Introduction
WILLIAM “INDIAN BILL” MAY was one of the more notorious characters to live in East Camden during the first four decades of the 20th Century.
Little is known of his early life. When he registered for the draft in June of 1917 he claimed to have been born in Deadwood, South Dakota on July 25, 1888. He also declared that he had served for four years in the United States Navy, but he claimed no such service in the 1930 Census. Newspaper reports are contradictory regarding his heritage, stating that he was Sioux, but also saying that he was of mixed parentage. He gave his race as white on his draft card and in the 1920 and 1930 Censuses.
William May was not counted in Camden when the Census was taken in 1910. He came to the attention of local authorities and the newspapers in December of 1910 after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, having been rejected in marriage by a very young Elsie Staley. The truth about much of that was reported about him personally is debatable. William May’s obsession with Miss Staley continued into 1912 and resulted in a three-months jail sentence for threatening to kill her. He was questioned in October of 1912 in relation to the murder of Carl Kellman, but was quickly cleared of any involvement, as was Elsie Staley’s brother, Linnaws W. Staley.
In October of 1913, William May married Anna M. Dowell, the daughter of Frank P. Dowell and his wife, the former Amelia Wright. The young couple lived with her parents and brothers Frank and George Dowell at 2105 Berwick Street. William May found regular work at the Keystone Leather Company plant in East Camden. A son, Frank W. May, was born in February of 1914; sadly, he died in July of that year. By 1915 the family had moved to 20 Morse Street, where they stayed into 1916. When William May registered for the draft in June of 1917 the family had moved to 2110 Berwick Street, where they remained into 1923.
William and Anna May were a productive couple when it came to having children, and by 1920 three daughters had arrived, Myrtle, Evelyn, and Naomi May. Four more children arrived over the next 10 years, William H. May, Anna May, Frank May, and Dolores May. In 1921 William May again came to the attention of the law, for threatening a neighbor with an axe. The family moved to 2168 Berwick Street in time for the compilation of the 1924 City Directory. The next directory was published in 1925, but William May does not appear in it. Over the next five years, the Mays had five addresses. The Directory from 1928 shows them at 1984 Federal Street, and the 1929 edition has them at 58 Marlton Avenue. When the census was taken in April of 1930, the family was once again at 20 Morse Street. The 1931 Directory has the May family at 2251 Mickle Street. By the end of that year, William May and family had moved to 2118 Berwick Street. Two more children were born after April of 1930, George May and Clair May.
William May again found himself in front of a judge, this time for beating his wife, in March of 1932. He and his family soon moved to 18 North 22nd Street. William May passed away on September 18, 1935 and was buried at New Camden Cemetery.
William May’s grandson, Robert J. Mentz Jr., had a long and distinguished career with the Camden Police Department.
Love-Lorn Indian Attempts Suicide
Camden Post-Telegram —
William Way Slashes Himself With Knife When Girl Spurns Him.
TRIES TO DIE AFTER BUYING XMAS GIFTS
Unrequited in love, William M. May, a Soux Indian who lives in the rear of 1819 Federal street, attempted suicide by slashing himself across the chest with a penknife.
May, whose Indian name is Sequa Montezuma, was enamored of Elsie Staley, aged 14 years, a daughter of Frank Staley, of 1819 Federal street. He had been befriended by the Staleys and was allowed to sleep in an outhouse. He fell in love with Elsie at first sight and while she rebuffed his advances he persisted in his love making to such an extent as to propose marriage.
Miss Staley turned a deaf ear to his proposition, telling him that she was too young to be married and that besides her folks did not approve of his wooing. Not daunted by the girl’s refusal the Indian saved up his pennies and made her a Christmas present of a gold bracelet and a veil. On this occasion he again offered her his hand and again she refused him.
May then left the house in a state of great dejection and drawing a knife he gashed himself across the breast with frenzied rage.
Exhausted from loss of blood he was found leaning against a telegraph pole near Eighteenth and Federal streets, and in response to the alarm sounded by Miss Staley, word was ‘phoned to Police Headquarters from Schultz’s bottling establishment and he was sent to Cooper Hospital in the police auto.
At the hospital this morning it was said that the Indian was in no danger whatever and would be able to be transferred to Police Headquarters some time to-day. He is but 21 years of age and came to this city three years ago from Carlisle Indian School.
