Introduction
By Phil Cohen
Newport Street runs from 1058 Everett Street south to Morton Street.
1500 Block of Newport Street — Occupants
City directory records, 1927–1947.
1507 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927–1940s | Kazimier Janasz & Family (Kazimier & Katarzyna Janasz; Kay Janasz; Stanley 'Ben' Janasz, aka Benny Jones) |
1512 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Community Hall |
| 1947 | Seventh Ward Democratic Association |
1521 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Stanley Blachniak |
1525 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927–1942 | John Zmuda & Family (John & Helen Zmuda; Alvin J. Zmuda; Natalie Zmuda) |
| 1947 | Alvin J. Zmuda & Family (Alvin J. & Eleanor Zmuda) |
1529 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928–1947 | Augustine Fortune & Family |
1531 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Stanislaw Boros (shoe repair) |
1539 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Walter Chojnacka |
1541 Newport Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Edward F. Mazur |
Emerald Club to Hold Dance on Friday Night
Camden Courier-Post —
The Emerald Athletic Association will be host at a dance Friday night in Community Hall, Newport and Everett streets. Dancing will begin at 8.30 p. m. Joseph Natale, chairman, is assisted by Caldo P. Bucci, John Sisini, Dominic Corrado, Harry Powers, Ernest Tartaglia, Neil Sparano, Thomas Scarduzio, Christopher Messaro, Michael Messaro and Richard Scarduzio.
Photos
John Zmuda, WW2 draft card. Zmuda family lived at 1525 Newport Street, 1927–1942.
2 Youths Face Court And Deny Store Murder
Camden Courier-Post —
Makowski and Janasz Indicted in Killing of John W. Cullen
PROSECUTOR WILL ASK FOR DEATH PENALTY
Collingswood Burglar is Named By Grand Jury in Its Report
Two Camden youths, nervous and incoherent in speech under the threat of the electric chair, today stood before Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd in criminal court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering a store manager to get $5 in receipts.
They are John “Fingers” Makowski and Stanley B. Janasz, also known as Benny Jones.
Both were white-lipped as they listened to the grave charges contained in indictments returned by the retiring September Grand Jury yesterday and read in court today by Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese. At the conclusion of the reading, Palese asked them how they would plead.
Neither made answer, and Justice Lloyd then put the question to them. Their answer, made in a low, indistinct voice, was:
“Not guilty.”
State Aid Asked
Janasz is represented by Joseph A. Varbalow, but Makowski has no lawyer. His mother, a widow who has four other children, then made application to Justice Lloyd for the court to appoint counsel for her son at the state’s expense, as she has not the money with which to procure legal defense for him.
Prosecutor Baldwin will place the youths on trial probably in January, when the death penalty will be asked.
They are accused of murdering John William Cullen, 22, of 1088 South Common road, Fairview, manager of an American Store at 1201 Lansdowne avenue, and father of a 13-month-old girl. The shooting occurred at the store on the night of November 28 and Cullen died two days later in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
On the day following the shooting the two captives are alleged to have confessed to the robbery and shooting. When arraigned in police court on atrocious assault and battery charges, they pleaded guilty. Jones admitted it was his gun that fired the fatal shot, but he said it was discharged accidentally.
They are probably two of the youngest defendants in a Camden county murder case in which the electric chair has ever been asked by the state. Jones is 18 and resides at 1509 Newport street, while Makowski is 19 and lives at 1476 Mount Ephraim avenue.
Two Miss Death Sentence by Fraction of Inch; ‘Sheiks’ Confess Shooting Store Manager
Camden Morning Post —
A mere fraction of an inch is all that saved the two “sheik” bandits, who robbed and shot a South Camden chain store manager, from death in the electric chair.
And they are still in the shadow of the “chair” as John Cullen, 22, of 1088 Common road battles for his life on a tiny cot in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
If he dies the prosecutor’s office will undoubtedly ask that the death sentence be imposed for the crime. A state law in New Jersey decrees that all those participating in a robbery or holdup in which an innocent man is killed are equally guilty.
A .32-calibre bullet entered his chest and punctured a lung causing internal hemorrhages, which physicians say may yet cost his life. The bullet passed within a small fraction of an inch of his heart, and missed several arteries that would have caused instant death had they been hit.
The bandits, who at first denied participating in the holdup, are John “Fingers” Makowski, 19, of 1476 Mt. Ephraim avenue and Stanley Jananaz, also known as Benjamin Janasz and Benny Jones, 18, of 1509 Newport street.
Order Safe Opened
They entered the American store at 1201 Lansdowne avenue just as Cullen the manager, and his two clerks were about to close up last Friday. Forcing the clerks into the rear of the store, the bandits ordered Cullen to open the safe.
One of the bandits emptied the cash register of about $5 in change, while the second man kept threatening Cullen with a gun. When he failed to work fast enough the bandit struck him and then attempted to strike him a second time.
Cullen made an attempt to defend himself and the bandit shot him and fled.
The two men were captured more than eight hours after the crime was committed when police took advantage of a “tip” given them by one of the store clerks.
Claims Shot Was Accidental
Although Cullen could not say which of the two had shot him, Janasz, better known as Jones, admitted that he accidentally discharged his revolver and that the bullet struck Cullen as the latter sought to defend himself.