Camden Courier-Post, September 17, 1929View transcription
DORIS CONVICTED AT QUICK TRIAL; GETS TEN YEARS
Shay Warns Gangdom Shootings in Camden Must Cease; Jury Out 40 Minutes
WIFE FAINTS IN COURT AS JUDGE SETS PENALTY
Brother of Olney Bank Bandit Acquitted on One Charge in Kaighn Avenue Brawl
Wheels of justice spun quickly yesterday when John Doris, 30, ambitious young Philadelphia gangster, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison in the shooting of Joseph Connors, Gloucester, in Kaighn avenue, near Broadway, last April 29.
To the sentence which nips a brief but hectic underworld career in which Doris also faces a murder indictment for another Kaighn avenue gun duel, Judge Shay added a stern ultimatum to gamblers and racketeers that they cannot use Camden streets for their sanguinary warfare.
"There have been too many racketeer shootings in Camden lately," the jurist declared. "They all seem to have the same code—to shoot it out and then keep silent in the courts. Even Connors, the man who was shot, comes before this court and denies Doris was the guilty man. Fear may silence these witnesses, which in itself is serious, but these shootings must end and they will."
Tries to be Tough
Then he sentenced Doris. The young gangster, brother of Frank Doris, executed Olney bank bandit, blanched. The confident air with which he approached this trial, following a disagreement at the first trial of the charges last June, had failed and left him a trembling, shaken boy who tried to be tough.
Pathos was added to [illegible] drama as Helen Doris, frail, [illegible] wife of the convicted youth, suddenly seemed to realize what had happened.
She screamed. Her slender body sagged perilously toward the floor. Doris' brother and a friend carried her from the court room.
On the main floor of the building the girl went into a dead faint, from which she was revived by Edward Holloway, custodian. She then became hysterical, in which condition she was taken away.
Guilty on Two Counts
The jury which convicted Doris, the first drawn from the "million dollar" panel, cleared the youth of one count but found him guilty of two after 40 minutes of deliberation.
Deliberations were started at 3.25 p. m., and at 4.05 o'clock Judge Shay was called back to the bench to receive the verdict from Fred Euhenfeld, 3100 Highland avenue, jury foreman.
Solemnly he announced that in the eyes of the jurymen Doris was guilty of atrocious assault and battery, and of carrying concealed deadly weapons, but was not guilty on a third count alleging atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill.
All eyes in the courtroom turned to the immaculately-clad Doris, who started forward in his chair and
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Doris Gets 10 Years, Quickly Convicted
(Continued from Page One)
looked appealingly to his counsel, Walter S. Keown.
Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese reviewed the high points of the case and called upon Judge Shay to give Doris the maximum possible sentence, 15 years.
Attorney Asks Clemency
Keown in his final appeal pointed out Doris stood before the court as a first offender, that he and Connors had been engaged in a heated fistic combat when Connors was shot, and that Doris' youth should entitle him to consideration.
"The jury gave Doris a 'break' in clearing him of the intent to kill charge," Keown pleaded. "Will the court give him a 'break' in its sentence?"
Judge Shay responded with his dramatic broadside against the gun toters of the underworld and gave the defendant a seven-year term for atrocious assault and three additional years for carrying weapons.
Although Connors, on the witness stand shortly before court adjourned for the noon recess, denied Doris shot him, Lorenzo Cole, a cook in the American Restaurant, Kaighn avenue, testified Connors ran into the place early in the morning, groaning and holding onto his stomach, with Doris, a gun in his hand, following him.
Denies Doris Shot Him
"Doris and I fought, that's true," testified Connors. "But Doris didn't shoot me. Somebody, I don't know who, sneaked up on us during the argument and fired on me."
Doris talked with his wife before the case was called. Mrs. Doris was the only woman in the spectators' section.
The first witness, Eli Conaghy, 29, of 814 South Sixth street, testified he was at the Nonpareil Club, Second street and Kaighn avenue on the night of the shooting, with Mrs. Rose Gibbs. Conaghy proved to be a reluctant witness. He mentioned an argument Doris had "with somebody," over the loss of the Gibbs girl pocketbook.