May Recover from Self-Inflicted Hurts
Camden Post-Telegram —
William May, the Sioux Indian whose tribal name is Sequa Montezuma, and who attempted to end his life on last Saturday night by slashing his breast with a knife, because Elsie Staley, aged 14 years, of 1819 Federal street, would not marry him, was discharged from Cooper Hospital this afternoon.
May was under police guard at the hospital up to this morning when the surveillance was withdrawn, as no charge of attempted suicide was made against him. He went home when he left the hospital.
Miss Staley, the girl with whom he is enamored, visited the Indian in the hospital almost daily during his confinement there.
Again Jail Indian on Girl's Charge
Camden Post-Telegram —
William May, the 22-year-old Indian who about a year ago stabbed himself because Elsie Staley, a young girl living at Eighteenth and Federal streets, refused to marry him was locked up in the county jail yesterday by Justice of the Peace Garrison, on a charge of threatening the life of Miss Staley and William Rose.
The girl said that May made the threat because he found her in the company of Rose. At one time she and May were close friends, but she had told him that she did not want to have anything to do with him and that he must cease his visits to her home. She told Prosecutor Scovel Saturday that she was afraid of May because of his temper. May at one time lived at the home of the girl and is said to be desperately in love with the young woman.
Cases Treated at Cooper Hospital
Camden Daily Courier —
Roc. Nadomali, aged 40, 1912 south Fourth street, laborer, contusion of shoulder, arm and chest, injured at N. Y. S. Yard.
William May, aged 21, 1819 Federal street, laborer; incised wound of lips, cut by piece of bottle.
Italian Is Held on Grave Charge
Camden Post-Telegram —
On suspicion of abusing and maltreating Elsie Staley, a girl under 16 years of age, who lives with her stepfather on Federal street above Eighteenth, Nicholas Small, an Italian, was taken into custody yesterday afternoon by Special Troncone. Small will be given a hearing in police court tomorrow.
Elsie Staley is the plump and pretty girl who so enamored William May, a young Sioux Indian living in East Camden, that on last Thanksgiving Day when she refused to marry him he attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the left breast with a pair of scissors.
Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons
Camden Post-Telegram —
Carrying concealed deadly weapons—Irvan Warren, Michael Mestovick, William May.
Police Court
Camden Post-Telegram —
William May, a half breed Indian, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening the life of Elsie Staley, an East Side girl. Assistant Prosecutor Wolverton told the Court that the defendent was infatuated with the girl and that his love for her had gotten him into trouble several times. Miss Staley informed the Court that May told her that if he ever caught her walking with another fellow he would blow out her brains. Judge Joline sentenced the Indian to three months in the County Jail.
Boy's Brutal Murderer Collapses at Hearing
Camden Post-Telegram —
TRIO ACCUSED OF MURDER. COURSEY FIRING THE SHOTS.
Coursey Breaks Down While Story of Cold-Blooded Killing of Karl Kellmann Is Told by Detective.
TWO “PALS,” TOO, ACCUSED OF CRIME
Collapsing when arraigned in Police Court this morning before Recorder Stackhouse on the charge of killing Karl Kellmann, aged 18 years, of 2919 High street, at Twenty-seventh and Sherman streets, shortly before midnight Saturday, Fred Coursey, alias “Mexican Pete,” alias “Cowboy Pete,” aged 20 years, of 121 North Twenty-first street, who admits firing the fatal shots while committing robbery, and Harry Duffield, aged 21 years, of 407 North Forty-first street, who acknowledged masking his face with a handkerchief and being with Coursey, sobbed piteously, resting their heads on the railing of the dock, while John Painter, the veteran detective, was briefly reciting the story.
When Recorder Stackhouse asked what became of the young man who was shot and Painter replied that he died, Coursey and Duffield sobbed afresh, and when Recorder Stackhouse committed them without bail Policemen Frost and Kay had to help them.
Linnans Staley, aged 21 years, of 1819 Federal street, who confessed that he was in the robbery plot but later got scared and hid in the bushes, was scarcely able to stand, and when his mother broke down as he was committed as a principal he staggered and would have fallen but for Sergeant McClong.
Prosecutor Boyle announced this morning that the Grand Jury will be recalled for Thursday of this week and the case will be made the special order of the day.
