William Pernier

WILLIAM ROWAND PERNIER was born in New Jersey on May 19, 1899, one of at least seven children born to Francis Pernier and his wife, the former Laura Harris Taylor. His grandfather, George Pernier, was a veteran of the Civil War. Francis Pernier worked as an umbrella maker in the years before William was born. By 1906 he had found work as a railroad conductor. The family had then moved to 414 Royden Street. Francis and Laura Pernier remained at that address into the mid-1920s, save for a brief period around 1910 when the Pernier family lived at 1215 Locust Street in South Camden, a few doors north of Kaighn Avenue, and a very short walk from the Kaighn’s Point Ferry Terminal and railroad stop. The intersection of Locust and Kaighn would figure prominently in subsequent events of the life of William Pernier.

The Perniers had returned to 414 Royden Street by September of 1918. William Pernier was then working as a bolter at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard on Broadway at Morgan Street. Francis Pernier would remain at this address until his passing in September of 1940.

William Pernier does not appear in the 1924 or 1927 Camden City Directories, but he was operating in the city, as evidenced by a 1925 newspaper article concerning a brush with the law. By 1929 and through at least April of 1930 when the Census was taken William Pernier was living at 319 Mechanic Street in South Camden. During this period he operated a cigar store at 225½ Kaighn Avenue. Mary Montgomery, aged 26, was living there as well, and listed her occupation as house keeper. This relationship did not last and by 1932 he had married, and was living with wife Edith at 293 Liberty Street.

An associate of Camden crime figure William “Shooey” Bonner, William Pernier was wounded in a gunfight at Locust Street and Kaighn Avenue. Taken into custody with a recently fired weapon in his possession, William Pernier was sentenced to a two to three year term in state prison on February 1, 1933.

William Pernier died November 16, 1940. He had been living at 345 Mount Vernon Street.

William Pernier’s niece, Dorothy Pernier, daughter of his brother Frank, worked for the City of Camden at City Hall for over 40 years, much of that time as Vice-Registrar of Vital Statistics.

After being accused from the Police Court bench with having paid a complainant not to appear against him, William Pernier, 25, Locust street and Kaighn avenue, was held in $300 bail this morning on a charge of assault and battery on Florence Lewis, colored, waitress in a Chinese restaurant.

Pernier, suave and dapper, calmly denied he had given the Lewis woman $50 to stay away from the hearing.

“Well, I’m going to hold you to …”

“Hey, You,” Cries Woman, Emerging From Shadows, “Come Across With It”

MEN RIFLE POCKETS AS SHE STANDS BY

CAMDEN, N. J., July 11.—A pedestrian was held up here early today by a girl bandit and two men accomplices, who robbed him of $14.

The girl, according to Peter Krai, the victim, violated all the traditions of women bandits. She did not have bobbed hair.

Krai, who lives at Williamstown, N. J., told police he was walking on Pavonia street, near the Reading Railway, at 2 a. m. A girl came slowly toward him across the street. Krai stopped to look at her.

“Hey, you,” she said. “What you got on you? Come across with it.”

Krai said her words surprised him and he stood still for a moment, speechless.

Then two men glided from the shadows and grabbed his arms. Despite his struggles they held him while the girl calmly searched his pockets.

With a warning that he would be shot if he made any outcry, the three calmly walked away.

Krai hurried to police headquarters with his story.

Half an hour later police picked up Gertrude Penny, of Mechanic street. Later a patrolman arrested William Pernier, of Kaighn avenue. Both were locked up, charged with the robbery.

Questions Accuser In Court and Satisfies Judge of Hold-Up Innocence

Man Admits Entertaining Her and Says She Helped Take His Money

Accused of aiding in the hold-up of a man, a girl yesterday acted as her own attorney in the Camden Police Court and convinced Judge Cleary of her innocence.

Gertrude Penny, 22, of Mechanic street near Third, was arrested at 3 A. M. yesterday at Front street and Kaighn avenue, with William Pernier, 26, of Kaighn avenue near Second street. They were accused by Peter Krai, Williamstown, N. J., of holding him up at 2 A. M. at the Reading Railway and Pavonia street and robbing him of $14.

With her pertinent questions, Miss Penny obtained the release of herself and Hernier.

“Did you take me to a saloon last night and have a drink with me?” she asked Krai when he took the witness stand.

“Yes, I did,” he replied.

Also Bought Soft Drinks

“Didn’t you take me to another place where we had soft drinks together?” “Yes.”

“Then didn’t you take me to a restaurant for something to eat?” “Yes.”

“Did I take your money?”

“You helped to take it,” Krai replied.

“Did I put my hand in your pocket?” “You helped to take my money.”

“Did I ever meet you before?” “Yes.”

According to Krai, Pernier, Miss Penny and another man stopped him and while the men held him the girl took $14 from his pockets.

Thomas Moreland, Kaighn avenue, Camden, testified he was with Pernier during the time the hold-up was alleged to have taken place.

