Scarduzio Jailed by Orlando After Gun Play in Restaurant

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Scarduzio Jailed by Orlando After Gun Play in Restaurant - Camden Courier-Post, January 24, 1940
Camden Courier-Post, January 24, 1940
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Scarduzio Jailed by Orlando After Gun Play in Restaurant Action Follows Police Failure to Report On Shooting PROBE ORDERED BY MRS. KOBUS Nick Scarduzio, 39, former Summer policeman, was held last night without bail for grand jury action on a charge of atrocious assault and battery and intent to kill as a sequel to a gun-play row at 3 a. m. Saturday in a South Camden restaurant. Scarduzio was taken into custody by County Detective Wilfred Dube on orders of Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando. Investigation of police failure to report immediately the shooting affray was promised by Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety. "I wasn't apprised of this case until 4.30 o'clock yesterday," Mrs. Kobus said. "Ordinarily our policemen aren't required to report little barroom brawls. This is different. I intend to investigate thoroughly. I shall interview these policemen this afternoon and until I have talked with them, I will await developments." Brother Slain December 24th Scarduzio was a brother of Andrew Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, who was fatally shot in a Bellmawr taproom on December 24 during a brawl in which the brothers sought to eject three men who demanded entry to the place at 5.30 a. m. after the cafe had been closed for the night. Andrew was employed as the cafe handyman. Arrested by Dube on "information received," Nick Scarduzio, who lives at 419 Webster street, and who has had numerous encounters with police, allegedly went berserk when requested by a patron of Mike Patsourakas' restaurant at 1806 Broadway to refrain from profanity in the presence of several women diners. Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, said he obtained statements of several witnesses. Doran said he learned Scarduzio entered the restaurant after visiting a nearby taproom and was in a "disagreeable mood." Taking a place at the counter, Scarduzio became loud, Doran said he learned, and was accosted by Robert Wolfe, 32, of 1128 Langham avenue, another diner. Wolfe requested Scarduzio to calm down, witnesses told Doran, whereupon Scarduzio reached across the counter and seized a knife with which he threatened Wolfe and later picked up a heavy sugar bowl and hurled it, striking Wolfe on the head. Wolfe raised his hands in defense, Doran quoted the witnesses, and Scarduzio whipped out a gun and fired two shots. His aim was diverted when Patsourakas grabbed his arm and Wolfe dashed toward the rest of the place as the other diners scattered. More Shots Fired Scarduzio attempted to follow Wolfe, according to Doran, and the fleeing man hid behind a box in a rear room. Scarduzio raced past him into an alleyway where, the detective chief said, he saw another figure and fired two more shots. Wolfe later was taken to Cooper Hospital where three stitches were used to close the wound caused by the sugar bowl. Doran said three city policemen arrived later at the scene, but that subsequent investigation revealed no account of the incident was on city police records. No report was made to the city detective bureau. Orlando ordered the county detective bureau to investigate the case and Scarduzio's arrest followed. Doran also related that the weapon which was taken from Scarduzio by Patsourakas and "broken" was later taken over by city police. Chief of Police Ralph Bakley, who was taking reports from the three city officers, said there was nothing said by them about taking the gun from the restaurant owner. He will question them on that phase of the case later today, he said. Was Special Officer Scarduzio was employed last month by Commissioner Kobus as a special officer making a check on all-day parkers in the city business section. Doran said he learned the man is no longer employed by the city. The city police report, made yesterday afternoon, according to Mrs. Kobus, follows: "I have to report that about 3 a. m. Saturday, Jan. 20, we were cruising in scout car south on Broadway. We were stopped by a young man at Broadway and Ferry avenue. He told us there had been a fight in a restaurant located two doors south of Ferry avenue on the east side of Broadway. Officer (Oliver) Morgan and I entered the restaurant and we saw all the patrons sitting down. We asked if there had been any trouble and they said there had been a fight but that it was all over. So we left the place after we searched all persons in the place for a gun, not finding any. 'One man had been hit on the head with a sugar bowl.' He refused to make any charge and also refused to go to a hospital." The report was signed by Carl Fredericks and Oliver Morgan. Policeman Paul Jackson, the foot patrolman on that beat, made a similar report, Bakley said.

