Camden People - William John Stephan

William
John
Stephan

WILLIAM JOHN STEPHAN had been in and out of trouble with the law before he shot and mortally wounded Curtis Dobbins in a botched robbery of the Dobbin home in Haddonfield in 1936. He was caught, the case being investigated and prosecuted by Samuel P. Orlando. William John Stephan was executed in the electric chair at the state prison in Trenton on February 8, 1938.

Camden Courier-Post - February 29, 1936

7 HELD AS COPS RAID CARD GAME IN HOME
Police Seize 2 Decks of Cards, Pair of Dice; Miss Cash

Seven men were arrested last night when police raided a private home I after receiving a "tip" that a card game was in progress.

William J. Stephan, 29, of 403 Friends avenue, the scene of the raid, was arrested as the alleged proprietor and held in $2000 bail for a hearing today before Judge Lewis Liberman.

Others arrested are John H. Ridge, 42, of 418 North Third Street; Ernest Ridge, of Milner Hotel, Delaware avenue and Market street; Nat Green, 34, of 562 Carman Street; John Podhar, 31, of 1944 Bristol street, Philadelphia; Charles Luffy, 32, of 1418 Erie avenue, Philadelphia, and Robert Ramsey, 23, of the Camden Y. M. C. A. All were held in $100 bail as material witnesses.

Detectives John Trout, John Kaighn and Patrolmen Marshall Thompson and Earl Hamby conducted the raid and said they confiscated two decks of cards and a pair of dice. They said a quantity of money on the table was scooped up by the players before they reached the playing room.

Camden Courier-Post - February 5, 1938

STEPHAN TO DIE IN CHAIR TUESDAY AT TRENTON

William J. Stephan, convicted Camden slayer, will die in the electric chair Tuesday, at 8 p. m., for the murder of Curtis Y. Dobbins, Haddonfield athlete.

Stephan, a paroled Federal prisoner, shot and killed Dobbins in the latter's home in Haddonfield on August 11. 1936. He had been serving his parole under Edgar Y. Dobbins, probation officer and father of the slain youth. The State contended that Stephan had intended to rob the son of his benefactor.

Stephan was scheduled to die last November but Governor Hoffman granted him a reprieve. The Court of Pardons refused his plea for commutation of sentence to life in prison.

Camden Courier-Post - February 8, 1938

MOORE SPURNS PLEA TO SAVE STEPHAN
Slayer Doomed to Die To night Bids Goodbye to Mother

Trenton, Feb. 7, - William J. Stephan, who is scheduled to die in the electric chair at State Prison tomorrow night for the murder of Curtis W. Dobbins, of Haddonfield, said "goodbye" to his mother last week, prison officials disclosed today.

The former West Berlin salesman talked to his mother, Mrs. Madeline Hackley, for a short time. He will be permitted one more visitor before he begins "the last mile" as the 121st victim of the prison chair.

It also was revealed today that E. George Aaron, Camden attorney and Stephan's counsel, made a vain appeal to Governor Moore for executive clemency.

Nearly 18 months have passed since the August night in 1936 the state charges Stephan fired the shot that killed Dobbins, youthful RCA Manufacturing Company executive. Most of that time has been spent in futile appeals for life.

After once rejecting Stephan's bid for a new trial by a vote of 7 to 7, the Court of Errors and Appeals later affirmed the death verdict by an 11 to 4 margin. The Court of Pardons turned down his appeal for mercy.

Dobbins was the son of Edgar Y. Dobbins, Federal probation officer in New Jersey, who once had Stephan under his supervision.

Camden Courier-Post - February 9, 1938

Stephan, Executed After Plea For Welfare of His Children
Slayer of Dobbins Goes to Chair Denying Haddonfield Crime
FAREWELL NOTE GIVEN TO RECTOR

Trenton" Feb. 8-William J. Stephan died in the electric chair at State Prison tonight without altering his last message, written yesterday, in which he denied the murder of Curtis Dobbins and pleaded for the spiritual and educational welfare of his two children.

Strapped in the death chair, Stephan was given the first shock at 8.18 p, m. and a second shock two minutes later. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Howard Weisler, prison physician, at 8.23 p. m.

The 32-year-old Camden man was

William J. Stephan, who died last night in the electric chair at Trenton, is shown on the witness stand in a dramatic moment of his trial on October 8, 1936, as he denied he murdered Curtis W. Dobbins, Haddonfield athlete.

The 32-year-old Camden man was accompanied on his walk to the electrocution chamber by Father Thomas F. Kirk, rector of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Berlin, and his spiritual adviser.

As he passed through the corridor from his cell, several of the inmates of the death house called out to him, "Pleasant trip" and "So long."

His answer, "So long, Doc." was his last utterance. He stumbled in to the death chamber, his lips moving in an attempt to pray with Father Kirk, but no sound could be heard.

Before he left his cell, Stephan ate the food he had chosen as his last- celery hearts, roast chicken, lima beans, French fried potatoes and apple pie a la mode. He smoked a cigar after the dinner.

Claimed Alibi

Stephan, whose criminal record included a post office robbery, denied the murder of Dobbins, Haddonfield athlete and the son of his benefactor, at his trial in Camden. He said he was in a roadhouse near Clementon at the time Dobbins was shot.

Firearms experts testified Stephan's pistol fired the bullet which killed the youth. The weapon was found hidden in a stove in Stephan's home.

Both the Court of Errors and Appeals 'and the State Court of Pardon's refused applications for clemency for Stephan. About a month ago he wall visited at the prison by his wife, Margaret, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Magdalen Hutley, but his two sons never had seen him in prison.

Stephan's message, written to Father Kirk, reiterated his innocence and warned against "affairs" with women ..

'''1 make the letter public," said Father Kirk, "that it may be read by all boys and girls and. the warning heeded."

Father Kirk has known Stephan since he was a boy. Stephan's grandparents and his mother still go to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Stephan used to go, too, but he drifted away from the church and returned only after his conviction.

Attaches Little Poem

His letter to the priest and a little poem he wrote on the bottom follow:

"My Dear Father Kirk:

"As my spiritual adviser and esteemed friend, I will take great pleasure in corresponding to you.

"Father Kirk, the fact is, it is a new experience for me. I find my self unable to express the gratitude I feel. I would appreciate this very much if you would see to it that my children are brought up good Christians, and most of all get a good education.

"Father, I want you to always remember that I was unjustifiably convicted for this unfortunate crime. I will die with my conscience clear, and God in heaven knows that it is true. I had nothing to do with it, no way shape or form. I also appreciate your frankness, you were the only one that was that way.

:"The less we have to do with women, the better. They are not even a necessary evil; Life is safer and smoother without them. Once men recognize the snare there will be less crimes; I learned this lesson too late,"

"This letter is brief. My mind is so distracted I cannot think of any· thing else of interest.

"In conclusion: I will say that I appreciate all that you have done in my behalf, Good luck and God bless you.

"Yours truly,

"William John Stephan.

"When the Golden sun is setting,
"And your mind from care is free,
"When of others you are thinking,
“Will you sometimes pray for my soul?"

"William John Stephan."

Dobbins, son of the federal parole officer who, had befriended Stephan after a previous scrape and had given him work, was shot to death in the doorway of his home by a robber on the night of Aug. 11, 1936.

The state charged that the robber was Stephan, who had been drinking heavily in some of the inns along White Horse pike. He was accompanied that night by a girl who worked for him in Philadelphia. At the trial she turned State's evidence.