The Penn's Grove record., 1917-06-08
TWO MEN SHOT DOWN
Broad Street Restaurant Scene of
Probable Fatal Shooting

NOhC0 biiOObttk dudl WIllCu occurred IN
the BROAD" Cafe on South Broad Street.
near Union Corner, about 8 O'Clock ON
Wednesday night, may result in the death
of two men. There was no feud. no old
grudge or any cause for premeditated
action oil the part of the man with the
gun.
Broad Street was the scene OF the sad
affair. The place was originally owned
by George Hill, alias Papa. but he re-
Gently sold out to Michael Voelger, who
re-christened the place "The Broad"
Hill left town Wednesday afternoon for
parts unknown after being in business
here for a year and a half. He is Greek
named Papa who served a term in the
U. S. navy.
On Wednesday evening George Stark
and Ben Michigan went into Voelper's
place and ordered a meal. Their bill was
81 25. Michigan produced a check for
$3.50 drawn to his order by Voelger and
which the possessor claimed WAS no good
as there were no funds in bank to NEE,
it. So he suggested that Voelger take
his paw out of the check and give him
the balance in cash.
Voelger Immediately flew into q pas
oiOh VIZ oCS0h OutSink Vic HELL lie
then drew his revolver, q SO calibre. and
fred point blank at Michigan, the bali
entering the abdomen and through the
intestines. Michigan started toward the
kitchen, but fell to the floor after taking
a few steps. VOelger then turned upon
Sparks and shot him twice, once in the
left forearm, SCATTERING the bone, and
then i'll the neck, the ball DETECTING
downward, Embedding somewhere in the
throat.
Michigan cot out OF the cafe and
crawled along toward his home near
by, bnt WAS unable to reach it on account
Of loss of blood. He was taken across the
street and given first aid until physicians
arrived. DR.. E. H.. King looked after
Sparks, but considered his wounds
so serious it WAS deemed advisable to re-
move him to a hospital at once. DR..
BlitZstein, the Main Street dental sur
geon, volunteered the use OF his automo-
bile aud a start was made for Cooper
Hospital, Camden, at ONCE. DIR. Bli.z-
stein was accompanied by DIR King, All
officer detailed by Chief Harbeson and
James Cunningham, son OF the Mayor.
1t was a long and dangerous ride through
a heavy Thunderstorm, but the trip was
male without incident.
Hollis F. Ashcraft, the funeral director.
conveyed Michigan to Cooper Hospital
in his automobile early on Thursday
morning. Chief OF Police IIarbeson
went along.
MoGuigan was first taken to the home
of Harry Miller on Walnut Street and
was cared for by DR.. q. L. Cook. His
wound are OF 4 most seriOus nature. 1t is
feared that neither man will survive his
injuries.
Voelger, after the shooting, locked
himself in his restaurant with his wife
and children and a waiter, where he was
arrested by Chief Harbeson and taken TO
the lookup. On the way he threw a
bottle from his pocket into the street, 1t
was Immediately picked up and an ex-
animation OF the broken pieces by Squire
McAdams, who is a pharmacist also, it
WAS found to have contained chloral
hydrate, generally known as "%knockout'
drops" Voelger tried to bride the Squire
TO keep this fact quiet.
Mrs. Voelger, when seen yesterday, de-
eiined to make no statement regarding
the affair. The restaurant was open for
business.
Both injured men are employed at the
powder plants.
George Stark is a resident of Atlantic
City, So years old, aud has a wife and
child.
Ben Michigan is about the same age
and has a wife and children living in
Bridgeton.
Sheriff Fox was at once notified of the
shooting and he ordered Chief OF Police
HarbesOn to detail three men to guard
the Miller house where McGuigar was
lying. He deputized Squire McAdams.
Alfred Jess and j. j. Powers, who re-
manned Of duty until five a. m. Thurs
day when they were relieved by the
Chief of Police.
At midnight, a few hours after the
shooting, Voelger was on his way to the
County Jail at Salem in charge of a
deputy sheriff and Constable William
Ray OF Salem, deputized by Sheriff Fox
to take the prisoner in charge.
The waiter at the restaurant was also
taken to Jail with Voelger, rs he is an
important witness. as he saw the shoot
ing,
The restaurant where the shooting
took place has had a questionable repu-
tatlon for some time. Only recently
George Hill, who preceded Voelger as
owner, WAS arrested for assault and bat
terry, but the case was settled somehow
out of Court. At the May term OF Court
Michael Voelger, the present owner, was
fined $25 and costs for gambling. To
complete the chain, Ben Michigan, u
OF the men whom Voelger shot, pleaded
non vult at the same term to a charge of
keeping a disorderly honse with Harry
Miller in Penns Grove and was also fined
$25 and costs.
This would indicate that the whole
bunch are 'birds Of a feather" The
VOelger check which Michigan held and
which proved to be a ''phoney" one,
he claimed was given him in settlement
OF a gambling debt, and when offered to
Voelger in payment for the meals eaten,
started the shooting.
A preliminary hearing was had before
Magistrate Duffy on Wednesday night in