The Story of Police Officer Eppley

A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER BETRAYED ON PRIMARY DAY BY A CORRUPT MAYOR

By Police Captain Drew Techner (ret.)

The story of Officer Eppley's death stands out as one of the most outrageous and despicable line-of-duty deaths of a Philadelphia Police Officer. It details the betrayal of a young police officer by the city government that he swore an oath to protect and serve.

On September 19, 1919, Officer Eppley, badge no. 2950, was assigned to guard James A. Carey, a mercantile appraiser and candidate for Select Councilman. It was primary election day and Carey was at the 607 Delancey Street polling place.

There was reason to provide Eppley for police protection. The night before, ruffians raided the Thomas D. Finletter Republican Club at 623 Spruce Street, beat up as many Carey supporters as they could and fired gun shots. In wake of the unrest, Representative Isadore Stern summoned Mayor Smith to come home from Atlantic City by train but he refused.

On Primary Day, two men confronted Carey and blackjacked and beat Carey on the head. Their attempt to shoot Carey was interrupted by Eppley who came to assist and was shot in the back. He staggered out of the club and collapsed and died in front of the McCall Elementary School, where children were at play.

Judge Bonniwell, an eyewitness, reported that another police officer Clarence Hayden just stood by with ample time to stop the gunshot but did nothing. Immediately afterwards, Hayden yelled to the shooter, "Hey, you get out here, beat it." Hayden then proceeded to arrest Carey. Assistant Attorney John H. Maurer was also assaulted during his attempt to cast his vote during the attack.

The gunmen were believed to have been sent by Isaac Deutsch, Common Councilman and Carey's opposition for the Select Councilman seat. The unrest was between these two rival Republican factions in the 5th Ward, known as the "Bloody Fifth."

Two men were arrested not too far from the homicide; Vincent Sgueglia, alias Jacob "Butch" Mascia, 23, and John Costello, alias De Roma, 22. Mascia had to be hospitalized almost immediately and was believed to have been "doped up." The men confessed with Mascia as the shooter. They said that they were from Jersey City and "Littleneck" at Jake's Poolroom on Main Street, Jersey City sent them to Philadelphia.

Detectives Frank Bennett and William Sharlock from Jersey City came to inspect the two in custody and informed Philadelphia Police that they did not know them as "habitués of the underworld in that [Jersey] city." The Detectives said "Jake's Poolroom" and "Main Street" didn't exist in their city. The two were later identified as gunmen sent from Brooklyn.

Jersey City and New York police departments openly ridiculed and criticized the Philadelphia Detective Bureau for failing to send officers with fingerprints to aid the identification of the two gunmen. The Mayor, who was allied with the Deutsch faction, seemed indifferent. District Attorney Samuel P. Rotan and many police officers demanded that Lieutenant David Bennett be relieved of his command of the 3rd Police District. The Mayor and Director of Public Safety didn't budge.

Philadelphian quickly became outraged and Mayor Thomas B. Smith was arrested along with District Commander Bennett. Others were indicted and arrested.  Carey's skull was cracked and he spent three days unconscious. When he awoke and was told of the Mayor's arrest, he just shook his head.

A large funeral for Officer Eppley was held in the city. The officer had seven years of service, beginning his career at the 61st and Thompson Street station as a mounted officer. Within two years he advanced to become an active detective in the district and was then transferred to Vice Squad. It was this unit that he was assigned at the time of his murder. He had no wife nor children. He lived with his widowed mother of whom he provided support.

The trials of the two gunmen confirmed the suspicions of most Philadelphians. Testimony showed that the two belonged to a party of 18 men sent to the 5th Ward to terrorize citizens on election day. These men belonged to a gang known as the "Frog Hollow Musketeers."

Additional suspects "Mike" Sullivan, operator of the Val O'Farrell Detective Agency, and James Clark, "the man with the eyeglasses," confessed that they went to New York and hired the thugs. The leader of the gang, “Little Nick” Ritt testified how they were transported to Philadelphia to act under the direction of the police of the Third and Delancey police station.

On December 20, 1917, Maglia was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 to 20 years at Eastern State Penitentiary.

On February 2, 1918, De Roma was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 8 to 12 years as Eastern State Penitentiary.

On February 26, 1918, Police Officer Henry F. Leo, an eyewitness to the Eppley murder, was shot and injured in an unrelated incident while placing a suspect under arrest.

On January 31, 1919, Mayor Thomas B. Smith was acquitted of charges of contempt of court and violation of election laws. He was not re-elected that Fall.

The scandal brought about a new Philadelphia City Charter that took effect January 5, 1920, the same day Mayor Smith left office. The charter change was considered a small one, but it began civil service protections for police officers.

In August 1921, ex-Mayor Smith laughed about writing a book about his administration and the 5th Ward Affair.

In December 1922, Mascia and De Roma made pardon pleas which were denied.

In 1949, ex-Mayor Smith died.