Introduction
Sycamore Street is another of Camden's “tree” streets, running east from Front Street to Haddon Avenue. At different times Sycamore Street intersections at 7th, 8th, and Louis Streets were hubs of Camden's African-American, Jewish, and Polish communities.
100 Block of Sycamore Street
From 1890 to 1922 this block was known as Cox Street.
Liberty Street Suspect Held as Aide of Yegg Who Says He Acted Alone
Believed by detectives to have been an accomplice in the holdup of a watchman at the automobile showrooms of Watson Shallcross at 1721 Haddon avenue Monday night, a 22-year-old youth was arrested last night “on suspicion.”
Harry Hartman, 324 Liberty street, is the new prisoner. Detectives are continuing their investigation which has caused Police Judge Bertman to hold John Burke, 34 years old, 116 Sycamore street, in $5000 bail for the grand jury.
Hartman was arrested by Policeman Stanley Wertz [sic] at Fourth and Mechanic streets at 8 o’clock last night.
Burke is alleged to have confessed holding up, binding and gagging Frank Longacre, watchman who told the police three men attacked him. Police said yesterday that Burke had said repeatedly that he was alone when he entered the automobile showrooms.
Burke was arrested after detectives found a coat belonging to him which had been left in the garage. According to police, Burke admitted that he tried to open the safe in the showrooms but was frightened away when he thought he heard someone trying to open a door.
141 Sycamore Street — 1933 Sherman Butler
Baby’s Back Injured By Father’s Auto: Howard Butler, 2-1/2, of 141 Sycamore Street, suffered a possible broken back last night when he was struck by the car of his father, Sherman Butler, 33, in front of his home. Butler told police he was backing the car at the curb. He felt a jar, and looking back, saw his son under the left rear wheel. He took him to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Camden Courier-Post, June 29, 1933.
100 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
From 1890 to 1922 this block was known as Cox Street.
141 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Sherman Butler |
100 & 200 Blocks of Sycamore Street — Sanborn Map
Sanborn Map showing the 100 and 200 blocks of Sycamore Street. North side of Kaighn Avenue at South 2nd Street. Last edited 1963.
Intersection of South 2nd Street & Sycamore Street
South 2nd Street from Chestnut Street to Mechanic Street — circa 1930.
12 Questioned, 2 Men Held in Murder Probe
Camden Evening Courier —
COLSEY LEADS CITY-WIDE HUNT FOR BANDIT KILLERS OF COP
Comrades Eager to Avenge Feitz, Shot 4 Times in Back at Holdup
ORLANDO CONDUCTS OWN INVESTIGATION
Mad Scramble of 20 to Escape Tragedy Scene Described by Sleuth
The greatest man-hunt in the history of the Camden police department was under way today to apprehend the murderers of Detective William T. Feitz, slain early yesterday when he surprised bandits holding up 20 persons in a South Camden disorderly house.
Feitz, recently promoted from a patrolman, was shot four times in the back as he attempted to reach the front door of the establishment at 243 Sycamore street to summon aid.
Police today said they “had a pretty good idea” as to the identity of his slayers, although none has been charged with the crime.
A “mystery blonde” was arrested in the case early today in Atlantic City by Detective Stanley Wertz [sic]. Police refused to reveal her name and will not allow anyone to talk to her.
A man, first believed to have been the trigger-man, arrested in Philadelphia early today, was released by police after a few minutes’ questioning.
Two men are being held “incommunicado” in connection with the case, while a dozen material witnesses were being questioned at detective headquarters.
Probe Rushed
The investigation into the shooting, begun within a few minutes of the slaying continued throughout the day and night without a break.
Police Chief Arthur Colsey took personal command of the probe with Detective Lieut. George Ward and Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner.
Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, who “sat in” yesterday as police questioned a score of witnesses, stated this morning he will open his own investigation today. He intimated “new developments” may throw a startling light on the case.
Feitz’ slayers escaped as 20 inmates and frequenters of the alleged disorderly house scrambled mainly for freedom beneath the eyes of Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt, who sat outside the place in a police radio car.
Leonhardt told his superiors he was so startled by the shooting he failed to act until after the slayers had escaped.
Feitz and Leonhardt had driven to the scene in the radio car, after trailing a suspicious sedan for 15 minutes through a maze of South Camden streets.
Followed 3 Men
The sedan had stopped near the Sycamore street place and three of the men had entered the dwelling. Feitz followed and Leonhardt remained in the car.
Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, alleged proprietress of the house, and Cornelius Murphy, 50, doorkeeper, headed a list of 14 witnesses held by police for questioning or as material witnesses.
Murphy was booked early today as a material witness, with Thomas Bonelli, 27, of 207 Walnut street; Edward Grapatin, 32, of 246 Kaighn avenue; Joseph McKenna, 30, and Catherine Lougheed, 32, an inmate, and Edith Miller and Edna Butler, colored domestics employed by Mrs. Heisler.
Joseph Powell, 25, former Camden boxer, and Stanley, his brother, were the two men held incommunicado. Police refused to reveal what connection either had with the murder, although stating they were merely being held pending investigation.
Feitz died five minutes after being admitted to West Jersey Homeopathic hospital, where he was taken by Leonardt [sic] and McKenna, who stopped in his flight from the house to assist the wounded policeman. Three .32-calibre slugs were buried in his back and a fourth had pierced his wrist.
Lieutenant Ward today clamped down on news of the investigation, ordering all detectives and police to refuse information to news reporters.
Orlando said he would make known facts in the case known to him later today.
The Heisler woman, said by police to be the sister-in-law of Patrolman Thomas Cheeseman, recently demoted city detective, was not booked on the police docket this morning, but Ward declared he was not through questioning her and that she would be “booked” later in the day.
Several of the witnesses made their escape from the vicinity of the shooting in Powell’s car, police stated, one of whom was the mysterious woman arrested early today in Atlantic City.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd last night declared the case would be investigated by the September Grand Jury. It will not, he said, assume more importance in that body’s deliberations than the numbers racket.
Note Lack of Noise
Investigators were at a loss to understand why Feitz and Leonhardt, seated in an automobile on a quiet side street within 20 feet of where a holdup was taking place, did not hear any accompanying sounds. The belief was expressed that 20 men and women, being robbed, would become hysterical and noisy. The Sycamore street house is a ramshackle, two-story structure, with no vestibule leading into the parlor. There is no porch.
Powell drove first to the Lougheed woman’s home, where Mrs. Heisler, the Lougheed woman and Grapatin alighted. He then drove to Atlantic City with the unidentified girl, he said.
Police, advised of Powell’s presence in the house, dispatched the license number of his green sedan over the police teletype system.
Powell was apprehended at Folsom, 40 miles from Camden, as he was returning to Camden from Atlantic City. Sergeant Albert T. Varreiman of the Mt. Ephraim state police barracks stopped Powell’s machine and took him into custody. Powell was alone.
Feitz’s murder was a climax to half an hour’s scrutiny by him and Leonhardt into the suspicious actions of the four bandits. A car in which they were riding was sighted in the neighborhood by the two detectives at 2 a. m.
Trailed Car Fifteen Minutes
They trailed it in their police car for 15 minutes, as it wound through the narrow streets, repeatedly passing the Sycamore street house. Finally, the detectives saw the bandits park their machine on Locust street. Three of them emerged, walked down Sycamore street, and entered the house.
According to Leonhardt, neither he nor Feitz obtained the license number of the bandit car.
Upon seeing them enter the place, Leonhardt drove the police car around the block and stopped in front of the house.
Feitz and Leonhardt sat outside in their machine for 15 minutes. Finally, Leonhardt said, Feitz opened the door and stepped to the sidewalk.
“I’m going in there and see what’s going on,” he said.
Turning, he walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Leonhardt said the door was opened after a short pause, and Feitz entered. The door was closed.
Hears Bandits’ Guns
Almost immediately, Leonhardt heard the muffled roar of the bandits’ revolvers. Feitz’s body came flying through the door. Pandemonium followed. As the persons in the house fled, neighbors came to doors and windows. Almost immediately, the street was filled.
Leonhardt was so shocked he was unable to drive. An unnamed witness drove the police car with Feitz’s body in it to the hospital.
Prosecutor Orlando indicated his office will step into the probe today.
Shooting Reconstructed
With the aid of witnesses, police yesterday were able to reconstruct the shooting.
“Feitz walked into the house just as the three bandits were holding up the inmates,” Detective Gus Koerner said.
“Witnesses say that when the doorbell rang, the three bandits conferred briefly and decided to admit whoever was at the door. They thought it was another frequenter.
“’Let him in; we’ll take his money too,’ one of the witnesses said a bandit ordered.
One of the bandits went to the door, opened it and admitted Feitz. The detective took five steps into the living room, pausing at the door of the dining room, where he was recognized by a bandit who was frisking the inmates.
“This bandit shouted: ‘It’s a dick; let ‘im have it!’”
Shot in Back
As Feitz reached for his revolver, the man who had admitted him shot him in the back. Feitz attempted to reach the front door, apparently to call Leonhardt, and three more slugs tore into his body.
“It is not known whether the shooting was done by only one of the bandits, or whether all three fired. We do not know whether Feitz opened the front door himself and fell to the street; whether he fell through the glass, or whether the bandits opened the door and pushed him to the street.
“The glass in the front door was broken later by police, who struck it with their blackjacks in order to gain admittance. Leonhardt told me he is unable to clear up this point as everything happened too quickly.
“He said he suddenly heard shots, and a moment later, saw Feitz’ body on the pavement.”
One of the bandit’s bullets went wild, imbedding itself in the wall near the front door. It was fired from the dining room. Ballistics tests will be made of the bullet.
City-wide Raids Follow
Under the direction of Detective Lieut. George Ward, Camden was subjected yesterday and last night to a fine tooth-combing for suspects. All police leaves were cancelled, and all patrolmen volunteered to do active duty until some results of the probe are forthcoming.
A series of raids on known disorderly houses resulted last night in the arrests of more than 20 persons all of whom were taken to police headquarters and lined up for the perusal of witnesses. It was not known whether this scrutiny brought results.
Chief Colsey declared last night the murder will be the signal for an intensive “cleanup” of the city. Policemen in patrol cars were dispatched on prowl duty, ordered to pick up everyone of a suspicious nature.
City officials and citizens voiced their regrets at the killing. Feitz was the father of two children, a boy and a girl. Their names could not be obtained last night. He was estranged from his wife, who resides in Cape May with the children.
Woman Questioned
Mrs. Heisler, regarded by police as a key witness, was questioned several hours in detective headquarters by Chief Colsey, Ward, Orlando and Koerner. The officers refused to disclose the results of the quiz.
No adequate description of the bandits could be furnished by any of the witnesses, Koerner said. Two were described as being of average height, one taller. Two were dark, the third blond.
None of the three was masked. Each was armed.
Mrs. Heisler and Murphy were held without bail as material witnesses. Powell, accompanied by Camden detectives, left for Atlantic City to show them where he dropped off the unidentified girl inmate of the house. They had not returned at a late hour last night.
According to Murphy, two of the bandits previously had visited the house as patrons, and at one time attempted to “shake down” Mrs. Heisler. She resisted their demands, Murphy declared.
Other persons arrested as material witnesses who, after hours of questioning were released in their own recognizance, include:
Frank Adams, 21, of 938 Atlantic avenue; Joseph MacDonald, 20, of 1605 South Sixth street; Henry Gorba, 19, of 17 North Twenty-first street and Edward McKenna, 31, of 1304 Broadway.
Edith Miller, 28, colored, of 205 Sycamore street, and Edna Butler, 32, also colored, 1122 South Second street, also were arrested and held as witnesses. They are inmates of the house, Koerner said.
Police said the bandits, in their search for booty, forced their victims to remove their shoes during the holdup to ascertain whether they were concealing any money. Only $8 was taken.
An autopsy performed on Feitz’ body yesterday by Coroner Arthur H. Holl and County Physician Edward B. Rogers showed that two of the bullets had penetrated the detective’s body. Coroner Holl, in whose undertaking establishment the detective’s body lay last night, declared death was virtually instant.
Chief Colsey last night denied Feitz and Leonhardt were acting under orders to watch the Sycamore street house.
“There have been general orders out to clean up all disorderly houses for a long time,” Colsey said. “I imagine the detectives were more interested in what the four men were doing than they were in the house. I talked at great length with Leonhardt and he told me neither he nor Feitz knew the place was a disorderly house.”
Leonhardt could not be reached last night to give his version of the affair. Colsey said Leonhardt was taking an active part in police efforts to solve the crime.
“If I had known the house in Sycamore street was a disorderly house,” Colsey said, “I would of course have ordered it raided long ago.”
Feitz and Leonhardt were assigned to detective duty from the uniformed ranks last week, replacing former Detectives Thomas Cheeseman and Vernon Jones, who are now reduced to rank of patrolmen.
Chief Colsey said the reason Cheeseman and Jones were reduced was “merely for the good of the department.” He would not amplify that statement.
According to Detective Rox Saponare, Cheeseman is the brother-in-law of Mrs. Heisler, charged with operating the house. Cheeseman, also active in the investigation of the killing, could not be reached last night to comment.
Commended for Bravery
Feitz was appointed to the police force March 1, 1928. He was appointed to the detective bureau last week by Mayor Roy R. Stewart. In 1931, Feitz was commended for bravery in arresting three men in a holdup at a chain grocery store at Locust street and Kaighn avenue.
Last week, the same store was robbed, and Feitz arrested three other men for the theft.
Leonhardt, 39, resides at 512 Division street. The last arrest he made in company with Feitz was at 12.45 a. m. the morning of Feitz’ death. The officers nabbed Cecilia Spencer, 28, colored, at 806 Locust street, a block from the Sycamore street house, on charges of soliciting.
Chief Colsey and other city officials reached Feitz’ bedside in the hospital too late to see him alive. The officer died without regaining consciousness. Funeral arrangements were not completed last night.
Before the estrangement from his wife two years ago, Feitz lived with her and their children at 1062 Langham avenue. He resided recently at the Liberty street address with his widowed mother, Mrs. Pauline Feitz, who last night was prostrated at the news of her son’s death.
Chief Colsey last night absolved Leonhardt of any negligence in not chasing the killers. The police chief declared Leonhardt’s first duty was to look to the condition of Feitz.
Chief Colsey said Mayor Stewart, vacationing in Ocean City, will not return until tomorrow morning. Any investigation into possible negligence on the part of police in permitting the Sycamore street house to operate will be conducted after the mayor returns, Colsey said.
“I consider it more important at this time to lend all our efforts toward solving the crime rather than in conducting any side-bar probe into the question of negligence by any policemen,” Colsey said.
Lieut. Bakley and 11 Police Suspended in Feitz Inquiry
Camden Evening Courier —
3 Sergeants Included in List Set Down by Chief Colsey
JUSTICE LLOYD JOINS PROBE INTO MURDER
Chief of Police Arthur Colsey at noon today announced the indefinite suspension of Lieut. Ralph Bakley, commander of the Second district of Camden police, and 11 other policemen in connection with the investigation into the killing of Detective William T. Feitz.
The full list of those suspended is as follows:
Lieut. Ralph Bakley, Sergt. John Garrity, Sergt. Walter Mattison, Acting Sergt. Edward Leonard, Sergt. Richard Cornog, Policemen George Weber, Joseph Leonhardt, Leon Branch, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmont [sic], John Houston and Vernon Jones.
Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd today entered the investigation into the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz in an alleged South Camden disorderly house Sept. 2.
The jurist, upon returning from his Summer vacation at Seaside Park, called an immediate conference with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando of Camden county and Police Chief Arthur Colsey of this city.
Although no confirmation could be obtained officially, it was learned from authoritative sources that Justice Lloyd would take up the charges made earlier in the week by Prosecutor Orlando that graft and corruption exist in the Camden police.
May Probe Suicide
The jurist was also expected to delve into the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, alleged operator of the disorderly house where Feitz met his death at 243 Sycamore street.
Mrs. Heisler, who was detained in the Camden detective bureau at the order of Detective Lieutenant George Ward instead of being locked in a cell, jumped from the fifth floor window of Ward’s office September 4 while two detectives assigned to guard her were nearby.
The progress of the police investigation into the killing of Feitz, whom police declare was shot when he surprised three bandits in the act of holding up 20 inmates and patrons, will be presented by both Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey.
Mickey Blair to Give Up
Mickey Blair, boxer whose real name is Michael Tenerelli, 25, who has been living in New York City, but whose Camden address is 833 South Fourth street, is to be surrendered to Camden police for questioning in connection with the murder of Feitz.
He has been sought by detectives for grilling since a few hours after the shooting of Feitz.
His attorney, Edward V. Martino, of 540 Cooper street, notified Chief Colsey today that he would surrender Tenerelli or Blair to the police in his office at 1 p.m.
“Mickey knows absolutely nothing about the killing of Feitz,” Martino told newspapermen. “Learning through a friend that police were seeking him for questioning, he called me Saturday night and asked me to ascertain the facts.”
“I learned that police wanted to talk to him and telephoned him to that effect in New York City where he has been staying for the past few weeks. He later called me back and told me that he would be in Camden at 1 p.m. today.”
‘Attended Funeral’
Martino revealed that Tenerelli or Blair said he had been in Camden prior to the killing of Feitz and also on Labor Day, the day following the shooting of the detective. He was here to attend the funeral of a brother-in-law, Martino said.
Neither Chief Colsey or other police or detective officials would comment upon what they hoped to learn from Tenerelli that might bring an early solution of the murder and lead to the arrest of the killers.
Prosecutor Orlando at the conference with Justice Lloyd in his City Hall-Court House offices, was to present a complete report on the murder of the detective together with statements obtained from all persons who figured in the crime.
Will Probe Numbers
Prosecutor Orlando stepped in and assumed nominal charge of the investigation last Thursday when he ordered police to submit to him all reports and statements of witnesses. However it was learned that the police are still directing the search for the killers.
The conference between Justice Lloyd, Prosecutor Orlando and Chief Colsey comes on the eve of swearing in the September Grand Jury tomorrow at which time the grand jurors wil [sic] be ordered among other issues, to probe into the “numbers” racket in Camden county.
Grand Jury Vice Probe to Be Ordered by Lloyd; Stewart Quizzes Cops
Camden Evening Courier —
FEITZ MURDER, CITY GRAFTING TO FACE INQUIRY
Action Follows Parley With Orlando and Mayor on Conditions
MORE SUSPENSIONS OF POLICE INTIMATED
Mickey Blair Quizzed on Detective’s Killing; Stewart Warns, ‘Clean Up’
Questioned in Feitz Murder
Michael Tenerelli, 25, known in pugilistic circles as Mickey Blair, is shown above during a lull in the questioning by detectives investigating the murder of District Detective William Feitz. Tenerelli surrendered to police yesterday and on order of Prosecutor Orlando was held without bail on charges of being a material witness and with conspiracy in a robbery in connection with the holdup in progress in the South Camden alleged disorderly house at the time Feitz was shot.
Ward Reported on Way Out as Detective Chief
Reports around Camden police and detective headquarters today were to the effect that Lieutenant George Ward was on “his way out” as head of the Detective Bureau.
Dissatisfaction with the manner in which both police and detectives have handled the investigation so far into the Feitz murder will result in Mayor Stewart, director of public safety, ordering a change in detective chiefs today, it was authoritatively learned.
Lieutenant Herbert Anderson, commander of the First Police District, will succeed Lieutenant Ward as it was reported, the latter being sent back to that police precinct which he formerly commanded.
“A sweeping investigation of all phases of “crime” in Camden County, will be the first order given the new September Grand Jury today after it is sworn in at Camden Courthouse by Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd.
That was the decision reached by Justice Lloyd after three hours of separate conferences with Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando, of Camden County, and Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of public safety. During the conferences held in Justice Lloyd’s offices at City Hall-Courthouse, the murder of District Detective William T. Feitz, alleged graft and corruption in the Camden police department and protected vice were thoroughly discussed.
Today, Mayor Stewart, who has inaugurated his own personal investigation of existing conditions in the police department, continued to question and take statements from police officials, patrolmen and detectives. Twenty-three patrolmen and detectives were ordered before the mayor yesterday in addition to the 12 others who were indefinitely suspended by order of Police Chief Arthur Colsey.
Tenerelli Quizzed
Michael Tenerelli, 25, also known as Mickey Blair, former Camden lightweight boxer, was still being questioned at police headquarters in connection with the murder of Detective Feitz. Tenerelli who surrendered to police here yesterday after returning from New York, is booked as a material witness and on a charge of conspiracy in a robbery. Both charges were ordered placed against Tenerelli by Prosecutor Orlando who has assumed direct charge of the investigation. He is being held without bail.
Seven other men and women taken into custody by police after the shooting of Feitz in the alleged disorderly house operated by the late Mrs. Emma Heisler at 243 Sycamore street, were to have been arraigned in Camden Police Court today on orders of Prosecutor Orlando and then turned over to the county authorities. Bail, Prosecutor Orlando declared, would be “sufficiently high” to insure their later appearances when wanted.
However there were no appearances of material witnesses or others in the Feitz investigation before Judge J. Harry Switzer in Camden Police Court during its session today and it was unofficially reported that the prosecutor had changed his plans.
Police Chief Colsey warned all detectives and patrolmen in the department that further suspensions will follow justified complaints of vice anywhere in the city limits if it can be traced to police neglect.
Chief Colsey also admitted that the 12 patrolmen and detectives suspended yesterday on his orders, will receive no pay as long as their suspensions last.
In addition to Lieutenant Bakley, Sergeant Cornog and Acting Sergeant Leonard, the others suspended include Sergeant Walter Mattison of police headquarters; Sergeant John Garrity, District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was with Feitz when he was shot; Patrolmen Leon Branch, George Weber, Thomas Cheeseman, Frank Wilmot, John Houston and Vernon Jones, all attached to the Second district station.
Interviews Police
Three of the suspended officers, Mayor Stewart revealed, were among those interrogated yesterday. They are Lieut. Ralph A. Bakley, commander of the Second Police District or Division “H” in which territory the alleged disorderly house existed where Feitz was fatally shot; Sergeant Richard Cornog and Acting [lines between the bottom of crop 15 and the top of crop 16 are not captured in the scanned crops]
Edwin Andrews, Winslow township; Joseph Dougherty, 140 Prospect avenue, Merchantville.
William Tomlinson, Glendale, Voorhees township; Edmund S. Stafford, 546 Stevens street; Harry Buffington, 123 East Clinton avenue, Oaklyn; Samuel A. Dobbins, 2599 Baird boulevard; Charles H. Thatcher, 129 Kendall boulevard, Oaklyn; Richard S. Thompson, East Zane avenue, Collingswood; Benjamin F. Stemmer, 420 Third Avenue, Haddon Heights; Horace J. Harvey, 721 Amherst avenue, Audubon; H. B. Cox, Evesham avenue, Voorhees township; Dr. Walter F. Wood, Collingswood; John W. Underwood, 801 Cumberland street, Gloucester; Clarence Alloway, Blackwood; Charles A. McWilliams, Blackwood; Louis G. Clark, Barrington; Albert J. Cline, 18 East Crystal Lake avenue, Westmont; Robert Bushbeck, First avenue, Pine Hill, Harry Burkhardt, Bell road, Mt. Ephraim; George T. Schuster, 223 Woodland terrace, Collingswood; Chesley L. Hutchins, 711 Market street, Gloucester and Otto Vierling, Evergreen avenue, Runnemede.
The order of Justice Lloyd for a wide grand jury probe of crime follows upon a decision he made 10 days ago to have the same body open an investigation into the “numbers” racket in Camden city and county. At that time he declared he did not believe any graft or corruption existed in the Camden police department in connection with the operation of the lottery game here.
Tenerelli was identified, Colsey said, as a frequenter of Mrs. Emma Heisler’s disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street, where Feitz was killed, and was booked as a material witness in the Feitz murder, and on a charge of “shaking down” Mrs. Heisler by force, prior to the murder.
Unlike Mrs. Heisler, who leaped to her death after 60 hours freedom in the detective bureau, Blair was slapped without bail into the “cold storage” or incommunicado cell in the bureau.
Blair, after surrendering to Colsey, was sent to the “downstairs” jail and kept there until about 4 p. m. yesterday. Then he was questioned for an hour and a half by Prosecutor Orlando and Colsey.
Blair denied all knowledge of the murder, Colsey said, after the grilling ceased, but added that two inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s house, whom he would not identify, named Blair as one of several men who had come several times to Mrs. Heisler’s place, attempted to extort money from her and, failing, had “held up the place” or a “shakedown.”
This coincided with the statement of Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner, on the day Feitz was killed, that the place had been held up several times, and Mrs. Heisler, because of the nature of her occupation, would not report the holdups.
Prosecutor Orlando, subsequently, had stated that Feitz met death in an attempt to block a “shake-down” holdup of the place.
Boxer Is Identified
Both the inmates of Mrs. Heisler’s place, held incommunicado, looked at Blair in the new detective bureau “lineup” room and identified him as a shakedown visitor, but said he was not in the house on the night of the murder, Colsey said.
The chief then was asked if he believes friends of Blair staged the fatal shake-down and killed Feitz, and replied:
“That’s what we want to know. We don’t know yet. But we are getting somewhere and will solve this case.”
The two inmates of the Heisler house were brought back to the lineup room a second time, took another look at Blair through the screen that made him a “high-lighted” figure and prevented him from seeing them and reaffirmed their previous statements, Colsey said.
Upon the suspension of the twelve members of the force and the installation of a new acting second district commander and new acting sergeants to relieve those suspended, Chief Colsey said he issued the following order to the entire department:
Calls for Cleanup
“All vice must be eliminated absolutely and entirely in Camden. This means all types of vice, including the numbers racket, gambling houses, disorderly houses, horse-race bookmaking speakeasies and everything else though it may not be specifically enumerated here.
“In the future if any complaint of vice comes in, and is proved to be justified, and is attributable to negligence on the part of any patrolmen of police officer [sic], immediate suspension of the negligent members of the force will follow without exception.”
Chief Colsey also said he will recommend that bail of $2000 be set in all numbers racket cases in future, and that all arrested be held for grand jury action, except in cases where innocent players are brought in.
‘Prompted by Facts’
In making public the suspensions of the policemen, Chief Colsey said his action was “prompted by facts” uncovered during the course of his investigation.
In announcing the taking over of the murder investigation, Prosecutor Orlando said:
“As a result of my conference with Justice Lloyd it has been decided that the prosecutor’s office from this time on will take charge of the murder investigation.
“In doing so, however, it does not mean that the city police will cease acting in the matter and will act with just as much zeal as is within their command in bringing about the apprehension of those responsible.
“This investigation has been taken over by this office by reason of the policy assumed in other murder investigations. Hereafter all murder investigations in Camden county will be under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office and at the same time through co-ordinated efforts of this office and the police department of the particular community where the murder takes place.
“As far as developments are concerned, there is nothing new in the case except the arrest of Mickey Blair, who was surrendered by his counsel and who is in the custody of the police until he is committed.”
Lieutenant Walter Welch in command of the Third Police District was assigned by Chief Colsey to replace Lieutenant Bakley and make the suspensions of all sergeants and patrolmen in that precinct effective immediately. Sergeant John Potter of the Third District was named an acting lieutenant to replace Lieutenant Welch as commander of that precinct.
Welch said he will instruct every policeman under his new command that he must work in harmony with earnest efforts to stamp out vice.
“If they do not do this,” Welch said, “I do not want them. They will be of no use to me. They know what to expect if they fail to cooperate. My efforts will be directed to maintaining order without vice in the Second district, just as I have done in the Third.”
Tenth Arrest Made Here in Numbers Quiz
Camden Courier-Post —
1 ADMITS GUILT AND POLICE SAY LINKS OTHERS
Klosterman Named by Man Found With Slips on Him After Arrest
3 BIG BANKS INVOLVED IN MOVE TO CLEAN UP
Others Must Face Trial; More Arraigned and Bonds Fixed By Court — Campaign Against Writers Pushed With Feitz Probe — ALLEGED ‘BARON’ IS HELD IN BAIL — Mayor Pledges Aid of Camden Cops to State on Illicit Liquor
Arrests in the numbers racket in Camden continued today simultaneously with the continuation of the inquiry into the murder of City Detective William T. Feitz Jr.