Action Follows Police Failure to Report On Shooting

PROBE ORDERED BY MRS. KOBUS

Nick Scarduzio, 39, former Summer policeman, was held last night without bail for grand jury action on a charge of atrocious assault and battery and intent to kill as a sequel to a gun-play row at 3 a. m. Saturday in a South Camden restaurant.

Scarduzio was taken into custody by County Detective Wilfred Dube on orders of Prosecutor Samuel P. Orlando.

Investigation of police failure to report immediately the shooting affray was promised by Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety.

"I wasn't apprised of this case until 4.30 o'clock yesterday," Mrs. Kobus said. "Ordinarily our policemen aren't required to report little barroom brawls. This is different. I intend to investigate thoroughly. I shall interview these policemen this afternoon and until I have talked with them, I will await developments."

Brother Slain December 24th

Scarduzio was a brother of Andrew Scarduzio, Eighth ward political worker, who was fatally shot in a Bellmawr taproom on December 24 during a brawl in which the brothers sought to eject three men who demanded entry to the place at 5.30 a. m. after the cafe had been closed for the night. Andrew was employed as the cafe handyman.

Arrested by Dube on "information received," Nick Scarduzio, who lives at 419 Webster street, and who has had numerous encounters with police, allegedly went berserk when requested by a patron of Mike Patsourakas' restaurant at 1806 Broadway to refrain from profanity in the presence of several women diners.

Lawrence T. Doran, chief of county detectives, said he obtained statements of several witnesses.

Doran said he learned Scarduzio entered the restaurant after visiting a nearby taproom and was in a "disagreeable mood."

Taking a place at the counter, Scarduzio became loud, Doran said he learned, and was accosted by Robert Wolfe, 32, of 1128 Langham avenue, another diner.

Wolfe requested Scarduzio to calm down, witnesses told Doran, whereupon Scarduzio reached across the counter and seized a knife with which he threatened Wolfe and later picked up a heavy sugar bowl and hurled it, striking Wolfe on the head.

Wolfe raised his hands in defense, Doran quoted the witnesses, and Scarduzio whipped out a gun and fired two shots. His aim was diverted when Patsourakas grabbed his arm and Wolfe dashed toward the rest of the place as the other diners scattered.

More Shots Fired

Scarduzio attempted to follow Wolfe, according to Doran, and the fleeing man hid behind a box in a rear room. Scarduzio raced past him into an alleyway where, the detective chief said, he saw another figure and fired two more shots. Wolfe later was taken to Cooper Hospital where three stitches were used to close the wound caused by the sugar bowl.

Doran said three city policemen arrived later at the scene, but that subsequent investigation revealed no account of the incident was on city police records. No report was made to the city detective bureau.

Orlando ordered the county detective bureau to investigate the case and Scarduzio's arrest followed. Doran also related that the weapon which was taken from Scarduzio by Patsourakas and "broken" was later taken over by city police.

Chief of Police Ralph Bakley, who was taking reports from the three city officers, said there was nothing said by them about taking the gun from the restaurant owner. He will question them on that phase of the case later today, he said.

Was Special Officer

Scarduzio was employed last month by Commissioner Kobus as a special officer making a check on all-day parkers in the city business section. Doran said he learned the man is no longer employed by the city.

The city police report, made yesterday afternoon, according to Mrs. Kobus, follows:

"I have to report that about 3 a. m. Saturday, Jan. 20, we were cruising in scout car south on Broadway. We were stopped by a young man at Broadway and Ferry avenue. He told us there had been a fight in a restaurant located two doors south of Ferry avenue on the east side of Broadway. Officer (Oliver) Morgan and I entered the restaurant and we saw all the patrons sitting down. We asked if there had been any trouble and they said there had been a fight but that it was all over. So we left the place after we searched all persons in the place for a gun, not finding any. 'One man had been hit on the head with a sugar bowl.' He refused to make any charge and also refused to go to a hospital."

The report was signed by Carl Fredericks and Oliver Morgan. Policeman Paul Jackson, the foot patrolman on that beat, made a similar report, Bakley said.

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