William Thorn
William Thorn
WILLIAM THORN was born in New Jersey on September 19, 1891 to Edward and Lizzie Thorn. His father worked as a bookkeeper. The Thorn family lived at 1106 Locust Street in the late 1880s and early 1890s, but had moved to 1125 Locust Street by the time of the census of 1900. Older siblings, John, Edward, and Mary were also living at this address. By 1910 Edward Thorn had died. Lizzie Thorn and her three sons still lived at 1125 Locust Street. William Thorn was then working as a shipper at the C.B. Coles lumber yard, Front Street and Kaighn Avenue.
William Thorn married Florence Keating around 1913. When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 he was still working at the C.B. Coles business. A daughter, Mary, had been born. The Thorn’s lived at 620 South 4th Street at that time. William Thorn was not called up for military service, possibly because he had taken a job at one of Camden’s shipyards.
When the census was taken in 1920 the Thorns lived at 571 Line Street, the home of John & Florence Keating. Both John Keating and William Thorn were working in a shipyard as shipfitters at this time, as was John Keating Jr.
During the 1920s William Thorn joined the Camden Police Department. In April of 1930, when the next census was enumerated, William and Florence Thorn were still living at 571 Line Street. Father-in-law John Keating had passed by this time. Also at this address were Mrs. Thorn’s mother, brothers John, Edward, and Martin Keating, and sister Mrs. Mary Keating Yeager.
William Thorn was still working for the Camden Police Department in 1947. He was still living at 571 Line Street as late as the fall of 1956. He later moved to 153 Boyd Street. Last a resident of Oaklyn NJ, William Thorn passed away in June of 1967.
Man Jailed as Tipsy After Zigzag Driving
Camden Courier-Post —
Ralph Manna, 24, of 1924 South Eleventh Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to the county jail for 30 days yesterday by Police Judge Pancoast when Manna was unable to pay a fine of $220 for drunken driving.
Manna was arrested early today by Patrolman William Thorn, who testified he pursued Manna from Broadway and Federal Street to the Camden bridge plaza after Manna had refused to stop when he sounded his whistle. Manna’s car was being driven in a zigzag manner on Broadway, Thorn testified.
Dr. Garnett Summerill pronounced Manna intoxicated. Manna entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
Wife Tied in Chair, Periled with Knife
Camden Courier-Post —
Charges Husband Trapped on Pretense of Returning Child
Accused by his wife of binding her to a chair and threatening her life with a knife and with gas, Charles Flippen, 26, of 609 Grant Street, was held without bail for the grand jury by Police Judge Garfield Pancoast yesterday.
Flippen’s wife, Lillian, 24, lives at 1626 Wingohocking Street, Philadelphia. She said the threats took place Saturday afternoon in the third floor front room of a rooming house in Penn Street near Sixth. Patrolmen William Thorn, Walter Patton and Raymond Stark said they found adhesive tape and towel strippings in the room, and took two knives from Flippen.
Kidnapping Charged
Mrs. Flippen said her husband went to California last September, leaving her and their four-and-a-half year old daughter at his mother’s home in Grant Street. She heard nothing from him, she said, and in December she moved with the baby to Philadelphia. Last month, she charged, he returned and kidnapped the child in the street near her home.
On Saturday, she said, she received a telegram from Flippen, telling her he would give her the baby if she would meet him. She met him in Philadelphia and he took her to the Penn Street house, where, he said, his brother was to bring the baby.
They went to a room ostensibly to wait for the brother to bring the baby, she said, and he told her he was going to kill her and himself.
He bound her arms and legs to a chair with adhesive tape and strips from a towel, she said. Then he waved a knife about her head and turned on the illuminating gas, Mrs. Flippen charged.
She pleaded with him and finally induced him to take her to a restaurant, where she whispered to a waitress to call the police, the wife testified in Police Court. The waitress did so, and the police arrived shortly afterward.
Flippen pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening to kill. He did not testify.
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 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.
