Murder at Little Coney Island

There are many stories that can be found in the streets and throughout the neighborhoods of North Bergen. The North Bergen Historical Society as well as other local history buffs are desperately trying to preserve as many of these stories as possible. When trying to preserve history, especially local history, it is important to captivate the reader and thus inspire them to either continue their research into history or begin to add to the collective history. Recently, a 115 year old murder mystery related to one of North Bergen's most famed attractions, Little Coney Island has come across our desk here at the NBHS.

Little Coney Island circa 1900

This story, like many others, took place at what was once a major landmark in the town's history: Little Coney Island. The amusements at Little Coney are shrouded in lore. Today, the park is painted as a treasure that the town lost. Indeed there were many aspects of the park that should be cherished: Frederick Dolle and his enterprise in the carousel business which earned him the title of "Carousel King," or even the story of Syrian immigrant Abe Dourmar who perfected his invention of the waffle cone, the first person to sell the confectionery treat in the world. However, when you peel the layers back on Little Coney Island you see it's true self. A place of ill repute, crime, gang activity, corruption, a general plight on the community. One such event happened in August of 1905 and sent shock waves not only through the community but the nation.

Little Coney Island Map circa 1910
Courtesy of Princeton University Library

On August 4th 1905 Loretta Pfeiffer, of Manhattan, was escorted to Little Coney Island by her fiance Nicholas Mountry, of Jersey City. The two enjoyed a lovely summer evening filled with laughter and delight. First, they enjoyed "refreshments" at the Nungesser Hotel. They made their way to Little Coney Island and rode the Ferris Wheel, Mr. Mountry impressed Mrs. Pfeiffer at the shooting gallery and enjoyed the park until it closed. The evening was ideal and the two decided to end the night with a stroll down Hudson Boulevard. As they made their way to the Boulevard Loop they sat to rest and take in the picturesque night sky over the meadows. In a short time, the night took a turn the young lovers could not imagine.

The Evening World August 5 1905

The two were approached, at their own introduction, by 2 police officers. Mountry asked "what business it was of his" in regards to what they were doing on the Boulevard. The one man identified himself as a detective and threatened to arrest the young couple. According to Mountry, the officer stated it was against the law to be on the Boulevard at night. The two men demanded payment or they'd be brought to the county jail. The bribe they sought was $5, Mountry had only $2 dollars left in his wallet. As Mountry tried to bargain with the men, Loretta grew more anxious. The men insisted on the $5 bribe, Pfeiffer told them she could sell her watch at the Nungesser Hotel. When the couple tried to leave the "police" held Loretta. They told Mountry to go on his own as they'd hold the girl for "security."  Mountry pleaded with the two men for Loretta to stay with him. The two men grew more and more agitated with Mountry so Loretta requested her fiance to appease the men and pawn the watch. The agreement was for the men and Loretta to wait on the dimly light boulevard then Mountry would exchange the money for Loretta. Unbeknownst to him, it would be the last time Mountry saw Loretta Pfeiffer alive, as she became a hostage to these two unknown men.

Little Coney Island & Nungesser's Hotel circa 1910

With money in hand, Mountry returned to where he left Loretta and the officers. There was no sign of them, it was nearly 11 at night. Mountry searched the area for Loretta and the officers. He was aided by a Nungesser's employee along with two dogs. He found no trace of them. He searched all night and around 8 am Mountry left the area to start his shift as a delivery driver assuming Loretta must have made her way home. Mr. Mountry would not know the fate of  Mrs. Loretta Pfeiffer for several more hours. While Mountry searched for his love, she lay near lifeless at the home of former Chief of Police Patrick Sullivan, at the corner of Robinson Street (81st Street) and Bergenline Avenue which is several blocks from where Mountry last saw Loretta Pfeiffer.

Loretta Pfeiffer Lithograph
Courtesy of Gregory Speciale

Ellen Sullivan, daughter of former Police Chief Patrick Sullivan, heard light whimpering outside of her door around 3 in the morning. Sullivan immediately brought her into the home and phoned an ambulance and Dr. Ephraim Hellstern of Hudson Heights. In a bizarre twist to the story, the ambulance driver William Tetlebaum who was called that night died in the process of hitching his horses to the ambulance. His death delayed medical assistance which may have aided in the outcome of of Mrs. Pfieffer's fate. While in the Sullivan home she gave a brief description of the men. Pfeiffer told the Sullivans of her attackers: "[one man was] short and stout and had a black mustache." She went on to explain he wore a black coat wand light grey trousers. However, she could not describe the other man as she stated she did not get a good look at him. She struggled to talk to Mr. Sullivan and by the time of Dr. Hellsterns arrival the young Ms. Pfeiffer passed from this world.

