Police Seek 'Break' in Sadowski Death

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Police Seek 'Break' in Sadowski Death - Camden Courier-Post, December 2, 1945
Camden Courier-Post, December 2, 1945
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POLICE SEEK 'BREAK' IN SADOWSKI DEATH Vengeance by Quinn and Doublecross Seen as Likely Motives Police today were hopeful of a "lucky break" which might help them to solve the slaying of Mitchell Sadowski, 27-year-old ex-convict shot to death here Friday midnight. While they were following up every clue, however meagre, the investigators admitted they were without any definite leads to the identity of the killer. Local and county detectives were investigating the possibility that Sadowski was killed by or on orders of Mickey Quinn, recently escaped holdup man, or by someone else in reprisal for a recent $1800 holdup allegedly perpetrated by Sadowski. Sadowski was killed by shotgun blasts through the right eye, head and side as he left the Camden Pottery plant, Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets, where he was employed as a kiln operator. Doublecross Suspected City Detective Thomas Murphy said he had been informed Sadowski had held up a Camden sportsman and robbed him of $1800 which the latter won in a dice game. Murphy also said he was investigating the possibility Sadowski was killed in reprisal for that job as well as the alternative that Sadowski may have doublecrossed the Quinn mob in giving information on the Casablanca roadhouse holdup. Sadowski has a criminal record dating back to 1933, when, at the age of 14, he was arrested for auto theft and attempted robbery of a chain store. He was out on probation and parole from a sentence for the $4119 holdup of the First National Bank of Marlton when on June 14, 1939, he was picked up by Detective Gus Pfleiderer in a stolen car. Pfleiderer walked up to Sadowski as he was sitting in the parked car on Kaighn avenue near Mt. Ephraim avenue. As Pfleiderer walked up to him, Sadowski attempted to escape. Pfleiderer drew his gun and warned Sadowski he would shoot. 'Go Ahead, Kill Me' "Go ahead and shoot and kill me," the parolee answered, according to Pfleiderer. "I'd rather be killed than go back to state prison." Pfleiderer said Sadowski threw away a pair of dark glasses and tried to hide a flashlight as he was awaiting the patrol car. Police records show Sadowski has been involved in at least four holdup and robbery arrests and a series of attempted burglaries. Detectives said they fear other Camden police characters and one from Philadelphia may meet Sadowski's fate if his killers are not located quickly. One of the men said to be 'on the spot' is Leon Grenkwicz, 30, of Bellmawr, who was shot March 22, 1945, when Romeo De Sanctis, star witness in the Casablanca robbery, was slain by gang guns. Grenkwicz recovered from the shooting but police have not been able to locate him since.

Vengeance by Quinn and Doublecross Seen as Likely Motives

Police today were hopeful of a "lucky break" which might help them to solve the slaying of Mitchell Sadowski, 27-year-old ex-convict shot to death here Friday midnight.

While they were following up every clue, however meagre, the investigators admitted they were without any definite leads to the identity of the killer.

Local and county detectives were investigating the possibility that Sadowski was killed by or on orders of Mickey Quinn, recently escaped holdup man, or by someone else in reprisal for a recent $1800 holdup allegedly perpetrated by Sadowski.

Sadowski was killed by shotgun blasts through the right eye, head and side as he left the Camden Pottery plant, Mt. Vernon and Orchard streets, where he was employed as a kiln operator.

Doublecross Suspected

City Detective Thomas Murphy said he had been informed Sadowski had held up a Camden sportsman and robbed him of $1800 which the latter won in a dice game. Murphy also said he was investigating the possibility Sadowski was killed in reprisal for that job as well as the alternative that Sadowski may have doublecrossed the Quinn mob in giving information on the Casablanca roadhouse holdup.

Sadowski has a criminal record dating back to 1933, when, at the age of 14, he was arrested for auto theft and attempted robbery of a chain store.

He was out on probation and parole from a sentence for the $4119 holdup of the First National Bank of Marlton when on June 14, 1939, he was picked up by Detective Gus Pfleiderer in a stolen car. Pfleiderer walked up to Sadowski as he was sitting in the parked car on Kaighn avenue near Mt. Ephraim avenue. As Pfleiderer walked up to him, Sadowski attempted to escape. Pfleiderer drew his gun and warned Sadowski he would shoot.

"Go Ahead, Kill Me"

"Go ahead and shoot and kill me," the parolee answered, according to Pfleiderer. "I'd rather be killed than go back to state prison." Pfleiderer said Sadowski threw away a pair of dark glasses and tried to hide a flashlight as he was awaiting the patrol car.

Police records show Sadowski has been involved in at least four holdup and robbery arrests and a series of attempted burglaries.

Detectives said they fear other Camden police characters and one from Philadelphia may meet Sadowski's fate if his killers are not located quickly. One of the men said to be "on the spot" is Leon Grenkwicz, 30, of Bellmawr, who was shot March 22, 1945, when Romeo De Sanctis, star witness in the Casablanca robbery, was slain by gang guns. Grenkwicz recovered from the shooting but police have not been able to locate him since.

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