With the Feitz slaying probe in its eleventh day—the detective was slain September 2 at 243 Sycamore Street, an alleged disorderly house—city and county authorities were still questioning witnesses in an endeavor to obtain sufficient evidence to name the murderer or murderers.
The arrest this morning of Crawford Smith, 51, of 702 Carman Street, as a numbers writer, brought the total of those apprehended this week in the numbers racket to 10.
At the same time Police Judge J. Harry Switzer held Fred Klosterman, 33, of 1050 Mechanic Street, in $5000 bail for the grand jury on a charge of operating a numbers game.
Klosterman’s brother, Joseph Klosterman, 35, of 1400 Mechanic Street, was released in $3000 bail yesterday by Judge Switzer on a charge of operating a numbers lottery.
The Klostermans, according to police, are among the topnotch numbers barons of the city. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
No Testimony Taken
Fred Klosterman surrendered voluntarily yesterday afternoon when he learned that police were seeking him as an alleged numbers operator.
He was arraigned in police court today on complaint of George Zeitz, a city detective, who charged him with operating a numbers game. Police did not reveal where Fred Klosterman allegedly operated.
There was no testimony taken at the hearing of Fred Klosterman. His bail bond was signed by John Zubien. Police say they do not know Zubien’s address. Mrs. Anna Bubnoski, of 1426 Mount Ephraim Avenue, posted the $3000 bail for Joseph Klosterman. Zeitz also had made complaint against him.
Fred Klosterman surrendered yesterday, according to police, after a defendant in police court testified that he was employed at an alleged numbers bank operated by Fred Klosterman. Zeitz swore to a warrant for Fred Klosterman’s arrest based on the police information, he said.
Hearing Tomorrow
Smith, who was arrested by George Clayton, a policeman, will be given a hearing in police court tomorrow as an alleged numbers writer.
Meanwhile no disposition was made in the case of Mrs. Mollie Schwartz, 42, who was arrested yesterday on a charge of operating a still at a double dwelling at 3404 Rosedale Avenue. Police Lieutenant John Potter said the woman admitted operating the still.
A man said to be a brother of Mrs. Schwartz fled in his undershirt at the time of the raid, as Sergeant Edward Hahn and Policeman Joseph Keefe were making the arrest and seizure. The seizure included 13 barrels of alleged mash, a stove, one cooler, three gallons of liquor, and a 75 gallon still. Police reported that one of two cars without license tags which had been parked in front of the house disappeared later.
Cops to Aid State
Strict cooperation with the State Alcoholic Beverages Commission in the detection, closing up, and prosecution of speakeasies is being given by the Camden Police Department.
That statement was made today by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who is the director of the department of public safety, and came as a result of an interview which Howard B. Dyer, an investigator with the state beverage commission had with the mayor. Dyer was formerly deputy city clerk.
“Dyer came in and asked for the cooperation of the police department,” said Mayor Stewart, “and I told him we would cooperate fully.”
The state alcoholic beverage commission, through its investigators, has been busy in running down speakeasies, stills and other illicit liquor practices.
Two Held After Fight in Which Both Are Cut
Camden Courier-Post —
TWO HELD AFTER FIGHT IN WHICH BOTH ARE CUT
They met, were slashed and were conquered.
Sergeant John Garrity and Patrolman George Weber last night arrested James Hempton, 32, of 200 Sycamore street, and Oscar Fowler, 27, of 231 Sycamore street, on charges of atrocious assault and battery after the men had been treated for cuts of the arms and bodies at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Both are colored.
According to Garrity, police were summoned when alarmed residents of the neighborhood reported a brawl was in progress. The victims lodged counter-charges and were held for police court. The wounds were inflicted with knives.
The young burglar who died in the county jail on Saturday has been identified as William Bayne, Jr., the eldest son of William Bayne, of 211 Sycamore street, Camden. His remains have been claimed by a Miss Gertrude Bradshaw, a Philadelphia woman. This woman had his life insured and visited him several times in the jail, but failed to disclose his identity until yesterday. During his confinement in the jail the burglar wrote to his father and told where he was, cautioning him to inquire for Bradshaw and not Bayne, if he called to see him.
HOLLAND.—On November 30, 1895, Jacob H., husband of Mary Elizabeth Holland, in his 61st year. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Monday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, from the residence of his son-in-law, William P. Harvey, 213 Sycamore street, Camden, N. J. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery.
217 Sycamore Street — 1947 Andrew W. Johnson & Family (Andrew & Gladys Johnson, James, Lawrence, Howard, Anna, Emma, Marie, Mary, Pauline, Catherine, Susan, Frederick, Joan Johnson). On March 30, 1947 eight members of the Andrew Johnson family died in a fire that swept their home. Walter A. Mertz. San Diego Union, March 31, 1947.
218 Sycamore Street — Bernard Gallagher, Fire Marshal. Trenton Times, March 31, 1947.
LOGAN.—On February 26, 1896, Andrew Logan, in the 70th year of his age. The relatives and friends of the family; Meridian Sun Lodge, 158, F. and A. M.; Masonic Veterans, and Oriental Lodge, No. 25, K. of P., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, on Sunday afternoon, at 2 o’clock, from his late residence, 222 Sycamore street, Camden, N. J. Interment at Lafayette Cemetery. Philadelphia.
Getting possession of a bottle containing coal oil, 2-year old Charles Whittek, 229 Sycamore street, drank his fill and then fell to the floor howling. He was sent to the Cooper Hospital, where a stomach pump relieved the child.
230 Sycamore Street — Girl Swallows Marble and Goes to Hospital: Swallowing a marble while playing with companions in front of her home at 260 Sycamore Street yesterday, Elizabeth F. Everett, 3, is in Cooper Hospital for observation. Neighbors summoned police, who, with her father, John, took her to the hospital. 1933 John Everett. Camden Courier-Post, June 21, 1933.
‘Boy Friend’ Wields Axe
‘BOY FRIEND’ WIELDS AXE
When she threatened to leave their home at 236 Sycamore street last night Janie Toydon, 28, was gashed severely on the head and legs by an axe wielded by her “boy friend,” she told police. She was treated at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital, where thirty stitches were required to close the wounds. Police are searching for the “boy friend.”
200 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 200 block, with records dating to 1896.
200 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1931 | Vacant |
| 1935 | James Hampton |
211 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1891 | William Bayne & Family (William Bayne Jr., Gertrude Bradshaw) |
| 1906 | William Bayne Jr. |
| 1941 | Vacant |
213 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1895 | William P. Harvey & Family (Jacob H. Holland, Mary Elizabeth Holland) |
216 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1931 | Frank Grego |
| 1932 | George Cassidy |
217 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1931 | Carmen Verchio |
| 1947 | Andrew W. Johnson & Family |
| 1947 | Andrew & Gladys Johnson |
| 1947 | James Johnson |
| 1947 | Lawrence Johnson |
| 1947 | Howard Johnson |
| 1947 | Anna Johnson |
| 1947 | Emma Johnson |
| 1947 | Marie Johnson |
| 1947 | Mary Johnson |
| 1947 | Pauline Johnson |
| 1947 | Catherine Johnson |
| 1947 | Susan Johnson |
| 1947 | Frederick Johnson |
| 1947 | Joan Johnson |
218 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Bernard Gallagher |
222 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1896 | Andrew Logan |
| 1932 | George Cassidy |
225 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1912–1913 | John Cross (S.C. Childs, O. Glen Stackhouse, John Painter, Charles Young, John Thompson, Francis J. Bunker, George R. Pelouze) |
| 1912–1913 | John Cross |
229 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1912 | Charles Wittig |
230 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | John Everett |
234 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | George Owens Addison & Family |
| 1913 | George & Emma V. Garwood Addison |
| 1913 | George O. Addison Jr |
| 1913 | Catherine Addison |
| 1913 | Ella Addison |
| 1913 | Matilda Addison |
| 1913 | Mary Addison |
| 1913 | John T. Addison |
| 1933 | Mrs. Clara Jones (Roxie Branch) |
| 1933 | Mrs. Clara Jones |
236 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Janie Toydon |
237 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1920–1924 | Simon Sosenko & Family (grocery) |
| 1920–1924 | Simon & Rebecca Sosenko |
| 1920–1924 | Anna Sosenko |
| 1920–1924 | Jacob J. "jay jerome" Sosenko |
| 1920–1924 | Ruth Sosenko |
| 1935 | Oscar Fowler |
243–249 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | William Griffee (charcoal yard) |
249 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Charles Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1880 | Charles & Anna Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1880 | Charles Fitzsimmons Jr. |
| 1906 | Gone |
256 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Theodore Diem |
258 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927–1928 | Alf Marshman |
| 1949 | Clarence Reed |
263 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Joseph Dowe (Dominic Penn, George Bianchi) |
| 1930 | Joseph Dowe |
264 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1958 | Mrs. Mabel Busbee |
267 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1889 | Phineas Ash & Family; Newton G. Ash |
| 1910 | Adam Hinckle & Family |
| 1910 | Adam & Mary Hinckle |
| 1910 | Jennie Hinckle |
268 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1894–1895 | Thomas McKenna |
269 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890–1891 | Phineas Ash & Family |
| 1890–1891 | Newton G. Ash |
| 1910 | Barthol Maslowski & Family |
| 1910 | Adolph Herman & Family |
| 1910 | Barthol & Annie Maslowski |
| 1910 | Andrew Maslowski |
| 1910 | Josephine Maslowski |
| 1910 | Michael Maslowski |
| 1910 | Kacber Mslowski |
271 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | William Laier & Family (William & Anna Laier, Anna Laier) |
272 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1888 | Charles Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1888 | Charles & Anna Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1888 | Charles Fitzsimmons Jr. |
274 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1893–1894 | Charles L. Way |
276 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890–1897 | Henry Haines & Family |
| 1890–1897 | William Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Ethel Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Henry & Eliza Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Jacob Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Sarah Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Mary Haines |
| 1890–1897 | Anna Haines |
| 1898–1917 | Harry Albert Haines Sr. & Family |
| 1898–1917 | Harry A. & Mary Hickman Haines |
| 1898–1917 | William Haines |
| 1898–1917 | Ethel Haines |
| 1898–1917 | Harry Albert Haines Jr. |
| 1890–1897 | Harry Albert Haines Sr. Harry Albert Haines Jr. |
277 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | George Owens Addison & Family |
| 1910 | George & Emma V. Garwood Addison |
| 1910 | Matilda Addison |
| 1910 | John T. Addison |
279 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1905–1910 | Benjamin Abbott & Family |
| 1905–1910 | Benjamin & Ida Abbott |
| 1905–1910 | Martha Abbott |
| 1910 | H.S. Tatem |
281 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1909 | George Owens Addison & Family |
| 1909 | George & Emma V. Garwood Addison |
| 1909 | Matilda Addison |
| 1909 | John T. Addison |
| 1910 | William Henry & Family (William & Hannah Henry, James, William, Joseph Moser) |
| 1910 | William & Hannah Henry |
| 1910 | James Henry |
282 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Dominic Penn & Family (Joseph Dowe, George Bianchi) |
283 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s | Samuel Auerbach & Family |
| 1900s | Samuel & Sarah Auerbach |
| 1900s | Melvin, Herbert & Edward Auerbach |
| 1910 | John Moser & Family |
| 1910 | John & Sabina Moser |
| 1910 | Joseph Moser |
285 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Max Winograd & Family (grocer) |
| 1910 | Max & Sarah Winograd |
| 1910 | Philip Winograd |
| 1910 | Samuel Winograd |
| 1910 | Emmanule Winograd |
| 1910 | Leon WInograd |
| 1910 | Bertha Winograd |
| 1910 | Rebecca Winograd |
286 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887 | Lewis H. Stehr Sr. & Family (Lewis & Mary Stehr, Lewis Stehr Jr., Samuel Stehr) |
287 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887 | Charles Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1887 | Charles & Anna Fitzsimmons Sr. |
| 1887 | Charles Fitzsimmons Jr. |
| 1910 | Frank Peters & Family (insurance collector; Frank & Bertha Peters) |
293 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1951 | Daniel J. Lassby & Family |
| 1951 | Daniel J. & Sadie Lassby |
294 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890 | William Quemore & Family (huckster; William & Emma Quemore) |
| 1898–1917 | Harry Albert Haines Sr. & Family |
| 1898–1917 | Harry A. & Mary Hickman Haines |
| 1898–1917 | William Haines |
| 1898–1917 | Ethel Haines |
| 1898–1917 | Harry Albert Haines Jr. |
299 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Charles Fitzsimmons Jr. |
Falls Ill on Street, Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Collopsing [sic] at Newton avenue and Chestnut street, Mrs. Clara Jones, colored, of 234 Sycamore street, died last night a few minutes after admission to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. Coroner Arthur H. Holl will perform an autopsy.
Mrs. Jones fell to the pavement while walking with Mrs. Roxie Bright, of 1021 Francis street. Mrs. Bright obtained a drink of water for her companion, then summoned police who took the unconscious woman to the hospital.
Four Young Men Said to Have Confessed Thefts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Said to have confessed to robbing their employers, the S. C. Childs Company, Charles Young, 26 years old, of 233 Beckett street; John Cross, 26 years old, of 225 Sycamore street; John Thompson, 26 years old, of 116 Mt. Vernon street, and Francis J. Bunker, 36 years old, of 1018 South Second street, were arrested in Camden yesterday by Detective Painter and held in $500 bail each by Recorder Stackhouse. A woman is also said to have been implicated, but on account of having several small children she was not prosecuted.
All four of the defendants were employed by the company in its large warehouse at the foot of Walnut street, and it is alleged by the police that they schemed to steal and dispose of provisions stored at that place. The complaint against them was made by George R. Pelouze, treasurer of the concern.
City Schedules Sale of Garage Building
Camden Courier-Post —
The City of Camden will sell a one-story public garage building at 2626 Carman street containing 28 individual garages, which it acquired for unpaid taxes, in city commission chambers next Tuesday, Solicitor John J. Crean announced. The commission set $2500 as the minimum acceptable bid.
Seven other tax-delinquent properties also are scheduled for sale, as follows: vacant land 40 by 100 feet on east side of Twenty-seventh street 60 feet south of Garfield avenue, $250; two-story frame store and dwelling at 555 Division street, vacant, $150; vacant land 77 by 21 feet on east side of Mt. Ephraim avenue 40 west north of Sayres avenue, $100; lot at 523 South Fifth street, $75, and vacant dwellings at 215 North Ninth street, 903 Florence street and 211 Sycamore street for $50 each.
Man Hurt, Driver Held
Camden Courier-Post —
One man was injured and another arrested in an automobile collision Saturday night at Second and Penn streets.
George Cassidy, 34, of 216 Sycamore street, suffered cuts of the head, lip and wrist when hit by a car driven by Marshall Reinheimer, 28, of 546 Erie street. Reinheimer is said to have struck a parked car of Burt Tutnell, 35 Cedarcroft avenue, Audubon.
Reinheimer was arrested by Patrolmen Raymond Stark and Walter Patton when he failed to show a registration card. He was also charged with reckless driving. Although Dr. Garnett Summerill, police surgeon, pronounced him intoxicated the police did not press that charge against him.
Intersection of Emma Street & Sycamore Street
258 Sycamore Street — 1927, Camden Courier-Post, January 20, 1928
Gropes for Light, Man Is Killed by Fall Down Stairs: Stumbling as he groped for a light in the home of a friend, a South Camden man fell down a stairway in a Sycamore Street home early today and broke his neck.
Howard Ashton, 45 years old, 1242 South Second Street was pronounced dead when admitted to Cooper Hospital shortly after 1 o’clock.
City Detective Rox Saponare went to the home of Alfred Marshman, 258 Sycamore Street, after detective headquarters had received a telephone tip that a man had fallen downstairs.
Saponare said Ashton and Marshman apparently had been drinking during the evening. They had retired to a second-floor bedroom, and Ashton apparently had started for the first floor when he fell.
Mrs. Mabel Busbee
Mrs. Mabel Busbee, 48, of 264 Sycamore st., died suddenly Thursday. She was a native of Merchantville, but lived a number of years in Camden.
Surviving are two sons, Dewey Jr. and Ernest W., of Camden; ten daughters, Mrs. Barbara Ann Blackston and the Misses Geraldine, Lois, Eva, Jeannie, Edith, Mildred, Helen, Marion and Adele, all of Camden; two sisters, Mrs. Lillian Hicks and Mrs. Nettie Wilson, of Camden, and a brother, Jesse Chapman, of Merchantville.
Services will be held at 8 p. m. Monday in the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Merchantville, where friends may call at 7 p. m. Burial will be in Mt. Peace Cemetery, Lawnside.
Charles Fitzsimmons Sr. and Charles Fitzsimmons Jr. resided at 249, 272, and 287 Sycamore Street at various times.
** In trying to quell a miniature riot at Kaighn’s Point, Benjamin Abbott, a watchman, of 279 Sycamore street, Camden, was severely beaten early yesterday morning. Abbott came across half a dozen men beating an unknown man. He went to the latter’s assistance and succeeded in knocking out four of the assailants, when he was knocked down and kicked into insensibility. The sextet escaped.
Matilda Addison. 277 Sycamore Street — 1910 George Owens Addison & Family.
John T. Addison. 281 Sycamore Street — 1909 George Owens Addison & Family.
* Charged with assaulting W. Scattergood, a boy, Policeman Way was held in $200 bail by Justice Quinn. The policeman says he told the boy to move on and then gave him a push.
Sentence Suspended in Suicide Attempt
Daniel J. Lassby, 29, of 293 Sycamore street, today drew a 30-day suspended sentence from Municipal Judge Dzick on a charge of attempted suicide.
Lassby pleaded guilty to turning on the gas in the kitchen of his home following a domestic quarrel. He was found semi-conscious by his wife, Sadie, when she returned home at 9.45 p. m. after a visit with her mother, according to a police report.
He was taken by police to Cooper hospital for treatment and later discharged in police custody.
Over in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
* Charged with setting fire to a stack of hay on the farm of George Aldrick, at Audubon, John Page was committed to the county jail yesterday.
* William Bachrach, who was arrested on a capias in a damage suit instituted by Wilbur F. Ellis, secured $3000 bail and was released.
* H. S. Tatem, of 279 Sycamore street, had his bicycle stolen while in a Broadway store yesterday. Walter Beckwith, of 1111 Emma street, was committed to jail in default of bail, charged with taking the wheel.
* The following cases were reported at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, last night: Bertha Huski, 1124 Sycamore street, feet burned; Harry Getter, Richland, contused wounds of the side, and Amy Mann, 314 Atlantic avenue, hand sprained.
Boys Find Air Gun Can Break Pane; Held
Camden Courier-Post —
Two South Camden youths were arrested yesterday after they had fired an air rifle through a window in the home of Dominic Penn, 282 Sycamore street, “just to see if it would break.”
It did and Joseph Dowe, 15, of 263 Sycamore street, and George Bianchi, 15, of 1117 Emma street, were put in the Detention room at City Hall to await a hearing tomorrow in police court on a charge of malicious mischief.
Intersection of South 3rd Street & Sycamore Street
Intersection of South 3rd Street & Sycamore Street — March 16, 2012. Looking west on Sycamore Street from South 3rd Street; looking north and south on South 3rd Street from Sycamore Street; looking east on Sycamore Street from South 3rd Street.
300 Block of Sycamore Street
324 Sycamore Street — Photograph taken March 16, 2012.
** The Fifth Ward Republican Club and Washington Circle, Brotherhood of the Union, last night viewed the remains of Benjamin M. Braker, at the latter’s home, 308 Sycamore street.
Poolroom Raid Nets 6 Arrests
Police raided a poolroom on the southeast corner of Broadway and Chestnut street at 4 a. m. today and arrested the operator and five patrons.
Charged with operating a poolroom after 1 a. m. was Joseph Mazzuca, 36, of 3716 Terrace street. The raid was made by Patrolmen Anthony Di Vello, Frank Sanatore [sic] and Frank Cavalla.
Arrested as material witnesses are Frank Buttaglia Jr., 22, of 310 Sycamore street, Joseph Guidotti, 24, of 251 Mt. Vernon street, Jack Menel, 21, of 1404 Mt. Ephraim avenue; Camillo Caporusso, 23, of 1162 Marion street, and Rocco La Battaglia, 24, of 1142 South Third street.
Police Judge Di Mona granted a postponement to next Tuesday after Mazzuca asked for counsel. He was released in $100 cash bail while the material witnesses were freed in $25 bail.
334 Sycamore Street, March 2012.
Woman Sent Negro Into the Street
WOMAN SENT NEGRO INTO THE STREET
Planted Him Between the Eyes With Her Fist When He Insisted on Entering Her Home
When Mrs. George R. Thompson, of 350 Sycamore street, Camden, answered a ring of the door bell last night she was confronted by a big negro, who asked if Mr. Thompson was in. Mrs. Thompson replied that he was not, and the negro, placing his foot in the doorway, attempted to enter.
“You cannot come in here,” said Mrs. Thompson.
“Oh, yes I can,” replied the fellow, as he seized her by the left wrist.
Mrs. Thompson although a nervous woman, is quite an athlete, and quick as a flash she shot out her right first and planted a blow squarely between the negro’s eyes, sending him sprawling into the sidewalk. Then, of course, she screamed loudly for help, but before assistance came the negro escaped through a nearby alley.
300 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 300 block, with records from the 1880s onward.
300 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1920s | Isadore Greenberg & Family |
| 1900s–1920s | Isadore & Fannie (Auerbach) Greenberg |
308 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| -1905 | Benjamin Braker |
309 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1896–1900 | Mrs. Mary Hill |
310 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930–1977 | Francesco Battaglia & Family (Francesco & Maria Giovanna Battaglia, Leon, Anthony, Frank Jr., Mary Staffieri, Josephine Talla, Rose McMullen) |
315 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s | William B. Stephens |
321 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1893 | William Quemore & Family (huckster) |
| 1893 | William & Emma Quemore |
322 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Samuel Lodge |
324 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1915 | William Davison |
330 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Andrew Miller & Family |
333 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1885 | Samuel Hudson |
334 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Joe Brancho |
335 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Emilio Fiore |
343 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1915 | Antonio Bruno; Adolfo D'Angelo |
| 1915 | Antonio Bruno |
| 1915 | Adolfo D'Angelo |
348 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1870s–1880s | Lewis H. Stehr Sr. & Family |
| 1870s–1880s | Lewis & Mary Stehr |
| 1870s–1880s | Lewis Stehr Jr. |
| 1870s–1880s | Samuel Stehr |
350 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1905–1908 | George R. Thompson & Family (Justice of the Peace; George R. & Harriet Thompson, George R. Thompson Jr., Marshall Thompson; Henry Moffett) |
| 1905–1908 | George R. & Harriet Thompson |
| 1905–1908 | George R. Thompson Jr. |
| 1905–1908 | Marshall Thompson |
Serious Accident at Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT CAMDEN.—Yesterday morning, as the early train of the West Jersey Railroad was passing through South Camden, a woman, named Deborah Davis, 57 years of age, housekeeper for Mr. James Emely, 420 Sycamore street, was struck in the head by the cow-catcher, while gathering chips on the road, causing her skull to be fractured. The injured woman was taken to the residence of Mr. Emely, where she remained at a late hour last evening in a critical condition.
As soon as the accident was discovered the train was stopped, and relief administered suited to her case, but the physician was of the impression that she would not live through the night.
400 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 400 block, with records from 1868 onward.
420 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1868 | James Emely; Denorah Davis |
428 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1904 | Oliver S. Guthrie & Family (Pennsylvania Railroad Police Detective; Oliver & Mary Eva Guthrie, Oliver S. 'Ollie' Guthrie III) |
| 1904 | Oliver & Mary Eva Guthrie |
| 1904 | Oliver S. "Ollie" Guthrie III |
| 1940–1941 | Edward G. Hunt (Clay W. Reesman, Joseph Klein, George H. Ewing, William Bovell) |
Hospital Cases
Camden Courier-Post —
West Jersey
George Rice, 63, of 1143 North Fawn street, Philadelphia, contusion of abdomen. Joe Brancho, 12, of 334 Sycamore street, fracture of arm. Jennie Falknoll, 31, of 601 North Third street, fishbone in throat. Harry Goff, 40, of 1229 Sheridan street, cut of arm. Edward Chase, 8, of 106 Jasper street, cut of scalp. Carmen J. Ante, 18, of 410 Spruce street, crushing contusion of toe. Ruth Whiteman, 43, of 218 York street, cut of lip. Clifton Fublman, 40, of 1017 Bulson street, cut of arm. Dave Pronchick, 27, of 317 Jasper street, cut of chin.
Cooper
Alexander Locantore, 65, of 576 Walnut street, fractured ribs. Howard Kenny, 46, of 514 Mickle street, infection of hand. Charles Neff, 59, of 39 North Thirty-third street, sprained wrist. Florence Cicchini, 20, of 2253 North Forty-first street, sprained ankle. Anna Fitch, 50, of 744 Cherry street, swallowed a fish bone. Jennie Fargnoli, 31, of 601 North Third street, swallowed a fish bone. William Geitz, 36, Mantua, injury to eye. Mary Healey, 32, of 408 Haddon avenue, eye injury. Maybelle Vanderslice, 8, of 506 Beideman avenue, scalp injury. Paul Mastraianni, 24, of 413 Benson street, cut of hand. Robert Yarnell, 2, of 2022 Broadway, cut of hand. May Davis, 25, of 1146 Clover street, cut of mouth.
Ewing, 3 Others File Committee Petitions
Camden Courier-Post —
George H. Ewing, of 460 Liberty street, president of the Sixth Ward Democratic Club, yesterday filed his petition for re-election to the Democratic County Committee.
Others who took out Republican nominating petitions at the office of City Clerk Clay W. Reesman were William Bovell, of 516 Clinton street, incumbent Fourth ward committeeman; Edward G. Hunt, of 428 Sycamore street, and Joseph Klein, of 551 Chestnut street, Sixth ward.
The deadline for filing petitions is 4 p. m. Aug. 7.
Woman Sent Negro Into the Street
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Planted Him Between the Eyes With Her Fist When He Insisted on Entering Her Home
When Mrs. George R. Thompson, of 350 Sycamore street, Camden, answered a ring of the door bell last night she was confronted by a big negro, who asked if Mr. Thompson was in. Mrs. Thompson replied that he was not, and the negro, placing his foot in the doorway, attempted to enter.
“You cannot come in here,” said Mrs. Thompson.
“Oh, yes I can,” replied the fellow, as he seized her by the left wrist.
Mrs. Thompson although a nervous woman, is quite an athlete, and quick as a flash she shot out her right first [sic] and planted a blow squarely between the negro’s eyes, sending him sprawling into the sidewalk. Then, of course, she screamed loudly for help, but before assistance came the negro escaped through a nearby alley.
In speaking of the affair Mrs. Thompson, whoes [sic] wrist plainly showed the effect of the negro’s grip, said that before ringing the bell the negro tapped on the window shutter and on the door as her husband has been in the habit of doing for years.
The case was reported to police headquarters, and Detective Muffett [sic] was assigned to investigate. Mr. Thompson is also gunning for the negro.
600 Block of Sycamore Street — Sanborn Map
600 Block of Sycamore Street — Sanborn Map, 1962. Map Legend.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Joseph De Lecce, aged 41 years, of Second street and Taylor avenue, was badly injured during a fight near his home yesterday. His injuries were dressed at Cooper Hospital.
Charles Leslie, of Blackwood, was held in $300 bail by Justice Baldwin, yesterday, on the charge of assault and battery, preferred by Walter Garwood. The latter recently acquired title to a piece of property. Leslie, it is said, cut down some peach trees on it, and during the quarrel that followed Garwood was struck.
The Camden police were notified yesterday that a gold watch, neck chain and $15 in money were stolen from Robert Hamilton’s hotel, at Gibbsboro.
