William Moll
WILLIAM PHILIP MOLL was born on April 1, 1888 in Camden, New Jersey to Christopher and Anna Moll. He was the eighth of nine children. His father supported his family working as a butcher, and had brought his family to Camden from Philadelphia shortly after the 1880 Census enumeration. The family lived at 1166 Maple Street in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The 1900 Census shows the family at 212 North Twelfth Street, and they still were living there in 1906.
William Moll married around 1909, and when the 1910 Census was taken, his wife Lillian had bore a child, Elizabeth. The Moll's lived at 823 Pearl Street. William Moll then supported his family as a railroad brakeman.
By 1914 and for many years thereafter William Moll lived at 914 Kimber Street in North Camden. The 1914 Camden City Directory shows him working as a fireman, but not in the firefighting sense of the word, however. William Moll's brother Christopher Moll Jr. did, however, have a long career with the Camden Fire Department, beginning in the mid-1920s. Another brother, Frank H. Moll, also served briefly with the Camden Police Department in the mid-1920s.
By June of 1917 William Moll had found employment as a Camden police officer. Records indicate that his employ may have been interrupted, but not by military service, and he received a permanent appointment on January 1, 1920. Both the 1920 Census and 1930 Census shows him at the Kimber Street address with his wife Lillian, daughter Elizabeth, and a son, also named William, who was born April 29, 1907. By 1942 William Moll had moved to 3020 Stevens Street in East Camden. He was still living at that address as late as the fall of 1959.
William Moll was still with the Police Department as late as 1947. He retired and was receiving his pension by the beginning of 1949.
World War I Draft Card
William Philip Moll Sr. — World War I draft card (front)
William Philip Moll Sr. — World War I draft card (reverse)
'Ghost Sniper' Fires on Auto by Cop's Home
Camden Courier-Post —
Hole In Windshield Of Car But No Bullet Found
Scene of Shooting Is Near Bridge Plaza
Camden Police Ordered to Keep Close Watch for ‘Phantom’ Gunner
While every policeman in Camden was notified to watch for appearances of the “phantom sniper,” that mysterious individual fired his twelfth shot last night at a motor car parked near the home of a police officer.
The incident became known today after Captain John Golden, of the city detective bureau had stated that all patrolmen as well as detectives had been instructed to keep a sharp lookout for the sniper.
Mr. and Mrs. William Frenzel, of 208 Laurel avenue, Woodlynne, came to Camden last night to visit Policeman William Moll at the latter's home, 914 Kimber street. With their son, 13-year-old William, Jr., they spent some time at the Moll residence, parking their car at Ninth and Kimber streets.
Shortly after 8 o’clock they returned to the car to find that the automobile windshield had been struck and broken by some missile that left a mark like that of a bullet. No bullet was found and residents of the neighborhood had not heard the report of a gun.
Locals Bow to Warders by 4 to 1
Trenton Times —
Homer by Weygand and Single with Bases Full by Loeble Are Damaging Blows in Upset of Firemen — Trentonians Given Superb Reception
Playing before a crowd estimated at close to 4,000 people at the spacious King's Park diamond in Camden last night, Standard Fire bowed to the Twelfth Ward Republican Club, of the Camden Twilight League, by a score of 4 to 1. Followers of the “Warders” jammed every nook and cranny of both seating and standing space available to see the champions of Trenton's City League go down to defeat before the Skeeter nine managed by Bill Langdon.
As Standard won the first game of the series, played last Tuesday night at Trenton, last night's triumph for the undefeated pace-setters in the Reesman loop evened the intercity championship play with one win apiece. Ed Sutton, pilot of the Standard Fire ship, announced shortly after the contest last night that the third and deciding tilt of the series will be played on Thursday, August 22, at the same place as last night's affair, King's Park, Camden.
One of the most elegant receptions was given the Trenton team. On the way down the Firemen's bus was met at the city limits by three members of the Camden police, Earl Stopfer, Bill Moll and Robert Ashenfelter, who guided the vehicle to the scene of action. After the game the locals were given free access to the “Y” swimming pool and then were escorted out of the city by Earl Stopfer. The Lyric Band, of Camden, rendered excellent music at the game.
Commissioner Clay Reesman, after whom the Camden Twilight League gets its name, threw out the first ball; and the commissioner seemed a trifle wild, Catcher Albrecht just about snaring the pellet on the official’s high heave.
