In Cafe Holdup

Courier-Post clipping, November 21, 1947: In Cafe Holdup, police search all night for thugs who took $1000 from Briggs Cafe.
Camden Courier-Post, November 21, 1947
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In Cafe Holdup Police Search All Night for Thugs Who Took $1000 Camden police today arrested three men in connection with an armed holdup yesterday of a Camden saloon. Police worked through the night on the case. They broke off the investigation for a short rest at 6 o'clock this morning, however, and were to continue it later. The saloon, Briggs Cafe at Lansdowne avenue and Louis street, was robbed of about $1000 at 3.05 p. m. yesterday by two neatly dressed, armed bandits. Shortly afterward the bandits took a watch, $20 in cash and the automobile of two men who pursued them. Truck Driver Quizzed Booked on "suspicion" at 5.30 o'clock this morning at Camden police headquarters was Angelino J. Martelli, 22, a truck driver, whose home at 1173 Lansdowne avenue, is near the Briggs Cafe. Police explained he is being held for further questioning. At 5.45 a. m. two other men were booked as material witnesses in the case. They are Charles Beyer, 23, an electrical worker, 727 South Eighth street, and Dominic Maone, 24, a salesman, 405 South Fifth street. Detective Capt. Koerner took charge of the investigation late yesterday, and, with Detective Sgt. Trout and Detective Cahill, Sgt. Trout and Detectives Cahill and Schultz, worked through the night. 2 Women Held at Bay The saloon owner, Mrs. Mary Derengowski, 52, and her daughter, Mrs. Stella Briggs, 34, reported the bandits held them at bay with pistols while they rifled a cash drawer and cash register. Mrs. Briggs was upstairs painting when the robbers entered the saloon. Mrs. Derengowski was in a back room when she heard the door bell. As she approached the bar to serve two men standing there, she noticed they had drawn pistols. Warned to 'Keep Quiet' "Keep quiet," one told her, "and you won't get hurt." She told police, however, she screamed as one of the gunmen forced her into the back room. Attracted by the screams, Mrs. Briggs ran downstairs and was
Continuation of the November 21, 1947 Briggs Cafe holdup story: the chase, the abandoned getaway car and a Navy veteran sought.
Camden Courier-Post, November 21, 1947
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confronted by a gunman who ordered her in the back room with her mother. At that point, the women said, the bandit holding them at bay became nervous. He ran over to his partner in the barroom and told him to hurry and take the money. Mrs. Derengowski slipped through a side door into Louis street and screamed for help. Victims Chase Them The bandits fled down Lansdowne avenue toward Rose street with the women chasing them. Joseph J. Lesniewski, 28, of 1179 Lansdowne avenue, took up the chase and was gaining on the thugs when he noticed an automobile driven by William Szmborski, 40, of 1165 Kenwood avenue, moving in the same direction. Lesniewski leaped on the running board, told Szmborski of the holdup and persuaded him to follow the fugitives down Rose street to a point near Mechanic street, where the car drew abreast of the bandits. Szmborski stopped the car and Lesniewski leaped from the running board just as the bandits turned their guns upon him and ordered him back to the machine. They forced Lesniewski into the car and climbed in behind him. The bandits forced Lesniewski to surrender $20 in cash and his wrist watch, then ordered the driver to "get going." Drive Off In Car Szmborski drove to Louis street near Mt. Vernon, where the bandits ordered their pursuers from the car and drove it away. Radio car Patrolmen James Caputi and William Prucella were notified and took up the hunt. The car was found abandoned at Second and Clinton streets. A short time after the holdup, Police Sgt. John V. Wilkie recovered an abandoned machine which he said apparently was to be used as a "get-away" car. The auto, a green sedan with the key in the ignition lock, was found in the 1200 block of Lansdowne avenue. Neighbors told Wilkie they saw three men drive up in the car shortly before the hold-up. Two, who Wilkie said fitted descriptions of the robbers, left the car and walked toward the saloon. The third remained at the wheel. Third Man Escapes Wilkie said when the bandits fled from the bar they apparently became confused and ran west on Lansdowne avenue, instead of east toward the car. The third man abandoned the car and fled on foot. Mrs. Derengowski told police the cash drawer contained about $1000 to cash checks. One bandit wore a panama hat pulled low over his forehead and a black jacket. The women said the second thug had a mustache and wore an Army jacket and pants. Navy Vet Sought The automobile abandoned near the scene was registered in the name of Joseph A. Gimello, 20, of 325 Washington street. Wilkie declared Gimello's parents said he had not returned home and admitted he owned the machine. They said the youth enlisted in the navy when he was 17, served three years and was discharged recently. However, according to Wilkie, the parents stated his entire attitude had changed and they feared he was suffering from a mental condition. An alarm has been broadcast to hold Gimello for questioning in connection with the holdup. EVENING COURIER! They're all there. For complete local and national football scores get the 6-STAR SATURDAY EVENING COURIER . . . It's tops!