Edward Roosevelt, of 110 Mt Vernon street, brother-in-law of Oswald, who is serving thirty years for killing his wife and children, was held in bail by Justice Thompson, yesterday, charged with assaulting Thomas Croker, of 831 Dauphin street.
Joseph Fine, of Sixth and Sycamore streets, was committed in default of bail by Justice Baldwin, yesterday, on the charge of assaulting his wife Ida.
Despite the search of friends of Mrs. Bessie Hickey, of 761 Division street, who mysteriously disappeared last Monday with her eight-months-old baby, not the slightest clue has been obtained to her whereabouts.
** Lee Thomas, a negro, 17 years old, of 604 Sycamore street, had an arm fractured by a fall on the ice yesterday, the injury being treated at the Cooper Hospital. From the same cause Theodore Allen, of 330 Chestnut street, had a foot fractured. He was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital.
* In the Criminal Court yesterday Thomas Brown, alias Abraham Briscoe, was convicted of voting illegally in the First precinct, Seventh ward, at the election last fall. Charles Aggleton was acquitted of breaking into Biddie Higgins’ store, at Gloucester City, and John Carter was acquitted of assault and battery on Wesley Charles.
Tailor Shop Window Broken After Crash
TAILOR SHOP WINDOW BROKEN AFTER CRASH
Two cars were damaged and a tailor shop window at 800 Pine street was broken by one of the automobiles when they collided last night at Eighth and Pine streets.
Andrew Milliner, 365 Maple avenue, Audubon, was unable to stop his car after it had collided with the automobile of George Nixon, 613 Sycamore street. The Milliner car jumped the curb and struck the window in the shop of E. J. Stevenson. Neither driver was injured and no arrests were made.
622 Sycamore Street — Boy Hurt at Circus: Joseph Hackett, 10, colored, of 622 Sycamore Street, was treated at Cooper Hospital yesterday for a wound he said was caused when a side-show attendant at Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus threw a brick. Police could find no brick thrower. 1933 Joseph Hackett. Camden Courier-Post, June 16, 1933.
Negro Fought Firemen
NEGRO FOUGHT FIREMEN
Accused by Woman of Attacking Her on a Lot
The frantic cries of a woman for assistance late Saturday night aroused the members of the Kaighn avenue fire company in Camden. When Firemen Albert Hayden, Seth Monnell and William Rose ran across an adjoining lot they encountered a tall negro armed with a knife. A desperate but brief struggle ensued when the negro was captured. Subsequently Nettie Dickson, of 625 Sycamore street, walked into the fire house with her right thumb nearly severed. She said the man attacked her and during the struggle he cut her with the knife.
The negro was taken to the City Hall, where he gave the name of William Byers, who is also known to the police as “Sunlight.”
Notes from Camden
NOTES FROM CAMDEN.
*The Camden County Board of License last night granted the following licenses: Albert Holland, 635 Sycamore street; W. J. Gallagher, Sixth and Pine; Joseph Hyde, Sixth and Jackson.
600 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 600 block, with records from the 1890s through the 1940s.
601 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1905–1906 | Joseph Fine & Family (grocer) |
| 1905–1906 | Joseph & Ida Fine |
| 1942 | Abraham Baskoff (grocery; Maurice W. Baskoff aka Martin W. Baskow) |
604 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1909–1910 | Lee Thomas |
609 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1894 | Thomas Brown aka Abraham Briscoe |
613 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1905 | Howard Truitt |
| 1927–1928 | George Nixon |
619 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917 | Herbert Lamb (Harry Cross, Charles W. Moore) |
| 1917 | Herbert Lamb |
620 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | James Anderson |
622 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Joseph Hackett |
625 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Nettie Dickson |
631 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1896 | Henry Jones (fisherman) |
| 1928 | Arthur Baynard |
635 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1891–1892 | Blue Anchor Hotel — Albert Holland (Randolph Whitler, Ida Burton) |
636 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1930s–1940 | Leroy Hatchett & Family |
| 1930s–1940 | Leroy & Hazel Hatchett |
Stabbed His Wife
Philadelphia Inquirer —
And Is Afterwards Shot by a Hotel Keeper in Camden.
William Whitler, alias Randolph Stokes, of Sixth and Chestnut streets, Camden, stabbed his wife, Ida Burton, twice in the back about 6 o’clock last night. After being cut Mrs. Burton escaped, and Whitler ran into the Blue Anchor Hotel, 625 Sycamore street, and told Albert Holland, the proprietor, he wanted his wife. Holland, who was entertaining two young women, told him she was not there. Whitler began using insulting language, and Holland ordered him to leave the house.
Whitler then pulled out a knife and rushed at Holland, who ran down stairs into the bar-room, and as Whitler made a thrust at him he picked up a club and knocked him senseless.
A messenger was dispatched for an officer, but before he arrived Whitler regained consciousness and made another attack on Holland, who picked up his revolver and shot Whitler in the left cheek bone. The wound is not serious.
Holland went to the City Hall last night and surrendered himself. Whitler, who is wanted by the authorities in Philadelphia, for cutting a man on Hurst street about two years ago, was also arrested.
Mrs. Burton was in a dangerous condition last night having lost considerable blood from her wounds. All participants are colored.
Gets 10 Years in Speedy Hold-Up Verdict
Camden Courier-Post —
A jury in criminal court this afternoon deliberated less than two minutes to find Arthur Baynard, 631 Sycamore street, guilty of highway robbery, carrying concealed deadly weapons and assault and battery. Judge Shay immediately sentenced Baynard to ten years at hard labor in State Prison. Baynard was charged with holding up Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bowes, of Bellmawr, on November 13 last.
“It’s a good thing you got me,” the prisoner shouted at Bowes as he was being led from the courtroom. “If you hadn’t got me first I’d have gotten you.”
Two Found Dead in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
John Johnson, aged 34 years, of 838 Central avenue, and Howard Truitt, aged 4 years, of 613 Sycamore street, Camden, were found dead in their beds yesterday morning. In the first instance the man was suffering from consumption and Coroner Kirk gave a certificate accordingly. Coroner Lippincott found death due to diphtheria in the second case.
Stole to Buy Funeral Garb
Philadelphia Inquirer —
When Harry Cross, a negro, 22 years old, of 619 Sycamore street, was arraigned in Camden yesterday charged with stealing iron pipe from Charles W. Moore, he admitted his guilt and said he had been driven to that extremity because he wanted to get clothes in order that he might attend his sister’s funeral yesterday afternoon. Herbert Lamb, 20 years old, of 741 Baxter street, admitted he was with Gross [sic] to aid him. The Recorder permitted the two to go to attend the funeral on their promising to reappear this morning for a hearing.
620 Sycamore Street — Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ, June 17, 2006
Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ — 6 Working Fires along with a Rescue
Camden Firefighters had a busy 24-hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with four All Hands Fires and two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city.
The first job was a working fire in a row of two-story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two-story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street; a few hours later in the AM hours they were called to the 700 block of Cherry Street.
First-in companies found heavy fire showing in a large 3-story brick dwelling that put all companies to work within minutes; part of the structure collapsed. Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes later, while the fire was going, another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away.
As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2-story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue.
Fire Radio put in a special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the city; fire companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, and Pennsauken Township were put to work fighting these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control.
A few hours later firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an explosion and fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2-story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor; he requested the second alarm to be transmitted.
Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike Dipascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1.
Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor.
Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. Captain Sandrock of Rescue 1 was OPS Officer. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma.
Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. Car 3 Harper placed the assignment under control.
The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF.
Cherry Hill Twp Canteen Unit RIT team and Rehab Unit, and County Fire Police and Camden County Field Com units were special called. This was a busy 24 hours with 4 All Hands and 2 second-alarm fires and a life-saving rescue.
620 Sycamore Street — Explosion and Fire, June 17, 2006. Story and photos: Bob Bartosz.
Negro Fought Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Accused by Woman of Attacking Her on a Lot
The frantic cries of a woman for assistance late Saturday night aroused the members of the Kaighn avenue fire company in Camden. When Firemen Albert [sic] Hayden, Seth Monnell and William Rose ran across an adjoining lot they encountered a tall negro armed with a knife. A desperate but brief struggle ensued when the negro was captured. Subsequently Nettie Dickson, of 625 Sycamore street, walked into the fire house with her right thumb nearly severed. She said the man attacked her and during the struggle he cut her with the knife.
The negro was taken to the City Hall, where he gave the name of William Byers, who is also known to the police as “Sunlight.”
700 Block of Sycamore Street
* Zachariah Harris, colored, was committed in default of $200 bail by the Recorder this morning on a charge of assault and battery on Mary Warrick, also colored, of 704 Sycamore street.
Lovesick Negro Drinks Laudanum
LOVESICK NEGRO DRINKS LAUDANUM
Despondent because his sweetheart had accepted another, Lester Sharp, colored, aged 25 years, of 710 Sycamore street, attempted suicide at his home this morning by drinking laudanum. He was discovered by a member of the family and was hurried to Cooper Hospital in the down-town auto.
Prompt application of the stomach pump probably saved the negro’s life. After being revived Sharp left the institution repentant for his rash deed.
Sharp, according to his story, spent yesterday with some friends and had a merry time until he happened to go into another room of the house and saw his sweetheart with another. Then he decided to end his life.
CAMDEN NEWS NOTES
Local Democrats have called a meeting for Saturday night to settle the controversy over the selection of a man to fill the job of motor vehicle agent, soon to be vacant.
Announcement was made by Prosecutor Boyle yesterday that he will not try the members of the Excise Commission next Monday as was planned, but will substitute several election cases.
Said to have been despondent because his sweetheart went back on him, Lester Sharp, a negro, 25 years old, of 710 Sycamore street, drank laudanum yesterday. His life was saved at the Cooper Hospital.
After a several weeks’ illness, Isaac Lee, 70 years old, of 325 State street, died yesterday. He was at one time prominently identified with Philadelphia’s fish market and owned considerable real estate in Camden.
With a capital of $3000, the Berkley Beach Company was incorporated yesterday, the object being to deal in real estate. The incorporators are J. F. Sutton, K. L. Kaiser and T. Harry Rowland.
Slipping on the ice, Mrs. Susan Compton, 72 years old, of 722 South Eighth street, broke her hip last night. Owing to her advanced age it was stated at the Cooper Hospital that her injury may have serious results.
710 Sycamore Street — Circus ‘Echo’ in Court: Armed with a contract and all set for a “clean up,” Russell Fleming, 710 Sycamore Street, arrived at the scene of his work only to find the job had been usurped by a Philadelphian, Fleming told Police Judge Pancoast Saturday when he appealed to him to settle an argument over the job. Fleming said he was given a contract by Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus to clean up the circus grounds on State Street Friday morning after the circus had departed. For his work, Fleming said, he was to get the refuse, to be sold as fertilizer. He went to the circus grounds, he said, all set to go to work and found Henry Rothblath, 53, of 2549 Rees Street, Philadelphia, had already hauled away four loads. Rothblath refused to return the four loads of refuse, Fleming said, so he had him arrested. Judge Pancoast decreed that Rothblath erred in hauling away the four loads of refuse and sent him to jail for 60 days. 1933 Russell Fleming. Camden Courier-Post, June 19, 1933.
Early yesterday morning Captain Stanley, Sergeant Hyde and five policemen raided the alleged disorderly house of James Painter, known as “Butler Hall,” at 712 Sycamore street. Besides Painter three colored women, one colored man, one white woman and one white man were arrested. They will be given a hearing before Recorder Nowrey to-day.
Charged by James Buck, of 716 Sycamore street, with assault and battery Herbert Lamb of 741 Baxter street, was held under $500 bail by Recorder Stackhouse.
There were four enlistments yesterday at the army recruiting station, the first for a week.
Camden Judge Imposes Long Sentence on Negro for Alleged Hold-up Complicity
Camden Judge Imposes Long Sentence on Negro for Alleged Hold-up Complicity
742 Sycamore Street — 1917 Private Eugene Davidson.
This building could be 737, 739, or 745 Sycamore Street. Photo taken June 30, 2006.
700 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 700 block, with records from 1898 through the 1950s.
700 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | Robert Matthews |
701 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1926 | Max Weisfeld |
704 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1902–1903 | Mary Warrick (Zachariah Harris, Joseph Nowrey) |
| 1902–1903 | Mary Warrick |
710 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1912 | Lester Sharp |
| 1917 | Oliver Brown |
| 1933 | Russell Fleming |
712 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | James Painter aka Butler Hall |
714 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | Randolph Whitler; Ida Burton |
| 1900 | Randolph Whitler |
| 1900 | Ida Burton |
716 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917 | James Buck (O. Glen Stackhouse, Herbert Lamb) |
| 1917 | James Buck |
718 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919–1920 | John Cross (Oscar Manion) |
727 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Gilbert Massey (O. Glenn Stackhouse) |
732 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1898 | Ida Short (Frank Eldridge, George R. Thompson) |
| 1898 | Ida Short |
737 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Kate Eckert (George Robinson, Chrissy Strang, Mary Jetters, Thomas Read, Miriam Polk, Robert Matthews, Annie Irving Keeler) |
| 1901 | Kate Eckert |
738 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | John & Kate Eckert |
739 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | John & Kate Eckert |
742 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1899 | William M. Butts Club |
| 1917 | Private Eugene Davidson |
745 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Perry Honey & Family |
| 1924 | Perry & Annie Honey |
| 1924 | Ida Honey |
| 1924 | Fred Honey |
| 1924 | Harvey Honey |
| 1924 | Mary Honey |
| 1924 | Grace Honey |
| 1924 | Albert Honey |
| 1924 | Alice Honey |
| 1924 | Annie Honey |
| 1924 | Lester E. Honey |
| 1924 | Florence Honey |
747 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Isaac Singer (grocer) |
753 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910s–2010 | Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church (later: Mount Olive Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; demolished 2010) |
754 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Kate Eckert (George Robinson, Chrissy Strang, Mary Jetters, Thomas S. Read, Miriam Polk, Robert Matthews, Annie Irving Keeler) |
| 1901 | Kate Eckert |
756 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1918–1927 | Samuel Fisher & Family |
| 1918–1927 | Samuel & Mary Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | Roland Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | Jennie Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | Rosie Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | William Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | Samuel E. Fisher |
| 1918–1927 | Lillian Fisher |
758 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Louise Johnson |
| 1943–1951 | Mrs. Cora Gibbs (Garland R. Carter, Gerentha E. Brown Carter) |
760 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Perry Honey & Family |
| 1927 | Perry & Annie Honey |
| 1927 | Ida Honey |
| 1927 | Fred Honey |
| 1927 | Harvey Honey |
| 1927 | Mary Honey |
| 1927 | Grace Honey |
| 1927 | Albert Honey |
| 1927 | Alice Honey |
| 1927 | Annie Honey |
| 1927 | Lester E. Honey |
| 1927 | Florence Honey |
762 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1918 | Jonas Davis |
764 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1926 | Charles Bird |
766 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1918 | Thomas Frazier |
| 1932 | William Green (Samuel M. Shay, Harold Gentile) |
| 1932 | William Green |
768 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1914 | Ada Stevenson (Arthur Stanley) |
Albert Holland Held for Selling Liquor to Minors
Philadelphia Inquirer —
On the strength of a statement by Ida Jenkins, a 17-year-old colored girl who was arrested by the Camden police for drunkenness, Saloon-keeper Albert Holland, of Sycamore street, below Seventh, was held yesterday for selling liquor to minors. Holland is a justice of the peace.
Round-Up by Police Over in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Vigorous Crusade Against Vice in a Down-Town District
Several Persons Were Captured in Raids and Held on Policy and Disorderly Charges
Police Captain Stanley, of Camden, began a crusade yesterday against alleged policy-writers and speak-easies in this district. With a squad of officers and fortified with warrants, sworn out by Charles W. Noyes, an agent of the Law and Order League, Captain Stanley raided the houses of Pearl Welcome, colored, at 914 South Third street, and Lizzie Purnell, colored, at Second and Division streets. The alleged proprietresses and several other persons were arrested and a quantity of policy paraphernalia was seized.
Charles Green, white, was arrested at Eighth street and Kaighn avenue, on a charge of being a “writer.”
Lizzie Purnell was committed to the county jail in default of $500 bail, on the policy charge, and $1000 bail on charges of maintaining a disorderly house and selling liquor without a license. Pearl Welcome was committed in default of $500 bail, and Green was held for a hearing to-day. All the warrants were issued by Justice Stackhouse.
Last evening Captain Stanley made another series of raids on warrants sworn out by Noyes before Stackhouse. The following were captured and committed to the county jail on the charges named: Maud Moore, alias Givens, 721 Baxter, selling without license; Jennie Wilson, alias Rose Mitchell, 721 Baxter, Sunday selling and selling without license; Mary Susan Jones, 70[?] Baxter, selling without license; William Lockman, 275 Spruce street, selling without license; John and Kate Eckert, 738 and 739 Sycamore street, disorderly house, Sunday selling and selling without license; Robert Mathews, 700 Sycamore street, Sunday selling and selling without license; Norman Simmons, 701 Baxter street, selling without license and Sunday selling; and Maggie Dilks, 705 Baxter street, selling without license.
The prisoners were committed in default of $500 bail on each charge.
William M. Butts Club Adopts a Watchword
Camden Daily Courier —
THE William M. Butts Club at an enthusiastic meeting several nights ago adopted this watchword: “Hanson, Anderson, Purdell and the whole Republican ticket.” A number of new members were admitted. A musical entertainment will be given at the club house, 742 Sycamore street, next Tuesday evening.
Two Firemen Hurt in Crash With Car
Camden Post-Telegram —
Chemical Engine, Responding to Alarm, Sideswipes Kaighn Avenue Trolley.
HURLED TO STREET FROM APPARATUS
Responding to an alarm of fire at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Caston, 740 Sycamore street, last night the chemical apparatus of No. 7 Company sideswiped an east-bound Kaighn avenue trolley car, and two firemen, Horace Cairns, of 439 Haddon avenue, and George Boone, of 605 Mount Vernon street, were thrown to the street and injured.
Cairns was injured about the hips and suffered body contusions. He was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital and later to his home, where he is now confined. Boone had two fingers crushed, but refused to go to the hospital and he remained on duty.
The report made to Chief Worthington by the crew of the fire apparatus blames the trolley company for the accident. It is alleged that a north-bound car trailed ahead of the speeding apparatus, and when the driver, Roy Smith, pulled the horses out of the tracks the accident happened. The jolt was not sufficient to damage the wagon, but the men on the rear were jostled off.
The fire, a slight one, was in a rear bedroom of the house. A bureau and some other furniture were damaged.
Here and There in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The police raided the place kept by Oliver Brown, 710 Sycamore street, late Saturday night. The allegation is made that a crap game was in progress.
Helen Kirnick, two years old, of 928 South Seventh street, was badly burned by the upsetting of a kettle of hot water.
The home of George Fisher, 1529 Federal street, was broken into by thieves yesterday, the intruders taking $15 in cash, three stickpins and a pair of gold cuff buttons.
Robert Reese, twenty years old, of 104 North Twenty-fifth street, recently paroled by Judge Bovie, in the Criminal Court where he was charged with petty larceny, was arrested yesterday on the accusation of Mrs. Mary J. Price, 2612 Federal street, who says her chickens were taken.
Alleged Policy People Arrested
Philadelphia Inquirer —
One of the Most Fruitful Raids in Years Was Made in Camden Yesterday
One of the most successful policy raids in years, in Camden, was made under the supervision of Chief of Police Foster yesterday. Sergeant Hyde and squad arrested Thomas F. Waters, alias “Uncle Frank,” aged 73 years; Isaac G. Johnson, seven persons, male and female, white and colored, and captured a quantity of drawings, “dream books” and plays, at 2[?]7 Division street.
Captain Stanley, Sergeant Reeder [sic] and squad arrested four women and secured a lot of paraphernalia in a house on Locust near Line street. The alleged proprietor is still at large.
Policeman Sayrs arrested Gilbert Massey, aged 70 years, at 727 Sycamore street, on the charge of being a policy writer.
At the hearings before Justice Stackhouse, Waters, Johnson and Massey were committed in default of $1000 bail each. The witnesses were released. The complaints were made by an agent of the Fidelity Detective Agency.
Intersection of Sycamore Street & Maurice Street
Looking north on Maurice Street from Sycamore Street — June 30, 2006.
Hit by Thrown Brick, Camden Youth May Die
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Innocent Victim of Street Fight Taken to Cooper Hospital in Dying Condition
Struck on the head by a brick thrown in a street fight at Ann and Sycamore streets, Camden, Meyer Pinsky, 16 years old, of 1415 Kaighn avenue, received a fracture of the skull and physicians at the Cooper Hospital fear that he cannot recover. Late last night the boy was still unconscious, efforts of the physicians to revive him having been unsuccessful.
Young Pinsky was an innocent victim of a street brawl. He was passing the intersection of Ann and Sycamore streets when a number of other youths are said to have become engaged in a fight.
Several bricks are said to have been thrown before Pinsky was struck. The police are making an effort to locate the participants in the fight with the hope of arresting the youth who is responsible of [sic] Pinsky’s injuries.
753 Sycamore Street — Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church
753 Sycamore Street — 1910s–2010 Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church. For a time in recent years, prior to the building being abandoned, the church was known as Mount Olive Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Demolished 2010.
Police Crusade Against Vice
POLICE CRUSADE AGAINST VICE
Three Alleged Disorderly Houses Raided.
Complaints Made by Law and Order Agents—Woman Prisoner Swoons When Sent Back to Jail.
The police and the Law and Order League last night began a crusade against vice and immorality. Three raids were made around midnight on houses where it is alleged that unlawful and immoral practices are carried on.
The places raided were No. 737 Sycamore street, No. 754 Sycamore street and No. 139 Boyer court. At No. 737 Sycamore street, Kate Eckert, a white woman, named in the warrant as keeper of the house, and eight other inmates, several being colored, were captured. At No. 754 Sycamore street George Robinson, the alleged proprietor, was the only person found. In the Boyer court case, Chrissy Strang, whose name appeared in the warrant, was found with a young man named Thompson, both of whom were sent to the City Hall.
Court Room Crowded
When the cases were called up by the Recorder the court room was crowded with spectators. Kate Eckart was the first to be arraigned. She was charged with disorderly conduct.
Law and Order Agents Hoy and Starkey testified that the woman had repeatedly solicited them on the street. She denied the charge but was sentenced to ninety days in the County Jail.
Milton Polk, colored, alleged to be the man in charge of the house where the Eckart woman was found, was next in the dock. Robert Matthews, who rents the third floor of the house, was the complainant. Polk was committed in default of $500 bail.
The others caught in the raid convinced the Recorder that they were sub-tenants of the house and were released.
Agents Hoy and Starkey gave damaging testimony against George Robinson when he was arraigned on the charge of keeping a disorderly house at No. 754 Sycamore street. He was committed in default of $500 bail.
Samuel Fisher
SAMUEL FISHER
Samuel Fisher, a former member of the Camden police department, died early yesterday at his home, 756 Sycamore street. He resigned from the police department several years ago to engage in the tailoring business.
The funeral will be held on Saturday from the Wesley M. E. Church. Fisher is survived by a widow, three daughters and three sons. One of the sons is Roland Fisher, an elevator operator at City Hall.
** Falling down stairs, Mrs. Louise Johnson, of 758 Sycamore street, sustained sprains of both ankles. She was taken to Cooper Hospital.
In a similar case when Mrs. Marie Bird, of 633 Mechanic street, hailed her husband, Charles Bird, 45 years old, of 764 Sycamore street, for failure to properly provide for her and three children the court allowed Bird another week to make up his arrears in the payments.
Bird had been ordered by the court to give his wife $15 a week when they separated several months ago. Bird explained that he was in arrears in the payments because he had recently buried his sister.
William Green, 765 Sycamore street, who when arrested May 13, had an unloaded revolver, was given six months.
Harold Gentile, 32, of Haviland avenue, Audubon, pleaded guilty to a charge of non-support brought by his wife, Edith, of Barrington. They have two children. Judge Shay suspended a one-year sentence and ordered Gentile to pay $6 a week as support.
Here and There in Camden
HERE AND THERE IN CAMDEN
Charged with failing to register for the draft, Thomas K. Frazer, 28 years old, of 766 Sycamore street, was arrested at the instance of the draft board of the Third district.
Camden House Raided
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In charge of Captain Stanley, a squad of Camden policemen early yesterday raided the house at 768 Sycamore street, where they took into custody Ada Stevenson, the alleged proprietoress, and four witnesses. All were held for a hearing before the Recorder today. A quantity of beverages were confiscated.
Carter-Brown Wedding Announcement
Camden Courier-Post —
BISHOP D. M. HARMON, of the UAME Church will perform the marriage rites Saturday, Sept. 29, uniting Miss Guinevere E. Brown, of 740 Cherry street, and Garland R. Carter, of 758 Sycamore street, a veteran of War II, studying under GI benefits to become an electrician.
Miss Ida Young will stand with Miss Brown, and John Young is to serve as best man.
A reception will follow at the Cherry street address where the bride-elect lives with Mr. and Mrs. Walter N. Teague. After the marriage Carter and his bride will live with his grandmother, Mrs. Cora Gibbs at 758 Sycamore street. Both Carter and Miss Brown are natives of Camden.
Intersection of South 8th Street & Sycamore Street
Southeast corner of South 8th Street & Sycamore Street — 1910s–1960s Congregation Sons of Israel. Northeast corner: 1955 Hood’s Garage.
Jones’ grocery store broken into
Philadelphia Inquirer —
* Thieves broke into Jones’ grocery store, at Eighth and Sycamore streets, and a butcher shop, on Eighth street, above Chestnut, Friday night. A small quantity of groceries and meat was stolen.
Clara Tice Duchneskie. 811 Sycamore Street — 1910 Joseph Duchneskie & Family (Joseph & Clara Duchneskie, George W. Willingmyre, Joseph, Lizzie Duchneskie).
Van Hook St. Man Held Guilty for Assault
VAN HOOK ST. MAN HELD GUILTY FOR ASSAULT
A Criminal Court jury yesterday found Henry Wells, 25, of 717 Van Hook street, guilty of assault and battery on William Nelson, 819 Sycamore street.
Nelson testified before Judge Frank F. Neutze and the jury that Wells had attacked him with a carving knife during a brawl in a cafe at Seventh and Van Hook streets November 3. The argument began when Wells tried to become friendly with Nelson’s woman companion, the victim of the attack said.
Wells denied the allegations and said Nelson had started the brawl and he had fought back in self defense. He denied having slashed Nelson with a knife.
Police Judge Liberman Also Frees Two Youths Accused by Tailor
Two district detectives yesterday told Police Judge Lewis Liberman that Earl Bundy, 24, was making bathtub gin in the family was [sic] boiler at his home, 824 Sycamore street, when they raided the place Tuesday. He also had four barrels of mash, John Burns and John Huston, the sleuths, testified.
Bundy denied the charge, but Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando asked that Bundy be held without bail to await the action of the grand jury. Bundy was held.
The court also listened to "The Tale of a Coat." John Erconani, a tailor, of 976 South Eighth street, accused Edward Hargrove, 18, of 1178 Penn street, and James Walter, 15, of 1185 Penn street, of taking the garment from his store yesterday.
According to the evidence Hargrove presented a ticket calling for a coat that had been left for repairs. The tailor and his customer searched for the garb, but couldn't find it.
Then Hargrove left and Erconani said another coat left with him. Erconani asked that the youths be convicted, declaring that if the coat was gone he would have to pay for it, and that he had a sick child that required the money for medicine and professional attention.
Detective Robert Ashenfelter asked for a further hearing to make an investigation, but Herbert Richardson, attorney for the boys, said no evidence had been introduced to prove that they had taken the coat.
Judge Liberman agreed and dismissed the charges, but told Ashenfelter that if further investigation disclosed evidence to the contrary, the youths would be re-arrested.
Francis Murtagh, 24, of 117 North Thirty-fourth street, paid a $3 fine for reckless driving. It was testified that Murtagh was doing 55 miles an hour at 2.30 a.m. and that he was chased a mile and a half before he was overhauled.