Police Escort Funeral of Former Chief Hyde
Camden Courier-Post —
A police motorcycle squad under the command of Inspector Humes acted as escort today at the funeral service of Edward S. Hyde, former police chief and a member of the board of freeholders, who died Sunday.
Services took place at the home, 832 Haddon Avenue, and burial was in Harleigh Cemetery. Members of the police detail were Sergeant Jefferson Kay, patrolmen Thomas Kauffman, William Moll, John Stanton, Thomas Welch and James Wilson.
Hyde was appointed to the police force in April, 1894, and pensioned July, 1923. He succeeded Chief Gravenor when the latter resigned in 1922. Long interested in politics, he was elected freeholder two years ago. He is survived by his widow, Mina B. Hyde, and three daughters, Mrs. Marion Garlan, Mrs. Mary Van Hart and Emma Hyde.
6 Men Are Nabbed as Number Writers
Camden Morning Post —
Arrest of six alleged number writers here yesterday has spread the belief that Atlantic City racketeers have established “branch offices” on downtown street corners. Four of the accused, all of whom were caught by members of the traffic squad, will be given hearings this morning.
Camden Father Dies in Fight With His Son; Both Jobless
Camden Courier-Post —
Quarrel Over Youth Getting Work Is Blamed for Street Battle
Accused Will Make Self-Defense Plea
Victim's Head Hits Curb, Physicians Believe He Died Instantly
A quarrel over his son's failure to obtain work ended fatally last night for the father of five children who was killed when he struck his head on a curb after the son had hit him on the jaw.
The father is Frederick Alanko Thompson, also known as Elanko, 45, of 805 Linden street. His son, Reino Alanko Thompson, who will be 18 in July, will be arraigned today on a charge of murder.
The fight occurred at the southeast corner of Ninth and Kimber streets.
The story of the alleged murder as told by the boy to Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin differed from that told by two young witnesses. The boy claimed self-defense while the witnesses said he had struck his father first.
Reino said he had been out of work for five months and his father had been unemployed for eight. The boy had worked for Todd Rooney, trucker, of Fern street near Eighth street. Shortly before that night, the boy said, his father criticised him for not obtaining work. To end the constant nagging of the father, his mother, Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, gave her son a quarter and he left the house.
Reino was on his way to Tenth and Market streets to meet friends, he said, when his father followed him. “He kept cursing me and when we got to Ninth and Kimber streets, my father struck at me. I sidestepped and hit him in the jaw. He fell to the street and I thought nothing of it. I said to him to get up if he wanted me to hit him again.”
Mrs. Rose Thompson, 45, and Francis Zoll, 15, of 912 Kimber street, and John Golden, of 334 Golden street, who saw the fight, told the authorities the father made no effort to hit his son first but the boy hit him “six or seven times.”
They notified Detective William Moll who had the father taken to Cooper Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Coroner Melvin Cain will perform an autopsy today.
Detectives Clifford Carr and Anson Kelly went to the Thompson home where they found the boy hiding in a kitchen alcove. They told the mother that he was wanted for questioning about a fight with his father but did not reveal that the father had been killed until they reached police headquarters. The son himself did not know his blow had proved fatal until later.
Thompson's two older daughters, Rose, 16, and May, 14, accompanied Reino and the detectives to police headquarters. Two other daughters, Diamond and Irene, 10, remained at home.
The boy broke down when he was charged with murder and was led weeping to a cell. Mrs. Thompson, who had remained calm during the questioning, collapsed after her son was taken away.
Horses Bolt, Trample Three During School Pupils' Parade
Camden Courier-Post —
Team Pulling Float Dashes Into Crowd; Many Knocked Down
6000 Children March in Flag Day Pageant
75,000 Observe Colorful Procession Through Camden Streets
Celebrating the anniversary of the flag and the George Washington Bicentennial, more than 6000 school children yesterday provided Camden the most colorful pageant in its history.
Injuring of three persons by two horses which bolted the parade and plunged into spectators at Broadway and Federal street, caused a wild scramble at that intersection.
The horses were pulling the Camden Catholic High School float depicting George Washington crossing the Delaware river. At Broadway and Market street, the horses shied at some paper and dashed across to the east sidewalk on Broadway.
