William J. Taylor Sr.
WILLIAM JOSEPH TAYLOR SR. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 2, 1885. William Taylor married Mary Hammond around 1907. The 1910 Census shows William and Mary Taylor living at 761 Mt. Vernon Street, along with Mary’s mother, Laura Hammond. The Taylor’s first child, son Charles Louis Taylor, was born in 1917.
When he registered for the draft in September of 1918, William J. Taylor was still living at 761 Mt. Vernon Street in South Camden. He was then working as a riveter at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard. When the war ended and shipyard work fell off, he returned to work as a house painter.
William J. Taylor Sr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 22, 1920. He reported for duty with Engine Company 8, 619 Kaighn Avenue, on January 1, 1921.
The Taylors were still at 761 Mt. Vernon Street when the 1924 City Directory was compiled. Mary Taylor gave birth to another son, William J. Taylor Jr., around 1925. The 1927 City Directory shows that William J. Taylor had moved to 712 Mt. Vernon Street. On August 2, 1928 William J. Taylor was transferred to Engine Company 7, 1115 Kaighn Avenue.
When the census was taken in April of 1930, William J. Taylor, his wife, sons, and niece Bertha Powell, 23, whom he had raised since childhood, were still living at 712 Mt. Vernon Street. Fire Department records from 1931 show William J. Taylor living at 833 South 6th Street. On April 30, 1936 William J. Taylor was reassigned to Engine Company 3, 1815 Broadway.
The 1940 City Directory shows William J. Taylor and his wife Mary at 576 Spruce Street. He was still at that address when he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942. By the end of the year the Taylors had moved to 836 South 6th Street. On November 27, 1945 he was transferred to the Electrical Bureau. In July of 1949 William J. Taylor’s son, William J. Taylor Jr., was appointed to the Camden Fire Department.
Mandatory retirement at age 65 was instituted in late 1948, however, then-current employees were not then forced to immediately retire. William J. Taylor finally did go out with his pension on May 15, 1951, having served the City of Camden for over 30 years. Last a resident of 836 South 6th Street, William J. Taylor Sr. passed away on February 11, 1954 and was buried at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey. He was survived by his wife and sons. Mary Taylor joined her husband on September 25, 1974.
William J. Taylor Jr. also made a career of fire service. He retired in February of 1981. Between father and son, there was a Taylor on the Fire Department every day for over 60 years.
WWI Draft Registration Card — September 12, 1918
Name: William Joseph Taylor Address: 761 Mt. Vernon, Camden, Camden, New Jersey Age: 33 Date of Birth: November 2nd, 1885 Race: White Occupation: Riveter Employer: New York Ship Co., Camden N.J. Nearest Relative: Mary Taylor, wife, 761 Mt. Vernon, Camden N.J. Registrar’s Report: Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, brown hair. No physical disqualification. Registrar: Saml J. J. Ware Date of Registration: September 12, 1918 Local Board No. 3, City of Camden, N.J.
Name: William Joseph Taylor — Address: 761 Mt. Vernon, Camden, New Jersey — Age: 33 — Date of Birth: November 2nd, 1885 — Race: White — Occupation: Riveter — Employer: New York Ship Co., Camden N.J. — Nearest Relative: Mary Taylor, wife, 761 Mt. Vernon, Camden N.J.
Registrar’s Report: Medium height, medium build, blue eyes, brown hair. No physical disqualification. — Registrar: Saml J. J. Ware — Date: September 12, 1918 — Local Board No. 3, City of Camden, N.J.
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
Double Shift System Becomes Effective at 8 O’clock on Saturday Morning
One Ten Hours; Other 14 Hours
Saturday morning at 8 o’clock the two-platoon system of the Fire Department becomes effective. At that hour the first shift will go on duty and remain until 6 p. m., when the second squad goes on, remaining until 8 a. m. That will be the procedure in the department henceforth, the schedule being so arranged that every third day there will be a 24-hour shift to let the other off. Every man will have 24 hours off every sixth day.
The arrangements were completed last night at a meeting of Council’s Fire Committee, when assignments were made of the fifty-six recent appointees to the department. With Chief Carter at headquarters will be stationed in reserve shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browning will be stationed with their shifts at No. 3 engine house.
