Mitchell Cohen was a prominent figure in Camden, New Jersey, with a long career as a lawyer and judge. He was a Democrat aligned with George R. Brunner in the mid-1930s and was named Camden City Prosecutor in October 1936 when a New Jersey State Supreme Court decision gave control of City government to the Democrat party. By August 1938, he was made acting judge in Camden’s Police Court. Cohen also served as Camden County Prosecutor in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The 1947 Camden City Directory listed Cohen as living at 413 Penn Street, which had been the home of three sisters, Frances Wilmerton, Mary Brown, and Margaret Thomson, who were long-time Camden schoolteachers.
In 1949, when Howard Unruh went on a shooting rampage in Camden that left 13 people dead, Cohen was serving as the Camden County Prosecutor and took Unruh’s statement, which remains sealed to this day. Also during Cohen’s tenure as County Prosecutor, long-time Camden County Chief of Detectives Larry Doran retired. Cohen rose to the post of Chief Justice of the Federal District Court in Camden, and the courthouse erected in the late 1990s bears his name.
Related Photos
Related Articles
-
Rampage in Camden
By Katherine Ramsland A Preconceived Plan It seemed a petty grievance, but it was also a turning point. As soon as he saw the missing gate, just installed that day, he knew that his life would change. He had to take action now, no matter what the cost. He’d been plotting revenge for at least…
-
Mitchell H. Cohen
Mitchell Cohen was a prominent figure in Camden, New Jersey, with a long career as a lawyer and judge. He was a Democrat aligned with George R. Brunner in the mid-1930s and was named Camden City Prosecutor in October 1936 when a New Jersey State Supreme Court decision gave control of City government to the…
-
Lawrence T. Doran
Lawrence “Larry” T. Doran was born in 1879 in New Jersey. He married his wife Catherine shortly after the turn of the century. After working as a Camden police officer and as a game warden, in August of 1910 he was hired as a detective by then Camden county prosecutor Henry S. Scovel. He then…
-
A History of Post Offices in Camden
A Post Office was established in Camden in 1803 and called Cooper’s Ferry Post Office, under which name it continued until 1829 when it was changed to Camden. The office was first located in the hotel at the foot of Cooper street and the first postmasters were Benjamin Cooper, 1803-1806; Charles Cooper, 1806-1810; Richard M.…
-
Dzick Appointed Judge of Camden Municipal Court
Camden Courier-Post – May 16, 1950 Prosecutor Replaces DiMona; Anthony Lario Is Chosen Benjamin J. Dzick, city prosecutor since 1942, today was named municipal judge of Camdent [sic] by Director of Public Safety George Aaron, replacing Police Court Judge John R. DiMona. At the same time Aaron appointed Anthony M. Lario to the post of…
Leave a Reply