The horses were partly on the sidewalk, scattering the women and children standing there, when Albert B. Archer, special bank officer; Freeholder Samuel Edwards and Motorcycle Policeman William Moll halted the animals. They were quieted and their driver said it would be all right to proceed.
But at Broadway and Federal street the horses again got out of hand and a rein broke as the driver tried to stop them. The animals plunged into the school band ahead of them and started for the sidewalk when they were stopped.
Two women and a boy were injured when the horses trampled them. Mrs. Charlotte Crandell, 77, of 566 Carman street, suffered bruises of the forehead and shock. Mrs. Marie Taylor, 33, of 24 Church street, was treated for bruises of the left arm.
World War II Draft Card
William Philip Moll Sr. — World War II draft card
Camden Cops
Camden Courier-Post —
Lt. Edward C. Hahn Funeral Set Today
Funeral services for Lt. Edward C. Hahn, veteran Camden policeman, will be held today at 1 p.m., in the Sudler-Eichel funeral home, Twenty-seventh and Carman streets.
Six members of Lieutenant Hahn’s crew at the Third district police station will act as pallbearers. They are William Moll, Joseph Fearon, Edward Talla, Carmen Fuscellaro, Ivan Morris and William Schultz.
Lieutenant Hahn, 51, was stricken with a heart attack Saturday night at the entrance to a drug store at Twenty-sixth and Federal streets. He was pronounced dead at Cooper hospital.
Life Hereabouts by Charley Humes
Camden Courier-Post —
“KIDS…LITTLE KIDS…murdered in their own home.”
Tears were streaming down the face of a lovely little lady as she spoke those words.
In front of her, in the middle of the carpet, was a spot, sort of whitish, where someone had tried to remove the blood of a little boy…a little boy who was “going on three”…a little boy who never harmed no one…
Just down the block a bit, people were peering through a big plate glass window, looking at a “hobby horse” in a barber shop that is closed.
At the base of the standard which held the wooden horse in place was another blotch of blood…the blood of another little boy “just past six” who was having his hair cut in preparation for his first trip to school the next day…
In the back seat of an automobile parked a little farther away was another great stain…where another boy died.
And the killer says: “I’m glad I did it, but I’m sorry about the children.”
We arrived at the scene of the Mad Mission of Cramer Hill after all of the shooting was over. Walt Carley and Jake Weiner, Courier-Post scribes, had arrived with the cops. They witnessed the capture and went on to do a great job of reporting the terrible tragedy.
Two holes showed in the front screen of a home near the center of the block. Detectives Stanley Bobiak and William Deery, identification chief, approached and Bobiak looked into the home.
“Was anyone shot in here?” Bobiak queried through the window.
“My little boy was killed,” replied the tearful voice of a mother whose anguish was pitiful to see and hear.
This was a terrible thing that happened in Our Town.
But that was after the shooting was over. When the chips were down, when a maniac was shooting innocent men, women and children and was still on the loose with that big Luger, that is when the cops of Our Town proved they rank right up there with the best in the world.
We know that Russ Maurer stepped out into the clear, while other cops covered him with their guns, to hurl tear gas into the home of the man who was bent on kill. Russ could have paid with his life, because the killer seldom missed. That was a brave act.
There were Charley Hance, Ev Joslin, Cecil Picou, Tommy Carr, Bill Moll, Sid Nelson, Barney Tracy, Bill Kelly, Marshall Thompson, Vince Conley, Lennie Andruzza and dozens of others closing in on the killer, inch by inch.
Kelley and Tracy on a roof, moving in, Bill with a machinegun, Barney with gun in hand…exposed like the other cops for a quick shot that might mean death.
Picou and Bill Rogers…moving the wounded and the dead…with the killer still free…Johnny Ferry stepping into the clear to keep the slayer from shooting from the upper front windows of his home.
And of all them there we will take Ev Joslin and say that Ev will never be outdone where courage is concerned. We have seen that courage through the years and we have heard many a cop say they will take Ev as their sidekick in a tough situation any day.
So the only way we can give Our Cops their proper due is to say that every one of them who participated in the Mad Mission of Cramer Hill was just as courageous, just as mindful of their sworn duty, just as concerned over the safety of others, forgetting themselves as the man we picked as a symbol of courage.