At last night’s meeting Congressman F. F. Patterson, Jr., Mayor Charles H. Ellis, President of Council David Jester and Chairman of the Fire Committee Joseph Forsyth made addresses in which they all spoke appreciatively of the fire-fighting force and offered their congratulations to the men in getting what they had sought after many years of effort. Chief Carter was particularly praised for the efficient manner in which he has developed the department. The chief also spoke, thanking the representatives of the city in behalf of the men for the boon given them in the two-platoon system, which means the fire fighters will be able to spend more time with their families.
Everything has been worked out to the least detail and it is anticipated the new system will work without any difficulties.
The assignment of the new men to the various companies follow:
Engine Company No. 1—Alfred E. Green, Charles Errickson, Charles Cook, Leroy Hatchett.
Engine Company No. 2—Howard Lamdon, Edgar Ellander, John K. Voll, Harold E. Lorang, Chester J. Andreas, Harry G. Layton.
Engine Company No. 3—Charles Haines, August Haverkamp, Louis Quinton, Chas. S. Clements, Frank Kuda.
Engine Company No. 4—Frank A. Obermann, Walter P. Gray, Albert Ruber, Fred Schucker, Harry Kleinfelder.
Engine Company No. 5—Richard A. Ferris, Frank Fennrio.
Engine Company No. 6—William H. Reed, Manuel J. Kane, Edward Perairia, Thomas Shanahan, Rocco di Varino.
Engine Company No. 7—August Scholl, Lawrence H. Matthews, Nicholas Romain.
Engine Company No. 8—Adam Mead, Frank Sapp, William J. Taylor, William Wood, Samuel Oshushek, Edward C. Crane.
Engine Company No. 9—Keenard Naylor, Daniel McSurdy, John Mohofeld.
Engine Company No. 10—William Swarts, Hugh Rementer, Harry Greenan, Rocco Abbott.
Hose and Chemical Company No. 2—Lawrence Newton, Edward Hauser, William Getner.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1—Tom Cunningham, Leonard Magee.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 2—John Gaylor, Walter G. White.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 3—David Ellis, George A. Addison, John Mulligan, David Humphreys, Albert Dukes.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 4—George A. Quimby.
Chief’s driver—Tenny G. Hutchinson.
Personal Notices
Camden Post-Telegram —
Mrs. John Hunt and children, George and Ruth, of 1009 South Sixth street, are spending the month of August with Mrs. Hunt’s mother in Atlantic City.
Fireman Benny Waters, of No. 1 engine house, Fourth and Pine streets, leaves to-day for a vacation at the seashore.
William Taylor and Captain Lennox, both of No. 8 Engine Company, are spending their vacation at Atlantic City.
Police Censured in Pickpocket Case
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Reprimands Pancoast for Freeing 4 — Grand Jury Refuses to Indict
Mayor Roy R. Stewart has reprimanded Police Judge Garfield Pancoast, former Acting City Detective Benjamin Simon and Captain of Detectives John W. Golden for laxity in handling the case of four alleged pickpockets and their unwilling accuser.
Meanwhile, the Camden County Grand Jury has exonerated the four accused men and also the complainant, who had been held by Pancoast as a material witness after failing to appear against the quartet in court.
The pickpocket suspects were released in their own recognizance by Pancoast and only one was rearrested after the police judge ordered the case reopened after a conference with the mayor.
Stewart acted after criticism had been made concerning progress of the case. He insisted that the defendants be brought to trial.
The men exonerated gave their names to the police at the time of their arrest as Thomas Anthony, 30, of 1112 Federal street; Harry Smith, 44, of 1338 Oxford street; Harry Miller, 29, of 629 North Tenth street, and Sam Berman, 46, of 606 West Girard avenue, all of Philadelphia.
Their attorneys at the police court hearing were Walter S. Keown and L. Scott Cherchesky.
Accused by Theatregoer
Their accuser was Charles Wilder, of 567 Liberty street, who had charged the men with taking $22 from his pocket in March as he was leaving a theatre at Broadway and Newton avenue.
The mayor said Wilder informed him, in a formal statement, that the reason he did not appear against the defendants at the original hearing was because he was more interested in getting his money back than in pressing the charges. Wilder is said to have given police the name of the man who gave him back his money.
“Wilder said he felt that if his money was returned to him there was no more to the case,” the mayor said.
“Will contempt proceedings be instituted against Wilder?” the mayor was asked.
Warrants Out for Four
“No,” he replied. “I don’t think so because we are still waiting to get the other fellows. Warrants are out to pick up the four defendants at any time.”
“Can they still be rearrested, even though they have been exonerated by the grand jury?” the mayor was asked.