Without the slightest clue to start with in the most brutal murder committed in recent years in Camden county, police and detectives under the personal direction of Chief Gravenor in two hours arrested two of the three prisoners and obtained their signatures to confessions and before sunrise the other was lodged behind the bars at the City Hall.
According to their statements to the police the prisoners while drinking on a lot near Twenty-first and Federal streets on Saturday night planned to go to a lone spot near Twenty-seventh and Sherman streets to hold someone up to get money and jewelry to buy more drink. Coursey had a 38-calibre cowboy pistol and Duffield used Coursey’s bandanna as a mask. Staley weakened before the spot selected was reached and at the time of the murder was hiding in a clump of weeds a short distance away.
The murdered boy was the son of Karl and Lulu D. Kellmann. He was a member of the Bible class of Grace Presbyterian Church, East Side, and active in church work.
Saturday night was the closing of a carnival given on High street between Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth streets. Karl was there and made several purchases. At one booth he bought a necktie, from another some ice cream and a box of candy and spent some time conversing with the young ladies connected with the church.
When it grew rather late he noticed that Misses Bertha and Bessie Skillen, of 815 North Thirty-fourth street, the latter a teacher in Grace Church Sunday-school, were without an escort and he volunteered to see them home. They accepted his invitation to be their escort. He saw them safely home and he was on his way back and had reached a point on the east side of Twenty-seventh street south of Sherman street and near the foot of the bridge that spans the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks when two men jumped out from behind a tree and as one commanded him to hold up his hands the other began to shoot.
The first shot struck him in the breast and turned him partially around. The next ploughed a hole through his neck, knocking him down, and the third went wide.
Screaming for help he tried to rise to his feet and was on his knees when Night Yardmaster Albert Ludlow and Brakeman Joseph Wittick, who were on the opposite side of the bridge, ran to his assistance. By the light of their lanterns they saw that he was seriously hurt and they took him to ‘Squire Sasse’s house nearby to await the arrival of the ambulance. As the railroaders sped across the bridge Ludlow saw a man run down the tracks in the direction of Seventeenth street.
In the signal tower at Pavonia station known as C. B. the operator, Thomas Sink, heard the shots and cries for help and ‘phoned to Captain James at Police Headquarters that a murder had been committed. Sink also saw a man run down through the weeds and bushes on the east side of the bridge toward the railroad tracks.
Policeman Hurlock and Schmid, ‘Squire and Mrs. Sasse and several others were out on the street before the railroad men reached the Sasse home and all hurried to ‘phones to notify police headquarters.
In less than five minutes by use of the red light system Captain James had every officer on duty on the East Side hurrying to the scene, officers stationed at every bridge, ferry house and railroad terminal, and the downtown auto with Detectives Schregler, Painter, Brothers and Moffett on its way to East Camden.
On information from the railroad men Sergeant Horner took all the East Side officers and the four detectives and they worked westward among the cars while Captain James started Policemen Colsey and Kelly to walk eastward from Fifteenth street until they met the main body.
The search proved fruitless and as they returned to the bridge one of the men picked up a green bandanna with yellow spots and sheep burrs embedded on it on the incline near the signal tower. Later he recalled that the man who went down the slope wore a Khaki shirt and cap.
The handkerchief was recognized as the kind used by “Indian Bill” May, and Detectives Brothers and Policeman Abbott were sent to arrest him. They found May and Eugene Cafferty asleep in a moving van in Marlton avenue. “Indian Bill” soon established an alibi.
Detective Schregler and a couple of officers who were sure that the description of the man with the khaki shirt tallied with Duffield started for his brother’s house, but failed to find him there. About this time the downtown auto turned into Twenty-seventh street to get Karl’s father, mother and sister and take them to the hospital. Councilman Finkeldey and a friend shouted to the crew that a woman was down and out on a step nearby, but the crew yelled back that they were on an emergency run and the woman would keep until they returned. Fireman J. H. Vickers walked across the street to investigate and found that the supposed woman was Duffield and that he seemed to be asleep.
Vickers shook him and as he got up he said something about the shooting that aroused Vickers’ curiosity and he ‘phoned to Police Headquarters. Captain James immediately notified Chief Gravenor, who was on the scene and the latter sent Detective Moffett to investigate. When Moffett arrived he learned that Duffield had taken a Westfield avenue car. Moffett returned to the bridge and he and Detective Painter and Chief Gravenor took the down-town auto for Duffield’s home.
