3 Camden Cafes are Closed by U.S. Court

Padlock - Stock Photo

Camden Courier-Post – October 31, 1931

Bronx, Arcadia and Kenney’s Ordered Closed by Judge Montana

RUNNEMEDE ROADHOUSE ALSO COMES UNDER BAN

‘Soft Drink’ Emporiums Sold Illegal Beer, Federal Agents Charged

Three of Camden’s most popular cafes and a Runnemede roadhouse, described on the permits as “soft drink establishments” but known otherwise to thousands of South Jersey and Philadelphia thirsty, were ordered padlocked yesterday.

The establishments are: “Tom” Kenney’s Bridge Cafe, 100 Pearl Street, the Bronx Cafe, 29 North Third Street, the Arcadia Cafe, 201 Federal Street, and the Marland Club, Black Horse Pike, Runnemede.

The padlocks were ordered in Trenton by Federal Judge George Bourquin.

The four places were raided several months ago by federal agents and the padlocks were ordered on the strength of “beerometer” tests made on the premises which disclosed the “soft drinks” were of illegal alcoholic content. Such tests recently were declared legal by Bourquin.

Owners or operators of the establishments are listed in the orders as follows: Bridge Cafe, Thomas J. Kenney, John A. Smith and Charles H. Schwab; the Bronx Cafe, Thomas J. Boland and Florence Scannell; the Arcadia Cafe, William and Sophia Siobodzian, and the Marland Club, Edward Smith and Gottlieb Mayer, president of the Camden German Maennerchor.

An attempt to rob the Kenney Cafe last May 24 failed when police shot and killed Felix Zubelski, 18, of 1039 Diamond street, and wounded Joseph Lenkowski, 21, of 1226 Chestnut Street, as they attempted to escape.

Judge Bourqin, who presides over the Montana circuit, was ordered to New Jersey in July to aid the state judge in clearing the crowded court dockets.


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