Joseph
Mardino

JOSEPH MARDINO was born August 13, 1899. He was the son of Italina immigrant parents, Leonardo and Angeline Mardino. By 1920 the Mardino family had moved to Camden, where they lived at 423 Cherry Street. The elder Mardino was then working in a morocco factory, that being the term for a leather process popular at the time. Joseph Mardino was still at home, and was working as an assistant foreman in another of Camden's many industries..    

He married Rita Perrone at some point after the 1920 Census. A son, Leonard was born in 1924. Joseph Mardino joined the Camden Police Department on July 1, 1928. He was active in the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, and began serving as state delegate almost as soon as he joined the force. At some point between May of 1934 and October of 1936 he was promoted to Detective, and was often partnered with veteran detective Benjamin Simon.

Joseph Mardino lived at 447 Cherry Street at the time of the 1930 census, his parents and sister Lillian lived then at 423 Cherry. The 1936 New Jersey Bell telephone Directory shows him living at 443 Cherry. By 1947 he had moved to 318 Morse Street in East Camden with his wife Rita and son Leonard. He was still active with the Camden Police department as late as December of 1957. 

Joseph Mardino still lived at 318 Morse Street when he passed away in February of 1979, survived by his wife and son. 

Camden Courier-Post - July 6, 1932

POLICE SERGEANT TRUAX BURIED AT HARLEIGH

Police Sergeant Frank Truax, who died Thursday night from a complication of diseases, was buried yesterday in Harleigh Cemetery.

More than two score policemen, as well as city officials, attended services at the funeral parlor of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway. Rev. E.M. Munyon, pastor of Eighth Street M.E. Church, officiated. More than 50 cars were in the procession that wound its way to the cemetery. A patrol wagon was used to carry the flowers sent by numerous individuals and organizations.

Pallbearers, all policemen, were John Cole, Joseph Lenhart, John McTaggart, Andrew Truman, William McGrath, Paul Jackson, Joseph Mardino, and Clarence Boyer.

Sergeant Truax was 50 and resided at 1129 Kenwood Avenue. He died five minutes after being taken to Cooper Hospital. He had been a member of the police department since 1917, and was made a sergeant in 1930. he is survived by a widow, Linda, and a sister, Mrs. Viola Wilkinson.

Camden Courier-Post - February 9, 1933

COPS AND FIREMEN WILL ELECT TODAY
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association

The Camden Police and Firemen's Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.

The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.

Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman. 

Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Bungartler, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Gerner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furhman Price.

Camden Courier-Post - February 10, 1933

BOTT CHOSEN HEAD OF POLICEMEN, FIREMEN
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association

Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a  patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association.

The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday's balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.

In a three-cornered fight, William I. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.

Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.

Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and Firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.

Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.

After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13..

Camden Courier-Post - June 19, 1933

TRIP TO CITY JAIL ENDS PARKSIDE SCRAP

Charged with disturbing the peace, Mrs. Stella Wilkinson, 30, and Harry Mattison, 51, both of 1259 Park Boulevard, were arrested last night by Policeman Joseph Mardino. 

At police headquarters each preferred slander charges against the other. Mardino was summoned when the couple's quarrel disturbed the neighbors. 

WOMAN, STUDENTS TAKEN IN HOUSE RAID
Camden Residents and Phila. Visitors Arrested in Parkside Dwelling

 Three Camden women and two Temple University students were arrested in a raid on an al1eged disorderly house at 1450 Kenwood Avenue last night.

Charged with being proprietress of the place is Mrs. Charlotte Grimes, 48. She is the wife of Elmer Grimes, employed by the city as a custodian at Convention Hall and formerly custodian of the Camden High School athletic field, according to City Prosecutor John H. Reiners, Jr.

The students under arrest gave their names as Sidney Goldberg, 19, of 1400 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, and Herman Katz, 19, of 2601 Wilder Street, Philadelphia.

Welch Leads Raiders

The arrests were made by Police Lieutenant Walter Welch and Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino.

According to Welch, Mrs. Grimes signed a statement in which she said she had resided at 1450 Kenwood Avenue for 27 years, and maintained a disorderly house there for the last seven years. He has had men watching the place for a year, to get evidence on which to base a raid, he said. He declared that only persons recommended by patrons were admitted, and then only after making telephone calls.