Police Search All Night for Thugs Who Took $1000

Camden police today arrested three men in connection with an armed holdup yesterday of a Camden saloon.

Police worked through the night on the case. They broke off the investigation for a short rest at 6 o'clock this morning, however, and were to continue it later.

The saloon, Briggs Cafe at Lansdowne avenue and Louis street, was robbed of about $1000 at 3.05 p. m. yesterday by two neatly dressed, armed bandits.

Shortly afterward the bandits took a watch, $20 in cash and the automobile of two men who pursued them.

Truck Driver Quizzed

Booked on "suspicion" at 5.30 o'clock this morning at Camden police headquarters was Angelino J. Martelli, 22, a truck driver, whose home at 1173 Lansdowne avenue, is near the Briggs Cafe.

Police explained he is being held for further questioning.

At 5.45 a. m. two other men were booked as material witnesses in the case. They are Charles Beyer, 23, an electrical worker, 727 South Eighth street, and Dominic Maone, 24, a salesman, 405 South Fifth street.

Detective Capt. Koerner took charge of the investigation late yesterday, and, with Detective Sgt. Trout and Detective Cahill, [sic] Sgt. Trout and Detectives Cahill and Schultz, worked through the night.

2 Women Held at Bay

The saloon owner, Mrs. Mary Derengowski, 52, and her daughter, Mrs. Stella Briggs, 34, reported the bandits held them at bay with pistols while they rifled a cash drawer and cash register.

Mrs. Briggs was upstairs painting when the robbers entered the saloon.

Mrs. Derengowski was in a back room when she heard the door bell.

As she approached the bar to serve two men standing there, she noticed they had drawn pistols.

Warned to 'Keep Quiet'

"Keep quiet," one told her, "and you won't get hurt."

She told police, however, she screamed as one of the gunmen forced her into the back room.

Attracted by the screams, Mrs. Briggs ran downstairs and was confronted by a gunman who ordered her in the back room with her mother.

At that point, the women said, the bandit holding them at bay became nervous. He ran over to his partner in the barroom and told him to hurry and take the money.

Mrs. Derengowski slipped through a side door into Louis street and screamed for help.

Victims Chase Them

The bandits fled down Lansdowne avenue toward Rose street with the women chasing them.

Joseph J. Lesniewski, 28, of 1179 Lansdowne avenue, took up the chase and was gaining on the thugs when he noticed an automobile driven by William Szmborski, 40, of 1165 Kenwood avenue, moving in the same direction.

Lesniewski leaped on the running board, told Szmborski of the holdup and persuaded him to follow the fugitives down Rose street to a point near Mechanic street, where the car drew abreast of the bandits.

Szmborski stopped the car and Lesniewski leaped from the running board just as the bandits turned their guns upon him and ordered him back to the machine. They forced Lesniewski into the car and climbed in behind him.

The bandits forced Lesniewski to surrender $20 in cash and his wrist watch, then ordered the driver to "get going."

Drive Off In Car

Szmborski drove to Louis street near Mt. Vernon, where the bandits ordered their pursuers from the car and drove it away.

Radio car Patrolmen James Caputi and William Prucella were notified and took up the hunt. The car was found abandoned at Second and Clinton streets.

A short time after the holdup, Police Sgt. John V. Wilkie recovered an abandoned machine which he said apparently was to be used as a "get-away" car.

The auto, a green sedan with the key in the ignition lock, was found in the 1200 block of Lansdowne avenue.

Neighbors told Wilkie they saw three men drive up in the car shortly before the hold-up. Two, who Wilkie said fitted descriptions of the robbers, left the car and walked toward the saloon. The third remained at the wheel.

Third Man Escapes

Wilkie said when the bandits fled from the bar they apparently became confused and ran west on Lansdowne avenue, instead of east toward the car. The third man abandoned the car and fled on foot.

Mrs. Derengowski told police the cash drawer contained about $1000 to cash checks.

One bandit wore a panama hat pulled low over his forehead and a black jacket. The women said the second thug had a mustache and wore an Army jacket and pants.

Navy Vet Sought

The automobile abandoned near the scene was registered in the name of Joseph A. Gimello, 20, of 325 Washington street. Wilkie declared Gimello's parents said he had not returned home and admitted he owned the machine.

They said the youth enlisted in the navy when he was 17, served three years and was discharged recently. However, according to Wilkie, the parents stated his entire attitude had changed and they feared he was suffering from a mental condition.

An alarm has been broadcast to hold Gimello for questioning in connection with the holdup.

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