W. Wentz, of Haddon, Victim of Auto Fire

By Camden NJ History
· Updated · 2 min read · News Articles
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 15, 1918 -- W. Wentz, of Haddon, Victim of Auto Fire
Philadelphia Inquirer, May 15, 1918
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W. WENTZ, OF HADDON, VICTIM OF AUTO FIRE. Edward Davenport, of Camden, Also Burned to Death Near Absecon. A card found on one of the victims and the number on the license tag of the wrecked car were the means of establishing the identity of the two men, who, with a woman, were burned to death under a blazing automobile near Absecon on Friday night. They were William Wentz, aged 28 years, of Haddon Heights and Edward Davenport, aged 26 years, of 1027 Cooper street, Camden. The woman who lost her life was Mrs. Veleta Bowen, aged 26 years, of 532 North Fifteenth street, Philadelphia. Her sister, Mrs. Mary Borne, aged 18 years, of the same address, escaped with painful injuries. The parents of the two sisters live in Wildwood. While the Camden police were endeavoring to find out something about William Wagner, which Miss Marie Bowen said was the name of one of the men, word came from the police at Pleasantville that a charred card in the ruins of the car bore the name of Edward Davenport, of Cooper street. Captain of Detectives Schregler was acquainted with Davenport and recalled having seen him on Friday afternoon at Broadway and Pearl street with William Wentz and two women in Wentz's car. The detective had talked with Wentz and the latter had told him the party was going to Atlantic City. Schregler surmised that this was the ill-fated automobile party and on learning the number of the car from the Pleasantville police got into touch with the Motor Vehicle Department at Trenton and ascertained that the license had been issued to Wentz, who lived at Haddon Heights. Davenport was single and lived with his mother at the Cooper street address. He was a clerk at the New York shipyard and had been employed there six years. He left home at 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon but did not tell his mother he was going on an auto trip. Wentz was chief forger of the plant of the Camden Forge Company. Neither man was married they say. It is the belief of the Camden police that the trip that resulted in the three deaths had been planned in advance.

Edward Davenport, of Camden, Also Burned to Death Near Absecon

A card found on one of the victims and the number on the license tag of the wrecked car were the means of establishing the identity of the two men, who, with a woman, were burned to death under a blazing automobile near Absecon on Friday night. They were William Wentz, aged 28 years, of Haddon Heights and Edward Davenport, aged 26 years, of 1027 Cooper street, Camden. The woman who lost her life was Mrs. Veleta Bowen, aged 26 years, of 532 North Fifteenth street, Philadelphia. Her sister, Mrs. Mary Borne, aged 18 years, of the same address, escaped with painful injuries. The parents of the two sisters live in Wildwood.

While the Camden police were endeavoring to find out something about William Wagner, which Miss Marie Bowen said was the name of one of the men, word came from the police at Pleasantville that a charred card in the ruins of the car bore the name of Edward Davenport, of Cooper street. Captain of Detectives Schregler was acquainted with Davenport and recalled having seen him on Friday afternoon at Broadway and Pearl street with William Wentz and two women in Wentz's car. The detective had talked with Wentz and the latter had told him the party was going to Atlantic City. Schregler surmised that this was the ill-fated automobile party and on learning the number of the car from the Pleasantville police got into touch with the Motor Vehicle Department at Trenton and ascertained that the license had been issued to Wentz, who lived at Haddon Heights.

Davenport was single and lived with his mother at the Cooper street address. He was a clerk at the New York shipyard and had been employed there six years. He left home at 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon but did not tell his mother he was going on an auto trip.

Wentz was chief forger of the plant of the Camden Forge Company. Neither man was married they say. It is the belief of the Camden police that the trip that resulted in the three deaths had been planned in advance.

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