Benjamin
Simon

BENJAMIN SIMON was born January 23, 1892, according to his World War I draft card. He is listed in the 1914 Camden City Directory, living at 280 Sycamore Street in South Camden, and working as a carpenter. He joined the Camden Police Department on December 1, 1916. By the time he  registered for the draft in June of 1917 he had moved around the corner, to 280 Chestnut Street.

Benjamin Simon served as a detective on Camden's Police Department in 1930s and 1940s. He was often partnered with Detectives Clifford Del Rossi and Joseph Mardino. While partnered with Detective Del Rossi he was involved in the arrest of the notorious Philadelphia "Nig" Rosen. Detectives Simon and Del Rossi also were involved in a gun battle where the suspect was slain.

Benjamin Simon lived with his wife Bella at 1413 Kenwood Avenue in the Parkside neighborhood in the late 1940s. Also living at the Kenwood Avenue address at that time was his daughter, Rose Simon Swerlick, and her husband Morris, who was then in the wholesale grocery business in Philadelphia. The Swerlicks would move to Randolph Street in East Camden, where they would reside until 1962. Rose Swerlick served as President for both the Sisterhood at Beth El Synagogue (then in Parkside) and as President of the PTA at Cramer Elementary School.

Benjamin and Bella Simon remained in Parkside through the 1950s, until Bella Simon's death in 1959. Benjamin Simon remained on Kenwood Avenue until about 1963, when he moved to Cherry Hill NJ, where he lived out his days with his daughters and grandchildren. Benjamin Simon passed away in September of 1967.  He was survived by his sons George, William and Jack Simon, and his daughters Evelyn Fields and Rose (Swerlick) Rosenbloom, as well as his ten grandchildren. 

One of Benjamin Simon's granddaughters, Judy Swerlick, is an educator and painter. She has taught art in the United States and Japan since 1977.  She taught English in Japan in 1977-78 and has taught art and special education in the United States since 1978.  

World War I Draft Card - June 5, 1917

Camden Courier-Post - October 13,1931

COURT FREES GIRL WHO DRANK POISON

Pleading guilty to attempting to end her life by drinking poison, Sarah Turner, 17, of 338 Lansdowne Avenue, was given suspended sentence by Police Judge Pancoast yesterday.

The girl was arrested after she was treated at Cooper Hospital. She told Detective Ben Simon she drank the poison because she was jealous of her sister. William Harrity, 24, of 409 Senate Street, Sarah's sweetheart, was held as a material witness but was released today when he said he knew nothing of the quarrel between the sisters.

Camden Courier-Post - October 26,1931

Four Suspects Caught as Series of Weekend Robberies Keep Police Busy
STOLEN GARAGE LOOT FOUND IN AUTO AS 4 MEN ARE NABBED
Trio Held at Gloucester for Robbing Store at Westville Grove
OIL STOVE IS STOLEN

Loot valued at several hundred dollar was recovered and four men arrested over the weekend as many robberies were reported to police throughout South Jersey.

Three of the men arrested were captured in Gloucester when merchandise stolen from a Westville Grove store and garage was found in their automobile. The fourth man was arrested in Camden.

Those under arrest in Gloucester, are Joseph Rietseh, 47, of 1245 Palmer street; Joseph Dorman, 18, of 103 Chango street, and Charles Headley, 18, of 936 North Fourth street, all of Philadelphia.

The loot found in their car consisted of automobile tires, cigarettes, safety razors, tubes and other articles. It had been stolen from the store and garage of George A. Fields, Delsea Drive, Westville Grove.

The three men were arrested by Patrolmen Walter Lane and William Fowler. who stopped their car because it had but one headlight.

Taken back to Westville the three men were held without bail for the grand jury by Recorder Charles H. Benner.

Held For Theft

When he walked down Federal Street with an oil stove Armstead Saunders, 56, of 314 Taylor Avenue, was stopped by the police Saturday night.

An investigation revealed he had picked it up as he passed the second-hand store of W. L. Ernest, 408 Federal Street, according to Patrolmen Walter Patton and Raymond Stark.

Saunders will have a hearing today before Police Judge Pancoast, on a charge of larceny.

James Josephson, 3320 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, a salesman for the Household Institute of New York reported the loss of two cases of aluminum ware and an investigation was conducted by Detective Sylvester McGrath. Upon information he entered the apartment alleged to have been tenanted by John Harrigan, of 1289 Dayton Street and found the merchandise. Harrigan is said by the police to have left the apartment. The goods are valued at $150.

William H. McMakin, of 119 West Pine Street, Audubon, reported to Detective Robert Ward that he was held up at Pine Street near Fifth on Sunday morning by three young men. They relieved him of his watch, valued $35, and his drivers license. McMakin was unable to describe the culprits.

