Hudson County, New Jersey is perhaps one of the most historical areas in America. The Lenape Indians had a history in the area long before the arrival of Henry Hudson (Weehawken). The Dutch settled the land and created Bergen (Present day Hudson and Bergen Counties). The Revolutionary War was fought in Paulus Hook (Jersey City) and at Bull's Ferry (Guttenberg). The Burr and Hamilton Duel took place at the Weehawken Dueling Grounds. The spot along the Underground Railroad (Jersey City). The Guttenberg Racetrack which would later turn into a testing ground for early flying attempts (North Bergen). Millions of immigrants from across the globe have continually made every town in Hudson County home, from the Germans and Irish of the 19th century to the Italians of the early 20th century up to today's Hispanic immigrants that now add a new chapter to the areas history. The towns of West New York and Union City were giants of the embroidering industry. The political powerhouse that was Mayor Frank Hague (Jersey City). The shipping industry that once dominated the Hudson River (Hoboken). Hell the film Rocky is based on Chuck Wepner (Bayonne). There is so much history in this area it is easy to see how some of it can fall into the cracks. Recently, I found myself walking past the Union City Town Hall. Outside there is a small monument to the police officers who lost their lives protecting Union City.One name that stuck out was the first name on the list, Charles Harm. I felt the need to write about Harm and keep his story of service and duty alive. The story of Charles Harm will take us back to 1922. A very interesting time in, not only American History, but Hudson County. A time when Union City wasn't a town, North Bergen and Jersey City were still broken up into neighborhoods and a time in which Hudson County was a cross roads for many.
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Just a little background information of the Lieutenant Detective. Charles Harm was born July 17, 1894 in
Secaucus, NJ to John Harm, a saloon keeper who was also a former
Councilman of West Hoboken and Freeholder of Hudson County, and
Louisa, he was one of two children, the other his sister Frieda. They
moved to West Hoboken around 1905 Harm joined the West Hoboken Police
Department, badge number 41, in 1916 and was assigned to the motorcycle division. By
1920 Harm was promoted to Detective Lieutenant, for having an
excellent service record and his physical prowess. In 1919 he married
his wife Anna and had two children Louisa, born 1919 and Charles,
born 1921.
History of West Hoboken
On Sunday January 29, 1922 Harm was
assigned to escort a bank messenger from First National Bank of North
Hudson, located at 141 Summit Ave., to the West Hoboken Post Office,
at 402 Clinton Ave, present day 20th street and New York Ave. The
bank messenger was sending $21,000 from the bank to the Federal
Reserve in New York City. The bank messenger was 21 year old Secondo
Gallo, a West Hoboken native. The job of escorting the bank messenger
was routine, and a job traded between Harm and Captain Angelo
Stanton. Harm and Gallo got on a trolley to Highpoint Ave., now 22nd
St. and Clinton St., now New York Ave. As they walked towards the Post
Office they were approached by 3 men, at Monastery St., now 21st
St., not to be confused with Monastery Place. The trip took a total
of about 15 minutes.
Clinton Ave, Between Stevens and Monastery
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As three very well dressed men neared, Harm warned Gallo “Look out for these guys,” and “if anything
was to happen, run for the post office.” It was 1:30pm and snow had
just begun to fall. As Harm readied to reach for his pistol, two of
the men drew theirs and opened fire. Harm was first hit in the right
elbow, then once in the torso. Harm then took out his .38 caliber Colt and opened fire,
firing twice and then his pistol jammed. Now in between 20th
and 21st St. with a jammed gun, Harm, with two bullets in
him, stood up and started to push the robbers back. By the time they
reached 21st St. they realized his gun was jammed. During
this time Gallo was making a run for it. The robbers shot at Gallo,
even with jitney bus passing by. As Gallo ran he dropped the money
between the jitney bus, which was now stopped, and the curb. The
robbers then picked up the bag even with the bus full of witnesses
and made off with the money. They made off in a Dodge Touring Car,
the model was never identified.
Stock Photo
archives.com
Harm barely made it to Dr. John
O'Conner, the town doctor's, home at 434 Clinton Ave, (New York Ave.)
The doctor opened the door to find a bloody Harm, “They got me and
got away with the money,” “Call up headquarters,” and then he
collapsed. The West Hoboken P.D. Had already been alerted by numerous
witnesses, since the Post Office was in a residential area. There was
even an innocent bystander wounded. Mrs. Magnofio, who lived on the
second floor at 401 Monastery St. (401 21st.) was hit in
the face by a piece of bullet after if broke through her window and
passed through the wall separating the kitchen and dinning room. She
was having lunch and did survive. Witnesses included Joseph Arn, a
retiree, William Leifer, manager of the Lincoln Theatre, William
Baach and Henry Ebel, both Post Office employees.
North Hudson Hospital
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Chief of Police George Rohrbach and
Captain Stanton headed the investigation. They theorized that the
robbers had inside information coming from the bank, as the escorts
varied, in date, time and officer. They believe that the robbers
waited outside the bank then made it to Monastery Pl. (21st
St.) first and waited to see Harm and Gallo and cut them off in
between the trolley and the Post Office. They took statements from
witnesses, Gallo, O'Connor and Harm. There was never any suspicion
attached to Gallo as “he told a straightforward story, which
corroborated with Lieutenant Harm.” Harm was taken into surgery and
operated on in North Hudson Hospital. The doctors involved were Dr.