“Well, that’s something you will have to ask Police Judge Pancoast,” he replied.
The quartet cleared of pocketpicking have long police records in Philadelphia.
In his formal decision yesterday, after reviewing the case, the mayor censured Simon for “failure to properly handle the case and dispose of same before the police judge”; Pancoast, for his “overzealousness in calling this case as the first of the morning” and for releasing defendants with criminal records in their own recognizance, and Golden for “not seeing that each and every member of the detective bureau was familiar with the rules, regulations, responsibilities and duties of their positions.”
“After reading all the evidence submitted in the case, I do not believe that Officer Simon has the qualifications to be assigned to the detective bureau,” the mayor said at the conclusion of his decision.
Simon, according to the mayor, failed to press the charge against the defendants in the absence of Wilder at the hearing. He also accused Simon of permitting release of the accused and with failing to rearrest them.
Notes Witness’ Absence
The mayor, other than to comment on the absence of the witness at the police court hearing, does not go further into failure of Wilder to appear after receiving back the money that had been stolen from him. The mayor said, in answer to a question, that he was concerned mainly with laxity in the case.
Mayor Stewart’s formal decision is dated May 27. He handed Judge Pancoast, Simon and Golden a copy of it the next day after conferring with each man separately.
Simon, he said, regarded the reprimand as “rather severe,” but did not attempt to shift responsibility; Pancoast explained that he heard the pickpocket case first because it is his custom to do so when defendants are represented by counsel, and Golden received the censure “graciously.” Pancoast freed the men, it was reported, after Simon testified the police “have nothing against them” and when Wilder failed to appear in court.
The exoneration of the four men charged with being pickpockets was voted Thursday when Wilder testified before the grand jury that he would not be able to identify them, Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin said.
The prosecutor said that although the four have long criminal records, the grand jury could not indict them on their records. Wilder, he added, had “testified fairly” that he could not identify them; therefore the no-bill was returned.
Of the men who had been arrested on Wilder’s complaint, only Miller, alias Harry Cohen, was rearrested after Judge Pancoast had reopened the case. He was held in $1000 bail in Philadelphia pending extradition after a hearing before Magistrate Edward F. Roberts.
Pancoast postponed hearings in the case several times to permit Simon and other detectives to rearrest the defendants. He also postponed the case of Wilder, whom he had held in $1000 bail as a material witness when he did not appear at the original police court hearing. The bail was fixed to assure Wilder’s appearance against the men in the event of their reapprehension.
On April 1, Judge Pancoast severely rebuked Simon for his inability to rearrest the four Philadelphians sought as pickpockets. The police judge said: “There has been a lot of criticism in this case and yet nothing has been done to apprehend the men.” Simon said he was doing all within his power in the case.
At a continued hearing before Judge Pancoast May 6, the court informed Wilder that he would be sent for by the grand jury.
“This case has been going on since March 15 and is now in the hands of Prosecutor Baldwin,” Pancoast said at that time. “He has complaints against all four of these men and they will be indicted. I shall continue your bail so that you will be sure to appear before that body when wanted.”
Text of Statement
The text of the mayor’s conclusions, after reviewing the case, follows:
“On March 15, 1932, Harry Miller, Sam Berman, Harry Smith and Thomas Anthony, all of Philadelphia, known as pickpockets, were apprehended after picking the pocket of Charles Wilder by a motorcycle policeman, William Taylor. After the arrest was made, Acting Detective Benjamin Simon was assigned to the case.
“I feel that Officer Simon should be reprimanded for his failure to properly handle the case and dispose of same before the police judge.
“The latter recommendation is based on the following facts: First, for Simon’s failure to press the charge in the absence of the witness. Second, inasmuch as he was familiar with the records of the four men, and, according to his own statement that Acting Detective George Zeitz telephoned from the Philadelphia detective bureau and gave the information that the prisoners had long records and that it would require from two to two and one-half hours to prepare a copy of the same. Third, for permitting the court to try this case as the first case in the morning, realizing the record of the men, and not requesting the judge to lay it over until he could furnish the information being furnished by the Philadelphia bureau. Fourth, that Officer Simon carried in his pocket for several days the necessary warrants to arrest these men after they had been released in their own recognizance and the very weak statement from him that he hoped to have the men surrender without extradition being necessary. I feel that it was preposterous to believe that criminals of this type would be lured into any such scheme. Fifth, that Officer Simon should have made the charges against these men instead of leaving the matter to Judge Pancoast. Sixth, for Simon’s unwillingness to sign the statement which he gave to the detective bureau.
