Cemetery Cave Raided by City’s Notebook Cop

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In the rear of Harleigh Cemetery, Haddon and Euclid avenues, there is a cave, which today is uninhabited. And if Camden policemen—John V. Wilkie, famed as the "notebook cop," in particular, have their say, it will stay unoccupied. For, today, Wilkie added another "one for the book," in which he has recorded his activities since he became a member of the force four short weeks ago. Wilkie, first plain rookie-policeman, then author-policeman, then sleuth and samaritan combined, now has turned explorer and discoverer, it would appear. For it was Policeman Wilkie who found the cave. With the capture by him of two of its occupants and the lodging of them and another man arrested by Policeman Joseph Ward in jail, the story of this dugout may be told today. But this story had its beginning many, many months ago. Wilkie—referring occasionally to his little red notebook, became its narrator this morning. Ward proved Wilkie's collaborator. Audience Attentive Their listeners were Police Judge Bernard Bertman, three prisoners who already knew quite a little of the story and a score of court hangers-on. Policeman Wilkie read from the book: "For months, the police have received complaints that persons were destroying headstone markers, and trampling over graves in Harleigh Cemetery The officer then related how he had searched the grounds, and finally about to give up, just before dusk, discovered the opening to the cave in a plot at the rear of the cemetery "It was large enough for a man to crawl into it, on his hands and knees. Inside, apparently asleep, but from closer observation, decidedly intoxicated, were two men. They are here in court today." And with that, Wilkie pointed a finger at his two prisoners. They gave their names as John Helm, 40 years old, and James Callahan, 45 years old. Helm said he had no home. Callahan said he lived at Ninth and Spruce and was "just visiting Helm." Asked if they had built the cave behind the cemetery grounds, the men replied in the negative. They said they knew nothing about the place and disclaimed ownership of the four gallons of alcohol which Wilkie said he found inside the dugout. The "notebook cop" testified he understood his prisoners had been in the habit of siphoning alcohol from automobile radiators, and then storing it away as "stock on hand" for future drinking bouts. This, too, the men denied. Given 20 Days Judge Bertman, apparently thinking otherwise, sentenced both to 20 days in the county jail. Wilkie, his story completed, retired and Policeman Ward picked up the threads and continued. He had one prisoner, he said, whom he would offer as living evidence of violations at Harleigh Cemetery. Ward said he had arrested the man who gave his name as William Meehan, 38 years old, of 304 Mickle street, inside the cemetery last night. Meehan was sentenced to 20 days on a charge of being drunk and disorderly. Ward said police would raid the rendezvous of the cemetery "housekeepers" this afternoon and rid it of living inhabitants.

In the rear of Harleigh Cemetery, Haddon and Euclid avenues, there is a cave, which today is uninhabited.

And if Camden policemen—John V. Wilkie, famed as the "notebook cop," in particular, have their say, it will stay unoccupied.

For, today, Wilkie added another "one for the book," in which he has recorded his activities since he became a member of the force four short weeks ago.

Wilkie, first plain rookie-policeman, then author-policeman, then sleuth and samaritan combined, now has turned explorer and discoverer, it would appear. For it was Policeman Wilkie who found the cave.

With the capture by him of two of its occupants and the lodging of them and another man arrested by Policeman Joseph Ward in jail, the story of this dugout may be told today.

But this story had its beginning many, many months ago. Wilkie—referring occasionally to his little red notebook, became its narrator this morning. Ward proved Wilkie's collaborator.

Audience Attentive

Their listeners were Police Judge Bernard Bertman, three prisoners who already knew quite a little of the story and a score of court hangers-on.

Policeman Wilkie read from the book:

"For months, the police have received complaints that persons were destroying headstone markers, and trampling over graves in Harleigh Cemetery

The officer then related how he had searched the grounds, and finally about to give up, just before dusk, discovered the opening to the cave in a plot at the rear of the cemetery

"It was large enough for a man to crawl into it, on his hands and knees. Inside, apparently asleep, but from closer observation, decidedly intoxicated, were two men. They are here in court today."

And with that, Wilkie pointed a finger at his two prisoners. They gave their names as John Helm, 40 years old, and James Callahan, 45 years old. Helm said he had no home. Callahan said he lived at Ninth and Spruce and was "just visiting Helm."

Asked if they had built the cave behind the cemetery grounds, the men replied in the negative. They said they knew nothing about the place and disclaimed ownership of the four gallons of alcohol which Wilkie said he found inside the dugout.

The "notebook cop" testified he understood his prisoners had been in the habit of siphoning alcohol from automobile radiators, and then storing it away as "stock on hand" for future drinking bouts. This, too, the men denied.

Given 20 Days

Judge Bertman, apparently thinking otherwise, sentenced both to 20 days in the county jail.

Wilkie, his story completed, retired and Policeman Ward picked up the threads and continued.

He had one prisoner, he said, whom he would offer as living evidence of violations at Harleigh Cemetery. Ward said he had arrested the man who gave his name as William Meehan, 38 years old, of 304 Mickle street, inside the cemetery last night.

Meehan was sentenced to 20 days on a charge of being drunk and disorderly.

Ward said police would raid the rendezvous of the cemetery "housekeepers" this afternoon and rid it of living inhabitants.