So on November 5, 1920 a murder was committed at the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly, NJ. The victims were the Warden Harry King and an inmate Charles Vernon Bartlett. They were blugdeoned to death by inmate Harry Asay. Asay was serving a 90 day sentence for a drunk and disorderly arrest. It was his second time serving time. The previous time he had served his complete sentence, this time he made it one day!! My wife is third cousins twice removed with both Bartlett the victim and Asay the murderer, which is why we were at the Warden’s Office tonight for a lecture about the murder!
From tonight’s lecture we (well actually I) learned that Asay had arrived the day before the murder to serve his sentence. He was being held in a common area along with about 25 other inmates. That day he came in contact with and had words with Bartlett, who Asay knew, since they were both residents of Burlington, as was Warden King. Asay was very agitatated and was given medicince to calm him, which appeared to be working. The next morning things were hectic in the jail as another murder trial was underway and police and attorney’s from Burlington and Camden Counties were swarming around. Warden King voluntered to go down to the give Asay his medicine, meanwhile Asay was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a poker behind his back. When the Warden appeared, Asay struck the Warden killing him instantly. Then he went after Bartlett, and delivered blows to the head and body, Bartlett died later that night!! Guess that medicine wasn’t really working, eh?
Asay was captured by several of the detectives that were in the area because of the other trial. He was tried and convicted of the murders he was sentenced to life in prison, but then was found to be insane and was transfered to the state insane asylum. He was eventually released!
In 2006 after finding decendents of Warden Harry King and submitting the required forms, King’s name was placed on the The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. At the dedication of his plaque, the granddaughter of Warden King was given a framed rubbing from the memorial along with various pictures of the memorial. When she was given the piece she burst into tears, because after such a long time, somone had remembered and honored her grandfather!
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is centered in the 400 block of E Street, NW, Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people
So it was an interesting evening and my wife added information to the discussion, telling of her relationship to the participents in the murder. She also told the audience how it wasn’t just Harry who was bad, but his whole family was unsavory to say the least!! So what was the high point of the evening for my wife. She found out that if you are related to the prisoner, you can get prison records!! Oh joy, more genealogical papers in the house!!
Damn, after reading this post my wife said, “Hum, Come to think of it there are probably records at the County Jail about all of your McCLoskey relatives, considering all their arrests for drunk and disorderly conduct!” Oh my!