800 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 800 block, with records from 1878 through the 1970s.
801 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1896 | Jacob Jones (grocery) |
807 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1881–1885 | Pierce Brown |
809 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Pierce Brown |
811 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910 | Joseph Duchneskie & Family |
| 1910 | Joseph & Clara Duchneskie |
| 1910 | George W. Willingmyre |
| 1910 | Lizzie Duchneskie |
819 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1931 | Earl Bundy |
| 1937 | William Nelson (Frank F. Neutze, Henry Wells) |
822 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1878 | Pierce Brown |
823 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Nathaniel Winthers |
824 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1936 | Earl Bundy (Lewis Liberman, John Burns, John Huston, Samuel P. Orlando) |
830 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1954–1959 | Thomas J. Carter |
| 1960s | Julia P. Dickerson |
831 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Adalbert Wojtkowiak & Family |
| 1906 | Albert Wojtkowiak |
| 1906 | Adalbert & Mary Wojtkowiak |
| 1906 | Mitchell Wojtkowiak |
Hospital Cases
Camden Courier-Post —
WEST JERSEY
Alfred Fabiano, 26, of 2614 Manall ave., Pennsauken, cut fingers.
Nathaniel Winthers, 45, of 823 Sycamore st., cut hand.
Julia Williams, 6, of 688 Hazelton ct., cuts over eye.
Rochelle Rivera, 3, of 643 Locust st., cut forehead.
Ronald De Pasquale, 8, of Central ave., Glendora, cut forehead.
COOPER
Susan Harvey, 3, of 907 Pine st., cut scalp.
Rosie Ross, 79, of 312 Cherry st., dog bite of arm.
Clarence Chapman, 65, of 739 Kaighns ave., cut head.
Leroy Freedman Jr., 7, of 952 Linden st., cut over eye.
Karen Mathis, 5, of 169 Frazer ave., Collingswood, cut face.
Fireman’s Stolen Car Is Found Stripped
Camden Courier-Post —
A city fireman’s stolen car was found abandoned early Sunday on Somerdale rd. near Chews Landing. Missing were four wheels, a spare tire, the battery and $150 of carpentry tools.
The owner, Thomas Carter, 830 Sycamore st., told Ptl. Lawrence Chomier, of Gloucester Township police, the automobile had been parked near the 4th and Pine Streets Fire Station Friday night. When he went off duty Saturday the machine was gone, Carter reported.
Chomier said he found the stripped car off the roadway near old Black Horse pike. A check with Camden police showed Carter reported the car stolen.
900 Block of Sycamore Street
Jones
Walter (Billy) of 916 Sycamore St., Camden, N.J. Age 46 years. Died Jan. 1, 1975, survived by wife Jean, parents Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jones, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Friends and relatives are invited to attend the funeral services on Sunday, 8 p.m., at the Carl Miller Funeral Home, 831 VanHook St., Camden, N.J., where friends may call after 6 p.m.
Interment Evergreen Cemetery, Camden, N.J.
Held for Boy’s Death
A charge of manslaughter was made yesterday against Charles Evans, the Laurel Springs expressman, whose motor truck on Thursday run over and killed seven-year-old Joseph Wojtkowiak at Tenth and Mechanic streets. The charge was made by the boy’s father. Evans was committed to the county jail by Recorder Stackhouse and later was released in $1000 bail by direction of Prosecutor Kraft.
At the hearing before the Recorder John M. Welsh, of 917 Sycamore street, testified that at the time of the fatal accident Evans was talking to man riding with him and that the boy was crossing the street and did not run from in back of an ice wagon, as was first stated.
917, 919, 921, and 923 were willed to John M. Welsh by my Great Grandfather John J. Welsh the builder. The large rear yards of 919–921 were used as a used firewood business by my Grandfather and father Edgar until the late 1950’s. All of the inventory was destroyed in the late 1950’s in a large fire. John M. Welsh (died 1936) and my Grandmother Catherine (died 1944) (nee Duey or Dewey). 917 was owned by John M Welsh Jr. and was lost to his ex-wife Helen Welsh/Helen Polanski in a divorce settlement. My parents lived in 919 and 921 until my father Edgar Welsh (died 1973) and Elizabeth moved in 1974. The 917, 919, and 921 homes were rented and burned to the ground sometime in 1978–1979. 921 was rented to my grandmother Anna from 1947–1973. My father told me that 923 was a mud house that collapsed in the 1920s.
— Ed Welsh
900 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 900 block, with records from 1880 through the 1980s.
908 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1942 | Casimir Wojtkowiak |
| 1942 | Casmeir Wojtkowiak |
910 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1918 | Stanislaus Chudzinski Family |
| 1900s–1918 | Stanislaus & Pelagia Chudzinski |
| 1900s–1918 | Leon F. Chudzinski |
916 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1974–1975 | Walter 'Billy' Jones & Family |
| 1974–1975 | Walter & Jean Jones |
917 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Gus Glandes |
| 1887 | August Corson |
| 1890 | John Melcher |
| 1914–1940s | John M. Welsh Sr. & Family (John M. & Catherine Welsh, John M. Welsh Jr., Edgar M. Welsh; Joseph Wojtkowiak, O. Glen Stackhouse, William J. Kraft) |
| 1914–1940s | John M. & Catherine Welsh |
| 1914–1940s | John M. Welsh Jr. |
| 1914–1940s | Edgar M. Welsh |
| 1980 | M. Wilson |
919 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880–1906 | Connard Heck Family |
| 1906 | John M. Welsh |
| 1924–1929 | Joseph Kwoka |
| 1940s–1974 | Edgar M. Welsh & Family (Edgar & Elizabeth Welsh) |
| 1978–1979 | Destroyed by fire |
921 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Sarah Brown |
| 1887–1888 | Gottlob Liebich |
| 1929 | Andrew Bialoskurski |
| 1947 | Oscar Lampkin |
| 1978–1979 | Destroyed by fire |
923 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880 | Mary Tilman |
| 1887–1890 | Moses Stevens |
| 1887–1888 | Rev. William Wayman |
Murderer and Forger Escape Jail After Shooting Keepers, Killing One
Camden Post-Telegram —
Wilson Ashbridge, Who Shot and Killed Mrs. Elizabeth Dunbar and George E. Thompson, Check Swindler, Trap Jailor Hibbs by a Ruse and After Slaying Him Shoot Joe Ellis Who Intercepted Them in Flight.
Used Revolver Smuggled Into Prison by Confederates and Leave Jail Wide Open in Their Flight, a General Delivery Being Averted by Police Who Were Summoned by the Wounded Men.
Murdering one jailor and wounding another with a revolver that had been smuggled into them by outside confederates, Wilson T. Ashbridge, slayer of Mrs. Elizabeth Dunbar, and Francis Murphy, alias George E. Thompson, a check forger, made their escape from the county jail a few minutes before seven o’clock last night.
Ashbridge with his wife was caught at noon in the Keystone Hotel in Chester PA where they registered at one o’clock this morning.
Thompson is still at liberty but from the confident manner of Prosecutor Kraft his early arrest seems assured.
The murdered jailor was Isaac Hibbs, aged 65 years of 913 South 8th Street. The wounded keeper is Joseph Ellis, aged 45 years, of 416 Carteret Street. Shot twice, he is in Cooper Hospital. His condition today is very satisfactory.
Thompson, who is 41 years old, forged a check for $650 which he gave to V.M. Fulton as part of the purchase price of an automobile. The forgery was discovered before the deal was completed and his arrest followed on June 8. he also passed a forged check for $15 on State Motor Vehicle Agent Kraft. He, too, was awaiting trial. In spite of the positive evidence against him Thompson had spurned all efforts to have him plead guilty and it is now believed that he was sparring for time while hatching a plan to escape. He is no doubt the master mind.
R.L. Hunter, a farmer of Bensalem Township, Bucks County PA, about four miles above Torresdale, reported to the Philadelphia police the morning that he had seen a man answering Ashbridge’s description on the Bucks Road at daylight. The man asked the way to Riegelsville.
According to Hunter, the man was dressed in a dark suit, and had no hat. His clothing was wet. Hunter did not see anything suspicious in his actions, and after giving him directions, they parted.
Upon seeing the paper with a picture of Ashbridge, the farmer was struck by its resemblance to the man with whom he had talked. He hurried to Tacony and notified the police.
The State police, who patrol that section of the county, and who have an office at Langhorne, were immediately notified as were the surrounding towns.
The shootings took place in different parts of the jail. Hibbs was murdered in the exercise room just outside the cell room on the Sixth and Arch corner of the building. Ellis was shot down in the corridor just outside the Market Street end of the building when he heroically grappled with Ashbridge after the latter had pointed a gun at his head. In spite of his wounds Ellis dragged himself to a telephone and after notifying Police Headquarters of what had happened he collapsed.
Only one of the two bullets is still in Ellis. It entered the groin on the right side and is buried in the muscles of the leg, having taken a downward course for seven or eight inches. The other bullet struck Ellis in the right breast and came out in the left breast, traversing the upper fleshy parts of the body.
Hibbs was almost instantaneously killed by a bullet that went within an inch of his heart, producing a hemorrhage. The bullet was extracted this morning from the body early this morning in an autopsy performed at the morgue by County Physician Stem. In spite of the fact that it is pretty well established that three shots were fires in the attack on Hibbs, only one of the bullets took effect.
“But it makes little difference which of the two men handled the gun” said Prosecutor Kraft this morning. “Both are equally guilty of this murder and what we are concerned about now is the recapture of the gunmen.” Mr. Kraft added that it his purpose to examine all of the prisoners in that part of the jail where Hibbs was murdered to determine fully who fired the fatal shot.
The escape had been carefully planned and timed to the minute. Of course the desperate prisoners were aided by confederates on the outside and it is the general belief that a high powered motor car was in waiting for them not far from the jail. They are known to have been in possession of money and openly boasted yesterday that it was their intention to leave the prison last night. These boasts were made to two young ladies connected with a religious organization who called on the two men yesterday to offer spiritual reconciliation. The girls are frequent visitors to the jail and naturally their efforts at evangelization were directed in the main toward Ashbridge, because of the fact that he was accused of murder. These girls, whose identity officials will not disclose, were closeted with Prosecutor Kraft until one o’clock this morning. Both declared that on their visit yesterday they were told by Ashbridge and Thompson that it was the last day they expected to spend in jail.
“We are going to get away from here tonight and we’ve got money to help us after we are out ” said Ashbridge, who further told the girls he had considerable cash sewed up in the waistband of his trousers. The girls begged the prisoners not to do anything that would cause them more trouble and they told the Prosecutor that Ashbridge and Thompson promised them that they would not make any effort to escape. In their talks with the girls neither of the prisoners said a word that would indicate that they would kill if necessary to escape. The full force of their boast did not dawn on the religious workers and for this reason it never occurred to them to inform the Sheriff of what the prisoners had in said.
A general jail delivery of at least all the men confined in what is known as the untried department, where the two were held, was only averted by the prompt arrival of the police on their beat, which was made easy by means of the keys taken from the prostrate body of Hibbs. Ashbridge and Thompson left all of the doors open and the vanguard of the inrushing police found the prisoners swarming all over the corridors on the east side of the prison. In the wild excitement following the double shooting and escape none else thought of freedom and a checking up of the inmates after they had been herded in the exercise room of the untried department accounted for all but the fugitive slayers.
The department, in which the two men were confined is the same one which William Brown and Charles Berger made their sensational escape several years ago by sawing away the bars on the Federal Street front of the jail. Thrilling as it was, the former escape was insignificant in comparison with last night’s tragic event.
With the full force of the keepers out of the way— one dead and the other suffering from gunshot wounds at first supposed to have been fatal— Ashbridge and Thompson had nothing between them and freedom but the door entering from the spiral stairway leading to the narrow entrance of the Sixth and Market Streets end of the Court House. With the keys taken from Hibbs they opened the door and in a few seconds were breathing the free air. It was still daylight when the daring murderers walked from the building and although they were no doubt seen by some of the scores of persons passing it is certain that they managed to control themselves to such an extent as not to arouse any undue suspicion. The exit they used to escape is that used by the general public and therefore persons passing calmly in and out of the door would not in any manner be thought to have been connected with a jail delivery. However the shots which had laid low the keepers had been plainly heard on all four sides of the building and it is strange that no one has yet been found who can give positive information as to what course the fleeing men took and whether they were aided in their flight by an automobile.
While the police and detectives of Camden and all other cities in the East are watching railroad terminals, steamship lines, and all other avenues of travel in response to the general alarm sent out last night, Prosecutor Kraft is bending all his energies to learn who smuggled in the revolver which the fugitives used. Thus far this feature of the case is as complete a mystery as it was last night. Mr. Kraft and Sheriff Haines are satisfied, however, that only one gun was used for both shootings. It was at first thought that each man had a pistol when they left the jail; that one of them armed himself with the gun that Hibbs was supposed to have carried, but it was determined that Hibbs was not armed when he went into the jail last night. There was no occasion for him to come in contact with any of the prisoners and for that reason he left his revolver in his desk in the office. Even had he carried it he would have little chance to use it, so cold-bloodedly was he slain as he unsuspectingly fell into the trap laid for him by the desperate gunmen. There is also some conflict as to how at least one of the fugitives was dressed. Alfred Williams, who witnessed the murder of Hibbs, said that Ashbridge was without coat or hat when he dashed out of the cell-room, and that Thompson carried his coat and hat under his arm. However in a description of the two men given at the Prosecutor’s office it was set forth that Ashbridge wore a blue serge suit and a checkered cap. The coat that he is supposed to have taken bore the mark of “Tull— the Tailor,” of Jacksonville, Florida, and had been borrowed by him from another prisoner. He wore tan shoes. Ashbridge is 27 years old, 5 feet 7-1/2 inches in height and weighs 137 pounds. He has brown hair, smooth face and is of light complexion.
Thompson wore a brown suit and a Panama hat. He is 41 years old 5 feet seven inches in height, and weighs 175 pounds. He has brown bushy hair, is minus one of the fingers on his left hand, and is light complexioned.
The tan shoes worn by Ashbridge were also borrowed from one of the prisoners. He got them on Saturday and remarked that he wanted to look neat.
Keepers Ellis and Hibbs were reading in the prison office last evening when Hibbs glanced up at the clock and noticed that it was a few minutes of seven. “Joe, I’m going back and put the boys in their cells,” he said to Ellis and with his keys in his hand he started for the cell room in the untried department. A thirty foot long corridor runs from the office to the barred and grated door opening into the department in which the cells are situated. This department is about the size of three ordinary school rooms and in the southeastern corner of the jail are the cells, in two tiers.
Around the cells is a three foot corridor into which all the cells doors open and in which all the prisoners are permitted to walk when they are not allowed out in the main room. When the inmates are ordered into their cells and their doors closed the doors are locked from the outside of the steel cage by means of a lever worked by the jailor. Thus every cell door can be made secure without the keepers coming into actual contact with the prisoners. In addition to the bars around the corridor fronting on the double tier of cells there is a fine mesh heavy wire screening.
As Hibbs approached the lever which is operated to shut the cell doors after the prisoners have retired from the corridors, Ashbridge was leaning against the grating of his cell, Number 18. Thompson was lounging a few feet away.
“Daddy, open the door, I want you to see this note,” said Ashbridge to the keeper, at the same time displaying a piece of paper which he had in his hand. Never giving a thought that he was about to perform an act that which was absolutely necessary for the carrying-out of the well laid plot, or that he was going to his doom, or was even in danger, “Daddy,” as the aged keeper was known to all the prisoners, opened the door without hesitation.
As he swung wide the big steel frame, Ashbridge quickly stepped out and the next instant was pressing a gun against the abdomen of the jailor.
“Throw up your hands, you ___ ___ ___” he commanded.
“What are you up to, what’s this mean,” asked the keeper, apparently not realizing he had been trapped.
For reply Thompson jumped out the door, wrenched the gun from Ashbridge’s grasp and with an oath began firing at Hibbs, who sank to the floor at the first shot. Only a few feet away and the only other person in the exercise room, although the shooting could have been seen by any other prisoners who had not retired to their cells, Alfred Williams, trusty, is emphatic in his assertion that Thompson fired the shot that killed Hibbs and that he fired three times.
“It’s a wonder they did not get me,” said Williams. “Ashbridge and I could not hit it and in his desperate mood I am surprised he didn’t kill me, too.” Williams, who has just completed a six months’ sentence for obtaining money from Italian grocers by falsely representing himself as an agent for a wholesale house in Chicago and who is wanted in the Windy City for the same offense, says the whole transaction took less than a minute and that the moves came so fast he and the other prisoners were powerless to aid.
“It was like a flash of lightning” said Williams, “and before I could fully understand what had happened Ashbridge had grabbed Daddy’s keys’ which had fallen to the floor, and was off like a deer for the barred door. Ashbridge had taken the smoking gun from Thompson, who had his hat and coat under his arm and who was right behind the other one.
“As they hurried through the door after Ashbridge had opened it with Daddy’s keys Daddy called to me to raise him. I put my arm under his head and lifted him slightly from the floor. ‘Hold my hands’ he said to me. I took hold of his hands and the next minute he died in my arms. Then I heard two more shots and I knew they got Joe Ellis.”
Startled by the shots, and he is emphatic there were three in rapid succession, Ellis leaped to his feet and without taking the time to arm himself ran from the office and turned into the corridor just as Ashbridge, wild-eyed and gun in his hand, came running toward him. Halting three yards away Ashbridge pointed the revolver at Ellis’ head and ordered him to throw up his hands.
For reply and without fear of himself the keeper dashed at the murderer and the next instant they were locked in each others’ embrace. Working loose the hand which held the gun, Ashbridge pulled the trigger. The bullet struck Ellis in the breast, but the wound was not sufficient to render him helpless. However, before he could grip the pistol arm, Ashbridge fired again and the keeper fell back with a bullet in his groin.
“The second shot got me,” said Ellis to Prosecutor Kraft and Assistant Prosecutor Butler at the hospital. “The first one wasn’t bad but my strength left me when the second bullet struck. Ashbridge was the only one I saw. I did not see Thompson.”
Dragging himself to the office Ellis managed to reach a telephone and called up the police.
“This is Ellis at the county jail; come quick. Ashbridge has shot me” he weakly said over the phone to Captain Hyde. Then the receiver fell from his hand and he dropped to the floor, but after a minute or two managed to climb into chair.
While patrol loads of policemen were being hurried to the Court House from the First and Second District station houses, Reserve Officer Charles Hose, on duty at Broadway and Federal Street, who had heard the shots, ran to the Court House and from the office of Assistant Custodian John Lack phoned up to the jail. Ellis managed to answer and in a few words told what had happened. They ran up to the jail and were admitted by Ellis, who was rapidly growing weaker from loss of blood, the trail of which plainly showed just where the injured keeper had moved.
“I guess Ashbridge got away and the jail is all open, you had better take care of the rest of the prisoners,” said Ellis to Hose and Lack. The fugitive-murderers had left all doors open and the other occupants of the untried department were swarming through the corridors. Their curses and yells and the shrieks and cries of the female prisoners had turned the place into a perfect bedlam. With the aid of other policemen who swarmed into the Court House like bees, the prisoners were soon herded into the exercise room, where Trusty Williams checked them up and accounted for all but Ashbridge and Thompson.
With the faint hope that the missing pair had not risked leaving the building but had secreted themselves in the structure, the courthouse was searched from pit to dome, but no trace of the men were found.
Detective Doran was the first of the Prosecutor’s staff to reach the scene. Mr. Kraft and the balance of the staff soon followed. In the lower end of the county, on official business, Sheriff Haines was reached by phone and Under Sheriff Hewitt was summoned from Pitman and until an early hour this morning the officials were in conference and examining numerous prisoners.
State Detective Walter Le Torneau furnished Prosecutor Kraft with a promising “tip” this morning when he learned that Thompson gave a letter to Freeholder Howard Marshall, of the Eighth Ward, to mail on Sunday. Mr. Marshall states that the letter was addressed to a woman by the name of Mrs. Shelton, in Baltimore MD.
Marshall was attending religious service in the jail when Thompson approached him.
“Put this in your pocket and mail it for me when you go out,” said Thompson to Mr. Marshall, who agreed to carry out the request. Dropping the letter in the mail box Marshall allowed the incident to pass without further notice.
Detective Le Torneau learned this morning that Marshall had spoken to the incident to a friend and the sleuth notified the Prosecutor. The tip will be run down the Prosecutor stated.
Funeral services for Hibbs will be held on Thursday from his late residence. The body will be taken to Langhorne PA where interment will be made in the Friends’ Cemetery under the direction of the Schroeder-Kephart Company. Services will be conducted Wednesday evening by Reverend Henry Bradway, pastor of the Eighth Street Methodist Episcopal Church.
POLICE QUICKLY AT WORK
Although the murderous prisoners made their escape, it was no fault of the local police department, which threw out a “dragnet system” that covered practically every outlet from the city. As soon as the call reached headquarters the red lights were flashing and every officer and detective who could be reached was sent out on the “man hunt” which was pursued with vigor.
Passing automobiles were pressed into service by the detectives and officers and all haste was made for the ferries, railroad yards, terminals, and trolley points. Citizens cooperated with the police in their efforts to run down the escaping prisoners.
Assistant Chief Hyde received the call from Jailor Ellis, who though wounded himself summoned strength enough to reach the phone.
“This is Jailor Ellis. Hibbs and me have been shot by that man Ashbridge and help quick!” was the startling message which came over the phone to Chief Hyde about one minute past seven.
It was just at the time the shifts were going on and off at the local station houses. Chief Hyde lost no time. He called to Machine Operator “Eddie” King to send the message to the station houses and flash the red lights. This was done and as fast as the men could run they covered the various points.
The auto patrols were dispatched with all hands to the Court House and the wounded men hurried to the hospital. Coroner Robert G. Schroeder reached the hospital as Hibbs and Ellis were being admitted and he took charge of the situation and got in touch with Prosecutor Kraft and County Physician Stem.
Detective Captain Schregler was hurriedly summoned, and his men were sent in all directions. Detective Brothers boarded a waiting automobile and a record run was made for the Federal Street ferry. Sergeant Humes was picked up and in four minutes after the call was received from Ellis Detective Brothers had the ferry covered.
Detectives Troncone, Painter and Murry and captain Schregler covered the Kaighn Avenue, Vine Street, and Cramer Hill ferry lines.
Detective Brothers got in touch with the Pennsylvania Railroad officials who put their detective force to work searching freight and passenger cars. The orders were sent out from the railroad office to stop and search every freight train. Dispatches were also sent to Trenton, Mount Holly, and Burlington and it was not long before the news of the atrocious deed had spread throughout the country and many distant places.
Trolley cars were stopped and searched by the police, but not the slightest trace could be found of the escaped prisoners. The police left nothing undone in the “man-hunt.”
When news of the affair spread through the city phone calls began to come in to headquarters. Over fifty persons called up to tell the police that they had seen the two men at various places. The “tips” were all run down but none materialized.
Officers Arthur Colsey and Theodore Guthrie, who were on their vacations, lent their aid to Chief Hyde. Policeman Colsey pressed his automobile into service and carried the police to various parts of the city.
Co-operating closely with Prosecutor Kraft’s detectives the city officials formed a combination which in nine times out of ten would have been successful, but the escaped men cleverly eluded their pursuers.
Assisted by Coroner Schroeder, County Physician Stem held a post mortem examination on Hibbs’ body. The bullet which caused the death was located in the region of the heart, It passed through the victim’s lung, causing a hemorrhage, which resulted in death. Following the examination the body was taken by the Schroeder-Kephart Company at the family’s orders to be prepared for burial.
ASHBRIDGE’S FIRST CRIME
The brutal crime for which Ashbridge stood indicted but untried was committed on the night of January 22 at Ninth and Market Streets. It developed that the murderer had followed his intended victim from the morning hours. He trailed her to the home of her sister, a Mrs. Meredith, of 911 Market Street, and laid in wait in the darkness of a building that fatal Saturday night.
Mrs. Dunbar came out of the house and stood on the northeast corner while waiting for a ferry-bound trolley car. She intended going to Sicklerville that night to visit her relatives. With her at the time was her 7-year-old daughter, Eleanor, and her father, Charles Dunbar. Ashbridge advanced toward the woman, who was startled when she saw him. She called to her father that she “didn’t want anything to do with Ashbridge.”
Before the father could interfere the young murderer whipped out a revolver and covered the father and the woman. He then struck the woman violently in the face with his fist and as she was reeling under the force of the brutal blow Ashbridge fired, the first bullet taking effect in the woman’s chest. The brutal murderer then stood over his prostrate victim and holding the revolver less than five inches from his victim’s body he pumped four more shots into her.
Policeman Howard Smith and Policeman Taylor were a square distant. Smith saw the entire proceedings and screamed at Ashbridge to stop shooting. A crowd quickly gathered and Dr. Maldeis, who lives nearby, came running to the scene to aid the stricken woman.
Officer Taylor espied Ashbridge in the crowd. The murderer made no effort to run, but stood his ground. Detecting the murderer trying to slip something up his sleeve, Taylor pounced upon him and bore him to the ground, at the same time taking the gun away from him and slipping the handcuffs over the murderer’s wrists. Policeman Taylor had to draw his revolver to keep back the large crowd that was threatening. Showing no concern whatever, Ashbridge calmly waited until the police auto arrived. In the meantime the murdered woman’s still warm body was placed in a “jitney” and with Officer Smith and Dr. Maldeis a hurry run was made for Cooper Hospital but when the institution was reached, Mrs. Dunbar was pronounced dead.
Ashbridge was taken to the hospital by Policeman Taylor in the police auto. He asked “how she is.” Informed that he had accomplished his purpose, the young murderer asked to see the woman. When the white sheet covering the still form of the murdered woman was drawn from the face Ashbridge leaned over and kissed the forehead of the woman. He was then taken to the County jail and locked up. Before Recorder Stackhouse on the following Monday Ashbridge pleaded guilty.
Ashbridge was infatuated with the woman, who was a member of the Temple Theater chorus. Because of Ashbridge’s persistent attentions she was compelled to give up her position. Mrs. Dunbar had previously accepted Ashbridge’s attentions, thinking that he was unmarried, but upon learning that he had a wife and child she informed him that it would be best for them not to see each other, but the young man refused to discontinue his attentions.
On the day of the shooting Ashbridge was seen in various places. He is said to have followed the woman to the Federal Street ferry, but lost track of her. Around noon he was seen at Front and Pearl Streets by Policeman Boyd, who ordered him to move on. Boyd was about to arrest him as a suspicious character, but Ashbridge pleaded that he was looking for a friend. All that day Ashbridge followed the woman until night, when he cruelly murdered her.
The murderer came from a respectable family. Dissipation is thought to have caused the young man to lose his sense of reasoning. Rather good-looking, Ashbridge had tender baby-like eyes and his case excited sympathy among the more tender-hearted people.
Sweetmeats, tasty sandwiches, and other small luxuries were said to have been given the young murderer while he languished in his cell. He had many visitors. Recently Ashbridge was taken violently ill after eating some crabs which were given him by a friend. He and Jailor Hibbs were very friendly.
THOMPSON A CLEVER FORGER
Thompson, or Murphy, was a self-styled lawyer and was committed by Recorder Stackhouse in June for forging checks to the amount of $1,055. The worthless checks were “worked” on the McClelland-Fulton Auto Company and Motor Vehicle Agent A.C. Kraft.
When a check for $150 presented to the automobile company by Thompson and drawn to the order of “G.E. Thompson” on the Harrisonburg, Virginia National Bank came back from the home office of the Studebaker Company as worthless, Mr. Fulton called in the police.
Thompson had previously presented a check for $890 as payment on an automobile. This check was drawn on Thompson’s favor on the Coatesville National Bank and was purported to have been signed by Louis L. Gibney, a hotel man of Downington PA. This check was still in the possession of Mr. Fulton when Thompson was arrested after the first check was returned marked “no funds.”
