Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 1893View transcription
CRIME RUNS RIOT OVER IN CAMDEN
A Murder, an Attempted Murder and Two Bold Robberies Within a Few Hours.
Mrs. Copelain's Assassin Confesses, But Says the Fatal Shot Was Accidental.
A Girl Struck on the Head By a Hatchet in the Hands of Some Person Unknown—Burglars Use Chloroform and Ransack a House.
Crime is rampant in Camden and the residents are in fear of their lives. Within a radius of a few squares a murder, an attempted murder and two burglaries were committed in ten hours. The murder was the shooting of Mrs. Lizzie Copelain, of 68 Walghton's run, and account of which was printed in The Inquirer yesterday.
Stanley Murphy, a colored bootblack, went to the City Hall yesterday and told the authorities that a man answering the description of the supposed murderer was hiding in a house on Carter Campbell's stable, Gloucester City. Chief of Police Davis, Lieutenant Smith and Patrolman Fiore went to Gloucester, where they arrested James A. Jordan, 29 years old, of 1110 Sycamore street, Camden.
Says It Was Accidental.
Jordan made a confession, in which he said he had stolen a revolver from James [continued]
An Attempted Murder.
About half-past 2 o'clock yesterday, within a few hours of the Copelain crime, pretty 19-year-old Mary Morrison was assaulted by two supposed burglars. There is considerable mystery attached to this case. James Morrison keeps a grocery store at Kaighn avenue and Baring street, and the rest of the building is used as a residence by his family. The front room on the second floor is occupied by Mr. Morrison and his wife. Adjoining the store is the dwelling of the latter, Mary, Celia and Maggie, and in the back room his two sons and Walter Weeks, a boarder, also lives.
Hit With a Hatchet.
Miss Morrison was awakened by a noise about 2:30 a. m., and attempted to get out of bed, when she was struck over the head near the left ear with a hatchet. She fell back unconscious and the intruder escaped. The noise awoke her sister Celia, who called to her father. He immediately sent for a physician, who says the young woman is quite serious.
The assault was at first supposed to have been committed by a burglar. He was told that the burglar had effected an entrance through the back window, but on investigation he found the dust on the window-sill was not to be disturbed. The chief says he told Mr. and Mrs. Morrison he could lay his hands on the person who had committed the deed and asked if they had any suspicion. They answered they did not think anyone in the house had done it. The chief left.
They Were Chloroformed.
Burglars entered the residence of Francis Crossley, 729 Chestnut street, Camden, and after chloroforming the inmates proceeded to ransack the house. They secured about $10 and several valuables. The firm of Trone & Hollinshed, of Broadway and Kaighn Avenue, was also robbed of $500 worth of goods.
A Murder, an Attempted Murder and Two Bold Robberies Within a Few Hours.
Crime is rampant in Camden and the residents are in fear of their lives. Within a radius of a few squares a murder, an attempted murder and two burglaries were committed in ten hours. The murder was the shooting of Mrs. Lizzie Copelain, of 68 Walghton's run, an account of which was printed in The Inquirer yesterday.
Stanley Murphy, a colored bootblack, went to the City Hall yesterday and told the authorities that a man answering the description of the supposed murderer was hiding in a house on Carter Campbell's stable, Gloucester City. Chief of Police Davis, Lieutenant Smith and Patrolman Fiore went to Gloucester, where they arrested James A. Jordan, 29 years old, of 1110 Sycamore street, Camden.
Says It Was Accidental.
Jordan made a confession, in which he said he had stolen a revolver from James [continued]
An Attempted Murder.
About half-past 2 o'clock yesterday, within a few hours of the Copelain crime, pretty 19-year-old Mary Morrison was assaulted by two supposed burglars. There is considerable mystery attached to this case. James Morrison keeps a grocery store at Kaighn avenue and Baring street, and the rest of the building is used as a residence by his family. The front room on the second floor is occupied by Mr. Morrison and his wife. Adjoining the store is the dwelling of the latter, Mary, Celia and Maggie, and in the back room his two sons and Walter Weeks, a boarder, also lives.
Hit With a Hatchet.
Miss Morrison was awakened by a noise about 2:30 a. m., and attempted to get out of bed, when she was struck over the head near the left ear with a hatchet. She fell back unconscious and the intruder escaped. The noise awoke her sister Celia, who called to her father. He immediately sent for a physician, who says the young woman is quite serious.
The assault was at first supposed to have been committed by a burglar. He was told that the burglar had effected an entrance through the back window, but on investigation he found the dust on the window-sill was not disturbed. The chief says he told Mr. and Mrs. Morrison he could lay his hands on the person who had committed the deed and asked if they had any suspicion. They answered they did not think anyone in the house had done it. The chief left.
They Were Chloroformed.
Burglars entered the residence of Francis Crossley, 729 Chestnut street, Camden, and after chloroforming the inmates proceeded to ransack the house. They secured about $10 and several valuables. The firm of Trone & Hollinshed, of Broadway and Kaighn Avenue, was also robbed of $500 worth of goods.