Mrs. Gibbs, 18, who said she lived "on Henry street," was next called. She said she had not met Doris before the night of the shooting. She had gone to the club with Connors and Conaghy, who, she testified, had an argument with Doris over the loss of the pocketbook. Under cross-examination, the Gibbs girl admitted she had been drinking. She said she went to the Nonpareil club at 12:30 a. m. after visiting two "parties," one in Fairview.
Restaurateur Tells Story
Then Ernest Matsios, proprietor of the American Restaurant was called. He testified that about 6.30 a. m., Connors came into the place, followed by a man who looked like Doris. An argument started, Matsios said, and he was forced to eject the men. A short time later, he heard shots, he said. "That's all I know about the shooting," he added.
Matsios was followed on the stand by Lorenzo Cole, colored, 904 Jefferson street, a cook in the restaurant. Cole testified he was in the kitchen looking through a window into the restaurant. He heard the argument, saw Doris and Connors leave the place, and saw them "swapping punches" on the sidewalk.
"I saw a gun in Doris' hand and heard two shots," Cole said. "A few seconds later, Connors staggered into the restaurant, holding onto his stomach, ran through the kitchen into an alleyway, known as Amber street. Doris, the gun still in his hand, followed, but tripped and fell, and then got up and continued the chase."
Almost identical testimony was given by James Sims, also a cook.
Doris Remembers Nothing
Doris was the only witness for the defense. He "remembered nothing," other than being "punched in the nose, some place in South Camden." Doris was on the stand only a few minutes. As he left, Keown rested his case.
Doris first was tried in the Connors' shooting last June. Arraigned on charges of atrocious assault and battery and carrying concealed deadly weapons, he was returned to the county jail pending a second trial when the jury, although believing him guilty, disagreed as to the charge upon which to convict him. The jury comprised nine women and three men.
Doris, in addition to being involved in the Broadway and Kaighn avenue shooting, is believed by police to hold the key to solution of the mysterious murder of Joseph (Mose) Flannery, for which he is under indictment. Flannery was found dying September 18, 1928, in front of a saloon at Front street and Kaighn avenue.
Shay Warns Gangdom Shootings in Camden Must Cease; Jury Out 40 Minutes
WIFE FAINTS IN COURT AS JUDGE SETS PENALTY
Brother of Olney Bank Bandit Acquitted on One Charge in Kaighn Avenue Brawl
Wheels of justice spun quickly yesterday when John Doris, 30, ambitious young Philadelphia gangster, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison in the shooting of Joseph Connors, Gloucester, in Kaighn avenue, near Broadway, last April 29.
To the sentence which nips a brief but hectic underworld career in which Doris also faces a murder indictment for another Kaighn avenue gun duel, Judge Shay added a stern ultimatum to gamblers and racketeers that they cannot use Camden streets for their sanguinary warfare.
“There have been too many racketeer shootings in Camden lately,” the jurist declared. “They all seem to have the same code—to shoot it out and then keep silent in the courts. Even Connors, the man who was shot, comes before this court and denies Doris was the guilty man. Fear may silence these witnesses, which in itself is serious, but these shootings must end and they will.”
Tries to be Tough
Then he sentenced Doris. The young gangster, brother of Frank Doris, executed Olney bank bandit, blanched. The confident air with which he approached this trial, following a disagreement at the first trial of the charges last June, had failed and left him a trembling, shaken boy who tried to be tough.
Pathos was added to [illegible] drama as Helen Doris, frail, [illegible] wife of the convicted youth, suddenly seemed to realize what had happened.
She screamed. Her slender body sagged perilously toward the floor. Doris’ brother and a friend carried her from the court room.
On the main floor of the building the girl went into a dead faint, from which she was revived by Edward Holloway, custodian. She then became hysterical, in which condition she was taken away.
Guilty on Two Counts
The jury which convicted Doris, the first drawn from the “million dollar” panel, cleared the youth of one count but found him guilty of two after 40 minutes of deliberation.
Deliberations were started at 3.25 p. m., and at 4.05 o’clock Judge Shay was called back to the bench to receive the verdict from Fred Euhenfeld, 3100 Highland avenue, jury foreman.