The clever swindler also presented a bad check to Agent Kraft for $15 for which he received the license to operate the automobile which he proposed buying.
Detective Troncone arrested Thompson at Fifth and Market Streets on June 2. The defendant had been living in a room at 220 North Fifth Street.
Giving his home address as Daytona, Florida, Thompson represented himself as a lawyer. Well dressed and wearing nose glasses, Thompson was an intelligent appearing man, he had a bushy pompadour which was streaked with gray and talked in a persuasive manner. His forgeries on Mr. Gibney’s signature were so clever that Gibney himself could not tell the difference.
After Thompson’s arrest Detective Captain Schregler sent out notices to several southern cities. He received responses from Harrisonburg, Norfolk, and Petersburg Virginia and that Thompson was wanted in all three cities for check forgeries.
Bert Hibbs, a city foreman and a son of the slain jailor, was murdered early Sunday morning, December 25, 1910 when his throat was cut by Clement Ridgway, a negro, aged 22 years, of Seventh and Sycamore Streets. It was about 12:20 on Christmas morning that Hibbs while crossing the lots at Seventh and Sycamore was accosted by Ridgeway, who wanted to shake hands with Hibbs. The latter refused, a quarrel ensued and Ridgeway whipped out a razor and slashed Hibbs across the throat with such violence that his head was nearly severed. Hibbs died while on the way to the hospital. Ridgway was arrested after a battle by Detectives Schregler, Painter and Brothers and several officers at his home, 1207 Lilly Row.
Indicted for murder Ridgway pleaded non vult. On April 24, 1911, to a charge of murder in the second degree, he was sentenced to 25 years in state Prison at hard labor.
SECOND MURDER IN JAIL
This is the second murder and second escape from the present jail. The first murder took place in November, 1907, when George Stewart, a young negro, stabbed to death John Snell, who was awaiting trial for carrying in the business of fortune telling. Stewart was in jail on a charge of dealing in opium and cocaine. He had a complete opium layout in his cell. He and Snell had a quarrel and he stabbed Snell to death in his cell. He was tried and convicted and sentenced to be electrocuted during the week of February 8, 1908. He was electrocuted on February 4, being the first man to suffer the death penalty by electrocution.
On July 13, 1910 William T. Brown, alias Gillespie, who had been sentenced to seven years on a charge of forgery, and Charles Berger, who was under sentence for picking pockets, made their escape from jail after sawing the bars on the Federal Street front. They climbed over the balustrade to the roof, descended through a trapdoor, climbed down stairs and walked leisurely through the Court House building and out into the street unnoticed. They entered an automobile and were driven away. They crossed to Philadelphia on a North Cramer Hill Ferry boat.
Several weeks later Brown was arrested in New York City and was sentenced to Auburn Prison on an old charge. His term will expire shortly and he has also applied to the Court of Pardons of this State for a parole. A detainer has been lodged against him at the State prison where he is located and he will be brought back and resentenced. Berger was captured in Chicago and was brought back and served a term at Trenton.
Feitz Funeral Photographs
Camden Evening Courier —
Police officials and fellow officers of Detective William T. Feitz, Jr., slain last Sunday in a disorderly house in Sycamore street, attended the funeral services Saturday. Top photo shows pall-bearers removing Feitz’s body from the undertaking establishment of Coroner Arthur H. Holl at left. The pall-bearers, left to right, are Patrolmen Joseph Leonhardt, Feitz’ companion the night he was slain; Otto Taperscer, Delaware Palmer, William Weaver and Paul Jackson. Lower photo shows police officials at the services. Left to right, Lt. Herbert Anderson, Chief Colsey, Lt. Ralph Bakely, E. Howard Broome, secretary to Mayor Stewart, and Lt. George Ward.
Battle Over the War
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Austrian Husband and Russian Wife Have Their Own Troubles
“Down with the Russians!” shouted a voice from a house at 911 Sycamore street, Camden, early yesterday morning as Policeman Cornog passed. At the same time there was a cry of “murder” and a crash that seemed to indicate the house was being torn apart When the officer went into the place he found Thomas Sewitsky pacing up and down, smashing dishes and breaking down doors while his wife cowered in a corner
The cause of this wild outbreak, it was revealed before Recorder Stackhouse later, lay in the fact that Sewitsky is an Austrian and he has become overwrought because the Russians are invading his native land. He was sent to jail for a couple of weeks to retain his mental equilibrium, a charge of disorderly conduct having been made by his wife, Lucy.
Mrs. Eva B. Hogate obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Eva B. Hogate
MRS. EVA B. HOGATE
The funeral of Mrs. Eva Belle Hogate, 75, who died Monday at the home, 1002 Sycamore street, Haddon Heights, will be held today at the convenience of the family at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray and Son, 114 White Horse pike, Haddon Heights. Burial will be private. She was an active member of Broadway M. E. Church, Camden, for years.
** Thomas Lubinsky, aged 3 years, of 1007 Sycamore street, found a box containing poison and ate some of the contents. Members of the family found him unconscious a few minutes later. A physician saved the tot’s life.
All Is Confusion Dept.: A woman ran breathlessly into the firehouse at Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenues yesterday and excitedly told a harrowing story of impending tragedy.
Engine Co. 7 immediately swung into action. The city electrical bureau learned of the mission and dispatched the emergency squad and two other fire engines.
The woman stood in her backyard, somewhat dazed as city apparatus began piling around the premises at 1012 Sycamore street. Vainly she tried to explain there must be some mistake, but the emergency squad readied its pulmotor and blankets while the firefighters grimly went about the business of saving a life.
Only when the rescuers had extricated the half-drowned victim from a backyard lavatory, and then turned reproachful stares at the poor woman, was she able to explain the misunderstanding. She had been trying to tell them all along, she said, that it was not her kiddie who was in danger, but her kittie.
Latest report on the cat’s condition said “fair.”
STERN.—On February 17, 1894, Ludwig Stern, beloved husband of Philippine Stern, nee Lang, aged 49 years and 4 months.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, this Tuesday afternoon, at 1 o’clock, from his late residence, 1017 Sycamore street, Camden, N. J. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery.
John Cowan, 53 years old, of 1024 Sycamore street, died suddenly yesterday from hemorrhages of the stomach. He was a life-long resident of Camden.
1000 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 1000 block, with records from the 1890s onward.
1000 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Mrs. Eva Belle Hogate |
1007 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1897 | Henry C. Knowles & Family |
| 1897 | Henry C. & Sarah Long Knowles |
| 1897 | Alice Knowles |
| 1903 | Thomas Lubinsky |
1010 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1899 | Hugh McTaggart & Family |
| 1899 | Hugh & Mary McTaggart |
| 1899 | Hugh McTaggart Jr. |
| 1899 | John McTaggart |
| 1899 | Isabelle McTaggart |
| 1899 | Esther McTaggart |
| 1899 | Mary McTaggart |
| 1899 | James McTaggart |
1012 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1932 | Ernest Finney |
| 1932–1947 | Mrs. Sarah Finney |
1017 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1894 | Ludwig Stern & Family |
| — | Ludwig & Philippine Stern |
1024 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | John Cowan |
Boy Stoning R.R. Train Is Jailed for 100 Days
Camden Courier-Post —
Charged with throwing stones through the windows of trains at Haddon avenue and Line street, Ernest Tinney, 17, colored, of 1012 Sycamore street, was sentenced to 100 days in jail yesterday by Police Judge Pancoast.
Three youths arrested with him, Thomas Howard, 18, of 815 Cherry street; Robert Morton, 20, of 457 Berkley street, and William Wallace, 19, of 1031 South Ninth street, all colored, were given suspended sentences when George Baitzel, a Pennsylvania Railroad policeman, testified he saw only Tinney throwing stones.
Edward Barnes, 29, colored, of 958 South Ninth street, alleged to have threatened Baitzel, also received a suspended sentence.
News of a Day in the City of Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden is to have another daily newspaper. The stockholders met yesterday and elected these officers: President, George M. Beringer; vice president, William E. Anthony; secretary, Newton B. T. Roney; treasurer, John Danenhower. It will be called the Daily News, and while it is to be a business proposition, it will be established mainly for the advocacy of the Colby-Record movement in New Jersey. It will be opposed to present local political conditions.
Albert Reese, 27 years old, of 834 Jersey avenue, Gloucester City, fell eighty feet from a scaffold at the New York Ship Yard last night. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital apparently fatally injured. An examination revealed the fact that he had escaped with slight bruises.
James McDonald, who was struck by a train at Fish House Monday, died at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, yesterday, without regaining consciousness. His address is unknown and the body was removed to the Morgue awaiting a claimant.
According to the report of Health Physician Leavitt, of the Camden Board of Health, the health of the city is exceedingly good. In all there were but thirty-nine contagious diseases reported for the past month. There was but one case of typhoid fever. This disease has almost entirely disappeared from Camden, there having been less than a score of cases the past year.
A number of Camden’s officials enjoyed a planked shad dinner at Chew’s Landing last night. In the party were City Comptroller Samuel Hufty, City Engineer Levi Farnham, Assistant Tax Receivers Charles Elfreth, J. F. Newton and Frank Heisler, Assistant Engineer William Osler, License Clerk John McCabe, Building Inspector William Steinmetz, Plumbing Inspector Harry Francis and Mayor Charles H. Ellis.
Robert Floyd, a colored stevedore, of Mt. Ephraim avenue, Camden, is building a thirty-five-foot boat in his back yard with the object of using it to seek a treasure island in the West Indies. Although his home is nearly two miles from the river, Floyd declares he will have no difficulty in launching the rather unwieldy craft. A sailor on board a vessel which Floyd was unloading told him the tale of hidden gold and as a result the Camden man decided to seek out the spot on his own hook.
There was an exciting incident in Recorder Stackhouse’s court, in Camden, yesterday, when a young woman yelled a denial in a high voice as a witness was testifying in the case of Herbert M. Denny against Chauncey Bell and Frederick Bock, the latter two being charged with assault and battery. Silence was restored by the court officers and the case was concluded by the defendants being held in $200 bail each.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nace in the Circuit Court, in Camden, yesterday were given a verdict for $25 against the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Company. The plaintiffs sued for $2500, they claiming a conductor of the company roughly handled the woman on March 16 of last year when she was put off a train. In the case of Charles Smith against the Public Service Corporation a verdict was given for the plaintiff in the sum of $600.
William H. Cox, 18 years old, of 903 Haddon avenue, had his right foot crushed at the Camden Iron Works yesterday. He was taken to the Cooper Hospital.
William Walsh, 17 years old, of 524 Borton street, who had been missing several days, returned yesterday. He had gone to Atlantic City to see the sights.
The Germantown Wood Working Company was incorporated yesterday with a capital of $10,000.
Ida Jackson, a negress, was convicted of dealing in lottery policy before Judge Joline yesterday. William Derry, also a negro, was convicted on a similar charge.
John Cowan, 53 years old, of 1024 Sycamore street, died suddenly yesterday from hemorrhages of the stomach. He was a life-long resident of Camden.
At great personal risk, Dr. Ernest Ramsdell, of 425 Linden street, Camden, last night saved Arthur Grant, 11 years old, of 501 State street, from being crushed beneath a team of horses. Arthur, who was riding a bicycle, attempted to get out of the way of a dog. In doing so he wheeled directly into the horses. The latter reared and were about to fall on the boy when Dr. Ramsdell rushed over to him and dragged him from beneath the horses.
Intersection of Sycamore Street and Mt. Ephraim Avenue
Looking east onto Sycamore Street across Mt. Ephraim Avenue.
Cop Goes 70-An-Hour to Capture Autoist
Camden Courier-Post —
COP GOES 70-AN-HOUR TO CAPTURE AUTOIST
Speeding his car through a group of children roller-skating on Memorial avenue near Convention Hall last night, Robert S. Smith, 35, of 1120 Sycamore street, was overtaken and arrested by Motorcycle Patrolman Thomas Kauffman.
Kauffman declared he was compelled to drive at 70 miles an hour to overtake Smith, who provided bail of $25 on a reckless driving charge pending arraignment in traffic court, Sept. 25.
1124 Sycamore Street — Births (Cooper): Faith Mary, to Mr. and Mrs. Colin Joseph McCall, of 1124 Sycamore Street. 1938 Colin J. McCall & Family. Camden Courier-Post, February 16, 1938.
1126 Sycamore Street — 1919 Fred J. Wolford & Family (Irving Wolford). Harrison White, William Schregler, George Nowrey, Henry Moffett, George V. Murry, Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Dr. Joseph L. Nicholson. Camden Courier-Post, August 4, 1919.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage Licenses
Camden
Ezio J. Fabruzi, 24, of 714 South Fourth street, and Rebecca A. Faulhaber, 19, of 1126 Sycamore street.
Felder L. Wilson, 26, of 695 Van Hook street, and Louvenia James, 23, of 415 Stevens street.
Attacked Officer Who Made Arrest
ATTACKED OFFICER WHO MADE ARREST
While passing Orchard and Sycamore streets, Camden, yesterday, Policeman Camillus Appley, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs over 300 pounds, was attacked by Boleslaus Green, a Polish resident.
Appley was in citizen’s dress, but he placed Green under arrest and started for the patrol box. Nearing it, he was attacked by three other men, and Green, escaping, ran into his house at 1128 Sycamore street.
1129 Sycamore Street — Photo taken June 10, 2011.
1133 Sycamore Street — 1938 Stanley Czajkowski. A man and woman were injured at 3:45 p.m. yesterday when an automobile struck a parked car at Fortieth and Federal Streets, according to Pennsauken Township police. Mrs. Stella Pukala, 22, of 1218 Atlantic Avenue, received cuts and bruises of the face. John Foltynski, 35, of 1168 Ross Street, suffered cuts of the eye and head. Both were treated at West Jersey Hospital. They were passengers in a car driven by Stanley Czajkowski, 24, of 1133 Sycamore Street. Camden Courier-Post, February 7, 1938.
1133 Sycamore Street — Yost Fines 4 Autoists in Pennsauken Court: Fines for motor vehicle law violations were imposed on four autoists last night by Recorder George E. Yost, in Pennsauken. Stanley Czajowski, 24, of 1133 Sycamore Street, Camden, was fined $10 and $2.50 costs for having no driver’s license. Camden Courier-Post, February 8, 1938.
Woman’s Suspicious Death
WOMAN’S SUSPICIOUS DEATH
Expired in Hospital While Her Husband Is in Jail
Mrs. Leon Sanoski, of 1146 Sycamore street, Camden, died in Cooper Hospital yesterday, under suspicious circumstances. Her husband is in the county jail. According to a statement made by County Physician Jones after he conducted the post-mortem the woman died from cirrhosis of the liver. He said he saw no marks or bruises on the body.
The woman was found by Captain Stanley and Overseer of the Poor Jeffers unconscious on the floor of her home last Wednesday. She was examined by City Physician Jackson and ordered sent to the hospital. At the hearing the next day the doctor, police captain and overseer testified that the woman’s body was covered with bruises.
On Thursday Sanoski was taken to his wife’s bedside. Her ante-mortem statement was taken by Assistant Prosecutor Wolverton. Mrs. Sanoski said that her husband beat her into insensibility on Monday night and that he beat her once a week for eight years.
1146 Sycamore Street — 1955 V-J Beverage. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
Mrs. Stella B. Foster
MRS. STELLA B. FOSTER
Mrs. Stella Blaszko-Foster, 70, of 1171 Sycamore st., died Saturday in her home. She lived in Camden 45 years. Surviving are four daughters, Bertha Foster, of Pennsauken, Mrs. Agnes Mrczowski and Mrs. Josephin Jaworski, of Camden, and Mrs. Jennie Tulini, of Collingswood; three sons, Stanley, of Pennsauken, and Michael Foster, of Philadelphia, and Gregory Blaszko, of Camden; twenty grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Requiem high Mass will be sung Tuesday at 9 a. m. in St. Joseph’s R. C. Church, 10th and Mechanic sts. Friends will meet at 8 a. m. in the Przedepelski Funeral Home, 1458 Mt. Ephraim ave., where they may call Monday night. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.
Wife Says She Was Selling Rabbits
WIFE SAYS SHE WAS SELLING RABBITS
Charged with a serious offense, Mrs. Josephine Wieck, of 1172 Sycamore street, and John Mosier, of 1309 Green street, were liberated from the county jail last evening after having furnished $300 bail each. They were committed by Justice of the Peace Colding upon the complaint of Ignac Wieck, husband of the woman in the case.
The husband declares that his wife came upstairs in his room and cautiously took a peep to see if he was asleep. He played “possum,” or in other words closed his eyes. Satisfied the husband was dreaming, Mrs. Wieck withdrew from the room and went downstairs.
Wieck declares he arose from his bed and tip-toed downstairs after her. He could not find his wife on the lower floor, and going into the kitchen he found the cellar door open. He stole stealthily down the cellar stairs and alleges that he saw his wife with Mosier.
Mosier declares he followed the woman to the basement to see some rabbits which Mrs. Wieck wished to sell him and he emphatically denied the allegations made by the woman’s husband.
Wieck declared that the rabbits to which the defendants referred were in the rear of the cellar and not in the front part, where he found them together.
Wieck had no witnesses. The man and woman were committed to the County Jail in default of bail to await action of the Grand Jury, but bail was secured last evening and they were given their freedom until the case is called.
Loses Money Drinking Wine
Loses Money Drinking Wine
When locked up in the Camden city jail early yesterday morning on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, John Oramic, 22 years old, of 1172 Sycamore street, Camden, said he had been robbed of $105. He said he had no recollection of where he first missed the money, but seemed certain that he did not lose his roll. He said he had enjoyed some homemade wine.
WIFE-SLAYER GOES ON TRIAL AUG. 24
Albert James Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Girl Bride at Parents’ Home
Albert James, 22 years old, who shot and killed his girl wife in the home of her parents, 778 [sic] Sycamore street, on April 23, entered a plea of not guilty to murder before Justice Katzenbach today. The date of the trial was set for August 24.
After killing his wife, James then turned the revolver upon E. Richards, his father-in-law, and fired two shots into his body. The aged man is recovering in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
James was brought into court by Sheriff Thomas Jack and two keepers of the county prison. His hair was sleek and he wore a new dark blue suit. The trousers were on the latest “sheik” style with wide bottoms.
James was smiling when he came into the court room. He saw Harry T. Rowland, his attorney, and walked rapidly towards him as the court officers tried to keep up with him. He shook hands with his attorney and they walked toward the bar. The indictment was read to James by a court clerk and he replied in a loud tone of voice, “Not guilty.”
Justice Katzenbach then set the day for the trial and instructed the Sheriff to draw a special jury panel for the trial.
1181 Sycamore Street — Man Given 30 Days in Stolen Goods Case: Judge Samuel M. Shay yesterday sentenced Spencer Murray, 52, colored, of 1181 Sycamore Street, to 80 days in the county jail after finding him guilty of receiving stolen goods. Murray is alleged to have sold $2000 worth of copper template stolen April 1 from the Camden Pottery Company, Mt. Vernon and Orchard Streets, to a Philadelphia junk dealer. He received about $3.25 for it, he said, after buying it for $2.95 from Paul K. Obylinski, 16, of 1506 Norris Street, and Edward Wisniewski, 17, of 1359 Jackson Street. The two youths were convicted recently of the theft. 1933 Spencer Murray. Camden Courier-Post, June 20, 1933.
Suffering a relapse after being ill for nearly a year following the birth of a child, Mrs. Wilhelmina Good, aged 23 years, of 1194 Sycamore street, died shortly after being taken to the Homeopathic Hospital in a police ambulance.
1159 Sycamore Street — Adam Kolb Sr. was the proprietor of a bar at 302 Spruce Street. He died between April 5, 1877, when his will was dated, and April 23, 1877. Adam’s will left his money and “real estate” to his wife Mary Magdalena Kolb for the remainder of her natural life. Upon her death, half was to go to the Trinity German Lutheran Church in Camden and half to the Children’s home in Germantown. By 1880 the bar at 302 Spruce Street was no longer being run by the Kolb family. Mary Magdalena Kolb remarried on August 29, 1878. Her second husband, John Daniel Hahn, is listed in Chew’s 1878–1879 Camden City Directory as a hostler, residing at 21 North 4th Street. The 1878–1879 Directory shows John Hann at 1159 Sycamore Street. The Howe’s Camden Directory of 1885–1888 lists “Kolb, Mary, widow of Adam, home 1159 Sycamore.” John Daniel Hahn died on February 11, 1886 in Philadelphia. Mary Magdalena Kolb Hahn died in June of 1889 and was buried at Old Camden Cemetery on June 27, 1889.
1100 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 1100 block, with records from the 1870s through the 1960s.
1102 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900 | Hugh McTaggart & Family |
| 1900 | Hugh & Mary McTaggart |
| 1900 | Hugh McTaggart Jr. |
| 1900 | John McTaggart |
| 1900 | Isabelle McTaggart |
| 1900 | Esther McTaggart |
| 1900 | Mary McTaggart |
| 1900 | James McTaggart |
1109 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1887–1888 | Michael McCaffery & Family |
1111 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1882–1883 | Michael McCaffery & Family |
1116 Sycamore Terrace
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928 | John Burke |
1120 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Robert S. Smith |
1124 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Colin J. McCall & Family |
| 1938 | Faith Mary McCall |
1126 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Fred J. Wolford & Family (Irving Wolford; Harrison White, William Schregler, George Nowrey, Henry Moffett, George V. Murry) |
| 1919 | Irving Wolford |
| 1949 | Rebecca A. Faulhaber |
1128 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Bolesalus Green |
1131 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Perry Cass |
1133 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1932 | A. Koski Brothers (moving and hauling) |
| 1938 | Stanley Czajkowski |
1142 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Konstanty Ostrowski |
1146 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ | Source ↕ |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | Leon Sanoski & Family | |
| 1955 | V-J Beverage | 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone |
1149 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Harrison White |
1150 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1928–1929 | Mitchell Wojtkowiak (city fire fighter) |
1152 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927–1928 | The Klopp Family |
1159 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1878–1880s | Mary Magdalena Kolb Hahn |
1169 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1929–1930 | Mitchell Wojtkowiak (city fire fighter) |
1171 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1927 | Mitchell Wojtkowiak (city fire fighter) |
| 1957 | Mrs. Stella Blaszko-Foster (Bertha Foster, Agnes Mrezowski, Josephine Jaworski, Jennie Tulini, Gregory Blaszko, Stanley Foster, Michael Foster) |
1172 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1911 | John Mozier (Ignac Wieck, Josephine Wieck, Philip T. Colding) |
| 1911 | Ignac Wieck & Family (Ignac & Josephine Wieck; Philip T. Colding, John Mosier) |
| 1911 | Ignac & Josephin Wieck |
| 1920 | John Oramic |
1176 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1919–1923 | Elmer Richards & Family (Elmer & Matilda 'Tillie' Richards, Elmer Jr., Ella Richards) |
1178 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1915–1925 | Elmer Richards & Family (Elmer & Matilda 'Tillie' Richards, Elmer Jr., Viola, Bertha Augusta, Laurence Richards; Albert James & Family) |
| 1915–1925 | Elmer & Matilda "Tillie" Richards |
| 1915–1925 | Elmer Richards Jr. |
| 1915–1925 | Viola Richards |
| 1915–1925 | Bertha Augusta Richards |
| 1915–1925 | Laurence Richards |
| 1928 | Joseph Leconey (Joseph Romanowski, Joseph Carpani, Walter Smith) |
1180 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1906 | Joseph Polnick (Tony Romanio) |
1181 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Spencer Murray |
1187 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1932 | Stanley Busko |
1193 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Mary Mistral (Konstanty Ostrowski) |
| 1913 | Mary Mistral |
1194 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1915 | Mrs. Wilhelmina Good |
| 1917–1920s | Vincent Michalak & Family (policeman) |
| 1917–1920s | William Michalak |
1196 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1900s–1910 | Vincent Michalak & Family |
| 1900s–1910 | William Michalak |
Joseph Polnick Held for Atrocious Assault
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In default of $500 bail Joseph Polnick, of 1180 Sycamore street, was committed to the county jail in Camden yesterday by Justice Thompson on a charge of atrocious assault and battery on Tony Romanio, of 309 Atlantic avenue. It is alleged that the defendant struck Romanio over the head with a crowbar and that while the complainant lay unconscious Polnick bit a piece out of his cheek.
John Mosier Held
Camden Post-Telegram —
John Mosier, of 1309 Green street, and Mrs. Josephine Wieck, of 1172 Sycamore street, were each held in $300 bail by ‘Squire Colding yesterday on a charge of misdemeanor preferred by Ignac Wieck, husband of the woman.
The latter testified that reports of doings in his house in his absence caused him to come home unexpectedly, and that he found the defendants in a compromising position in the front cellar. The defendants denied the slightest thought of wrongdoing, the man insisting he went down cellar to look at rabbits with a view of purchasing.
Wieck insisted as a further proof of his charge that the rabbits were kept in the rear cellar and not in the front cellar.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
By the bursting of a blood vessel in her leg, Mrs. May Sherlock, aged 45 years, of 1128 Penn street, nearly bled to death before the Cooper Hospital was reached.
For striking his wife when she interfered because she thought he was chastising a young son too harshly, George Lehman, of Carpenter street, was held in ball [sic] for court by the Recorder yesterday.
Supreme Court Justice Garrison yesterday ordered the release of Frank Sapp, a youth, of 206 Walnut street, who was arrested on a capias as a result of charges being made by Ethel McCormick, of Philadelphia. The decision was reached by Judge Garrison that the case had been improperly brought.
Seriously accused by 12 year-old Mary Mistral, of 1193 Sycamore street, who avers she was locked in a room and mistreated, Kostanky Ostrowski, aged 36 years, of 1142 Sycamore street, was committed to jail without bail by Justice Rudney yesterday.
Intersection of Louis Street & Sycamore Street
Looking south along Louis Street — August 26, 2001.
Mrs. Louise Nasonkowski obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Louise Nasonkowski
MRS. LOUISE NASONKOWSKI
Mrs. Louise Nasonkowski, 41, widow of Kazimer Nasonkowski, died yesterday following a brief illness at her residence, 1245 Sycamore street.
A native of Poland, Mrs. Nasonkowski had been a resident of Camden county since childhood. She is survived by a son, Edward Nason, of Camden, and Mrs. Florence Minford, of Woodlynne.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. tomorrow from the Mahaffey funeral home, 185 Elm avenue, Woodlynne, with burial in New Camden Cemetery.
1251–1253 Sycamore Street — Building erected after 1928. Photo taken June 10, 2011.
1251–1253 Sycamore Street — 1934–1943 George M. Beringer Inc. (Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Chemists). Letter to Stockholders, March 9, 1936.
GEORGE M. BERINGER, Inc.
MANUFACTURING
PHARMACEUTICAL
CHEMISTS
1251-53 SYCAMORE STREET
CAMDEN, N.J.
1251–1253 Sycamore Street — 1955 Jersey Supply Company. 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Yellow Pages Ad.
JERSEY SUPPLY COMPANY
WHOLESALE AUTOMOTIVE DISTRIBUTORS
Equipment - Tools - Paint - Supplies - Accessories
"Home of Fine Quality National Brands"
ARO
BLACK & DECKER
CHAMPION
CRESCENT
DEVILBISS
DU PONT (Paints)
EXIDE
FRAM
GATES
GATKE
HEIN-WERNER
3M
PROTO
POWELL
WHIZ
ZERONE - ZEREX
EMerson 5-1026
1251 SYCAMORE ST. (corner Sycamore & Louis Sts.) CAMDEN, N. J.
** Because, as she said, William Kauffman owed her some money, Mrs. Cecelia Plavinsky is alleged to have entered his home and taken a suit of clothes. Kauffman objected and the woman’s husband Joseph Plavinsky, gave the man a thrashing. Husband and wife were held in bail for court by Justice Schmntz.
1255 Sycamore Street — 1941–1960 Walter Hall & Family (Walter & Helen Hall, Sandy Hall). Photo taken June 10, 2011.
I was born and raised at 1255 Sycamore Street, moved in 1960. My family, (Osinski’s) all lived in the area. I attended Lincoln School and lived in a mostly Polish neighborhood.