Simon, who lives three blocks from the house, and Mardino saw a car with Pennsylvania license plates parked near the place last night, Welch said. They waited until they saw Goldberg and Katz leaving the house, and questioned them. It was on the strength of statements by the two youths that the raid was made, Welch added.

Cases Continued

The five prisoners were taken to police court today. After waiting until 10.05 for Simon and Mardino to appear, Welch asked that the case be continued until tomorrow.

Judge Lewis Liberman set bail for $1000 for Mrs. Grimes; $500 each for the other two women, $200 for Katz and released Goldberg in the custody of his brother, an attorney.

The latter said the two youths were willing to plead guilty to disorderly conduct charges, admitting they had been in the place, but Judge Liberman said he preferred to wait and hear the entire case tomorrow.

In answer to the query by the court as to how the two knew about the existence of the disorderly house" Katz said:

"Oh, things like that get broadcast around the university."

Camden Courier-Post - August 26, 1936

CIGAR STORE RAIDED BY ‘SECRET6’ SQUAD
Alleged Proprietor is Held in $500 Bail for Police Court Hearing

 Raiders of the “Secret 6” of the Camden police department yesterday arrested Oscar Bendler, 40, as the alleged proprietor of a cigar store at 217 Market Street, where they reported they seized horse racing sheets, three phones and $114.

 Bendler, who gave his address as 310 Erie Street, is charged with violating the city ordinance prohibiting gambling and is held in $500 bail for a police court hearing today.

 The raid on Bendler’s place was made after the police squad had searched five other small shops and found only legitimate business being conducted,

 Two of the shops were located on the Market Street ferry walk, two on Market Street between Second and Third Street and on Federal Street between Second and Third Street.

 Fine-combing of establishments were it is suspected the gambling gentry may flourish was ordered by Police Chief Arthur Colsey. The picked squad of men who operated as members of Colsey's ”Secret Six” yesterday were Detective Sergeant Clifford Del Rossi, Sergeant Walter Rowand, Detectives Benjamin Simon and Joseph Mardino.

CAMDEN COURIER-POST

October 2, 1936

Camden Courier-Post - October 3, 1936

CAMDEN COURIER-POST

October 9, 1936

Camden Courier-Post - February 10, 1938

5 YOUTHS ARRESTED AS HOLDUP SUSPECTS
Police Believe Bandit Gang Plans of Group Halted by Roundup

Police believed they had frustrated the formation of hoodlum bandit mob yesterday with the arrest of five South Camden youths after a holdup of a grocery store at Tenth Street and Ferry Avenue.

Two of the five suspects were identified by the grocer, John Jacobs, as the bandits who entered his store at 960 Ferry Avenue, held him up at gun point and escaped with $23.95. , Jacobs told Detectives Heber McCord and Clarence Arthur that he recognized one of the bandits as Anthony Mona, 19, of 947 South Third Street, a former boxer, whom he saw fighting in the ring, McCord said.

A radio call was sent to all cars to pick up Mona. A short time later, District Detectives Leon Branch and John Houston arrested Mona as he was eating in a restaurant near Broadway and Kaighn Avenue.

After questioning by McCord and Arthur, Mona implicated the others. They are Dominick Spinagotti, 17, of 251 Mt. Vernon street; Vito Brandimorto, 20, of 245 Chestnut Street; Salvatore Martorano, 21, of 344 Cherry Street, and Victor Labato, 19, of 274 Mt. Vernon street.

Mona was searched in the detective bureau. Police found $6.65 in change in his pockets. The others were rounded up at their homes by Detective Sergeant Benjamin Simon and Detectives Joseph Mardino and Robert Ashenfelder.

According to Simon the youths were "just beginning to embark on a career of crime."

When the others were brought to the detective bureau for questioning, all but $2 of the loot was recovered, Detective McCord said.

McCord said the youths signed statements saying Mona and Labato entered the store while the others waited in Mona's car outside the store, all fleeing together after the holdup.

Camden Courier-Post - December 11, 1957