Jersey Journal Evening Editon August 5, 1905

When Nicholas Mountry finished his deliveries for the day he head to Lorretta Pfieffer's home, 59 Grove Street in Manhattan. At the Pfieffer home he was informed Lorretta never returned home. Mountry then returned to New Jersey and reported what happened to the Hoboken Police. He was arrested at his home at 597 Grove Street in Jersey City, by the Jersey City Police. He was interrogated as it seemed likely he could have caused Pfeiffer's death. That is until Mountry gave a description of the men who he last saw Pfeiffer with. Mountry's described a "short, thick set fellow." It was this key piece of his experience that cleared Mountry of any suspicion as it matched very close to what Ms. Pfeiffer said on her death bed in the Sullivan home. Mountry was also cleared by Henry Nungesser Jr, who corroborated Mountry's story of selling the watch at his hotel.

Jersey Journal Evening Edition August 7, 1905

The search for these men came swiftly. The entire county was investigating who killed Loretta Pfieffer. Hudson County Sheriffs increased patrols in and around Little Coney Island. North Bergen's Chief of Police, James Nolan, did everything he could to find the culprits. Nolan went as far as placing undercover officers in the area and had them walk the Boulevard on pretend dates. The drag net orchestrated by the police departments yielded nothing. As the word of Loretta Pfeiffer's death spread, Little Coney was eerily absent of patrons. One suspect was arrested in connection to the crime. However, Mountry could not identify the man and he was released. Nolan, the North Bergen Police and others in the county were desperate to catch the two phony officers. 

The residents of North Bergen and Hudson County began to turn on the operations at Little Coney. Calls for its closure were growing louder every day. Articles painted it as a den of vice, a stain on the town, and called out the dangerous nature of the place. One article even suggested that men should carry shotguns if they bring young women there. The County Prosecutor was now in charge of the case. It was believed by several investigators that the men who committed the crime were from Hoboken. This was further corroborated by Emil Holinder, a trolley conductor. Holinder described three passengers that he had on a trip from North Bergen soon after the Pfeiffer murder. He said one matched a description given by police. He also overheard that say:

"We ought to have taken the two that the guy offered us."

But still there was no suspects or sign of another arrest being made. It had been nine days since the death of Loretta Pfeieffer. Then on August 14th it is suspected that the bogus police officers struck again, this time with two more men. Mary Paisley was on her way to a drug store at Six Corners when she was approached by four men demanding money or they'd arrest her. The men tried to seize her but Paisley fought back, freed herself and ran to the drug store.  The druggist, Arnold Renson, met the men and demanded to see their badge. One showed him. Renson believed it to be a phony and chased the men from his store. He then escorted Paisley to Town Hall and reported the crime.

Jersey Journal Evening Edition August 11, 1905

It is hard to say if these two events are related or even perpetrated by the same men, although Chief Nolan always seemed to feel they were. What we do know is that we have a 115 year old murder mystery on our hands. Reports from that August tell us that Loretta Pfeiffer was not harmed in any way. Doctors determined that the cause of death was fright. Loretta Pfeiffer, even though 19, had heart issues her whole life. It seemed that night the fright of being held by these unknown men was too much for her to bear. After her death an all out offensive targeted Little Coney Island. The Women's Club of Hoboken led the charge and it seemed the vileness of Little Coney was all anyone could talk about. There was a growing disdain for the park by the residents of the Woodcliff Neighborhood who would eventually attempt to leave the township due to the lack of law enforcement on the amusement park. Little Coney Island would only operate for five more years after the death of Loretta Pfeiffer. These days, the amusement park has a newly growing, rose-colored legacy as resident and amateur historians begin to show interest in the former fair grounds. However, when analyzing history we must discuss all aspects surrounding people, place and events. Hopefully one day we can close Loretta Pfeiffer's chapter in the history of Little Coney Island. 

Sources:

Chief Sullivan Died Yesterday (1905, June 8) The Evening Journal p. 8.

Done To Death At Little Coney They Say. (1905, August 5). The Evening Journal, p. 2.

Ambulance Driver Died on Duty (1905, August 5). The Evening Journal p. 1

Met A Violent Death (1905, August 5) The Intelligencer Journal p. 1.

Fright Killed Girl (1905, August 6) The New York Tribune p. 5

Girl Found Dying; Escort Arrested (1905, August 6) The St. Louis Republic p. 1

Police Hot On Trail of Woman Slayer. (1905, August 7) The Evening Journal p. 6. 

Fiendish Outrage by Bogus Officers (1905, August 7) The Dispatch p. 7.

Girl Killed By Fright (1905, August 10) The Topeka State Journal p. 10.

Loretta Pfeiffer Died From Fright (1905, August 11) The Evening Journal p. 1.

A Woman Held Up In North Bergen. (1905, August 14) The Evening Journal p. 9.

Women Wage War On Little Coney (1905, November 24) The Evening Journal p. 6.