Camden Man Wanted to Go Home After Ride in Taxi to Resorts

William Pernier, 28, of 319 Mechanic street, Camden, was shot in the thigh and is in a critical condition in the Pennsylvania Hospital as the result of an altercation with two strangers who acted as his “guides” early yesterday morning in a tour of Southeast Philadelphia.

The two men were held in bail on assault charges at a hearing before Magistrate Coward yesterday morning. They gave their names as Joseph Flannery, 26, of Twelfth street near Spruce, and Ray Lancaster, 24, negro, 223 South Sartain street. Pernier met them on Saturday night near Fifth and South streets and expressed a willingness to become their guest in a tour a la taxicab of South Philadelphia and its resorts. The tour came to an abrupt end at Tenth and Fitzwater streets when Pernier expressed a desire to return to Camden. The shooting followed the altercation which followed his refusal to continue the nocturnal ride. According to police, Flannery had two guns on his person, but it is alleged that Lancaster did the shooting. Flannery was held under $1000 bail on a charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons, and both he and Lancaster under $800 bail on the assault charge.

Camden—(U.P.)—Gangsters were successful in their second attempt to kill Edward A. Kenney, 31.

But before Kenney died in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital yesterday, it was reported he violated the underworld code and named his slayers.

Kenney was shot as he sat in his parked car yesterday morning, a .45 calibre slug striking his knee and glancing upward into his abdomen.

Detective-Lieut. Louis Shaw said the police knew Kenney as a small-time trafficker in women and a racketeer preying on disorderly houses. He was shot at on June 12, last, but the lone gunman missed that time.

William Pernier and William Bonner, who were picked up shortly after the shooting and held on suspicion, and George Leventhal, held as a material witness, were taken to the hospital to confront Kenney, but when they arrived, Kenney was dead.

According to the police, the windows of Bonner’s car are missing and there is a bullet hole in the rear mudguard. Police said he told them the hole was made during the summer when shots were fired at him and Pernier. Patrolman William Hall fired six shots at the car from which Kenney was wounded. Chief Lawrence T. Doran of county detectives, said “Kenney told us we had the right men.”

Camden—Three men were arrested for questioning yesterday in connection with the slaying of William Bonner, an alleged beer runner and owner of disorderly houses, who was shot near his home here Sunday night. William Pernier, a close friend of Bonner, was released in $500 bail as a witness. He was shot four years ago in Philadelphia while riding in a taxicab. The others held are James Rodgers, a former boxer, and Thomas Donavan, who lives with him. Rodgers arrested at the scene of the shooting said he did not witness the slaying, but ran to the place when he heard shots.

Slain Racketeer Buried in New Camden Cemetery After Brief Service—No Mass Said at Church

William “Shooey” Bonner, murdered North Camden racketeer, was buried today after simple funeral rites were held at his home, 916 North Front street.

While about 400 morbidly curious persons crowded in front of the small dwelling, Carroll P. Stanton, funeral director, read services over the bier at 11 a. m. Bonner’s widow and five children, and about 50 friends and relatives of the family, attended the services. Interment was in New Camden Cemetery.

An hour before the services, a Courier-Post reporter and a photographer were informed that Bonner’s friends did not want any photos taken of the funeral. They issued a warning that if pictures were taken, they would break the camera and beat the two newspapermen. The police were asked to prevent the taking of a picture.

Although four detectives and five patrolmen had been stationed at and near the house this morning, Sergeant Walter Rowand, of the First Police District, asked headquarters for more men. Five motorcycle cops under Sergeant James Wilson arrived in response to the call. A Pennsylvania car repeatedly circled the block in which the Bonner home is situated, and once parked directly in front of the newspapermen’s car. However, the pictures were taken without event.

Cops Escort Cortege

Two motorcycle policemen led the funeral cortege to the cemetery at 11.15 a. m. Another motorcycle cop and a bandit-chaser brought up the van. Mrs. Bonner was pale but composed as the cortege left the house, but she broke down and cried at the grave.

Rev. Father Thomas J. Whelan, rector of the Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, Fifth and Vine streets, today emphatically stated that no mass was said for Bonner in his church. Father Whelan said no arrangements ever had been made for any mass. In today’s Morning Post it was stated that mass was to be said in Holy Name church, while the burial was taking place. This was printed on information given a Post reporter by a woman at the door of the Bonner home last night. The Courier hereby makes the correction in fairness to Father Whelan and the Holy Name church.

2000 Visit Home

More than 2000 persons visited the Bonner home last night to pay last respects to the slain racketeer and to offer their condolences to his family. At midnight the last of the crowd departed.

Two patrolmen, however, remained on guard at the front of the house, in the faint hope that some person wanted by police in connection with “Shooey’s” death might seek to enter.

But known figures of the underworld were scarce at the Bonner home last night. Aside from a few neighbors and relatives the greater portion of the crowd had never seen in life the man that was Bonner.

Thoroughness Shown

Mute evidence of the thoroughness of the killers who murdered “Shooey” near his home, late Sunday, could be seen as the body lay in its flower-banked casket. Bonner’s closest personal friends expressed the thought that “they would never have known it was ‘Shooey’ lying there” if they hadn’t known what had happened.

