Robert Ashenfelter

ROBERT PATTERSON ASHENFELTER was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 13, 18845 to Reuben Ashenfelter and his wife, the former Amelia Hipple. The family was still in Philadelphia when the 1900 Census was taken, at 3103 Cambria Avenue.

He was still living in Philadelphia in 1910, and a newlywed at the time of the 1910 Census. He and then-wife Mabel were living at 215 South Millick Street.

After serving in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Department, Robert P. Ashenfelter came to Camden and was appointed the Camden Police Department sometime after 1924. He was living at 800 Market Street when the 1927 City Directory was compiled. The 1929 Camden City  census shows him as working as a Camden Police officer, but living at 119 Manheim Avenue in Oaklyn NJ with his wife of nine years, Alberta, son Joseph, 8, and his father Rubin Ashenfelter, 78 and still working, as a shoe salesman. Hwas still in Oaklyn in April of 1930.

Robert Ashenfelter was promoted by 1931 to detective. During that year he broke up a store robbery in Cramer Hill. In the exchange of gunfire Detective Ashenfelter was wounded, and his assailant, Charles Rettberg, was slain. 

Robert Ashenfelter recovered and continued to serve as a detective on the Camden Police force through ought the 1930s and 1940s. His draft card reveals that by 1942 he had moved to 307 Morse Street in East Camden. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows him still residing with his wife Alberta at 307 Morse Street. 

Robert Ashenfelter passed away on June 13, 1952 and was buried at Locustwood Cemetery in Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey. By 1956 the Ashenfelters had all left Camden. Last a resident of West Berlin, New Jersey, Alberta Ashenfelter joined he husband in March of 1968. Son Joseph resided in Berlin until his passing in 1995.

Trenton Times - August 14, 1929

Robert Ashenfelter - William Moll - Earl Stopfer - Clay Reesman
Joe Snyder - Grover Wearshing - Elwood Bearint - Orville Danenhower
Pete Weygand - Bill Werking - Elmer Loeble - Rock Reeves

Camden Courier-Post
December 1, 1930

Robert Ashenfelter
William Stein
C. Leonard Brehm
Front Street
South 2nd Street
Federal Street

Trenton Times
August 6, 1931

Cedar Street

Camden Courier-Post - August 24, 1931

Camden
Courier-Post
August 24, 1931

Two of the three purported accomplices of the burglar slain by police yesrerday, and the young woman whose statements helped to implicate them, are shown in the above  photographs. Above are James Melbourne, center, and Theodore Rettberg, left. The latter is a brother of Charles Rettberg, 1189 North 36th Street, shot in a gun battle yesterday with Detective Robert Ashenfelter, who was seriously wounded, and Policeman Frank Evans. Miss Emmalinda Canilus, a material witness, is shown at right. Melbournea and Rettberg confessed to planning the robber with the youth who was slain, the police say., 

Camden Courier-Post August 26, 1931

Gordon McCrae
Theodore Rettberg
James Melbourne

Camden Courier-Post * August 26, 1931

Camden Courier-Post - October 20,1931

ROBBERY GANG Of 4 GIVEN LONG TERMS
Two Figured in Wounding of Cop and Slaying of Pal

Four members of the notorious North Cramer Hill gang, two of them participants in the robbery in which one bandit was killed after wounding a city detective, were sentenced to state prison terms by Judge Samuel M. Shay yesterday.

They were among more than a score of defendants who were arraigned in special session of Criminal Court for sentence. Among the others was Robert S. Ballentyne, 32, of 130 South Thirty-second Street, shipping clerk for Congoleum-Nairn. Inc., who pleaded non vult to embezzlement of $2985 from his employers and was sentenced to one year in the state penitentiary.

The Cramer Hill robbers and the sentences they received are:

David Allaband, 18, of 297 Sycamore Street, pleaded non vult to carrying concealed deadly weapons and participation in five robberies, six years.

Gordon McCrea, 20, of 820 Beideman Avenue, pleaded non vult to seven robberies, five years.

Melbourne James, 24, no home, pleaded non vult to carrying concealed deadly weapons and breaking and entering, five years.

Frank Tiedeman, 18, of 820 Beideman Avenue, pleaded non vult to four robberies and carrying concealed deadly weapons, five years.

McCrea and James admitted taking part in the attempted robbery of the American Store at Thirty-second and Pierce Avenue when Charles Rettberg, 21, was shot to death after he seriously wounded City Detective Robert Ashenfelter. Rettberg's, brother, Theodore, was arrested and tried for implication in the attempted burglary, but was acquitted. One more alleged member, Thomas McCrea, who was arrested in his hideout at Towanda, Pa., last week, awaits trial. James was the only one who stood trial besides the exonerated Theodore Rettberg, but he changed his plea to non vult to the weapon and entry charges, receiving a directed verdict of acquittal on the charge of attacking Ashenfelter. Allaband was given the heaviest sentence because of a criminal record. He and Tiedeman took no part in the fatal "job."