Censures Pancoast
“Judge Pancoast should be reprimanded for his overzealousness in calling this case as the first of the morning. Certainly, four men arrested as pickpockets should not be swept aside and released without holding them until their complete record could be obtained. Judge Pancoast realizes that we are not inviting criminals of this type to our community, and the rougher we treat them the fewer we will have in our midst. He certainly should not release men with criminal records, such as these, in their own recognizance.
“Captain Golden should be reprimanded for not seeing that each and every member of the detective bureau was familiar with the rules, regulations, responsibilities and duties of their positions, as in this case it was very evident that Detective Simon did not show any of the aforesaid qualifications. I also believe that in cases of this nature that Captain Golden should make sure that the complaining witness would appear in court and that the court be instructed to hold the men until they had a complete record of them. To my mind, the laxity in any department is and should be placed directly on the man in charge, in this instance, the captain of detectives.
“After reading all the evidence submitted in this case, I do not believe that Officer Simon has the qualifications to be assigned to the detective bureau.”
Commenting on the no-bill exonerating the men accused by Wilder, Prosecutor Baldwin said:
“The man who had his pocket picked (Wilder) appeared before the grand jury Thursday. He was very fair about it and he said he could not identify the men who were arrested as the ones who picked his pocket because the moving picture theatre, where he said he was jostled, was dark. When the grand jury heard this testimony, it returned a no-bill.
Jostled in Theatre
“It is true that these four men who were accused have criminal records, but we cannot indict them on that. Wilder said he was brushed against in the aisle of the theatre as he was putting on his overcoat. When he reached the sidewalk, he said he saw an automobile pulling away. He testified that he did not know how long the men had been in it when they started off, but that he automatically jotted down the license number of the car. However, when we questioned him as to whether there was any possible way he could identify them as the men who picked his pocket, he said ‘No, because it was dark in the theatre.’”
Wilder, on March 23, was reported as having identified Miller as the man who picked his pocket and said the others jostled him as he was leaving the motion picture theatre. He saw the four men leave in a car, he told Policeman Taylor. The policeman chased the car to Broadway and Federal streets and arrested the occupants.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.
The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.
Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.
Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association
Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.
In a three-cornered fight, William P. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.
Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.
Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.
Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.
After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.
WWII Draft Registration Card — 1942
Name: William Joseph Taylor Address: 576 S. Spruce St., Camden Age: 56 Date of Birth: 11/2/1885 Place of Birth: Phila., PA Employer: Camden Fire Dept., Camden, N.J.
Name: William Joseph Taylor — Address: 576 S. Spruce St., Camden — Age: 56 — Date of Birth: 11/2/1885 — Place of Birth: Phila., PA — Employer: Camden Fire Dept., Camden, N.J.
William Taylor Retires, 30 Years a Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
William J. Taylor, 65, of 835 South Sixth street, a hoseman in the Camden fire department, was retired on age today and was awarded a pension by the Police and Fire Pension Commission.
Taylor who had been employed on the fire bureau switch board for the past five years, was appointed Jan. 1, 1921. He served 30 years and four months. His retirement is effective May 15. He will receive an annual pension of $1422.14.
Fire Department Personnel Card
Name: William J. Taylor Badge No.: 36 Address: 836 So. 6th St. Born: November 2, 1885 (Camden N.J. per card; Philadelphia PA per WWII draft card) Appointed: Nov. 22, 1920 Reported for Duty: Jan. 1, 1921 Blood Type: A Positive
Assignments: Assigned to #8 Engine Co. — January 1st 1921 Transferred and Assigned to #7 Engine Co. — August 2nd 1928 Transferred and Assigned to #3 Engine Co. — April 30th 1936 Transferred and Assigned to Electrical Bureau — November 27th 1945 Pensioned — May 15-1951
Name: William J. Taylor — Badge No.: 36 — Address: 836 So. 6th St. — Born: November 2, 1885 — Appointed: Nov. 22, 1920 — Reported for Duty: Jan. 1, 1921 — Blood Type: A Positive
Assignments: Assigned to #8 Engine Co., January 1st, 1921 — Transferred and Assigned to #7 Engine Co., August 2nd, 1928 — Transferred and Assigned to #3 Engine Co., April 30th, 1936 — Transferred and Assigned to Electrical Bureau, November 27th, 1945 — Pensioned, May 15, 1951