— Sandy Faries, June 29, 2011
1200 Block of Sycamore Street — Occupants
Residents of the 1200 block, with records from the 1880s through the 1960s.
1204 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1917 | John Zawojski aka John Gaylor (fire fighter) |
| 1927–1947 | William Michalak & Family (policeman) |
1227 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1880s–1890s | Vincent Michalak & Family (emigrated to USA 1880) |
1245 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1941 | Louise Nasonkowski (widow of Kazimer Nasonkowski; Edward Nason, Florence Nasonkowski Minford) |
1251–1253 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1934–1943 | George M. Beringer Inc. (Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Chemists) |
| 1947 | Tire Hospital — Herbert Obus; Penn-Jersey Bar Manufacturing Co. |
| 1955 | Jersey Supply Company |
1252 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1910–1911 | Samuel Plevinsky & Family |
| 1910–1911 | Samuel & Cecelia Plevinsky |
| 1927 | Jennie Krauss (Anthony, Rose, Anna Rodansky; John Adwntwski, Lottie Medel) |
| 1927 | Jennie Krauss |
1255 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1941–1960 | Walter Hall & Family |
| 1941–1960 | Walter & Helen Hall |
| 1941–1960 | Sandy Hall |
1256 Sycamore Street
| Year ↕ | Name ↕ |
|---|---|
| 1890s–1940s | John Zawojski & Family |
| 1890s–1940s | John & Emma Zawojski |
| 1890s–1940s | Frank Zawojski |
| 1920s–1940s | John Zawojski aka John Gaylor (fire fighter) |
Mother of Four Fined for Disorderly House
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Lottie Medel, 35 years old, 1225 Decatur street, mother of four children, was fined $100 in police court this morning when she was arraigned on a charge of maintaining a disorderly house after two 15-year-old girls had told of attending a party in her home. One of the girls was committed to the juvenile detention home for the grand jury, the other was released in her own recognizance and a young man was held in $500 bail.
The girl who was committed to the detention home is Anna Rodansky, 1309 Green street. She told her story in court this morning of having gone to Mrs. Mendel’s house to “board” after she had left her own home. Mrs. Mendel’s arrest was brought about when Anna’s mother, Mrs. Rose Rodansky, had her daughter arrested as being incorrigible.
The girl who was released as a material witness was Jennie Krauss, 15 years old, 1252 Sycamore street. She also testified that she had gone to Mrs. Mendel’s house and slept over night.
John Adwntwski, 20 years old, 1251 Whitman avenue, was held in $500 bail on statements made by the Rodansky girl.
Intersection of Sycamore Street & Haddon Avenue
GENERAL TIRE — Safety, Comfort, Mileage — Easy Terms. N. J. General Tire Co., Inc. of New Jersey, Haddon Ave. & Sycamore St., Camden. Camden Courier-Post, June 8, 1933.
1116 Sycamore Terrace
Liberty Street Suspect Held as Aide of Yegg Who Says He Acted Alone
Believed by detectives to have been an accomplice in the holdup of a watchman at the automobile showrooms of Watson Shallcross at 1721 Haddon avenue Monday night, a 22-year-old youth was arrested last night “on suspicion.”
Harry Hartman, 324 Liberty street, is the new prisoner. Detectives are continuing their investigation which has caused Police Judge Bertman to hold John Burke, 34 years old, 116 Sycamore street, in $5000 bail for the grand jury.
Hartman was arrested by Policeman Stanley Wertz [sic] at Fourth and Mechanic streets at 8 o’clock last night.
Burke is alleged to have confessed holding up, binding and gagging Frank Longacre, watchman who told the police three men attacked him. Police said yesterday that Burke had said repeatedly that he was alone when he entered the automobile showrooms.
Burke was arrested after detectives found a coat belonging to him which had been left in the garage. According to police, Burke admitted that he tried to open the safe in the showrooms but was frightened away when he thought he heard someone trying to open a door.
First Camden National Bank & Trust Co. (advertisement)
Camden Courier-Post —
The Directors
A. D. Ambruster
S. C. Childs
Edward B. Humphreys
Edward E. Shumaker
F. Morse Archer
Elias Davis
Henry H. Lippincott
Frank C. Somers
David Baird, Jr.
Burleigh B. Draper
Albert C. Middleton
Frank L. Starr
Ralph D. Baker
Isaac Ferris
William T. Read
J. B. Van Sciver, Jr.
Killam E. Bennett
Le Roy A. Goodwin
Wm. W. Robinson
Lawrence M. Verga
Rudolph W. Birdsell
Eugene F. Haines
Charles W. Russ
Oliver C. Willits
William T. Boyle
William D. Sherrerd
Charles A. Wolverton
The Officers
F. MORSE ARCHER
President
BURLEIGH B. DRAPER
Vice-President
ISAAC FERRIS
Vice-President
A. D. AMBRUSTER
Vice-President & Trust Officer
JAY KNOX
Asst. Trust Officer
S. C. KIMBLE
Cashier
THEO. THOMPSON
Assistant Cashier
ORLANDO M. BOWEN
Assistant Cashier
Wm. K. COOK
Assistant Cashier
JULIAN K. POTTER
Assistant Cashier
FIRST
CAMDEN NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO.
Founded 1812. Oldest in South Jersey
Downtown Office
Broadway & Sycamore
Main Office
Broadway & Cooper
Philadelphia Office
223 Market Street
Marriage Licenses
Camden Courier-Post —
Clarence Reed, 41, of 258 Sycamore street, and Rebecca Herbert, 32, of 532 Liberty street.
James Ford, 22, of 333 Berkley street, and Maybell Robinson, 21, of 1934 Kossuth street.
Clair M. Purdy, 51, of 180 Edgewood avenue, Audubon, and Henrietta M. Trautman, 48, of 1468 Crestmont terrace.
Elwood F. Laird, 38, of 2303 South Seventh street, and Margaret M. Toy, 41, of 2310 South Seventh street.
Richard H. Krieg, 22, of 227 North Forty-second street, and Jacqueline M. Tobin, 19, same address.
Homer D. Hoffa Jr., 22, of 39 East Collings avenue, Collingswood, and Nancy L. Bellshot, 18, of 617 North Sixth street.
Alveston Gary, 31, of 1504 Mt. Vernon street, Philadelphia, and Lorraine Harris, 19, of 637 Bailey street.
Owen Bellamy, 25, of 715 North American street, and Irene Smith, 23, of 629 North Tenth street, both of Philadelphia.
Russell E. Mattson, 28, of 333 North Thirty-eighth street, and Ruth M. MacDonald, of 46 North Thirty-third street.
At Philadelphia
Arthur Kees, 21, Audubon, and Joan Joyce, 18, 607 South Forty-second street, Philadelphia
At Elkton, Md.
Samuel B. Seeney Jr., 34, and Nettie L. Slembach, 36, Camden.
William E. Hickman, 21, Elmer, and Loretta Thompson, 17, Glassboro.
Rocco J. Nasuti, 24, and Lillian C. Baker, 21, Camden.
TAYLOR SHOT TO KILL HIM
Camden Daily Telegram —
EXTRA!
Sumner Derrickson Dangerously Wounded During a Row.
THEY FOUGHT OVER A WOMAN
The Participants All Had Their Guns and Knives Ready to Murder.
CAPTURED AFTER A HARD CHASE
The Man Who Did the Shooting Ran from Seventh and Sycamore Streets to the Federal Street Ferry With an Excited, Yelling Mob at His Heels—A Ferryboat Held Until the Police Arrived and Took the Fleeing Man Into Custody—The Wounded Man and His Brother Known as Bad Men.
Robert, alias Charles Taylor, colored, made a desperate attempt last night to murder Sumner Derrickson. Taylor is locked up at the City Hall and Derrickson is at the Cooper Hospital with a bullet wound in his abdomen. The doctors there say that Derrickson is resting easily to-day and that he is in no immediate danger of dying. Taylor claims that he shot Derrickson in self defense.
ROW OVER A WOMAN.
The shooting was the outcome of jealousy. Taylor and Charles Derrickson and the latter’s brother, Sweeney Derrickson, were gambling in a house on Baxter street, between Ann and Seventh streets. A dispute arose and Taylor says that the Derricksons, who are known as bad men, chased him from the house. Sumner Derrickson, Taylor says, had a gun, and Sweeney Derrickson had a knife. At Seventh and Sycamore streets Taylor states that he found his pursuers were pressing him too closely. He turned as he ran and drawing his pistol fired at the two men. The bullet struck Sumner Derrickson in the abdomen and he fell to the ground with a groan. Sweeney stopped to look after his wounded brother and Taylor continued his flight.
SURGEONS FOUND THE BALL.
The wounded man was taken to the Cooper Hospital where the surgeons found the bullet had taken an upward course and lodged beneath the skin in Derrickson’s chest. The ball was extracted and Derrickson was made as comfortable as possible for the night.
The news of the attempted murder spread rapidly and the police were notified at once. An alarm was sent throughout the city and every effort was exerted to capture Taylor who had fled from the scene of the shooting as fast as his legs would carry him. He ran down to Kaighn avenue with the evident intention of taking a ferryboat to Philadelphia where he lives. The crowd that followed him, however, prevented Taylor making his escape in that direction. Like a hunted animal he turned up Second street toward the northern section of the city. The crowd increased each moment and the excitement of the chase became intense.
EXCITEMENT WAS INTENSE.
Policeman Fitzsimmons joined the throng which by this time was yelling “Catch the murderer” and “Lynch him.” People who were retiring threw up their windows in alarm thinking that the police and the crowd were in pursuit of another man suspected of the double murder of Mrs. Zane and Mrs. Shaw of week ago. The chase grew hot along Second street, but Taylor proved himself fleet of foot and reached the Federal street ferry in time to catch the 10.45 p. m. boat.
POLICE CAPTURE TAYLOR.
Collector Andrew Frazee had been notified of the attempted murder and recognized Taylor as the man wanted. He instructed Gateman William Barnard to hold the boat while he sent word to the police that Taylor was at the ferry. The patrol wagon was sent there in a hurry.
In the meantime Policemen Al. Myers and George Cable had arrived and Policeman Fitzsimmons arrived a second later almost winded by his long run. Two respectable colored porters were taken into custody at first, but the policemen soon discovered their mistake and found Taylor crouched up in one corner of the boat. Policeman Fitzsimmons recognized Taylor by a scar on his neck and quickly grabbed him by the throat. The fellow made no resistance and was taken to the waiting patrol wagon by the three officers. Here he was hustled into the vehicle and sent to the City Hall. When arrested the revolver with which the shooting was done was found in Taylor’s pocket, but that individual had cutely reloaded the empty chambers as he ran so as to destroy what evidence there was against him.
Derrickson, brother of Sumner, was formerly of the firm of Reed & Derrickson who several years ago ran the notorious negro resort known as Olive Park where John Hill, a colored youth, shot Joseph Dodson, also colored. Hill afterwards was hanged for his crime and the police broke up the den where the tragedy occurred.
TAYLOR GIVEN A HEARING.
Taylor was given a hearing this morning by Mayor Westcott. The complaint was made by Lieutenant John Foster and accused Taylor of assaulting, shooting and attempting to kill Derrickson. Lawyer Jackson appeared for the defendant.
Edward Fortie, one of the men who was with Derrickson when the shooting occurred, stated that he did not see the first shot, but when the second and third shots were fired Taylor was starting down Kaighn avenue. Fortie and Jordon, with Derrickson, then started to run.
Ida Burton said she saw Taylor and Lawrence Anderson talking at Seventh and Baxter streets. Taylor went slowly toward Derrickson and suddenly pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired point blank at his victim. When questioned by the Mayor she said she saw all of the shots, but when cross-examined by Lawyer Jackson she denied having seen the firing of the first shot.
Aubrey Thompson, who was about fifteen yards distant, said he saw the first shot fired at some one setting back of the station at Seventh and Kaighn avenue. He then saw Taylor go down Kaighn avenue.
Several other witnesses were heard who said they saw the shots fired, but who were not positive as to whom they were directed at.
Policemen Al Myers and George Cable, who made the arrest, said they found the man on a Federal street ferryboat hiding behind an ash cart. Taylor said he had no revolver, but on the way to the City Hall Patrolman Golden found a 32-calibre revolver with three loaded chambers.
Mayor Westcott held Taylor to await the result of Derrickson’s injuries.
Taylor hails from Washington, D. C., and it was stated on good authority that he is wanted in Philadelphia and his native city for misdemeanors.
Hill Faced Death with Firmness
Philadelphia Inquirer —
NEW JERSEY NEWS
The Youthful Colored Murderer Hanged in the Camden Jail.
Religion Braced His Nerves and He Felt No Fear.
A Quiet, Speedy Execution, and Death Was Quick and Apparently Painless—The Murder of Joseph Dodson Avenged Without the Usual Delay in Such Cases.
Camden county’s new gallows scored its first victim to-day when John Hill was hanged for the murder of Joseph Dodson. The execution took place at the County Jail. It was successfully conducted and was devoid of sensational incidents.
The gallows had been erected in a room with a lofty ceiling in the southeast corner of the jail building. Tall windows looked out on Federal street and Broadway, but they were veiled with dark curtains, which gave a sombre hue to the room. The instrument of death had been built on plans furnished by the Sheriff, modeled after the gallows used in the Philadelphia County Prison. There were two trap doors, which fell down when a lever was pulled, allowing the condemned man to fall about seven feet.
John Hill, the murderer, was a small, slender youth, in his 18th year. He had professed conversion after his conviction and walked firmly to the gallows, having overcome the terror of death by his religious faith.
AROUSED FROM HIS LAST SLEEP.
Hill was awakened from a sound slumber at 6.30 o’clock by Constable Renner, one of the death watch. He dressed himself in a new suit of black diagonal striped goods purchased by the Sheriff for the execution.
A gray mist hung like a veil before the jail windows, and Hill said he regretted this for he had hoped to see the sun shine once more before he died.
He displayed no fear of death, and when his lawyer, Frederick A. Rex, came at 8 o’clock to bid him good-bye the condemned lad said:
“I am not afraid to die, for I love Jesus.”
Hill ate sparingly of the breakfast of beefsteak and potatoes sent in from a neighboring restaurant, and satisfied his longing for pie by eating a big piece of the pastry. Then he lit a cigar and paced up and down the corridor until the arrival of his spiritual adviser, Rev. J. H. Scott, a colored Methodist minister. The last hour preceding the execution was spent in prayer and reading the Bible.
WORE A ROSE TO THE GALLOWS.
Before going to the gallows Constable Hunt handed the lad a white rose, which he pinned on his coat. When Hill’s body fell the rose broke from its stem.
At twenty minutes past 10 o’clock, County Clerk Barber called the roll of the Sheriff’s jury in the jailor’s office. They all responded and took the oath to see that the death penalty was carried into effect. Then the spectators were drawn up two by two, in a line at the left of the door from which the prisoner would emerge as he passed from the jail to the place of execution.
It was half-past 10 when these preparations were made and the condemned man sent for.
His hands had been secured behind his back with handcuffs and he walked with unfaltering steps down the iron stairways of the jail, through a dark passage way and into the corridor, where the Sheriff stood, with the black cap in his hand.
The minister walked by Hill’s side. In front were Deputy Sheriff Sell and ex-Deputy Joseph Porter. Constables Hunt and Renner, the death watch, brought up the rear. There was a shuffling of feet in the line of spectators and the procession moved along the corridor and into the dimly-lighted room, where the gallows stood.
FACED DEATH WITHOUT FLINCHING.
Hill looked at the instrument of death without flinching. He constantly repeated, in a whisper, “Jesus, save me.”
With firm tread he mounted the steps to the scaffold. The work of death was quickly done. There was no prayer or final speech. The minister whispered a last word of cheer and stepped back.
It took but a minute for the Sheriff to drop the noose over the lad’s head, for ex-Deputy Porter to pull down the black cap, and then both men stepped back from the drop. Hill did not waver.
The Sheriff reached for the cord attached to the lever under the drop, gave a short, quick pull, and as the doors fell with a crash the murderer’s body dropped, whirled once around, and then hung motionless.
A PAINLESS DEATH.
There were no convulsive movements of the body, although the legs were not pinioned. County Physician Iszard, assisted by Coroner’s Physician Mattern, of Philadelphia, and Drs. Tomlinson, Jones and Levis, of Camden, timed the fleeting spark of life.
In four minutes and fourteen seconds the pulse stopped beating and at the end of six minutes and fifty-seven seconds the action of the heart ceased. The body had been shaken slightly by a few tremors, but there was no death struggle.
After the body had been hanging for twenty minutes the noose was unloosened and the corpse carried into a room adjoining the jailor’s office. The eyes were closed and the face bore no evidence of a violent death.
The silent spectators formed a group around the corpse, while Rev. Mr. Scott read the Methodist service for the dead. Four hours later the physicians made an autopsy and late in the afternoon Coroner Jefferis conveyed the remains in his dead wagon to the New Camden Cemetery where they were interred in a grave paid for by the county.
SWIFT JERSEY JUSTICE.
Jersey justice has not been leaden-heeled in Hill’s case. It is less than six months since he committed the crime for which the law took his life. At 1 o’clock on Sunday morning, October 16, 1892, John Hill, secreted in the bushes near Reed & Derrickson’s saloon, at Seventh and Sycamore streets, fired a bullet into Joseph Dodson’s brain.
The latter was a young colored man who had beaten Hill during a row, a few days previously, in the dance hall attached to the saloon. Hill had threatened to get even with Dodson. He took a revolver from a drawer in the saloon, drank liquor to nerve himself for the deed, and then fired the fatal shot.
At the trial, early in February last, Hill swore that Reed & Derrickson, the proprietors of the saloon, had hired him to kill Dodson. The two men were tried as accessories and acquitted. Three weeks ago Hill confessed that his charge against these two men was false.
Murder Cases on in Camden Court
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Prosecutor and His Assistant Will Be Kept Busy at This Term of Court
Beginning with tomorrow, Prosecutor Boyle and his assistant, Charles A. Wolverton, will be kept busy in the Camden Criminal Court disposing of many cases, including four defendants charged with murder. This is the first term of court in which there have been so many such cases for many years.
Yesterday Supreme Court Justice Garrison fixed Monday, April 22, as the date when he will preside at the trial of Roland Evans, who shot to death David Green in a house on Sycamore street on December 26 last. The State will press for a first degree. Lawyers Herbert Drake and William Harris have been assigned to defend Evans.
The next case to be tried will be that of William Graedwell, who brained his boarding mistress, Mrs. Georgeanna Gilliand, with an ax in her home in East Camden. After that will come to trial Stefano Torcesso, who stabbed to death Nunzioto Imperato in a duel over a girl. The last of the quartet of murder cases will be that of Charles Ford, who shot to death Mrs. May Effie Wagner, his erstwhile housekeeper.
About two hundred persons against whom indictments have been returned by the grand jury will be called upon to enter pleas tomorrow. Prosecutor Boyle will then begin to dispose of the cases on Tuesday before Judge Carrow, it being his intention to so systematize matters that everything will be cleaned up by the beginning of summer.
Over the River
Philadelphia Inquirer —
DECORATION DAY.—Yesterday was a semi holiday in Camden in consequence of its being Decoration day. Nearly all public places of business were closed in the afternoon. The banks did not open their doors, and the steam boats and numerous dwellings were gaily decorated with flags. At two o’clock, according to the programme, a procession was formed at Fifth and Arch streets, which moved in the following order: Sixth Regiment Band, with Companies C and D of the regiment; members of Post No. 5; drum corps, also cadet corps of Post No. 5, in command of Captain George Hutchinson; T. M. K. Lee Post, G. A. R., under command of William H. Shearman. The chief marshals were Colonel Joseph C. Nicholls and aids, Joseph McCallister, William D. Middleton, Francis Saunders and Frederick Shill. Next came the floral car of Post No. 5, beautifully arranged and loaded with flowers. A large one, drawn by eight horses, contained the [?] of the Auxiliary Committee of Posts 5 and 37; the Juvenile Welsh Drum Corps of Post 37; the floral wagon of Post No. 37; then came wagons of the two posts containing soldiers’ orphans, wagons with cisterns of ice water for those in line, barouches containing city officials, &c., a piece of artillery and other vehicles. At 2:30 the procession started, and passed over the route already published. At the cemeteries about 175 graves were strewn with flowers and evergreens in the presence of a large concourse of people. This duty performed, the procession reformed and marched back to the Court House yard, where the closing ceremonies were had. “Cover them over with beautiful flowers” was sung by a number of excellent voices, with organ accompaniment. Rev. J. B. Graw delivered an impressive and appropriate address. Several other patriotic pieces were sung, and the services closed. An entertainment was afterward given by Post 5 in the Market House. The weather was fair, and the occasion passed without accident.
DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.—About twelve o’clock on yesterday Lewis Werts, aged twenty years, who had his leg crushed by a locomotive, at Fourth street and Bridge avenue, on Saturday afternoon week, died from the effects of his injuries, lockjaw having set in. He lost an arm six months ago by a rail road accident.
RUNAWAY HORSE.—Yesterday morning a horse became frightened on Federal, near Broadway, and dashed down the street with furious speed. A young man named Davis, at Third and Federal, sprang into the wagon, and, seizing the reins, succeeded in stopping the animal before any damage was sustained.
SERIOUS FALL.—A young lad, son of Abraham Anderson, who resides on Cooper street, near Camden while playing yesterday, accidentally fell from a fence, and broke his leg near the knee.
RAILROAD SMASH.—About four o’clock yesterday a train of cars struck a wagon at Seventh and Sycamore streets, demolishing the vehicle, but, fortunately, no one was injured.
COMMITTED.—Justice Cassady yesterday committed James McCulley, Lemuel Ridell and Charles Wilson, for being quarrelsome and disorderly.
Camden Gang Fighters Are Held for Trial
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Rival gangs created a stir at Lewis and Sycamore streets, Camden, early yesterday morning, resulting in several arrests. John Kowalch, aged 21 years, of 1049 Mechanic street, and Harry McCaffrey, aged 28 years, of 708 Mt. Vernon street, were held in $500 bail by Recorder Stackhouse on a charge of beating Albert Dudeck, of 1154 Mt. Vernon street. John Skulski, aged 37 years, of 818 Walnut street; Frank Kabinski, aged 37 years, of 1253 Sycamore street; William Jordan, aged 31 years, of 1117 Haddon avenue, and McCaffrey were given ten days by the Recorder for disorderly conduct.
When Policeman Cornog arrived on the scene there was a general riot, and he found himself in the midst of the fighters. In the melee he lost his badge, but he succeeded in corraling four of the belligerents, while Policeman Appley arrested Kowalch. About half a hundred engaged in the fight.
Pallbearers at Funeral of Bert Hibbs
Camden Post-Telegram —
Samuel Price, Charles H. Fitzsimmons, Jr., Morton Clark and John McTaggart, of the Kaighn avenue fire house, were pallbearers at the funeral of Bert Hibbs, who was killed by a negro at Seventh and Sycamore streets, early Sunday morning. Interment was made in the Friends Cemetery, Langhorne, Pa.
2 Boys Nabbed Here for Carrying Pistols
Camden Courier-Post —
First arrested on suspicion when found loitering along Bridge Entrance road at 2 o’clock this morning, two boys were held by police and charged with carrying concealed deadly weapons.
They gave their names as Joseph Leconey, 16 years old, of 1178 Sycamore street, and Joseph Romenowski, 18 years old, of 1138 Rose street.
Detectives Walter Smith and Joseph Carponi [sic] found a .38 calibre revolver suspended on shoestrings and hanging down under the clothing of each of the boys. They said they noticed the boys loitering near the store of Sears-Roebuck Company.
Hit-Run Car Victim Critically Injured
Camden Courier-Post —
Victim of a hit-run motorist, William Veddiman, 56, of 122 Stanley street, was admitted to Cooper Hospital yesterday afternoon with a possible fracture of the pelvis. He is in a serious condition.
The man was struck at Second and Sycamore streets by an automobile proceeding north on Second street at high speed, according to witnesses. The driver, they told police, turned into Chestnut street, one block north, and continued east on Chestnut street.
The witnesses were Matthew Erich, of 2005 Fillmore street, and Jesse Murphy, of 129 Boyer court. They picked up Veddiman from the street and placed him in the car of Orol Ledden, Jr., of Sewell, who drove to the hospital. They told Detective John Opfer they had seen another car in pursuit of the hit-run driver.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Policeman John Zane, of East Camden, will have a hearing before the Police Committee of City Council to-morrow night, on fresh charges preferred against him by Police Captain Albert. He is accused of conduct unbecoming an officer and neglect of duty. When recently charges were preferred against him, Zane tendered his resignation, to take effect on February 1.
Police Captain Stanley and a squad of officers in Camden early yesterday morning raided the house at 249 Cherry street, on complaint of Fannie Clark. There was considerable excitement when the officers descended on the inmates, and while some escaped, Rose Mitchell, the alleged proprietress; Maud Trusty and Edward Nugent were captured. They were locked up at the city prison for a hearing before Recorder Stackhouse this morning.
The Fifth Ward Republican Club and Washington Circle, Brotherhood of the Union, last night viewed the remains of Benjamin M. Braker, at the latter’s home, [?]08 Sycamore street.
Everything was closed tight yesterday. The police reported the lid was down good and hard.
“The Treating Habit in Our American Saloons” was the subject of a sermon preached by Rev. F. A. DeMaris, at the State Street M. E. Church, yesterday, [cut off at the crop edge]
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.
Mayor Orders Cops to Drive All Gangsters From Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Stewart Aroused as Bullet Narrowly Misses Small Girl
TWO SHOOTINGS BRING EDICT FOR BIG ROUNDUP
Police Without Clues in Mysterious Affrays Here Yesterday
Aroused because a bullet fired in a gang shooting at Ninth and Chestnut streets yesterday almost struck an 8-year-old girl, Mayor Stewart today launched a drive to rid the city of gangsters and gunmen.
Voicing the fear that innocent bystanders may fall victim to gangdom’s guns, the mayor declared he would have all lawless characters put behind bars or driven from the city.
To effect that purpose, he issued instructions to Lieut. George Frost to order every patrolman to stop all suspicious-looking characters. If, upon questioning, those suspects cannot prove legitimate quests, they will be jailed.
Issues Statement
His statement follows:
“There was another gang shooting in the city of Camden yesterday. While no one was killed or injured, an 8-year-old girl was very nearly struck by one of the bullets.
“These gunmen have respect neither for the law nor the personal safety of the public. They fight out their private feuds on our public thoroughfares, endangering the lives of law-abiding citizens. Unless some preventative is found, there may come a time when an innocent bystander falls victim to gang bullets.
“Those lawless characters must be educated to realize that they cannot carry on their activities in Camden. They must either be put behind bars or exiled from the city.
“Therefore, to that end I have issued orders through Lieut. Frost to every policeman on the force to the effect that all suspicious characters seen in the city be stopped and questioned. If satisfactory credentials are not produced, and the suspect cannot prove that he has a legitimate right on the streets, then he will be arrested. Those orders are in effect today.”
Meanwhile, police are without a single clue to either yesterday afternoon’s affair or a shooting reported early yesterday morning. Detective Captain John Golden expressed doubt that the shooting at Ninth and Chestnut street was provoked by any gang feud. Rather he believes it was the outcome of a quarrel between two men, as the assailant fired a revolver at close range and missed. Capt. Golden declared that gangsters usually use shotguns or machine-guns. However, other police officials attributed the affray to gang warfare.
One of six bullets fired at the intended victim of yesterday’s shooting narrowly missed striking eight-year-old Regina Boskowska, of 824 Chestnut street, as she sat on a front step near the intersection.
No Clues Obtained
No clues have been obtained to the identity of the assailants in either case nor the intended victim of yesterday’s gunfire.
The would-be slayers escaped yesterday from an Oaklyn motorist and the unknown man on the spot eluded Policeman William Stevenson after a 10-minute chase.
