2 Youths Face Court And Deny Store Murder

Camden Courier-Post, December 9, 1930

Courier-Post headline: 2 Youths Face Court And Deny Store Murder, December 9, 1930
Camden Courier-Post, December 9, 1930
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2 YOUTHS FACE COURT AND DENY STORE MURDER Makowski and Janasz Indicted in Killing of John W. Cullen PROSECUTOR WILL ASK FOR DEATH PENALTY Collingswood Burglar is Named By Grand Jury in Its Report Two Camden youths, nervous and incoherent in speech under the threat of the electric chair, today stood before Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd in criminal court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering a store manager to get $5 in receipts. They are John "Fingers" Makowski and Stanley B. Janasz, also known as Benny Jones. Both were white-lipped as they listened to the grave charges contained in indictments returned by the retiring September Grand Jury yesterday and read in court today by Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese. At the conclusion of the reading, Palese asked them how they would plead. Neither made answer, and Justice Lloyd then put the question to them. Their answer, made in a low, indistinct voice, was: "Not guilty." State Aid Asked Janasz is represented by Joseph A. Varbalow, but Makowski has no lawyer. His mother, a widow who has four other children, then made application to Justice Lloyd for the court to appoint counsel for her son at the state's expense, as she has not the money with which to procure legal defense for him. Prosecutor Baldwin will place the youths on trial probably in January, when the death penalty will be asked. They are accused of murdering John William Cullen, 22, of 1088 South Common road, Fairview, manager of an American Store at 1201 Lansdowne avenue, and father of a 13-month-old girl. The shooting occurred at the store on the night of November 28 and Cullen died two days later in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital. On the day following the shooting the two captives are alleged to have confessed to the robbery and shooting. When arraigned in police court on atrocious assault and battery charges, they pleaded guilty. Jones admitted it was his gun that fired the fatal shot, but he said it was discharged accidentally. They are probably two of the youngest defendants in a Camden county murder case in which the electric chair has ever been asked by the state. Jones is 18 and resides at 1509 Newport street, while Makowski is 19 and lives at 1476 Mount Ephraim avenue.

Makowski and Janasz Indicted in Killing of John W. Cullen

PROSECUTOR WILL ASK FOR DEATH PENALTY

Collingswood Burglar is Named By Grand Jury in Its Report

Two Camden youths, nervous and incoherent in speech under the threat of the electric chair, today stood before Supreme Court Justice Frank T. Lloyd in criminal court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering a store manager to get $5 in receipts.

They are John "Fingers" Makowski and Stanley B. Janasz, also known as Benny Jones.

Both were white-lipped as they listened to the grave charges contained in indictments returned by the retiring September Grand Jury yesterday and read in court today by Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese. At the conclusion of the reading, Palese asked them how they would plead.

Neither made answer, and Justice Lloyd then put the question to them. Their answer, made in a low, indistinct voice, was:

"Not guilty."

State Aid Asked

Janasz is represented by Joseph A. Varbalow, but Makowski has no lawyer. His mother, a widow who has four other children, then made application to Justice Lloyd for the court to appoint counsel for her son at the state's expense, as she has not the money with which to procure legal defense for him.

Prosecutor Baldwin will place the youths on trial probably in January, when the death penalty will be asked.

They are accused of murdering John William Cullen, 22, of 1088 South Common road, Fairview, manager of an American Store at 1201 Lansdowne avenue, and father of a 13-month-old girl. The shooting occurred at the store on the night of November 28 and Cullen died two days later in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.

On the day following the shooting the two captives are alleged to have confessed to the robbery and shooting. When arraigned in police court on atrocious assault and battery charges, they pleaded guilty. Jones admitted it was his gun that fired the fatal shot, but he said it was discharged accidentally.

They are probably two of the youngest defendants in a Camden county murder case in which the electric chair has ever been asked by the state. Jones is 18 and resides at 1509 Newport street, while Makowski is 19 and lives at 1476 Mount Ephraim avenue.

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