note was received by the court from the complainant stating that Czetyrka had made restitution for the damage to his car and therefore he did not wish to sign the complaint.
At the second hearing, Urbanowicz refused to sign the drunken driving complaint. The case was postponed until yesterday, however, because Detective Jones, who had been assigned by Mariano to investigate the matter, was not in court.
Yesterday the complainant still refused to sign the complaint. It was then that the prosecutor made the recommendation to the court.
Mariano again postponed the case until Aug. 7 in order to give the complainant a “chance to think it over.”