William 'Indian Bill' May
William “Indian Bill” May was one of the more notorious characters to live in East Camden during the first four decades of the 20th century.
Little is known of his early life. When he registered for the draft in June of 1917 he claimed to have been born in Deadwood, South Dakota on July 25, 1888. He also declared that he had served for four years in the United States Navy, but he claimed no such service in the 1930 Census. Newspaper reports are contradictory regarding his heritage, stating that he was Sioux, but also saying that he was of mixed parentage. He gave his race as white on his draft card and in the 1920 and 1930 Censuses.
William May was not counted in Camden when the Census was taken in 1910. He came to the attention of local authorities and the newspapers in December of 1910 after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, having been rejected in marriage by a very young Elsie Staley. The truth about much of what was reported about him personally is debatable. William May’s obsession with Miss Staley continued into 1912 and resulted in a three-months jail sentence for threatening to kill her. He was questioned in October of 1912 in relation to the murder of Carl Kellman, but was quickly cleared of any involvement, as was Elsie Staley’s brother, Linnaws W. Staley.
In October of 1913, William May married Anna M. Dowell, the daughter of Frank P. Dowell and his wife, the former Amelia Wright. The young couple lived with her parents and brothers Frank and George Dowell at 2105 Berwick Street. William May found regular work at the Keystone Leather Company plant in East Camden. A son, Frank W. May, was born in February of 1914; sadly, he died in July of that year. By 1915 the family had moved to 20 Morse Street, where they stayed into 1916. When William May registered for the draft in June of 1917 the family had moved to 2110 Berwick Street, where they remained into 1923.
William and Anna May were a productive couple when it came to having children, and by 1920 three daughters had arrived, Myrtle, Evelyn, and Naomi May. Four more children arrived over the next 10 years, William H. May, Anna May, Frank May, and Dolores May. In 1921 William May again came to the attention of the law, for threatening a neighbor with an axe. The family moved to 2168 Berwick Street in time for the compilation of the 1924 City Directory. The next directory was published in 1925, but William May does not appear in it. Over the next five years, the Mays had five addresses. The Directory from 1928 shows them at 1984 Federal Street, and the 1929 edition has them at 58 Marlton Avenue. When the census was taken in April of 1930, the family was once again at 20 Morse Street. The 1931 Directory has the May family at 2251 Mickle Street. By the end of that year, William May and family had moved to 2118 Berwick Street. Two more children were born after April of 1930, George May and Clair May.
William May again found himself in front of a judge, this time for beating his wife, in March of 1932. He and his family soon moved to 18 North 22nd Street. William May passed away on September 18, 1935 and was buried at New Camden Cemetery.
William May’s grandson, Robert J. Mentz Jr., had a long and distinguished career with the Camden Police Department.
World War I Draft Card
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William May registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1917 at Camden, New Jersey. His card records his full name as Wm. May, age 27, residing at 2110 Berwick Street, Camden, N.J. He listed his date of birth as July 25, 1888 and his place of birth as Deadwood, S. Dak., U.S.A. He described himself as a leather worker employed by Keystone Tea Co. He was married with a wife and one child. He claimed four years of prior military service in the Navy, U.S.A. The card was signed by registrar B. J. Tracy.
Tags: william-indian-bill-may, william-may
Berwick Street
Berwick Street is in East Camden, running through the 2000 and 2100 blocks between Rand Street and Marlton Pike; the street was extended to South 20th Street after the McGuire Gardens housing project was built in 1954.
22nd Street
22nd Street spans the former Pavonia section — now Cramer Hill — and extends south to Federal Street in East Camden, already laid out by the time the 1887–1888 Camden City Directory was published.
19th Street
Nineteenth Street runs from the Pavonia railroad switching yards across River Avenue north to Harrison Avenue in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, New Jersey.
William May
Obituary of William May, 48, of 12 North Twenty-second Street, who died on the preceding Wednesday; he was survived by his widow, Anna May, and was buried at New Camden Cemetery.
Court Postpones Case of Indian Husband
The hearing for William May, 54, of Berwick Street — charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly choking his wife — was postponed when Anna May was unable to appear due to the illness of two children.
Indian Held in Jail After Beating Wife
William May, 54, of Berwick Street was jailed on a disorderly conduct charge after his wife Anna alleged he choked her during a quarrel in their home.
Cooper Hospital Cases
Emergency room cases at Cooper Hospital on December 28, 1931, including William May, 48, of 2118 Berwick Street, treated for bruises of chest and ribs after falling down stairs.
Cases Treated at Homeopathic
Cases treated at the Homeopathic Hospital in Camden on October 28, 1922, including William May, 48, of 2110 Berwick Street, treated for lacerations of the elbow.
Indian in Court Was on Warpath Neighbor Avers
William May, an Indian living at 2110 Berwick Street, was held on $200 bail after his neighbor accused him of threatening to kill him with an axe.
East Side Notes
An East Side note recording the death of Frank W. May, the five-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William May of 2105 Berwick Street, with interment at New Camden Cemetery.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage license notices issued by the Camden City Clerk in October 1913, including Madeline Brion of 656 Grant Street.
Boy's Brutal Murderer Collapses at Hearing
Fred Coursey and Harry Duffield collapse in Police Court as Detective John Painter recounts the robbery killing of 18-year-old Karl Kellmann at Twenty-seventh and Sherman streets; Linnans Staley is committed as a principal.
Police Court
William May pleaded guilty to threatening the life of Elsie Staley and was sentenced by Judge Joline to three months in the Camden County Jail.
Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons
A Camden police court docket line for February 6, 1912 listing Irvan Warren, Michael Mestovick and William May on a charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons.
Italian Is Held on Grave Charge
Nicholas Small was taken into custody by Special Officer Troncone on suspicion of maltreating Elsie Staley, the girl whose refusal had led William May to attempt suicide.
Cases Treated at Cooper Hospital
Cooper Hospital cases reported July 19, 1911, including William May, 21, of 1819 Federal Street, treated for an incised wound of the lips cut by a piece of bottle.
Again Jail Indian on Girl's Charge
William May was locked up in the county jail on a charge of threatening the lives of Elsie Staley and William Rose after he found her in Rose's company.
May Recover from Self-Inflicted Hurts
William May was discharged from Cooper Hospital days after slashing his breast over Elsie Staley's refusal to marry him; no charge of attempted suicide was brought against him.
Love-Lorn Indian Attempts Suicide
William M. May, a young Indian living behind 1819 Federal Street, slashed his chest with a penknife after Elsie Staley, 14, refused his marriage proposal for a second time at Christmas.