O'Connor, Dr. Louis Lang and Dr. H.H. Tyndall. They believed that
Harm would make it through the surgery due to his physical stature.
However, he'd succumb to his wounds the following afternoon, January 29th, at
5:20pm. His wife and 2 children, his parents, Chief Rohrbach and
Captain Stanton were at his bedside. The bullet that killed Harm was
the second bullet that struck him, it entered just under his heart,
cut through his liver and exited his right side. Harm was laid out in Amsterdam Hall in West Hoboken. He was
posthumously promoted to Captain at the urging of Mayor William G.
Weller, in order for his wife to receive a an $1,100 dollar pension
instead of $800. A relief fund started by Harm's friend also raised
over $1,000 dollars for the Harm family. He is buried in Fairview
Cemetery.
West Hoboken
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On January 31st two men
were arrested in connection to the murder/robbery. 27 year old Carl
Rettich and 22 year old Benjamin Alberts, both of Hoboken. They were
charged with highway robbery and murder. Alberts was arrested in his
home, while Rettich was found at the Hudson Tube Terminal(Hoboken
PATH Station) in Hoboken. Both were known criminals, Alberts for car
theft and conspiracy to commit car theft, also they were both
arrested in 1919 for holding up a drug store in Brooklyn. They bound,
gagged and robbed the merchant, but the charges were dropped. Rettich
was also tried for the murder of a man in Homestead, NJ (which is now
in North Bergen, it would be the area between Schuetzen Park and the
Five Points) but was acquitted. Aside from these charges, they've
also been arrested several times for disorderly conduct. The arrest
was made by Lieutenant Herman Bolte of the WHPD and charges were
preferred by Chief Rohrbach. On January 31st, WHPD
predicted 3 more arrested would be made shortly, as witness put 5 men
in total at the scene of the crime, 3 shooters, a lookout and a
driver.
Stock Photo
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This is were it gets weird. After
interrogating Alberts and Rettich, the WHPD concluded this was the
work of professional gunmen, a gang. From the information they were
given it showed the gang had some ties to the Baff murder several
years early which grew out of problems with lower Manhatten poultry
dealers, Carl Alberts' father was Morris Alberts, was Hoboken poultry
merchant with ties to the crime. It was also believed that the gang worked for local
bootleggers and gambling houses that need help. The police also
issued a warrant for the arrest of Lawrence Garavanti aka “Babe
Seiger.” He was a prize fighter and local roughneck with
connections to multiple crimes, a hold up in Weehawken resulting in
the death of a messenger, a Public Service messenger in Secaucus, the
murder of Yung Wing Fong in Hoboken, and a hold up in Jersey City, as
well as the Baff murder.
Stock Photo
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Garavanti was arrested on February 2nd
along with John Marthaler aka “Dopey Benny.” Both 22 and
residents of Hoboken. A source told the Hoboken Police that they
could be found at the Hotel York on 7th Ave and 36th
St. in Manhattan. Police from Hoboken and New York City waited for
the 2 suspects across the street at the Mills Hotel. The suspects
were stopped outside the hotel and when one of the Hoboken officers
were recognized, Garavanti swung at the officer and was taken to the
ground, as was Marthaler after he struggled to make a run for it. Now
with 4 men in custody, the police reviled that Harm, Gallo and
several witness pick photos of Alberts, Rettich and Marthaler. Marthaler was the first to draw his pistol at the scene of the crime. Garavanti,
however could not be placed at the crime.
Stock Photo
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The four men would ultimately be
released from custody and Harm's case would remain open for another
10 years. Of those 4, one died and 2 more were arrested and sent to
prison on unrelated charges. Rettich was arrested for mail robbery in
East Cambridge, Massachusetts and convicted to 25 year sin 1935.
Alberts was also arrested in the mid 1930s and Marthaler died in the late 1920s. Garavanti would
live the rest of his life out in Hudson County, passing away in 1978.
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Harm's wife would remarry, his
children would grow up and have families of their own. His son served
proudly during WWII with The Big Red One and was awarded a Purple
Heart. His daughter went on to become a teacher receiving her
Master's from Montclair University. According to his grandson, Craig
Harm, the actions of their grandfather on that snowy January day will
never be forgotten by the family and the story of his heroism has
been and will continue to be passed down from generation to
generation. So, I wonder, why is Harm's actions reduced to just a name etched on a stone? Could Jose Marti Freshman Academy or Colin Powell Elementary not have been named for Charles Harm? Especially since both of those schools fall in what used to be the town of West Hoboken. Could the stretch of New York Ave between 21st and 23rd streets not be call Charles Harm Way? Or the intersection of of 21st street and New York Ave be called Charles Harm Plaza? I know a new page of history is written every day, but does that mean we have to forget the past and the sacrifices made by everyday citizens? I know the family and the descendants of Secondo Gallo don't and certainly not the family of Harm. I guess what I am trying to say is, it is important to preserve our areas History, while we continue to write the next chapter of it. History is a reflection of ourselves, so what does it say when we forget someone like Charles Harm.
