Crime News from 1917

-
New Jersey Courier 20 Apr 1917


Friday Judge Jeffrey received the plea of a number of prisoners, and fixed bail. Joseph P. Johnson of West Point Pleasant, charged with beating up his wife, and the mother of his children, Bessie Johnson, pleaded not guilty. Trial was set for April 30. Having no one to go his bail, but owning real estate, he was allowed to go on his recognizance, and Arthur P. Gallagher of Lakewood, was assigned to defend him.

Acton and George Bunnell of Cedar Creek, indicted at a previous term for malicious mischief, were allowed to give bail in the sum of $200, to appear for trial on April 23. They were charged by Frank W. Briggs, proprietor of the Greyhound Inn, Forked River, with damaging his electric light plant. Howard Applegate, a former owner of that hotel, went their bail.

Charles Willey, colored, pleaded guilty to stealing some $60 from the money drawer of the Manhattan hotel, Lakewood, where he was employed as bellhop. He was caught by Charles Hecht, proprietor, and his son, who marked money, put it in the drawer and then watched to see who took it. Sentence day was set for April 30; bail $200 with Charles Preston of Lakewood as bondsman.

M.J. Pirkig, indicted for assault and battery upon Fred Waegerlee, pleaded not guilty. Charles Baker went his surety for $200. Trial set for April 30. The two men got into a dispute over a horse deal, and some other business transactions, and Waegerlee claims that Pirkig jumped him. They live in Jackson township.

Another Jackson township assault and battery charge was made by E.W. Voorhees against Joseph F. Thompson; the latter plead not guilty and gave $200 bail, as his own surety to appear for trial April 30. Voorhees asserts that during the last December snow, Thompson tore down two small shade trees, to drive across his (Voorhees) fields; that he protested, and Thompson struck him with a stake.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Biegenwald murders

-
About 25 years ago, a string of New Jersey girls were brutally murdered. This page tells the story of the monster responsible. Richard Biegenwald's childhood was as volatile one. His father was an alcoholic and, by the time Biegenwald was 5 years old, his mother could no longer control him. When police were digging up the yard of her Staten Island home, Sally Biegenwald described her son as a hyperactive child. He was prone to lighting fires in his bedroom. Once, he ignited his bed and threw himself in the fire. At the age of 5, he was institutionalized and received shock treatment. He spent most of his childhood in New York state youth detention centers. One medical report said young Biegenwald had a death fantasy and suffered from night terror. He was released when he was 15 and began high school the next year. But about six months later, he dropped out of school and drifted through the South. Over the next three years, Biegenwald had several brushes with the law. In Nashville
Read more

Murder in Manahawkin, 2006

-
Asbury Park Press 10 Nov 2006 STAFFORD TOWNSHIP — Two sisters died minutes apart Thursday after they were shot in the driveway of their home by their mother's ex-boyfriend, who then turned the gun on himself. On most Thursday mornings, 15-year-old Jessica Veitch would be in school. But with school out for the New Jersey Education Association's convention, the Southern Regional High School sophomore was able to spend the morning with her 21-year-old sister, Melissa. The young women were shot before they were able to make it to the front steps of their Mercer Avenue home after returning at about 11:30 a.m. from a trip to a convenience store. Neighbors who heard the shots and screams called 911. "I was in the service, so I knew it wasn't firecrackers," said Thomas Niemiec, 61, who lives a few houses away from the Veitches. Police arrived to find both girls on the ground next to the car, which had its passenger-side window shattered. They were transported to Souther
Read more

Suicide Pact in Forked River

-
The following grim story appeared in the New Jersey Courier on 22 Sep 1939: "A heart rending tragedy touched Ocean County homes Tuesday when Albert J. King, aged 36, and father of 3 small children, and Marie Pirozzi, aged 26, of Bergen avenue, Lakewood, were found dead in the rear seat of King's car in the woods near Lacey Road, about five miles West of Forked River. The man and woman were evidently victims of a suicide pact, as the police and Coroner J. Anderson have found no evidence of violence. The terrible discovery was made by William Cranmer of Forked River, who noticed the car in the woods as he drove along Lacey Road Tuesday afternoon. When he returned about 6:3w0 he again saw the machine and investigated. He found King's body sitting on the side of the rear seat of the car, and Mrs. Pirozzi's body was lying across the seat with her head nestled in his lap. A hose had been taped to the exhaust pipe of the car and pushed through a crack in the floor so as to
Read more