Both cars figuring in yesterday afternoon’s shooting bore Pennsylvania licenses.
The intended victim driving east on Chestnut street, stopped his blue sedan at the intersection when the traffic light turned red.
Raymond Scherneck, of 307 Laurel avenue, Oaklyn, stopped his care [sic] behind the sedan.
“While we were waiting, I saw a gray Ford coupe with Pennsylvania tags,” stated Scherneck. “It pulled up on my left, passed me and slowed down as it drew abreast of the Pennsylvania car ahead of me. The coupe had two men in it, and the man on the right side leaned out. He was bare-headed, and as he put his hand out the window, I saw him holding a blue pistol.
“He fired six times. The fellow in the other car threw himself down toward the floor. The coupe continued to go east, passing the red light. I went after the coupe, but I lost track of it near Chestnut street and Mt. Ephraim avenue.”
Assailant Escapes
Patrolman Stevenson said he was walking on Chestnut between Eighth and Ninth street when he saw a man put his hand out the window of a coupe and start firing. The officer ran to the intersection, but both the coupe and the sedan had gone on, the sedan turning south into Ninth street. Then he ran to Eighth and Sycamore streets, where his car was parked. He drove to Ninth and Chestnut, and saw Thomas Ward, 820 Chestnut street. Ward pointed to a sedan which had stopped on Ninth street, and said it was the sedan at which the assailants had fired. As Stevenson drove toward it, the sedan started up. He pursued it on Ninth to Mechanic, through Mechanic to Haddon avenue and out Haddon avenue to Euclid, where the sedan, a faster car than Stevenson’s, pulled away and escaped.
Ward was sitting on his front steps and saw the shooting. He said the Boskowska girl was sitting on the steps next door, and that a bullet struck the steps near her. The girl, who had run home crying, told police she heard something hit the steps near her.
Two bullets entered the wall of the saloon operated by John Bretschneider, 880 Chestnut street.
A short time after the shooting police arrived in bandit chasers. Armed with revolvers and shotguns, the police scoured the neighborhood but could not find the assailants. Major Charles V. Dickinson led the investigation.
Camden Man Held In Store Beating Of Aged Widow
Camden Courier-Post —
Suspect’s Police Record Started at Age of 9 Years
A Camden man with a record of arrests since he was nine years old is being held by Camden police today charged with the near fatal beating of Mrs. Rachel Weiner on Oct. 1.
Woodley Rex Snyder, 26, of 737 Kaighn ave., was booked Wednesday night in police headquarters on a charge of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill after he allegedly admitted the savage beating of Mrs. Weiner in a small candy store she operates at 763 Kaighn ave. Her condition remains critical at Cooper Hospital.
Snyder “surrendered meekly” and was arrested at 6.15 p. m. Wednesday at the parsonage of the Rev. George Nicholas, 823 Walnut st., pastor of the Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Ann and Sycamore sts. Police said Snyder lived at the parsonage until Sept. 11.
Convinced by Pastor
Detective Sgt. Vincent Conley and Detective Clifford Del Rossi, who had worked around-the-clock since the beating in an effort to capture Mrs. Weiner’s assailant, made the arrest. The detectives said the Rev. Mr. Nicholas cooperated with police and had convinced Snyder he should give himself up.
Police Chief Koerner said Snyder “admitted hitting Mrs. Weiner on the head seven or eight times” with the butt of a .25-calibre automatic pistol.
The blood-stained pistol and a blood-stained jacket and pair of pants, recovered during the investigation, are being sent to Trenton for examination at the State Police laboratory.
Lived With Brother
Detective Capt. Thomas Murphy disclosed how suspicion fell on Snyder.
“Snyder and a roommate, William Spearman, lived at the home of Snyder’s brother, Julius, on Kaighn ave., Murphy stated. “Spearman told police that some of his clothing was missing. A search of the room revealed bloodstained clothing, which Spearman said must belong to Snyder.
“Further search disclosed a .25 calibre revolver under a mattress and Spearman said this did not belong to him and must be Snyder’s. Snyder’s brother backed up Spearman on identification of the clothing.”
Conley and Del Rossi quoted Snyder as saying:
“I had no motive. I walked into the store to get something to eat and she walked toward me. A feeling came over me.”
The detectives said Snyder admitted having the gun in his possession, but denied that he entered the store planning a hold-up. Snyder was quoted as saying:
“If I needed money, I could get it this way.”
Snyder’s trail after the beating led from Camden to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Rockville Center, L. I.; back to Philadelphia, to Camden, to Philadelphia, to Washington, to Baltimore, to Philadelphia and then to Camden Wednesday when he was arrested.
Eluded Pursuers
Detectives were on Snyder’s trail continually and missed him by less than an hour in Baltimore. Conley and Del Rossi traced him to an uncle’s home in Baltimore, but Snyder at the same time was in an aunt’s home in the same city, where he allegedly stole $12, according to detectives.
According to detectives, Snyder served time continually from the time he was nine years old until he was 20. In 1942 he was sentenced to Jamesburg on five charges of breaking, entering and larceny, and served additional time for escape.
Agrees to Surrender
Detectives said Snyder returned to Camden at 4 a. m. Wednesday after telephoning the Rev. Mr. Nicholas, who pleaded with him to give himself up, from Philadelphia.
Detectives quoted the preacher as saying Snyder told him he’d “rather be shot walking down the street than return to prison.” The Rev. Mr. Nicholas fed him and after continued pleadings Snyder “told him to call police,” Conley said.
Snyder was first aware that he was wanted by police when he visited an aunt in Rockville, L. I., on Monday.
A Camden Den Raided
Philadelphia Inquirer —
PLENTY OF LIQUOR AND A FARO LAY-OUT SECURED BY THE POLICE.
A Murderous Negro Creates a Commotion—Incendiaries at Work—Other News Across the Delaware.
The Camden police made another raid early yesterday morning. About 1 o’clock a detail consisting of Officers Pederick, Lee, Anderson, Horner, Baker and Chief Dodd raided a “speak-easy” and gambling den in a boathouse at the end of North Second street. When the policemen arrived a quiet little game of faro was in progress in the second story.
The proprietor, William Parker, Maurice Hinchman, Charles Mead and Mabel Gray were captured and taken to the City Hall. Sixteen boxes of beer, three gallons of whisky and a home-made faro lay-out were also captured. All of the men arrested were released yesterday but Parker, who was held on the charge of keeping a disorderly house and selling liquor without a license.
A funny incident occurred after the raid had been made. While the patrol was making its first trip to the City Hall previous to the removal of the liquor and gambling implements, Officer Pederick was detailed to watch the place. The policeman had only been in charge a few moments when a gang of men came in and called for a drink. “I can’t sell you anything,” said Pederick. “Why?” asked one of the thirsty men. “I got no license,” answered the officer. “That’s all right; Billy had no license, but we got the ‘booz’ just the same,” said one of the would-be purchasers. Pederick pulled back the flap of his coat and showed them his star. The thirsty men made a hasty retreat.
A Negro on the Warpath
William Thomas, alias King, is known among all of the tough colored element of the Fifth ward. Late on Saturday he started out to “do up” every person who ventured to come within the vicinity of Third and Spruce streets. His first move was to draw a revolver and tell Mary Blee, an old female companion, that he was going to kill her. Mary succeeded in escaping.
He then went into the saloon of John Jennings and called for a drink. The saloonkeeper refused him, whereupon he picked up glasses and bottles and flung them at his head and finally compelled him to rush into the street for safety. Policeman Streeper was summoned and was about to take the prisoner to the patrol box when he picked up a cobble stone and hit the officer a terrible blow in the back. He was sent to jail by the Mayor yesterday in default of $1,500 bail.
Tried to Burn the Building
While Policeman Harvey was patrolling his beat about twenty minutes of 4 o’clock yesterday morning, he noticed a man coming out of the butcher establishment of Samuel K. Hires, on Kaighn avenue above Third street. He paid little attention to the man, as it is usual for men to work there all night. A few minutes later the entire building was discovered enveloped in a mass of flames. The mysterious man, who had only a few minutes previous left, had been an incendiary and had smeared lard over the floors and then set it on fire. The Fire Department saved the building.
Brief ‘Cross River Notes
Eva Butts, alias “Siss,” Mary Dingle, Emma Adams and Anna Brady were arrested by Officer Butts early yesterday morning on the charge of keeping a disorderly house on Mount Ephraim avenue, between Chestnut and Sycamore streets. They are held for a further hearing.
Jacob Welsh, aged 17 years, living in South Camden, got into an altercation with his brother yesterday, when he nearly bit his finger off. He is locked up at the City Hall.
While intoxicated Frank Wilson, a Philadelphian, got into a fight at Haddonfield yesterday morning. During the fracas he was cut in the face and eye with a razor.
Thirty-six arrests were made in Camden during Saturday night and yesterday.
Contractor Aaron Ward yesterday completed the big sewer on Sixth street, when he built the last part under the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.
Kate Manning, of Stockton township, was committed in default of ball [sic] for a further hearing by Justice Hope yesterday, for assault on Andrew Mullin. Mullin states that the woman had been drinking, and threw a stick of wood at him, and when he remonstrated with her she drew a knife from under her dress, and cut him in the head with it. The woman denied having a knife in her possession, and stated that she only pushed the man for having made an insulting remark to her.
First Free School Opened to Public
Camden Post-Telegram —
Contents of Corner Stone Settles Question of Date Building Was Erected.
SOME OF THE PAPERS DESTROYED
By the finding of the corner stone in the foundation of the Kaighn school, at the intersection of Sycamore street, Fourth street and Newton avenue, Saturday, all doubts were dispelled as to when the building was erected.
Owing to the fact that all of the records appertaining to the school have either been lost or destroyed considerable discussion has been had throughout the city as to the date and the contractors were given especial instructions to be careful in locating the stone and to see that its contents were preserved as far as possible.
The workmen had about given up hope of discovering the stone when about 11 o’clock one of them, in digging out the lower course of stone of the foundation walls, came across an odd shaped block. He struck it with a pick and the top came off disclosing two glass jars within.
The corner stone was taken to the workshop of the contractors and examined. It was found to be of white marble 16 inches long, 9 inches wide, 8 inches deep. The jars were in a niche 10 inches long, 6 inches wide and 5 inches deep.
The first jar opened contained a number of coins bearing the date 1853 and a quantity of paper reduced to pulp by the action of the elements. When this mass was taken out and dried it resembled powder.
The other jar contained a copy of the city charter; a copy of the ordinances of City Council, while R. W. Howell was the presiding officer; the specifications of the building, of which Lewis E. Foy was the architect. These were all water soaked.
In a good state of preservation after being dried were found two copies of the The [sic] Reformer and New Jersey Temperance Advocate, respectively, dated December 14 and 21, 1853; The Camden Democrat, December 24, 1853, Isaac Mickle, editor; The West Jerseyman, December 14 and 21, 1853, Philip J. Gray, editor; The American Banner, December 17 and 24, 1853, John H. Jones, editor; address of the Native American National Convention to the citizens of the United States with a copy of the resolutions adopted July 5 and 7, 1845.
The documents will be turned over to J. W. F. Bleakly, secretary of the Board of Education and it is more than likely that some of them will be placed in the corner stone of the new building, to be erected on the site of Camden’s first public school.
2 Youths Get 3 Years for Robbing 9 Homes
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Negro youths who are charged by police with having staged nine home robberies here during the past two months, were sentenced to serve from three to five years in state prison by Judge Frank F. Neutze yesterday.
They are William Smith, 18, of 1017 Sycamore street, and Edward Keaton, 17, of 816 Spruce street. Both pleaded guilty.
15th Victim Dies in Gas Plant Blast
Camden Courier-Post —
Funerals Held Today for Four of Men Killed in Explosion
With the death toll in Wednesday’s gas blast disaster increased to 15, bereaved families of the victims began today to bury their dead.
Spiro Cecich, 37, of 1815 Salem street, who was burned all over his body when he was trapped in the purifying tank of the Public Service Electric & Gas Co. at Locust and Cherry streets, died last night in Cooper Hospital. He never regained consciousness.
The first of the victims to be buried was Nunzio Ferraro, 51, of 1131 South Fourth street. Services were held this afternoon in a funeral parlor at Fourth and Division streets. Interment was in New Camden Cemetery. Benediction was said in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
Following the funeral of Ferraro, services were conducted in the same place for Lorenzo Carcione, who lived at the southwest corner of Third and Spruce streets. After benediction at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Curcione was buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Later, services were held in a funeral establishment at 1135 Kaighn avenue for Farrell Coleman, 44, colored, of Second and Pine streets, and George Williams, 33, colored, 277 Sycamore street. Both were buried in Mt. Peace Cemetery, Lawnside.
Rosetta Wallace to Wed Edward E. Fisher
Camden Courier-Post —
Miss Rosetta Wallace, daughter of Doshua and the late Mrs. Wallace, will marry Edward E. Fisher, son of Mrs. Anna Ingram and the late Jacob Fisher, Sunday at 3 p.m. Both are of this city. Fisher, a Korean veteran, served in the Army. He is employed by the Camden Lumber Co. The Rev. James Carter will officiate in ceremonies at 830 Sycamore st. at 3 p.m. Relatives and a few friends will attend a wedding dinner at 426 Chestnut st.
Policemen Took Hand in the Games
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Police Captain Stanley and a squad of officers early yesterday morning made a raid on a house at Baxter and Sycamore streets, Camden. It is said card and crap games were in full blast. The police arrested William Rollins, Ernest Baker, Benjamin Counsellor, Walter Chambers, Frank Smother and Hiawathia Moore. The house is vacant. The owners had appealed to the police that it had been taken possession of by a number of colored men. The raid resulted. Cards, poker chips, a dice table and other paraphernalia were taken.
Groundbreaking for New Camden Theatre
Philadelphia Inquirer —
With a golden spade Mayor Charles Ellis, in the presence of several hundred persons, yesterday dug the first earth from the ground at Broadway and Sycamore streets, Camden, where a large theatre is to be erected. The building when completed will have cost in the neighborhood of $100,000.
The Pursuit of a Murderer
Camden Courier-Post —
By Joe Happ and Joseph R. McCarthy
The announcement, when it came, burst in City Hall like a grenade. A Camden man — in jail nearly a year awaiting trial for murder — was being charged with six additional killings.
The disclosure was made July 2 by the Camden County Prosecutor’s office as a short, stocky man was being led from his sixth-floor jail cell to an arraignment before Camden Municipal Court Judge William M. Rosenblatt.
Until then it had been one of the best-kept secrets in the city in recent memory. The press corps, usually well informed in advance about all such goings-on was caught by surprise.
When the hour-long court procedure was over, newsmen, armed with little more than the name of the prisoner and a list of victims’ names, went to work.
The old newspaper clippings from which they frantically culled information had a grim tale to tell. Six women and a man had been beaten, slashed or shot to death between February and September 1969. The clippings suggested grotesque pictures of battered, butchered human beings.
The suspect was 38-year-old Leroy Snyder, an ex-convict who had spent most of his adult life in prison for acts of violence.
Fresh details fo [sic] the killings were scarce, as County Prosecutor A. Donald Bigley, not wanting to jeopardize his case, clamped down hard on information released to the press. The July 2 stories were mostly a rehash of the earlier murder stories.
The victims:
Mrs. Lula Crawley, bound, gagged and stabbed 13 times, was found Feb. 14, 1969 in a room behind her S. 6th Street antique shop.
Mrs. Mary Freeman, found stabbed to death April 12, 1969, floating in two feet of water in an abandoned house.
Mrs. Shirley Brittingham and Warren Wells, discovered April 25 in the basement of a vacant house. The woman, seven months pregnant, had been stabbed repeatedly and shot in the chest several times. The man had a shotgun wound three inches in diameter in his back, had been stabbed several times and beaten with a blunt instrument. Both bodies had lain there three weeks before being discovered and were badly decomposed and partially eaten by rats.
Mrs. Lovie Williams, found May 19 in her West Street apartment by her 12-year-old son. She had been slashed to death.
Mrs. Vera Stevens, beaten to death Aug. 9 on a vacant lot.
Mrs. Gertrude Friedman, raped, beaten and slashed about the throat Sept. 8 in her combination apartment-linoleum store on Kaighns Avenue.
In city hall, quick comparisons were made between this case and the Sept. 6, 1949 rampage in which a Bible-quoting war veteran, Howard Unruh, shot 13 persons to death in about 20 minutes.
“This one looks worse,” commented one veteran reporter as he scanned the year-old stories.
Following the arraignment, events in the case of Leroy Snyder moved quickly. In less than a week, indictments were handed up by the Camden County grand jury. The following day, Snyder’s signed confessions to all seven killings were presented in Superior Court along with his pleas of no defense.
A week later, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in the New Jersey State Prison at Trenton. Within the hour, Snyder was en route to Trenton.
The story of Leroy Snyder was ended. This week, however, the two men most responsible for the capture of Snyder revealed some of the details of the exhausting eight-month investigation which led to his arrest. It is a story laced with ironies and improbabilities.
“It was a real jig-saw puzzle,” said veteran city Det. Earl Smith, who along with Det. Nate Jones, logged more than 1,200 hours of overtime and traveled from New England to South Carolina, interviewing more than 150 persons and taking statements from about 75 material witnesses.
Before the case was solved, Jones would have trouble convincing his wife that all the hours away from home were actually spent working. “Not only that, I developed a case of high blood pressure during the investigation,” he added.
Smith would only shrug when asked about the effects of the chase on his home life. He indicated that they were “about the same as Nate’s.”
The two detectives, relaxing in their office in City Hall, explained that the keys to cracking the case were the investigations of the Brittingham-Wells double murder and the rape-slaying of Mrs. Friedman.
“We didn’t turn up much on the other murders at all,” Smith said. “In fact, we weren’t even sure they were related until Shirley and Warren were found.”
At that point, Jones explained, police officials began to fear that a psychopath was loose in the city and ordered efforts in solving the case intensified.
Few clues had been left in the abandoned house where Shirley and Warren were found. “We even had trouble identifying them,” said Smith. “They were horribly decomposed and it looked like rats had eaten away most of their faces.”
Identification had to be made by the use of dental records and fingerprints. Even Mrs. Brittingham’s estranged husband was unable to make a positive identification, the detective said.
Frank Brittingham was located the day after the bodies were discovered. He was in a bar at Broadway and Division Streets where Shirley had worked as a barmaid. He could only tell police that he knew his wife was pregnant by a boyfriend whose name he gave the detectives.
A barmaid in the establishment told the three detectives she last saw Shirley leaving the bar with a man on April 5 (the day she died, according to the medical examiner). She also identified an egg-shaped gold locket found by police at the murder scene as one she sold to Shirley for $10.
Smith said Shirley’s boyfriend was located two days later living at the YMCA in New Brunswick. Police in that city had run a check and told Smith the man had registered in his own name but had listed a non-existent firm as his place of employment.
“We wanted to get more on him,” Smith said, “so we waited a while before picking him up.”
Meanwhile, the identity of the man seen leaving the bar with Shirley was learned after police had interviewed several persons in South Camden. They told police the man had gone to see his wife in Seaford, Del.
Smith and City Det. Isaiah Pitts went to Delaware and, after following the trail of the man’s family through several small towns, learned he had been there a few days before and continued south to visit his father in Traveler’s Rest, S.C.
Smith and Pitts returned to Camden and notified police in the small South Carolina town. A week later, the man was arrested as a material witness and was returned to Camden for interrogation.
He told police he had gone to Delaware in order to cash an Internal Revenue Service check and leave part of the money with his wife. His story checked out with what had been learned in Delaware, and he was released.
On July 19 police in Franklin Township, Sussex County, picked up Shirley’s boyfriend as a material witness. In Camden a lie detector test was administered. The man failed, Smith said.
“We asked him if he was withholding information about the murders,” the detective said. “He answered ‘No.’ The machine indicated he lied. We got the same response when we asked if he knew who killed Warren and Shirley.”
Police, however, had nothing to connect him with the murder and released him.
The probe into the death of Warren Wells was a painfully slow process, Smith said. “We knew absolutely nothing about the man when we started.”
An intensive interview campaign was launched in South Camden, but little was learned. On May 19, however, police learned that Wells’ brother-in-law, a suspect in the case, was living in the 400 block of Sycamore Street. Police placed the house under surveillance, but the suspect failed to show up.
Two women living in the house were unable to give any information about the suspect’s whereabouts. The women, both in their early 20’s accompanied the detectives to police headquarters and were arrested and charged with being under the influence of narcotics.
A separate inquiry into the suspect’s background revealed him to be wanted by the U.S. Army for desertion.
The search spread throughout Camden County and on June 12, nearly a month later, he was picked up by State Police from the Toms River barracks.
Brought back to Camden, the suspect failed a lie detector test, Smith said. Yet nothing was established to connect him directly with either murder and he was held pending the arrival of federal authorities.
The suspect’s wife was arrested a few days later while visiting him in Camden County jail. Smith said he recognized the woman from a police photo shown to him earlier by Williamstown police. He said a federal warrant had been issued for her arrest on a charge of mail theft. She was turned over to the U.S. Marshal’s office in Camden.
The search for information in South Camden continued. Detectives began to check through vacant houses in the area. They found a man crouching behind the heater in the basement of one abandoned house. He claimed to be an acquaintance of Wells. An identification check on the man revealed he was wanted on a charge of possession of stolen property. He was arrested.
Under interrogation, the man told detectives he did not know where Wells had been living before his death but said he knew several persons who might know.
One of his tips paid off. A woman living on Kaighns Avenue told detectives that Wells had been living in the 700 block of Walnut Street in the apartment of a man named Leroy Snyder.
Smith and Jones set up a stake-out at the apartment, but Snyder did not return home that night. The following day, the two detectives canvassed the neighborhood and learned that Snyder had a job in a junkyard on Division Street.
“We went to the junkyard and talked with Snyder,” Jones said. “He told us Wells had been living in his apartment since the latter part of March.”
Snyder told police that Wells received a phone call at the apartment on April 4. He said Wells appeared quite shaken by the call and left, saying he would return shortly. Snyder said that was the last he had seen of Warren Wells.
“Snyder even volunteered to come to police headquarters that night to give us a statement and deliver some clothes he said were left behind by Wells,” Smith said. Snyder dictated a four-page statement for police that night, but the information shed no further light on the killing.
“We had checked on Snyder’s background and knew about his prison record,” Smith said. “But we didn’t have enough evidence to hold him. Besides, he seemed to be cooperating with us.” Snyder was released.
That was on May 23. Four days earlier, Lovie Williams was found slashed to death. On Aug. 9, Vera Stevens, her head battered by a rock, was found. No leads were turned up in those investigations.
The Wells probe produced one more lead, however. Police learned that a man believed to operate a house of prostitution in North Camden had been a friend of Wells. Checking at the address, Smith was told the man had recently departed on a trip through New England and Canada.
Police in several states as well as Canada were notified and, on May 28, Wells’ friend was arrested by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police vice squad as he attempted to cross the border in a stolen car.
A joint investigation by the Mounties and police in Camden revealed the names of several women, allegedly involved in prostitution, who were in this country illegally. The women were later deported to Canada, Smith said.
The police investigation of the murders, now numbering six, continued until Sept. 8, when the nude, mutilated body of Gertrude Friedman was discovered in the living room of her apartment on Kaighns Avenue by a neighbor.
Police swarmed into the area that night and found with a woman who said she had seen a man leaving the Friedman apartment that afternoon. She told police he was carrying two suitcases and a brown paper bag filled with clothing.
A state police artist, Tpr. George Homa of the West Trenton barracks, was called in and drew a sketch based on the woman’s description.
Armed with copies of the sketch, police teams again hit the streets in the area around Kaighns Avenue.
A man, when shown the drawing, told police, “This looks like the guy who tried to rape a woman a few weeks ago on 4th Street.” He did not know the assailant’s name, but he gave police the woman’s name and address.
Smith and Jones checked it out.
The woman, who had not reported the incident because she feared reprisals, said the man depicted in the sketch had knocked on her apartment door one night a few weeks earlier saying he was looking for friends who lived in the apartment below hers. Then he forced his way in and tried to assault her, she said. She did not know his name.
The occupants of the downstairs apartment identified the drawing. They said it seemed to be Leroy Snyder.
“The first thing we did after hearing that, was to check on where Snyder was living,” Smith said. “We knew he had moved from the apartment on Walnut Street, but we didn’t know his new address. Later, we learned he was living in the 700 block of Cherry Street.”
A warrant was obtained and, on the evening of Sept. 11, Smith and Jones arrested Snyder at home.
“He was lying on the couch in the living room when we made the arrest,” Smith recalled. “He didn’t offer any resistance.”
Searching the house, detectives found the bags of clothing and other items taken from the Friedman apartment. Positive identification of the articles later was supplied by Mrs. Friedman’s husband.
“He was wearing Mr. Friedman’s wristwatch,” Smith added.
With Snyder in custody, charged with the murder of Mrs. Friedman, larceny, possession of stolen property and assault with intent to rape in the case of the woman on 4th Street, Smith and Jones began a detailed investigation into Snyder’s possible relationship with the other murders.
Since there was no trial, it will never be known just how much evidence the detectives had piled up against Snyder. But apparently, it was enough to convince Snyder and his attorney that a defense against the charges in court would have been futile. Snyder later signed confessions to all seven slayings, but the confessions alone would not be sufficient basis for sentencing.
The contents of those confessions have not been made public, but one unconfirmed report out of the prosecutor’s office had it that a stenographer became ill while transcribing Snyder’s detailed accounts of the killings.
The future holds nothing for Leroy Snyder except prison. Under present New Jersey parole laws, Snyder, with three consecutive life sentences facing him, will not even be eligible for parole for another 43½ years.
Prosecutor Bigley, who sought seven consecutive life sentences for Snyder, summed it up in the courtroom moments after sentence was passed: “There’s a good chance he’ll die in prison.”
Detective Nate Jones
Detective Earl Smith
The psychiatric section of the pre-sentencing report described Leroy Snyder as a “malignant sociopath and a threat to society.” Little is known about Snyder except that he has spent 19 of the past 21 years in prison for assorted acts of violence. His prison record began when he was 17.
Arrested June 1949 on charge of assault. Convicted, sentenced to two years in Annandale Reformatory. Released May 1951.
Arrested July 1951 on charges of attempted armed robbery and threats to kill. Convicted, sentenced to four years in Bordentown Reformatory. Released June 1955.
Arrested December 1955 on charges of assault and battery and assault with intent to rob. Convicted, sentenced to three to five years in New Jersey State Prison at Trenton. Released January 1959.
Arrested August 1959 for attempted armed robbery and threats to do bodily harm. Convicted, sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Paroled January 1969 after serving nine years.
Arrested September, 1969, for murder of Mrs. Gertrude Friedman.
Woman’s Suspicious Death
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Expired in Hospital While Her Husband Is in Jail
Mrs. Leon Sanoski, of 1146 Sycamore street, Camden, died in Cooper Hospital yesterday, under suspicious circumstances. Her husband is in the county jail. According to a statement made by County Physician Jones after he conducted, the post-mortem the woman died from cirrhosis of the liver. He said he saw no marks or bruises on the body.
The woman was found by Captain Stanley and Overseer of the Poor Jefferis unconscious on the floor of her home last Wednesday. She was examined by City Physician Jackson and ordered sent to the hospital. At the hearing the next day the doctor, police captain and overseer testified that the woman’s body was covered with bruises.
On Thursday Sanoski was taken to his wife’s bedside. Her ante-mortem statement was taken by Assistant Prosecutor Wolverton. Mrs. Sanoski said that her husband beat her into insensibility on Monday night and that he beat her once a week for eight years.
Hurley Based Success in Life and in Business on Square Deal to All
Camden Courier-Post —
By BEN COURTER
Nearly two score years ago an earnest young man called together a handful of employees in a small store at Fifth and Pine streets.
“Boys, see that door?” he said to them.
“Well, if by any chance I should be called upon to resort to unscrupulous methods in the conduct of this business that door will be closed and this enterprise will end. Square dealing is to be the principle on which we will do business, square dealing to everybody.”