Painter went to the front door and saw Duffield in the act of taking off his shoes. Moffett in going around to the back door to prevent his escape that way passed by the window at which Duffield was sitting.
Grasping Duffield by the collar Moffett pulled him through the window to the ground. As soon as he landed on his feet, according to the Chief and detectives, Duffield said that Coursey did the shooting.
Placing him in the auto they next drove close to Coursey’s home and with Policeman Potter who knew the man wanted, the detectives entered the house with drawn revolvers while other officers guarded all avenues of escape.
Coursey was found awake on a cot and while he was covered with revolvers Detective Painter searched his trunk and found the weapon that he later admitted using. It was empty. The detectives late yesterday afternoon found three used shells adjoining the house near a spot where Coursey said he had thrown them.
In order to keep the men apart they were taken to the City Hall separately and questioned and after they decided to tell all Sergeant E. B. McClong reduced their statements to writing and they signed them. It was on the strength of these statements that Staley was arrested.
Young Kellmann was taken into the hospital at 12.20 a. m. Chief Surgeon Schellenger saw at a glance that there was no hope for him and so notified Captain James, and Sergeant McClong was sent to the hospital to get all information possible.
The unfortunate youth could only speak a few words at a time because of the hemorrhages. All Sergeant McClong was able to get from him was that he was told to hold up his hands and that the shooting instantly began. The only description he could give was that they were small men and that the attack was so sudden that he could not tell whether they were black or white.
The injured young man kept asking the doctors if he was going to die, but they did not answer. He was conscious when his father and mother arrived and then sank rapidly until the end, dying at 1.50 o’clock, 90 minutes after he was admitted. Mother and father were prostrated and were taken home by the up-town auto.
County Physician Jones conducted the autopsy yesterday morning. He said that either wound would have caused death. The bullet in the breast pierced the right lung at the top and lodged in the cavity. It is now in the doctor’s possession. The other bullet went clear through the neck.
Coursey and Duffield have been working in the Pavonia car yard. The former was born in El Paso, Texas, but has lived East nearly all his life. He is an expert shot and was a member of the vaudeville team of Coursey & Cook, according to their letter heads presenting a fifteen-minute thriller.
Duffield was only recently paroled for robbing Gallagher’s saloon, Nineteenth and Federal streets of a lot of drinkables. Staley has been arrested several times on petty charges but was never convicted of crime. When Duffield’s coat was examined at the City Hall, it was found to contain sheep burrs.
To a reporter Coursey said that whenever he was drinking he had to get his gun and shoot something or somebody. He insisted that all were in on the job and that they let the man who preceded Kellman go over the bridge without molestation because he didn’t look as if he had any too much money.
Yesterday morning Assistant Prosecutor Wolverton and Stenographer Cleary called at the City Hall. The prisoners were examined by Mr. Wolverton and their statements taken by Mr. Cleary, but there was little or nothing new elicited.
Marriage Licenses
Camden Post-Telegram —
MARRIAGE LICENSES
These marriage licenses have been issued by the City Clerk:
Augustus J. Paulson, of 3112 Chatham street, Philadelphia, and Madeline Brion, of 656 Grant street.
Robert A. L. Chester, of Greenwich, N. J., and Eva Blake, of 760 Line street.
William May, of 2105 Berwick street, and Anna Dowell, of same address.
George J. Leivy, of 1233 North Nineteenth street, and Lucy M. Patton, of same address.
W. J. Schmetter, of 1134 Everett street, and Henrietta Schindler, of 513 Madison street, Wilmington, Del.
East Side Notes
Camden Post-Telegram —
EAST SIDE NOTES.
Mr. and Mrs. William May, of 2105 Berwick street, have the sympathy of their numerous friends, in the death of their five months old son, Frank W. May. The funeral took place from the parents’ residence yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock and interment was made at New Camden cemetery.