Efforts of undertakers to cover the scars of more than 20 machine-gun slugs were successful, but in “making over” the face they left not the slightest resemblance of Bonner’s real countenance.

Those who called to pay respects—or to satisfy curiosity—were greeted at the foot of the bier by James “Jimmy” Rodgers, former pugilist, and William Pernier, both of whom are under bail as material witnesses in the slaying. The two kept the long line constantly moving. They were among the pallbearers today.

‘Sin Sermon’ Opposite

As a strange coincidence of the sombre scene at the Bonner home, special services were held in Gospel Hall, directly across the street, where Herbert Genz, a missionary worker, had as his text the sixth chapter, twenty-third verse, the book of Romans: “The Wages of Sin is Death.”

A large electrified sign bearing that scripture was displayed on the front of the hall.

Acting Sergeant of Detectives John Opfer and Sergeant Albert York were in charge of the police details at the home last night.

Attack in Camden Linked to Vice War; Passerby Is Wounded

Target for a mysterious gunman who stepped from behind a telephone pole at Kaighn ave. and Locust st., Camden, early yesterday morning and fired six shoots [sic], William Pernier, 33, of Liberty st. near 3d, Camden, was wounded in both legs by one of the bullets.

An innocent bystander, Lee Jones, 29, of 420 Lansdowne ave., Camden, who was standing on an opposite corner, also was wounded by one of the ricocheting bullets. He suffered a slight wound in the left leg.

In West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, where both men were taken, Pernier refused to discuss the shooting with police guards who have been stationed at his bedside. Detectives, however, are of the belief that it is another chapter in the vice war that has resulted in a lengthy casualty list in Camden in the past few weeks.

Pernier was walking along Kaighn ave. with his common-law wife, Mary, 30; William Griffee, 44, of Chestnut st. near 7th, Camden, and Louis Bodek, 24, of Sycamore st. near 3d, Camden. As the group neared the telephone pole the unknown gunman stepped out, blazed away and then ran.

Despite his wounds, Pernier pulled out his revolver and fired at the retreating gunman, but with no success. At this point a policeman appeared on the scene. He took Pernier and Jones to the hospital and then took the woman and two other men into custody as material witnesses.

When Pernier is permitted to leave the hospital he will be charged with carrying deadly weapons and discharging firearms. Police also will attempt to tie him up with the vice feud that has been raging in the city.

ONLY 12 MINUTES REQUIRED BY JURY TO REACH VERDICT

Three Cops Tell of Warm Weapon in His Hand in Fight With Enemies

PAL OF SLAIN BONNER

A jury of 12 men after deliberating 12 minutes yesterday convicted William Pernier of carrying a revolver.

The trial of the former pal of William “Shooey” Bonner, slain gangster, was one of the shortest in the history of Camden County Criminal Court. The trial consumed but 25 minutes from the time the jurors were sworn until they were sent out for their deliberation.

Pernier, who is 32, and who gave an address of 293 Liberty street, through his attorney Julius Sklar, offered a defense which Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese termed a “smoke screen.”

After three policemen testified that they found Pernier with a revolver in his hand on the night of Oct. 30, after he had allegedly fired on thugs who shot him at Locust street and Kaighn avenue, Pernier said the weapon was not his.

“I was walking along Kaighn avenue with my wife, Mary, and three men friends,” he said, “when as we reached Locust street, this car pulled along the curb and the occupants fired at me. I was shot in both legs and after shooting me they threw the revolver at me. I picked it up and tried to shoot at them with it, but it would not go off. I never owned a gun.”

Policemen William Whaland, Joseph Lack and Joseph Leonhardt, however, testified that the gun with four empty shells and one cartridge in it, was still warm when they took it from Pernier’s hand.

After the jury announced that they had found Pernier guilty, Palese stated that he would ask for sentence this morning. Judge Samuel M. Shay remanded Pernier to jail without bail pending sentence. He faces a sentence of from three to seven years in prison.

Pal of Shooey Bonner Jailed on Gun-Carrying Charge

Despite his plea that he was still suffering from a gunshot wound received October 30, William Pernier, 32, of 293 Liberty street, was sentenced to serve from two to three years in the state prison for carrying deadly weapons. Pernier’s wife, Edith, screamed and was led from the courtroom when the sentence was pronounced by Judge Samuel M. Shay.

Pernier, former pal of the slain William “Shooey” Bonner, was arrested by three policemen who found him lying wounded and holding a revolver which they said was “still hot” at Locust Street and Kaighn Avenue.

When tried in Criminal Court, Pernier’s defense was that he had been wounded by gunmen and that he had picked up the revolver dropped by one of his assailants. A jury deliberated only 12 minutes before returning a verdict of guilty after a short trial on January 24. Request for postponement of sentence was made at that time by Julius Sklar, Pernier’s attorney.

Judge Shay remanded Pernier to jail to await sentence after setting yesterday as the date when he should learn his fate.