Harry
Gill
Newton

HARRY G. NEWTON was born April 1, 1884 to Charles G. and Emma Newton. When the Census was taken in 1900 the Newton family resided at 2833 Sherman Avenue in Cramer Hill, near the Pavonia railroad station. The elder Newton gave his occupation as car builder, and that probably referred to work at the nearby railway repair shops.

Harry G. Newton married around 1902. He was working as a house painter and living just across the tracks from his former home, at 2826 Howell Street, with his wife Annie and children Ella, Charles, and Harry. Two more children would come during the 1910s, Emma and Lawrence.

By September of 1918 Harry G. Newton and family had moved to 713 North 28th Street in Cramer Hill. He had by this time became a policeman. 

The 1924 Camden City Directory shows Harry G. and Annie Newton at 118 North 25th Street. Harry G. Newton had reached the rank of Sergeant by April of 1930. He was serving in the First Police District, which covered center city and North Camden at that time. By 1930 it appears that Annie Newton had passed away. Harry G. Newton was by then living with his second wife, the former Mrs. Irene Kain, at 118 North 25th Street, between High and Howell Streets, with his son Lawrence and stepdaughter Ethel Frances Kain.

On August 31, 1935 Sergeant Newton was transferred to the Third Police District, which was headquartered on Federal Street adjacent to the fire house at North 27th Street in East Camden. This was quite convenient for Sergeant Newton, who still lived at 118 North 25th Street, just a short walk away. 

Harry G. Newton does not appear in the Camden City Directory in 1947. His family, however, appears to have remained in the neighborhood of North 35th and High Streets through at least 1959. Harry Newton's younger brother Laurence W. Newton served with the Camden Fire Department during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, reaching the rank of Battalion Chief.

 By Charles L. Humes 

In a shakeup of Camden police officials yesterday afternoon Lieutenant Samuel E. Johnson was named acting chief of detectives by Commissioner Mary W. Kobus, director of public safety. 

Lieutenant George A. Ward, who has been in charge of the detective bureau for a year, was transferred to take Johnson's place in charge of headquarters. 

Detective Louis Shaw was made assistant to Johnson, replacing Detective Sergeant Gus Koerner. Koerner was transferred to the Second District, for radio car and street duty. The new order became effective at 4:00 PM yesterday                       

Police Chief Arthur Colsey announced the changes in the bureau after a two-hour conference with Commissioner Kobus yesterday afternoon. 

Maurice Di Nicuolo, who has been an acting detective, was transferred to the First Police District, with former Acting Detective Clifford Del Rossi returning to his old post in the detective bureau. 

In the only other transfer announced, Sergeant Harry Newton was switched from the First Police District to the Third, with Sergeant Edward Carroll going from the Third to the First. 

Although no other changes were made public, it is believed yesterday’s are a forerunner of numerous shifts to be made today or early next week.’ 

“These changes are being made for the good of the service,” Commissioner Kobus declared. “There will be other transfers of officers and men so that all the police may familiarize themselves with all the branches of the department.”

 Lieutenant Johnson was appointed a policeman on January 1, 1910. After 10 years as a patrolman, he was promoted to a detective, where he made a splendid record. On November 28, 1928 he was made a sergeant, and again promoted on April 8, 1930, when he became a lieutenant.

 Ward was appointed a policeman on August 2, 1917, promoted to detective January 1, 1927, sergeant November 14, 1928 and lieutenant on January 24, 1930.

 Johnson was a detective sergeant when former Police Chief John W. Golden was head of that bureau, but later was transferred to police headquarters.

Ward has been in and out of the detective bureau several times. He served for a time as the commander of the First District and later was in charge of the police headquarters on the 12:00 midnight to 8:00 AM shift. He was a political lieutenant of former Public Safety Director David S. Rhone.