World War I Draft Card
Form 1, No. 68 [29-3-10-A] REGISTRATION CARD — REGISTRAR’S REPORT
1. Name in full: Wm May [Age: 27] 2. Home address: 2110 Berwick St, Camden N.J. 3. Date of birth: July 25, 1888 4. [Citizenship]: Natural Born 5. Where born: Deadwood, S. Dak., U.S.A. 7. Present trade, occupation or office: Leather Worker 16 8. By whom employed: Keystone Tea Co. Where employed: [16? Allen Nickel &] Camden 9. [Dependents]: Wife, 1 child 10. Married or single: Married / Race: White 11. Military service: 4 years, Navy, U.S.A. 12. [Exemption claim]: [blank]
I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true. [Signed] William May
Precinct: [blank] City or County: Camden State: N.J. Date of registration: 6-5-17 (June 5th) [Signed by registrar]: B. J. Tracy
William May registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1917 at Camden, New Jersey. His card records his full name as Wm. May, age 27, residing at 2110 Berwick Street, Camden, N.J. He listed his date of birth as July 25, 1888 and his place of birth as Deadwood, S. Dak., U.S.A. He described himself as a leather worker employed by Keystone Tea Co. He was married with a wife and one child. He claimed four years of prior military service in the Navy, U.S.A. The card was signed by registrar B. J. Tracy.
Indian in Court Was on Warpath Neighbor Avers
Camden Daily Courier —
William May, an Indian, 32 years old, 2110 Berwick street, was held in $200 bail by Recorder Stackhouse today on a charge of threatening to kill Edward Guinness, 2106 Berwick street, with an axe.
Guinness testified the Indian, his neighbor, had called him bad names and threatened he would kill him with an axe.
“I’ll get you yet,” Guinness testified the Indian said to him in the presence of his wife. According to the evidence, however, May made no effort to carry out the threat.
Lewis Liberman, representing the Indian, a small-featured man with long hair, said the incident was nothing more than a squabble among neighbors.
Cases Treated at Homeopathic
Camden Daily Courier —
CASES TREATED AT HOMEOPATHIC
John Kuczesski, 28 years old, 1209 Lansdowne avenue; lacerations of face and hands.
J. W. Elrinter, 34 years old, 240 Sycamore street; two fingers crushed.
Catherine Picatti, 3 years old, Magnolia; foreign body removed from ear.
Victoria Bogumil, 40 years old, 1293 Morgan street; lacerations of eye.
William Schooley, 7 years old, 1254 Lansdowne avenue; fractured leg.
E. R. Grand, 37 years old, 1017 Race street, Philadelphia; lacerations of hands and body.
Earl Snyder, 28 years old, 614 North Fifth street; lacerations of chest and arms.
William May, 48 years old, 2110 Berwick street; lacerations of elbow.
Aram Pavalutzian, 46 years old, 938 Federal street; lacerations of toe.
Cooper Hospital Cases
Camden Courier-Post —
COOPER HOSPITAL CASES
Frances Burk, 21, of 604 North Sixth street, dog bite of arm.
Jacob Martin, 17, of 1113 Cooper street; dog bite of arm.
Lloyd Small, 18, of 84 South Dudley street; crushed finger between two cars.
Mrs. Mary Blub, 53, of 525 Kaighn avenue; injured back in fall at home.
William May, 48, of 2118 Berwick street; bruises of chest and ribs; fell down stairs.
Indian Held in Jail After Beating Wife
Camden Courier-Post —
William May, 54, Indian, of 2218 Berwick street, was committed to jail on a charge of disorderly conduct preferred last night by his wife, Anna.
May is alleged to have choked her during a quarrel in their home. He had thrown her to the floor, she said, when their daughter, Myrtle, 16, struck him on the head with a glass. Sounds of the fight were heard by Policeman William Turner, who arrested May. He was treated at Cooper hospital for cuts on the head.
Court Postpones Case of Indian Husband
Camden Courier-Post —
Hearing of William May, 54, an Indian, of 2218 Berwick street, on a charge of disorderly conduct preferred by his wife, Anna, has been postponed by Police Judge Pancoast until today.
May was committed to jail pending the hearing after he is alleged to have attempted to choke his wife during a quarrel. He had thrown her to the floor, she said, when their daughter, Myrtle, 16, struck him on the head with a glass.
May was arrested by Policeman William Turner. He was treated at Cooper Hospital for cuts on the head. His hearing was postponed yesterday when his wife was unable to appear because of the illness of two children.
William May
Camden Courier-Post —
WILLIAM MAY
Funeral services will be held at noon tomorrow for William May, 48, of 12 North Twenty-second street, who died Wednesday. Burial will be at New Camden Cemetery. Mr. May is survived by his widow, Anna May.