Ballentyne, who was arrested July 24, was sentenced to one year for embezzlement after his attorney made an impassioned plea for clemency stating that his client, who is married, has offered to make restitution.

James Miller, who would not reveal his address, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the grocery store of Samuel Pearl, 1101 Cooper Street, on September 10. He was sentenced to three years.

Floyd Coates, of 3408 North Twenty-fifth street, Cleveland, was given a one-year's sentence in state's prison on a charge of deserting his wife, Edna, of 935 North Twentieth street, and two minor children, Robert, nine, and Floyd, Jr., six.

Tony Locantore, 20, of 314 Walnut Street, received a premature Christmas present from Judge Shay when he pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Jennie Balassia, 16, of 576 Walnut Street. He was sent to jail and Judge Shay instructed the sheriff to release him on Dec. 24.

Another Christmas present was handed out to Mrs. Mary Bieliniski, of 1041 Thurman Street, who was convicted of violating the child welfare act. The complaint was made by Mrs. Louise F. Walsh, secretary of the S. P. C. C., who charged that on Sept. 19 the woman became intoxicated and brutally beat her seven children and put them into the streets. The children range in ages from two to 14 years. When Mrs. Walsh visited the house, she said, Mrs. Bieliniski threw a lamp at her. She also will be released from the county jail on Dec. 24.

Given Suspended Sentence

Norman Buckingham, of Oaklyn, who pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking and entering the Puroil gasoline station, Bettlewood Avenue and White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, on September 18, was given a three-year suspended sentence when he told the court he had a position in Hawaii.

The court stated that sentence would be suspended on condition that the defendant leave Camden at once and not return. Two other defendants who received prison sentences were James Lynch, of 39 North Ohio Avenue, Atlantic City, and Edward Lynch, of 39 Atlantic Avenue, Collingswood. The complaint against the pair was made by Edwin Lovell, of 1836 South Seventh Street, who charged that on July 4 the Lynches attempted to flirt with Lovell's wife while she was walking along Morgan Boulevard. When he remonstrated with them they beat him.

They were sentenced to two months in jail and the sentence was suspended and they were placed on one year's probation.

William Moztioz, no home, pleaded guilty to carrying concealed weapons and received a suspended sentence of one year in state's prison and was placed on probation. The defendant was arrested on June 22 at Sixth Street and Ferry Avenue on a disorderly conduct charge and a black­jack was found in his possession.

A 72-year-old man, grandfather to 16 children, pleaded guilty to attacking a 12-year-old girl. The man is John Bayer, of 1329 Princess Avenue. He was given a one-year suspended sentence and placed on probation.

Judge Disbelieves Story

Cornelius Crimmins, of 5725 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, a window decorator, was found guilty by Judge Shay of deserting his wife, Ella, of 817 South Sixth Street. Crimmins was sentenced to one year in prison but the sentence was suspended and an order of $7 a week placed against him. Mrs. Crimmins said she had not seen her husband since May 22, 1931, and that after an absence of six months, he returned home and left next morning. The husband declared that his wife told him to leave because she had a friend and wanted to be free. Judge Shay told him that he did not believe his story.

Charles C. Small, 154 Texas Avenue, Atlantic City, was found guilty of obtaining money under false pretense. He was sentenced to six months in jail. The complaint was made by Mrs. Agnes Hamm, of 530 Cooper Street. She stated that on August 14 while she was standing at Fifth and Cooper Street watching a golf game, Small approached her and told her he was a retired lawyer and that his father had died and left him $38,000. Mrs. Hamm asked him to bring suit against a prominent physician and he said he would take the case for $25 and quoted Small as saying, "All the Camden lawyers are in a click."

Missing Girl Weds Bandit On Way to Pen
Bridegroom Linked in Ashenfelter Case; Mother Faints

By ERNIE TALBOT

A prisoner in the Camden county jail awaiting removal today to state prison, married his sweetheart yesterday afternoon.

Last flight the bride was reported as having been missing from her home in Westville Grove for two days.

The bride is Mary Lillie, 22, of Second and Cedar Avenues, Westville Grove, and here mother with the same name, was almost frantic when informed by a reporter from the Courier-Post of the marriage.

The bridegroom, Frank Tiedeman, 18, of 820 Beideman Avenue, was sentenced to five years in prison when he pleaded non vult to four robberies and carrying concealed deadly weapons, by Judge Samuel M. Shay last Monday.