William Harris, 53, of 1731 Fillmore Street, told Detective Clifford Carr he was relieved of his wallet containing $6.90 by an unknown man at Haddon Avenue and Copewood Street, Sunday morning. He described the man as being about 27 years old and wearing a light cap.

Thieves entered the candy shop of Jones Wilson, Park Boulevard and Kaighn Avenue, Saturday night and took three cartons of cigarettes, some candy and soda valued at $23.

Hair Clipper Stolen

Waclaw Hermanolski, 1322 Mt. Ephraim Avenue, reported to police that someone entered his barbershop through a rear window and stole an electric hair clipper, massage vibrator and $15.

A grocery store operated by Joseph S. Eskowitz, of 1022 Broadway, was entered early yesterday and the thieves took three dozen cans of malt syrup valued at $12. Detective Benjamin Simon discovered the burglar gained his entrance by cutting a pane of glass out of the back window.

Louis E. Barnes, 21, colored, employed by the police department to catch a colored man who has been reported preying on unemployed and collecting money from them in promise of a job, has informed police that such a man got away from him on October 24. He is known to the police and will be picked up, they said.

Barnes said the man being sought told him to give him $2.50 for a white coat and he would get him a job in the kitchen of the Cooper Hospital. When Barnes returned with the money the man had disappeared..

Camden Courier-Post - June 1, 1933

PAYROLL THEFT IS RE-ENACTED; TWO MEN HELD
Camden Suspects, Brought Back From Penna., Viewed by Victims
MAN ADMITS LOAN OF MACHINE TO ONE
Radio Workers Cannot Identify Them, They're Booked on Suspicion

The $11,790 payroll holdup staged last Friday at the Radio Condenser Co., Thorne and Copewood streets, was, re-enacted yesterday.

Two suspects nabbed late Monday, at Lykens in Dauphin County, Pa., played the "heavy" roles. Also in the cast were eight women and two men, employees of the firm. For an hour and 20 minutes the spectacular robbery was "rehearsed" under the direction of three Camden detectives.

When the curtain was, rung down LeRoy Jenkins, 23, who police say has addresses at 1161 Mechanic Street and 1220 Princess Avenue, and Joseph Putek, 23, said to reside at 1462 Louis street, were held on suspicion. They will be questioned further today.

Has Nothing Definite

Acting Chief of Police John W. Golden admitted he "has nothing on the boys." Detectives Benjamin Simon, Clarence Arthur and Clifford Del Rossi, however, "were pressing pursuit of "hunches" and meager clues in attempts to solve the crime. There were several lines of information they obtained regarding the two suspects which will bear further study, Simon said.

Putak, who has a po1ice record although never convicted according to police, was questioned previously in connection with the Radio Condenser "job." He was released at midnight last Saturday. After that the detectives centered attention upon Jenkins. They learned Jenkins borrowed an automobile from a man who operates a garage in the 1200 block on Atlantic Avenue. The garageman was reluctant to talk but under threat of arrest as an accessory he admitted lending a car to Jenkins.

Fliers were dispatched to police throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and New Jersey. The car was halted at Williamsport, Pa. and when Camden police were identified they were surprised that Putak was Jenkins' companion. This stirred detectives to renewed vigor in the probe. They learned the men were planning to visit relatives, of Jenkins in Williamsport and Pottsville. Acording to Simon police of both cities say Jenkins is well known to them.

While at Williamsport the three detectives learned Putak and Jenkins visited a vice den and quarreled with a woman over money. They quoted Jenkins as declaring that he "could buy and sell the joint!'

Had Little Money

Putak had but $3 when released Saturday and $11 when arrested, Simon revealed. He told the detectives he had won money in a poker game here.

The two men were returned with the detectives as far as Philadelphia but refused to cross the river. They were turned over to police there on suspicion and. brought to this city yesterday afternoon. Taken to the Radio Condenser plant they were confronted with the ten employees who were herded in a vault during the holdup last Friday.

According to Simon several of the employees felt there were certain mannerisms of the suspects which corresponded with actions of the bandits but confessed they were unable to definitely identify Putak or Jenkins as the heavily masked pair who threatened their lives with a revolver and shotgun.       .

The detectives propose an inquiry to al1 banks in this area in an effort to learn whether safe deposit boxes were leased by anyone answering the description of the suspects. The money obtained in the robbery was in bills and change of small denomination, numbers of the bills were not available.

Although never convicted Jenkins has a police record. Putak has never been formally under arrest, but has been questioned by the police in connection with various cases.

Jenkins was arrested December 18, 1931, charged with larceny of gasoline, and on last July 9 was charged with several robberies.  

On April 2, 1931, he was held for the grand jury, charged with manslaughter after his automobile killed Mrs. Mary Cavanaugh, 70, a cook in the service of City Solicitor E. G. C. Bleakly.