Gunmen Fire at Saloon, Outrace Police
Camden Morning Post / Camden Courier-Post —
MOTORISTS PUT SHOTS THROUGH SOUTH CAMDEN CAFE WINDOW
Car Sighted by Cops After Attack on ‘Bluch’ Golding’s Place — Turn Out Lights, Speed Off at Order to Halt — Pursuers Send 12 Bullets After Fleeing Machine; May Have Hit One
Occupants of a roadster who are alleged to have fired two shots through a saloon window escaped early today after police fired a dozen shots at the car during a chase of a mile and a half.
Shortly after 1 p.m., Thomas “Bluch” Golding, proprietor of a cafe at 650 Central Avenue, notified police of the attack.
Motorcycle Policemen Frank Guetherman and William Thorn saw the car described by Golding, at Ninth and Ferry Avenue. When the officers ordered the car to halt, its lights were extinguished and it sped away.
The police chased it to Fillmore Street, to Van Hook Street to Fourth Street where it disappeared, amid a barrage of bullets from a pump gun fired by the pursuers.
The car was seen to swerve just before it disappeared and police believe the driver may have been struck.
Camden Bridge police were notified to watch for the car, which bore a Camden county license.
Golding is a well known Eighth Ward politician. He could give no reason for the attack.
3 From Camden Go to Cop Convention
Camden Courier-Post —
Bott, Thorn, Mardino Are Benevolent Group Envoys to Shore
To Represent Camden Cops
Three delegates from Camden will leave tonight or early tomorrow for the thirty-fifth annual convention of the New Jersey State Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in Atlantic City. They are Patrolmen Herbert Bott, William Thorn and Joseph Mardino.
Mardino is serving his seventh term as state delegate, and is unopposed for re-election. The Camden delegates will try to bring next year’s convention here. They represent 230 members of the association.
The convention will open tomorrow with memorial services for deceased members, and one of those to be honored is Detective William T. Feitz, Jr., who was slain by gunmen when he entered a disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street at 2 a.m. last Sunday. He was the first Camden policeman murdered in line of duty.
The association comprises 87 locals with a total membership of approximately 8000. Harry B. Gourley, of Paterson, president, will rule over the sessions in the Madison Hotel. He is unopposed for his fifth term.
Patrolman Harry Lincoln, of Gloucester, is unopposed for his fourth term as state trustee.
Ten Retired Camden Policemen Praised, Receive Gold Badges
Camden Courier-Post —
At Benevolent Group Dinner:
By James M. Neville
Ten retired members of the Camden Police Department answered their last roll call Tuesday night.
They received gold retirement badges and lifelong membership cards in the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association at the second annual dinner of Local 35 in Kenney’s.
Their ages ranged from 52 to 65 and collectively they represented a total of 327 years of service to the city.
“You have put aside badges and clubs and now the new men can take over,” commented guest speaker County Judge Anthony C. Mitchell.
Lauded By Judge
“You can go home tonight and look in the mirror and say: ‘I wasn’t the worst cop in the world,’ for some of you are among the finest men we’ve had in the department over the years. You deserve your reward of retirement now,” the judge said.
E. George Aaron, commissioner of police, who was toastmaster, said some of the retiring men being honored by more than 125 members and guests “have given good and long service.”
“I’ve worked with them and I’ve lived with them,” continued Aaron.
“We have one of the finest and hardest working police departments in the state or anywhere. I even think the public is now aware of that, with a new respect for the policeman today.”
Retiring Officers
Those retiring in the year 1957–58 are:
Insp. Walter E. Rewand, with 41 years; Det. Harry Kyler Sr., 35; Sgt. John Stanton, 35; Det. Benjamin Simon, 34; Ptl. Samuel Corsella, 32; Sgt. Karl Friedrichs, 31; Insp. Thomas P. Murphy, 30; Det. Marshall Thompson, 30; Det. Sgt. Clifford Carr, 30, and Ptl. William Thorn, 29.
Insp. Anthony Skolski, in charge of the patrol division, was also presented with a gold card in a leather case for outstanding service, along with a lifelong membership.
