Police Seeking Hidden Motive in Bar Slaying

POLICE SEEKING HIDDEN MOTIVE IN BAR SLAYING Doubt 'Brawl' Explanation in Fatal Bellmawr Shooting of Andrew Scarduzio COUNTY DETECTIVE CHIEF ORDERS MORE QUIZZING Police sought a "hidden motive" for the slaying early Sunday of Andrew Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, in a Bellmawr taproom. Little credence was given to the story that the shooting occurred during a brawl which followed the barring of three men from the taproom at 5.30 a. m. County Detective Chief Lawrence T. Doran today ordered the questioning of two women, one a resident of Camden, who were at the establishment when the shooting occurred. Fresh Quiz Ordered Doran also ordered further questioning of Dale Rose, proprietor of the saloon where the shooting occurred, on the Black Horse pike, at Bellmawr. A third man was taken to City Hall early today for questioning by police, but whether he was held was not disclosed. He is Joseph Romanowski, 28, of Mt. Vernon street, near Orchard street. According to Doran the latest man questioned denied he was present at the time of the shooting of Scarduzio, but was there two hours before when there was an argument over who was to pay for the drinks. Romanowski was taken into custody in a tavern near his home by Detective Sergeant Thomas Murphy. "I was at the Bellmawr saloon at 3 a. m., when the bartender closed the place for the night," Romanowski told Doran, the detective chief said. "But I did not return at 5 a. m., when the murder was committed." Two Others Held Police said the only criminal record against Romanowski was an arrest 10 years ago for carrying concealed deadly weapons. Disposition of the case is not on record. The second man questioned and held in connection with the investigation is Joseph Lenkowski, 29. According to Dominic "Mickey" Hanley, bartender, who had an argument with five men over payment of drinks at 3 a. m., Lenkowski was one of them. Lenkowski is being held as a material witness. Stephan Jaskiewicz, 22, a criminal registrant who came here from Pittsburgh in 1937, was held for investigation Sunday night. Two other men are being sought. They are believed to have been members of the trio which forced its way into the Black Horse pike tavern, engaged in a free-for-all battle, fired seven shots from three guns and ran out. Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, was shot in the groin and the ankle and died several hours later in West Jersey Hospital. The dead man was a brother of Nicholas Scarduzio, recently employed by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety, to check parking law violations. Nicholas was a witness to the shooting. Lenkowski, who was arrested yesterday, first broke into police records in May, 1931, when he was convicted of being one of four bandits who broke into the old Bridge Cafe at Front and Pearl streets. One of the bandits was killed by Policeman Everett Joslin. A jury convicted Lenkowski and on its mercy recommendation he was sent to Rahway. Still Seeking Motive When arrested by Chief Doran and City Detective Harry Kyler, Lenkowski gave his address as 535 South Eighth street. He was booked after being taken to Bellmawr for identification. Hanley told the police that when the men refused to pay for what had been served to them, he said: "Okay. It's my mistake and we'll call it a little Christmas party on the house." A. B. C. Enters Case No guns were flashed on the first visit and no reports of threats by the departing quintette have been made public. Three agents for the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission entered the case yesterday to determine why Rose's place was open at 5.30 Sunday morning. The agents are William Brooks, Bayard Sullivan and Roscoe Lockwood. They went to Bellmawr and took statements from Rose and others who were in the tavern at the time of the shooting. The A. B. C. entered the case after the borough council at a special meeting Sunday afternoon suspended Rose's license pending investigation by the council, mayor and county officials.