Solemnly he announced that in the eyes of the jurymen Doris was guilty of atrocious assault and battery, and of carrying concealed deadly weapons, but was not guilty on a third count alleging atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill.
All eyes in the courtroom turned to the immaculately-clad Doris, who started forward in his chair and looked appealingly to his counsel, Walter S. Keown.
Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese reviewed the high points of the case and called upon Judge Shay to give Doris the maximum possible sentence, 15 years.
Attorney Asks Clemency
Keown in his final appeal pointed out Doris stood before the court as a first offender, that he and Connors had been engaged in a heated fistic combat when Connors was shot, and that Doris’ youth should entitle him to consideration.
“The jury gave Doris a ‘break’ in clearing him of the intent to kill charge,” Keown pleaded. “Will the court give him a ‘break’ in its sentence?”
Judge Shay responded with his dramatic broadside against the gun toters of the underworld and gave the defendant a seven-year term for atrocious assault and three additional years for carrying weapons.
Although Connors, on the witness stand shortly before court adjourned for the noon recess, denied Doris shot him, Lorenzo Cole, a cook in the American Restaurant, Kaighn avenue, testified Connors ran into the place early in the morning, groaning and holding onto his stomach, with Doris, a gun in his hand, following him.
Denies Doris Shot Him
“Doris and I fought, that’s true,” testified Connors. “But Doris didn’t shoot me. Somebody, I don’t know who, sneaked up on us during the argument and fired on me.”
Doris talked with his wife before the case was called. Mrs. Doris was the only woman in the spectators’ section.
The first witness, Eli Conaghy, 29, of 814 South Sixth street, testified he was at the Nonpareil Club, Second street and Kaighn avenue on the night of the shooting, with Mrs. Rose Gibbs. Conaghy proved to be a reluctant witness. He mentioned an argument Doris had “with somebody,” over the loss of the Gibbs girl pocketbook.
Mrs. Gibbs, 18, who said she lived “on Henry street,” was next called. She said she had not met Doris before the night of the shooting. She had gone to the club with Connors and Conaghy, who, she testified, had an argument with Doris over the loss of the pocketbook. Under cross-examination, the Gibbs girl admitted she had been drinking. She said she went to the Nonpareil club at 12:30 a. m. after visiting two “parties,” one in Fairview.
Restaurateur Tells Story
Then Ernest Matsios, proprietor of the American Restaurant was called. He testified that about 6.30 a. m., Connors came into the place, followed by a man who looked like Doris. An argument started, Matsios said, and he was forced to eject the men. A short time later, he heard shots, he said. “That’s all I know about the shooting,” he added.
Matsios was followed on the stand by Lorenzo Cole, colored, 904 Jefferson street, a cook in the restaurant. Cole testified he was in the kitchen looking through a window into the restaurant. He heard the argument, saw Doris and Connors leave the place, and saw them “swapping punches” on the sidewalk.
“I saw a gun in Doris’ hand and heard two shots,” Cole said. “A few seconds later, Connors staggered into the restaurant, holding onto his stomach, ran through the kitchen into an alleyway, known as Amber street. Doris, the gun still in his hand, followed, but tripped and fell, and then got up and continued the chase.”
Almost identical testimony was given by James Sims, also a cook.
Doris Remembers Nothing
Doris was the only witness for the defense. He “remembered nothing,” other than being “punched in the nose, some place in South Camden.” Doris was on the stand only a few minutes. As he left, Keown rested his case.
Doris first was tried in the Connors’ shooting last June. Arraigned on charges of atrocious assault and battery and carrying concealed deadly weapons, he was returned to the county jail pending a second trial when the jury, although believing him guilty, disagreed as to the charge upon which to convict him. The jury comprised nine women and three men.
Doris, in addition to being involved in the Broadway and Kaighn avenue shooting, is believed by police to hold the key to solution of the mysterious murder of Joseph (Mose) Flannery, for which he is under indictment. Flannery was found dying September 18, 1928, in front of a saloon at Front street and Kaighn avenue.