Tiedeman was a member of the "North Cramer Hill gang", two of whom participated in the robbery in which one bandit was killed after wounding City Detective Robert Ashenfelter.

The marriage was performed by Rev. Carlton R. Van Hook, of First M. E. Church, at the request of the prisoner.

Mary is a dressmaker. She is the sole support of her mother and two unemployed brothers. The family lives in meager circumstances. The bride's weekly wage is their only provender.

Last night, it was learned the mother had heard from neighbors that her daughter loved Frank. Mary had expressed it by saying "I will wait ten years or longer, if he is found guilty and sent to jail"

Mrs. Little, however, laughed it off. She didn't believe Mary would marry Tiedeman.

When she heard the news she almost collapsed.

She told a reporter she would "report it to the police" and have a search made for Mary.

The girl left home Tuesday.

Mary's two brothers, George and Edward, last night started to hunt for their sister and will order her home, if successful in their effort to locate her.

The others receiving sentences with Tiedeman were David Allaband, H. Gordon McCrea and Melbourne James. The last two, each got five years apiece and Allaband 6 years.

SECOND SLUG REMOVED FROM COP SHOT IN DUEL

Detective Robert Ashenfelter, who was shot August 24 by a burglar he later killed, returned to West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital yesterday for a second operation.

A bullet, which physicians thought they would not have to remove, has moved from a few inches above his lung to the rear of his shoulder blade and must be taken out of the detective's body to prevent it moving further.

Ashenfelter was shot by Charles Rettberg, 21, of 1189 North Thirty­sixth Street, whom he surprised while he and several others were attempting to rob an American Store at Thirty-second and Wayne Avenue.

One of the two bullets has already been removed from the sleuth's body. The operation yesterday was not a serious one and the sleuth was permitted to return home after the pellet had been recovered.

CHAIN STORE HELD UP BY 3 ARMED BANDITS
Take $40 From Cash Drawer, Flee After Threatening Manager 

Three armed bandits held up and robbed the manager of an American Store at 752 Ferry Avenue, Saturday night and escaped with $40 taken from the cash register.       

The victim of the robbers was F. M. Willis, of 109 Wayne Terrace, Collingswood. 

Willis told police the three men entered the store shortly before 10 p. m., all flourishing revolvers. They commanded him to stand against the wall and while two of them kept their guns leveled at him, the third man ran to the "cash register and took its contents, about $40.

"If you make any noise for the next five minutes we'll come back and kill you," one of the bandits said as they bolted out of the door.

Willis waited several minutes before venturing out of the store to summon police.

He gave Detectives Edwin Mills and Robert Ashenfelter descriptions of the bandits but was unable to tell whether they had made their escape by automobile or on foot.

Camden Courier Post * November 3, 1932

Herbert Anderson - Robert Ashenfelter - Walter Smith - John Trout - South 6th Street - Harry Kyler
Humphrey Toomey - Frank McClernan

Camden Courier-Post
January 6, 1933

Robert Ashenfelter

MAN NAMED IN THEFT CENSURED BY PANCOAST

Charged with larceny of merchandise from the Mechling Brothers Chemical Company, where he has been employed 11 years, Guido Adezio, 32, of 340 Lincoln Avenue, West Collingswood Heights, received a suspended sentence yesterday from Police Judge Garfield Pancoast. 

Detective Robert Ashenfelter testified most of the articles, worth about $25, have been recovered. 

"You are very foolish and ungrateful to your employers." Judge Pancoast told Adezio. "After working there for 11 years you should have been grateful for a steady job. Your children will be the ones who will suffer now."

SLEUTH BACK ON DUTY

After an enforced idleness of several weeks due to the amputation of one of his fingers, Detective Robert Ashenfelter returned to duty last night at detective headquarters.

Patrolman John Opfer, assigned to the detective division to fill Ashenfelter's place during his absence, has been transferred back to uniform duty, Acting Police Chief John W. Golden announced the change last night.

YOUTHS PEDDLING RADIO ARRESTED ON SUSPICION

Two youths were arrested late last night on suspicion of stealing a radio when one of them was interrupted by detectives while attempting to sell it.

Detectives Benjamin Simon, Clifford Del Rossi and Robert Ashenfelter became suspicious of a car parked at Norris and Sheridan Streets. The occupant, Stephen Stanziak, 19, of 1279 Sheridan Street, said he was waiting for a companion who was in the store of Michael Gucik, northeast corner of Norris and Sheridan Streets. The detectives entered the store and found Joseph Fiume, 16, of 1349 Van Hook Street, attempting to sell a radio to Gucik. The youths said it had been given to them by a man they did not know.

Camden Courier-Post
June 25, 1933