That young man was William Leonard Hurley, then but 27 years old and virile, visioning a great business which he purposed to develop. It was the pronouncement of what then was nothing less than an ideal, for it was in a period when there was a tendency to take advantage of the unsuspecting to sell inferior goods at exorbitant prices. Many operated under what was known in the trade as the “borax system,” which resulted in the public looking askance at installment buying for the home.
Based on that determination to cultivate public confidence in his own business, Hurley built slowly but securely, his small enterprise into “the big trustful store,” with branches in half a dozen cities.
It was a determination that made him a kindred spirit, in later years, with Theodore Roosevelt whose guest the Rough Rider was to become in the midst of a political campaign that stirred the country from coast to coast. It was the straight-forward characteristic that likewise prompted his subsequent activities in the interest of Camden, that was to be a factor in throwing off the provincial spirit and entering the civic stride so pronounced in the advent of the Camden bridge and the extension of Broadway. In both these he was a strenuous advocate of civic expansion, scientifically planned.
Hurley Not Born With a ‘Silver Spoon’
When Hurley was born in Chester county, Pa., 65 years ago, it was not with a “silver spoon in his mouth.” His father, William Hurley, was a railroad man, an honest, hard-working father, who, in times which were hard enough for the bread-winner, struggled to keep his family in the necessities of life.
The son, William, obtained the rudiments of education under great difficulties, for schools were scarce and far between in the sparse settlement where his boyhood was spent. It was a school of hard knocks, an environment that evidenced the difficult problem the poorer class had in obtaining the bare necessities of life. It was the experience of those early years that William L. Hurley never forgot, for afterward, when success had come, he never was deaf to an appeal from those “pulling hard against the stream.”
At the age of 12 he obtained his first job on a farm in his native Chester county. Farming in those days was hard, strenuous work, seemingly never ending labor to the boy, even then strong and possessing much of the splendid physique of later years.
“I worked from four in the morning until after dark,” Hurley once said, in a reminiscent way. “The farmer usually woke me in the morning by pounding his cane on the floor.
“My duties? Well, they included milking ten cows, feeding chickens and pigs, cleaning the horses, husking corn and doing odd chores. The farmer paid me $4 a month and board.
“In those days boys worked just as hard as grown folks. It was no cinch and when darkness came I couldn’t run fast enough to the farmhouse and to bed. I was dead tired and the bed brought supreme happiness to me. Sleeping was about the only fun I had.”
So the years went on with the hard work on the farm. The future held no great promise. The railroad was more alluring. Since his father was a railroader, young Hurley decided to try that field.
Railroading in 80’s No ‘Automatic’ Job
Back in the 80’s railroading was a far different proposition than it is now. There was none of the automatic brakes and couplings and numberless other inventions that have made it comparatively a safe job today. The old-fashioned coupling pin, for instance, was the abomination of the brakeman. What it did to Hurley he carried to his dying day in the loss of the end of one of his middle fingers.
Not only did he act as brakeman but also as fireman. As he stoked the pulsing engine he dreamed of the day when he might take the throttle. It seemed a wonderful career then, but fate had other things in store for him. He sensed it when he concluded to better his wage of $1.[?]0 a day and get “something on the side.” That was by selling sewing machines at night, often after he had worked hard on drilling freights or stoking the engine through the day.
But this selling of sewing machines impressed young Hurley that perhaps after all there was something else in life other than guiding a great locomotive over the rails. At any rate he concluded to try it out and this in 1888, the year of the “great Blizzard” in this section, he obtained a job with Edward Gately & Co. in Philadelphia as canvasser. It was not long before he had two assistants who acted as collectors, one of whom, Harry F. Jones, was to become his partner in the Atlantic City store many years later.
Gately was a wealthy man who had made his money mostly in the installment business, one who ever had an eye open for the promising young men in his organization. It was his custom to give them a chance and take them into partnership, opening stores in various cities. Young Hurley was one of these promising young men. In 1890 the business of Gately & Hurley was started. To be exact it was on February 1 of that year that a small store was opened, the corner store under old Wildey Hall at Fifth and Pine streets. It was there that he was inspired to tell his then small force of his square dealing policy.
Worked Long Hours to Make Store Success
Young Hurley worked like a Trojan. None in the ranks put in longer hours than he, sometimes 18 or 20 before he was willing to call it a day.
Not only did he direct his force in garnering business, but he went out on the street, often with rugs across his shoulders, to obtain patronage. Many recall the stalwart, earnest young man and his breezy manner which seldom failed to bring result.
Nor was Hurley, in the flush of subsequent success, averse to recalling those strenuous days, usually with a chuckle and remembrance of old timers who had stood staunch and strong with his organization through the intervening years.
Four years later the business had grown to such proportions that he concluded another location was needed. That was after all the stores under Wildey Hall had been occupied. In 1894 the Gately & Hurley store was opened at Broadway and Pine streets. It was then 33 by 90 feet.
When Hurley impressed Gately with the necessity for expanding and having a real store he prepared plans for a four-story structure. Camden then was filled with the “can’t be dones.” Toone & Hollinshed at Broadway and Kaighn avenue was the biggest place on that thoroughfare. Mrs. Varney’s place was on Kaighn avenue, the store of E. V. Story at Sycamore street, Hughes Brothers at Walnut street, Fuhrman Brothers at Chestnut and a few notion places here and there. But the Hurley enterprise seemed so outlandish that one day as George Leathwhite, then Camden’s leading plumber, was looking over the building operation a prominent business man of the period asked.
“Who is the damn fool building this place?”
Nor was he mollified in the least when informed it was “Bill” Hurley. It was regarded altogether a foolhardy undertaking, one that would spell certain disaster. It was pointed out there was nothing just like it on Broadway and that there was nothing to warrant such an outlay.
As a matter of fact that pessimistic note eventually reached Gately. He had some misgivings and Hurley’s four-story building was kept down to three. Just two months after the store had been finished it was necessary to find warehousing room by renting the old bakery of William Kairer at Line and West street. Incidentally, it may be of interest to recall it was Kairer the baker, who had been shot and killed by a burglar in 1893. Theodore Lambert was hanged in the old county jail for that murder.
In 1900 Hurley bought the Gately interests, giving him exclusive ownership, and the business continued to grow making more additions necessary. The old Field properties, two and a half story bricks, were bought, torn down and the store extended.
In 1903 a store was established at Wilkes-Barre with Daniel Loughran as Hurley’s partner. Three years later Henry J. Tobin was made his partner in another store at Trenton. Then in 1912 John J. Powell was commissioned to open the Hurley-Powell store at Wilmington. Harry F. Jones, Hurley’s collector in the very early days opened the Hurley-Jones store at Atlantic City in 1915. Five years later another Hurley store started business at Bridgeton. And in 1923 the home store was remodeled and in the meantime, old Turner Hall, where many a gay night was had by the old timers in masked balls and other festivities, was converted into a warehouse with other structures doing like service. Hurley has long since been recognized as one of South Jersey’s merchant princes.
Roosevelt Given Support in Bull Moose Campaign
Although he never consented to leave the helm of his great business enterprises, save later in life when he spent part of the winters at Hilton Head or occasionally went abroad, Mr. Hurley found time to take an active interest in the affairs of Camden. He did not seek political preferment but for more than 30 years he sought the best that might come with [blacked out]n progressive government. He ever desired to see Camden forge ahead in business in a civic way. Frequently he chafed over a tendency on the part of the political powers to let things drift along. He had no particular objection to the Republican organization as it was constituted under the late Senator David Baird, but he did believe with all possible sincerity that if the progressive spirit could be injected into it much would be accomplished, things that were left to very, very slow evolution.
It was therefore quite in keeping with that tendency that he aligned himself with the late Cooper B. Hatch in the late 90’s when the Committee of 100 was born with the Courier then under S. Conrad Ott as city editor being a potent factor in the victory. It was then that Hurley gave financial and moral aid to the movement with Hatch as the leader and with Lewis H. Moorman, [blacked out], C. Kramer and others many of whom have long since gone fostering the cause. [blacked out] its purpose perhaps although within a few years it had passed with the usual disintegration of independent movements.
When Colonel Roosevelt formed the Bull Moose party and became the Presidential candidate in 1912 with William H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson in the field, Mr. Hurley was an earnest active advocate of the Rough Rider. In fact he was one of the delegates to the Bull Moose convention that nominated Roosevelt.
In the midst of that truly hectic campaign when Wilson, Taft and Roosevelt visited Camden, Wilson’s meeting was enthusiastic enough to please any Democrat. Taft’s was a frost and hardly more than a fringe, mostly office holders greeted him, but Roosevelt’s was what the Colonel himself called a “rip snorter.”
Teddy Was Guest at Home of Hurley During Visit Here
Hurley was his host on that occasion, a hot summer night, itself suggestive of the extremely hot campaign. These meetings were held at the Third Regiment armory, no other building then being available. One may yet recall very vividly the entrance of the Colonel, Mr. Hurley and the Camden Bull Moose leaders. The great drill hall was literally jammed, with yelling enthusiasts even hanging from the top girders. Just as he arrived a terrific thunder storm broke loose, the reverberation, the vivid flashes lost in the roar of the crowd.
“Where’s your hat, Teddy?” someone yelled.
And the Colonel tossed his old black slouch hat in the ring while Hurley led the cheer that followed, a cheer that seemingly tested the strength of the expansive roof. Roosevelt had been a guest at the Hurley home at West Collingswood where the leaders, the rank and file of the Bull Moosers met him. It was one gala night and Mr. Hurley was in the zenith of his glory.
None was more disappointed when Colonel Roosevelt failed at the November election, for Mr. Hurley felt that the country needed the hero of San Juan Hill particularly at that time. He sincerely mourned the Colonel’s passing, but to the very last cherished his memory, regarding him as the Great American.
Backed Non-Partisan Move, Aided Opening of Broadway
As has been indicated, Mr. Hurley had no particular feeling against the Republican organization, but he was certain that Camden was on the threshold of big things and that there should be an awakening. There appeared to be no intention of getting out of the rut so far as the political powers were concerned and with the assurance of the bridge he regarded it necessary to be alive to the opportunities certain to come. There had been talk of certain outlets from the bridge which did not meet the situation in his judgment. For one thing, he was impressed with the extension of Broadway.
For more years than one might recall, Broadway had been Camden’s principal street. Many regarded it as the city’s most important business thoroughfare. Mr. Hurley early realized that to extend it to where the bridge plaza would eventually be located was a real civic essential, but the city administration did not consider the financial outlay that would be involved justified in the extension.
That was one of the factors that resulted in the Non-Partisan movement of 1922, of Mr. Hurley’s advocacy of its cause, of his financial and moral support. He was one of the leaders in the civic revolution that first brought the victory for commission form of government and later that ushered the Non-Partisan candidates into office.
It was the realization of a cherished dream when the new administration bought property that assured Broadway’s extension to the bridge plaza. It justified his prediction that it would be like giving a new blood stream to the city, for the Walt Whitman Hotel, the Wilson Building and others rapidly rising about Broadway and Cooper streets prove it beyond all doubt.
Camden Bridge Proposition Given Approval by Hurley
Mr. Hurley not only gave his every influence toward the Camden bridge proposition in the days when it was regarded more or less a joke, but he worked assiduously to crystalize [sic] sentiment so that the century-old dream would be a dream no longer. New Jersey did its part when Walter Edge was governor, but there was plenty of backing and filling on the part of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. There were many discouraging epochs, even after a joint commission had been created, but Mr. Hurley was among those who refused to give up hope. What was subsequently accomplished was due mainly to men of his faith, of his courage, of his energy.
After its completion the necessity for a second span was impressed upon him. Shortly after the Camden bridge was opened to the public he advocated another from Market street, Gloucester to Pattison avenue, Philadelphia. Since other sites have been suggested. A joint commission has been named to make preliminary surveys but has been at loggerheads over a proposal to build a span from Red Bank to League Island. Mr. Hurley regarded his suggestion as far more feasible and he supported it by arguments that were hard to answer.
Throughout his career Mr. Hurley had been an earnest advocate of co-operation among business interests of the city. For many years there was the Board of Trade rather an innocuous organization, usually attended by half a dozen men and voiceless so far as influence went. He concluded a rejuvenation was necessary, consented to act as president and speeded it up with the late Louis T. Derousse as secretary. Later Charles M. Curry held that position and until the present Chamber of Commerce was formed under a campaign directed by the American City Bureau. Mr. Hurley or his subordinates had given it every possible aid to make it a factor in the community.
Assessment Commissioner Was Only Political Post
Aside from his principal business, Mr. Hurley was associated for many years with the late William J. Lorigan in building homes. Their first extensive operation was the construction of two rows of dwellings in Princeton avenue. Others were constructed in various parts of Camden and the development of the district about Twenty-seventh and Federal streets was largely due to the firm. After the elder Lorigan’s death he was succeeded by his son, William H. Lorigan, who has been associated with Mr. Hurley.
While he sought no political honors, Mr. Hurley did once accept for a few years a position. It was during the Committee of 100 regime when he became a commissioner of assessment. He [?] served for many years as a delegate to the Atlantic Deeper Waterways Convention. He took a keen interest in that organization and in the work of actually having an inland waterway along the eastern seaboard. It is slowly developing with the possibility of becoming an actuality a few years hence, mainly through the effort of men of Mr. Hurley’s caliber.
When he came to Camden Mr. Hurley first resided on Stevens street, then at [?] Pine and from 1894 to 19[?]9 at 7[?]8 Broadway. In the latter year he bought the estate on White Horse pike at West Collingswood that had been used as a sanitarium. The building was virtually reconstructed, the grounds were laid out in beautiful shrubbery and there were already fine nut trees which made it a show place. He called it Dungarvan, after the county in Ireland where his father was born.
It was there at his palatial home, with the beautiful surroundings that Mr. Hurley delighted in acting the role of host, of gathering about him old friends and harking back to the times that were.
Unspoiled Good Will Befriended All in Need
Old friends cherish the memory of one outstanding characteristic of “Bill” Hurley. Increasing fortune never “spoiled” him. He remained democratic until the end, and those who had known him through the years called him “Bill” just as they had done in the days when he was forging ahead in spite of the “can’t-be-dones.”
Nor did he ever forget an old customer. It might be an old, old woman upon whom fortune had consistently refused to shine but who made her little purchases at his store. None was too lowly for him to give his personal attention under such circumstances. There was ever a real grip of the hand that spoke sincerity.
It was quite natural that he enjoyed hunting and fishing. For many years his summer home was at Sea Isle City, where his family went through the vacation period each year. There he never failed to go out to sea or to try his luck off the pier, usually with an old friend. Catching the piscatorial beauties, particularly a channel bass or a drum, was regarded with almost the same satisfaction as putting over a big business deal.
Over a dozen years ago he bought the island at Hilton Head, off the coast of South Carolina and 30 miles from Savannah. While he enjoyed all the comforts of civilization, the surroundings were kept in their primitive simplicity. Nothing delighted him more than taking an old friend along to the island estate and showing the guest the time of his life.
Men like Hurley do much that is unheralded to alleviate the suffering of the world. Creed or color meant nothing to him if aid were needed. What he gave in that respect no one knows. Those long associated with him declare it was sufficient to make happy a small army in adversity.
Aided Worthy Causes Regardless of Creeds
Charitable organizations, religious or otherwise, enjoyed his bounty. No one was aware of such aid unless it happened to be in a “campaign” to raise a specified sum. It was Hurley very often who started things going by way of a liberal contribution. It mattered not whether the cause was for Protestant, Catholic or Jew—just so it was worth while. When the vicious pogroms were sweeping Russia he was one of the most generous contributors to the Camden funds for the sufferers. In the flu epidemic of 1918 he was among the leaders who aided the stricken, who gave many a family a lift over rough places.
During the war he was active in every Liberty Loan drive, in every movement that aided ultimate victory. He was chairman of the Knights of Columbus drive, he was a potent factor in the United War Workers’ campaign, in the Red Cross and kindred movements. He took great interest in the boys who “went over there” for his own son, Jerome, was in the service.
Surely in glancing over Camden’s history in the past two-score years not an instance conducive to the city’s development may be cited without finding William L. Hurley’s name connected with it some way, some how. He was so much a part of its warp and woof that the civic fabric bears indelibly the impress of his personality.
Memory of Cop Traps Suspect In ’47 Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
The photographic memory of a Camden patrolman resulted in the arrest of a man, sought since 1947 on a robbery indictment, it was disclosed Monday in municipal court.
Credited with the arrest of Robert Bailey, 49, of 236 Kaighn avenue, is Patrolman Joseph Carpenter, who, detectives said, recognized Bailey Thursday night.
Patrolman Carpenter, on duty with Patrolman Charles Richards, saw Bailey at Second and Sycamore streets, and asked him for identification.
When Bailey produced cards bearing the name of Charles Cornish, the two officers took him to city hall. As they entered the police station, Bailey bolted and ran north on Roosevelt plaza. Patrolman Richards brought him down with a flying tackle.
At his arraignment today before Municipal Judge Dzick on charges of assault and battery and resisting arrest, Detective Sgt. William Kelly testified Bailey was indicted by the 1947 May grand jury for robbing Clarence Watson, 69, of 2903 High street.
Watson, who operates an auto repair shop was struck with a pipe and robbed of $400 on Jan. 10 of 1947, Kelly testified.
Dzick held Bailey without bail for the grand jury.
Stewart Says Laxity on Vice Will Be Probed
Camden Evening Courier —
Pushes Inquiry in Killing With Chief Colsey Lending Co-operation
WHOLESALE CHANGES LIKELY IN DEPARTMENT
Chief Executive Refers to Official Who Scored Lashing of Cops
A wholesale shakeup of police officials, patrolmen and detectives in the Camden police department is expected to follow the slaying of District Detective William T. Feitz, in a South Camden disorderly house.
That was indicated strongly today by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, director of the department of public safety, after his return from a weekend vacation at Ocean City.
“I intend to get at the bottom of this matter and punish the guilty person or persons,” Mayor Stewart declared upon his arrival at city hall.
“There is something wrong in the police department when no action is taken against a disorderly house which I ordered closed on numerous occasions.
Blames Police
“If the police in the department had followed my instructions we wouldn’t have a dead detective as a consequence of their laxity.
“Chief Colsey and myself are going into the investigation very thooughly [sic] to find out who was responsible for failing to close this place.”
Questioned as to whether the killing of Detective Feitz would bring shifts in district commanders, sergeants, patrolmen and detectives, Mayor Stewart said:
“Yes—anything can happen—for I’m not satisfied with the actions of the department.”
Mayor Stewart also disclosed that since his charge of laxity against the police department, he has been criticized by at least one city official—whose name he would not make public.
“I’ve been told that as head of the department of public safety I shouldn’t make such a statement as I did yesterday because of the effect it would have on the morale of the police department.
Will Shield None
“Well, I want it to be known that I am not guilty of shielding anyone in the operation of this disorderly house. I have a right to protect anyone in the department who is not involved in this violation of my orders and that is what I intend to do in my investigation.”
Mayor Stewart’s first move when he reached his offices was to call Chief Colsey into conference to discuss the events leading up to the death of Detective Feitz early Sunday in the disorderly house allegedly operated by Mrs. Emma Heisler, 38, at 243 Sycamore street.
Later, he announced, he would confer with the district and detective lieutenants and sergeants to find out why his orders issued a number of times to close up Mrs. Heisler’s establishment, were not carried out. The conference, Mayor Stewart indicated, would take place this afternoon.
To Quiz Demoted Pair
Two district detectives who were demoted and returned to beats a few days before Detective Feitz was killed, who covered the neighborhood of Second and Sycamore streets, are also to be grilled by Mayor Stewart. One of the detectives, according to police, is a relative of Mrs. Heisler.
While Mayor Stewart and Chief Colsey were conferring, police and detectives still were engaged in running down clues to the identity of the slayers of the detective who was shot when he walked in on a holdup of 20 persons in the disorderly house.
Three bandits who shot Feitz then rushed out the door and directly past District Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt who was bending over Feitz’s body which had hurtled through the front door and dropped down the steps to the street.
The two detectives in a police radio car had been trailing a suspicious car containing the bandits for some time prior to the shooting [text between crops not shown]
Colsey Speaks Freely
Chief Colsey unlike Detective Lieutenant Ward who has persistently refused to talk to newspapermen or give them any information, spoke freely about the police investigation of Feitz’s death.
“I feel confident that within a few days we will have the killer or killers of Feitz under arrest,” Chief Colsey said.
He admitted that all of the suspects arrested here, in Philadelphia and Atlantic City to date had not been identified as members of the bandit mob.
A suspect who was arrested last night by Chief Colsey and a detective in cruising about the city was released after being questioned.
Another suspect arrested early today was still being held by the police, who refused to reveal his identity. Chief Colsey stated that he did not think the man was involved in the killing of Feitz.
8 Still Held
However, four men and four women are being held in cells at police headquarters as material witnesses.
Only seven are listed on the police blotter, the name of Mrs. Heisler being omitted. The others are Thomas Bonelli, 27, of 207 Walnut street; Cornelius Murphy, 50, of 239 Sycamore street, said by police to have been the doorman of Mrs. Heisler’s establishment; Edward Grapatin, 32, of 246 Kaighn avenue; Joseph McKenna, 31, of 1404 Broadway; Edith Miller, 28, colored, of 205 Sycamore street, and Edna Butler, 33, colored, of 1122 South Second street, domestics in Mrs. Heisler’s place; Catherine Lougheed, 32, of 626 Pine street, an alleged inmate.
Released after being held as material witnesses were Edward Gorba, 20, and his brother, Henry, 19, of 17 North Twenty-first street; Frank Adams, 21, of 938 Atlantic avenue, and Joseph McDonald, 20, of 1605 South Ninth street. All were released in their own recognizance to appear tomorrow.
All of the persons taken into custody after the shooting, were in the disorderly house at the time, police said.
Police disclosed that Ed Gorba was the only eye-witness to the killing who was proving of any value in remembering the description of the killers or in attempting to identify suspects arrested.
Supposed to Be Stolen.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Night before last four new paneled doors were left in the yard of Mr. Henry Peters, on Sycamore street above Eighth, in the Seventh Ward, which are supposed to have been stolen.
Camden Hebrews to Have Synagogue
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Hebrews have purchased the church building at the southeast corner of Eighth and Sycamore streets, which will hereafter be used as a synagogue. The congregation of the Sons of Israel bought the property for $2500.
Tried to Burn Synagogue
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Unknown Person Threw Lighted Paper Among Shavings
The Camden police are investigating a story to the effect that an attempt was made recently to burn the Jewish Synagogue at Eighth and Sycamore streets. The synagogue is a one-story structure now undergoing repairs.
According to Rabbi Shane, some one deliberately threw a lighted roll of paper through the window among a pile of shavings while he was conducting services. He extinguished the fire with little difficulty.
Camden Hebrews’ Memorial Service
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Hebrews yesterday held memorial services for the murdered Jews at the Synagogue Sons of Israel, Eighth and Sycamore streets. Addresses were made by Rev. Dr. Gordon, of Philadelphia, and William Fox. Subscriptions were given amounting to $56.91, which makes the local fund over $700.
Rabbi Chosen for Sons of Israel
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Isaac Minsky, of Newark, has been chosen rabbi of the Congregation of the Sons of Israel, whose synagogue is at Eighth and Sycamore streets.
Camden News Notes
Philadelphia Inquirer —
It is estimated that the various reforms instituted since the incumbency of Street Commissioner Sayre will save the city at least $5000.
Falling into a vat of molten lead and nitric acid, Elmer Wright, 30 years old, of 1639 Broadway, was severely burned about the back yesterday. He was taken home.
By the breaking of machinery in a worsted mill, Lillian Ganders, 23 years old, had her forehead split open almost its full width yesterday. The wound was treated at the Cooper Hospital.
The Kasson Mica Company was incorporated yesterday with a capital of $50,000, the incorporators being A. R. Kasson, H. Raymond Staley and Wilfred B. Wolcott, of Camden.
On opening the Synagogue Sons of Israel, at Eighth and Sycamore streets yesterday morning, it was discovered that two valuable silver cups had been stolen.
Attachment Against Pews in Synagogue
Philadelphia Inquirer —
One of the most peculiar attachments ever executed by the Sheriff’s office in Camden was that against two pews in the Synagogue Sons of Israel, Eighth and Sycamore streets, by Deputy Sheriff Pitman yesterday. It was at the suit of Solomon Lewis against Joseph and Bertha Leitner, both of whom have left Camden.
Some time since Leitner became financially involved with the result that proceedings in bankruptcy were instituted against him. Lewis was one of his creditors and to secure some of the assets he began looking around. He learned that seat No. 7 in the ladies’ gallery and seat No. 12, on the first floor in the synagogue belonged to the Leitners. Then, considering these as among the visible assets, Lewis secured the writ of attachment.
Camden Hebrews to Celebrate
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Hebrews will have a big time to-morrow afternoon at the reopening of the synagogue of the Congregation of the Sons of Israel at Eighth and Sycamore streets. Several prominent rabbis from Philadelphia, Mayor Nowrey and others will make addresses. Progress Lodge, Knights of Joseph; Hebrew Sunday school, Young Hebrew Zionists and the Hebrew Educational Society will attend in a body.
Synagogue Dedicated
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Hebrews in a New House of Worship
The new synagogue of the Congregation of the Sons of Israel, Eighth and Sycamore streets, Camden, was dedicated yesterday by Camden and Philadelphia Hebrews. Mayor Nowrey made an address, referring to the patriotism and general good conduct of the Hebrews.
“What a great sensation it would be,” said he, “if a Russian official, presiding over a city, should appear on a platform and speak words of encouragement at the dedication of a Jewish synagogue. But things are different in this broad land of ours.”
Addresses were also made by Rabbis Levinthal, Eshler and Grossman, of Philadelphia. Many Jewish societies were in attendance.
As Police Vizualize Slaying of Detective
Camden Evening Courier —
Artist’s X-ray view of alleged disorderly house at 243 Sycamore street shows three rooms on ground floor. In the front room, without vestibule, at left, Detective William T. Feitz was shot in back by bandit when he turned to door to call for help after surprising hold-up of patrons and inmates in middle room. According to the police, two of the three bandits frisked the victims of the hold-up in the middle room while a third guarded those who were passed into the rear room after they were robbed. On the street, at extreme left, is shown the police car in which Feitz’ partner, Detective Joseph H. Leonhardt, remained outside while Feitz entered the house.
8 Listed Dead In Home Fire
Trenton Times —
CAMDEN, N. J.—AP—Eight persons died in a flaming Camden house yesterday.
A 40-year-old woman, 6 of her 14 children, and a grandson perished as rescuers vainly attempted to gain entrance to the small two-story dwelling.
Fire Marshal Bernard Gallagher said the death toll was the third highest from fire in the city’s history.
He listed the dead as: Mrs. Gladys Johnson; her children Lawrence 8, Howard 9, Mary 3 months, Pauline 5, Catherine 7, Susanna 18, and Susanna’s son Frederick, 2 months.
Gallagher said the bodies of the victims were huddled in front of two windows of the two bedrooms in which they met death. Six other members of the family escaped.
The flames wiped out a grocery and general contracting offices of the father of the family, Andrew Johnson, 45, who was rebuffed by flames as he tried to raise a ladder to an upstairs window.
Gallagher said the fire apparently was caused by a defective connection of an oil stove in the first floor kitchen.
He said one of the survivors, 13-year-old James Johnson, gave this account of the start of the fire:
The family was sleeping when he awoke and started to light an oven to bake bread. Flames started to drip from a feed line into the tank. “Then the whole kitchen was on fire.”
The blaze then cut off the doorway to the living room preventing him from running to arouse the family. His screams awakened the others.
A. Koski Brothers, Moving and Hauling
Camden Courier-Post —
27 Moving, Trucking, Storage
A. KOSKI BROTHERS—Moving and hauling. $3 up. Padded vans. 24-hour service. 1132 Sycamore St. Bell 554-W.
V-J Beverage
New Jersey Bell Yellow Pages — 1955
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