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Henry Houston "Harry" Franks served as Camden's Chief of Police from April 1, 1886 until his death on January 1, 1887. A Civil War veteran of the 25th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry and a tobacconist, he served as constable of the Third Ward before his appointment as chief.
Josiah Matlack served as Chief of Police of Camden from 1880 to 1886. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1830, he came to Camden as a young man, served on City Council, and was appointed police chief by Mayor Claudius W. Bradshaw.
Bowman Matlack was a well-known figure in South Camden. According to the 1880 Census, he lived with his wife Priscilla and their three daughters at 635 South 5th Street .
Free and Accepted Masons The Ionic Lodge, originally known as the Corinthian Lodge, was established in 1868. It had its roots in the Camden Lodge, No. 15, which served as the "parent" lodge for Corinthian.
The August 26, 1896 Camden Daily Courier account of Josiah Matlack's funeral at the residence of Charles H. Ellis, Jr., conducted by Rev. J. S. Heisler with lodge representatives as pall-bearers and interment at Harleigh Cemetery.
The August 25, 1896 funeral notice for Josiah Matlack, inviting relatives and members of Ionic Lodge No. 94, Camden Lodge No. 155, and Pottowottomie Tribe to services at the residence of Charles H. Ellis, Jr., 915 South Fifth Street, with interment at Harleigh Cemetery.
The August 24, 1896 Camden Post obituary of ex-Chief of Police Josiah Matlack, who died at the home of City Council President Charles Ellis after being prostrated by heat at Ocean City. It recounts his Council service, Masonic and fraternal memberships, and his tenure as chief under Mayor Bradshaw.
Harry H. Franks and six new patrolmen took the oath as retiring Chief Josiah Matlack bade the police department farewell and formally turned it over to his successor.
In March 1886, Chief of Police Josiah Matlack accepted a position with E. Roberts & Bro., commission merchants at 226 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia.
William "Policy Bill" Smith surrendered to the Mayor and was admitted to $300 bail after the raid on his place at 14 South Eighth Street.
Chief Matlack expected "Policy Bill" Smith to surrender and post bail after the raid on 14 South Eighth Street, but Smith failed to appear and the case went to the grand jury.
Mayor Bradshaw sent the paraphernalia from the raid on "Bill" Smith's policy den at 14 South Eighth Street to the grand jury; Smith remained at large, believed to be in Philadelphia arranging bail with backer Oscar Stein.
A January 1886 report of a policy-game raid by Chief of Police Matlack and Mayor Bradshaw on a house at 14 South Eighth Street run by William "Policy Bill" Smith, in which the winning row was the old familiar 4-11-44.
Camden police raided a policy (numbers) shop at 330 Joint Alley in August 1884, arresting proprietor John W. Baynard, policy writer George M. Johnson, and a player, Benjamin Stone.
A December 1882 Philadelphia Inquirer roundup of Camden news, opening with a three-week-old child left on the doorstep of Chief of Police Josiah Matlack's home at 935 South Fifth Street and placed in the charge of Constable Streeper.
An 1880 character sketch of Josiah Matlack, newly appointed Chief of Police of Camden, tracing his early life, a carpentry accident, his produce-commission business, and his service on the Board of Education and City Council.