TOP COP COLLECTION:
CHIEF OF POLICE, SOMERVILLE, N.J.
SOMERVILLE is the next badge in my Top Cop Collection. It is the twentieth (20th) Chief's Badge in this display.
To a lot of people this Town is just a sleepy dot on the map. In reality Somerville is far more then a dot on a map. It serves as the County Seat of Somerset County, N.J. That's where the Court House is located. It was there where the "Trial of The Century" took place.
The incident that started this little walk through history took place in Somerset (Franklin Twp.) N.J. It was on September 16, 1922 when the bodies of Rev. Edward Hall, and Choir Singer, Eleanor Mills were found. They were lovers. They had been shot, him once, her three times.
Police from New Brunswick, N.J. were first to respond only to find they were out of there jurisdiction. Franklin Twp. Police picked up the Case. They found the area around the bodies trampled by the curious. Evidence was removed by those looking for a souvenir.
The Media took control of the case selling news all across the country. Looking back, "The case struck a chord, " stated Thomas Miller, Judge Superior Court in an October 2014 article in "My Central Jersey." Miller' s Office maintains an Exhibit, holding artifacts from the Murder Case, that made Somerville,
"...the Center of the Universe," back in 1926.
After Two Investigations three people went to Trial at the County Courthouse in Somerville. A fourth was to be tried separately, while the wife was never indicted. On November 3, 1926 the trial began. It ended thirty days later after three Jury Votes, 10-2, 11-1, and then with all 12 in agreement - Not Guilty.
Following the trial Somerville returned to its sleepy nature. Decades passed before someone wore the badge featured in this Post. I estimate it to be 1960 vintage. When I look at it, it reminds me of some important History that I missed during my career. But owning it has given me a second chance to dig up some old historical facts. Maybe you and I could look for the murderer, as the Case is still open.
The Badge, as pictured, has a Gold-Silver, Wreathed Oval shape. At the top is an Eagle Head, with just below, but at Center Point, a multi color State Seal. This type of seal did not come into use until the early 1960's.
The silver-tone panels on this badge, are recessed with black enamel fill. They read: CHIEF, SOMERVILLE, POLICE, N.J. It sits in nice display made of oak and glass. I have the pleasure of viewing it every day, and being reminded of an important piece of Jersey History.
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