Sgt. Joseph Hooven was given a silver card and lifelong membership for outstanding work. Hooven is in charge of auto investigation division.
Juvenile Problem
In lauding the hard tasks confronting the policeman of today, both Judge Mitchell and Commissioner Aaron rapped the soft attitude of the public toward juveniles who consistently break the law.
“Unfortunately everybody is worried about the juveniles,” Judge Mitchell said.
“We are not worried, as we should be, about the man who has his car stolen, his purse robbed, his daughter molested.
“Instead, everybody’s worried about poor little Johnny, who’s always in trouble with the police.
“Sometimes you have to struggle just to keep your hands off Johnny. You even feel like doing what his father should have done.
“The ability of today’s patrolman to hold within the line of duty, keep his hands off, hold his patience with little Johnny, is commendable.”
Law Change Urged
“What Judge Mitchell has said is important to you policemen,” said Aaron. “Before I entered police work I considered myself something of a reformer. But ever since I came up against these youngsters who don’t mind breaking the law, I’ve found it very disturbing.
“I’d like to see the Legislature pass a law reducing the age from 18 to 16.
“I have no quarrel with arguments about broken homes and other causes for misbehavior, but we must see to it that these youngsters do not do more damage.”
The commissioner pointed out that only two percent of the youth in the nation can be classified as delinquent.
‘But that adds up to a considerable number when you figure it out,’ he stated. “Besides, we have first-hand evidence that these youngsters can be real nasty. Some are sadistic and cruel to a point that few adults realize.
Defiance Shown
“When taken into custody, these youngsters know that nothing is going to happen to them, which doesn’t make the job of the policeman any easier.
“It seems to me that a lot of these youngsters must be taught they can’t do wrong before 18 years of age and get away with it.”
Second Vice President Mike Lombardi, of Maple Shade, informed the membership that plans are underway to present a bill in the Legislature which will provide policemen with three-fourths full pay, instead of one-half, for 20 years service.
Other speakers included Sen. Joseph W. Cowgill who said he would vote for any legislation favoring policemen.
“I have always and will always support any legislation which is reasonable,” he added.
“The Camden police department has lost much in the retirement of these 10 good men.”
Wm. Thorn, Patrolman, Dies at 75
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral services for William Thorn, 75, a patrolman retired from the Camden police force after 29 years service, will be Thursday.
Mr. Thorn, who formerly lived at 153 Boyd Street, died Saturday in Laurelview Convalescent Center, Pennsauken.
He was a member of the Police Benevolent Association and the East End Republican League, 12th Ward.
He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Mary Capaldi of Woodlynne; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. in the David F. Harrigan Funeral Home, 1451 Broadway, where friends may call tomorrow night. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
2 Runaway Horses Imperil Children
Camden Courier-Post —
Gallopers Stage Impromptu Race in South Camden Traffic
Scores of children on their way to school were endangered yesterday when two horses hitched to a bakery wagon ran away in South Camden streets, ignoring red traffic lights and shouts of pedestrians and motorists.
A horse hitched to a wagon of the Seven Brothers Bakery, 322 Pine street, broke loose from its wagon at Third and Berkley streets when it was frightened by a truck, according to Joseph Cirelli, Second and Washington streets, the wagon driver. The animal raced east in Berkley street to West street, where it collided with an automobile. Despite numerous cuts and bruises, the horse continued its dash eastward.
At the headquarters of Freihofer Bakery Company, Fifth and Berkley streets, where several bakery wagons were being loaded, the runaway animal frightened the horses of the company, and one bolted.
Both horses crossed Broadway, demoralizing traffic and sending scores of children running in all directions to escape the menace of flying hoofs and a careening wagon.
At the railroad tracks, the bakery wagon and one horse was [sic] captured.
The other horse turned north in Sixth street, pursued by Motorcycle Policeman William Thorn.
Thorn overtook the horse and brought it to a stop at Sixth and Stevens streets, opposite Cooper Hospital. The animal was taken to the city stables at Federal street and Admiral Wilson boulevard, where it was later claimed by the driver.