John Matthew Cenatiempo ~ born in 1937 was shot and died in September of 1953. He was the son of Carlo and Lorraine Cenatiempo. He died at the young age of 14 and I am going to try to recap how this happened. My sources are from a few family members (Thank You) and a couple of newspapers.
These articles were copied from the paper for the most part, so excuse the misspellings or any mixed words.
I tried to correct as much as I could.
Note: At this time if you have any additional information please post it in the comment box below.
Sept 22 1953:
Local Police Nab Trio 4th Fatally Shot Pal Found Dead in Ditch Near Glenarm After Robbing Tavern. Four Edwardsville police Jack Hartungmen, John Boda, Melvin Trebing and Maxwell Bratten apprehended three alleged teen-age gang members who burglarized a station at Divernon approximately 15 miles south of Springfield. early Tuesday morning A fourth youth identified as John Cenatiempo 14 of 5015 St Louis avenue St., shot and killed by Virgil Boblitt owner of the burglarized combination station located on U S Highway 66 The other three alleged gang members gave their names to authorities as Jeanette 15, Kenneth Cole 15, and William Camp 16, all from St Louis Camp who acted as spokesman for the three at Edwardsville police headquarters. The four decided to burglarize the tavern and he followed Cenatiempo into the after he had broken out a window in the place Mrs Virg Boblitt wife of the tavern owner said she was asleep in their room when she heard the bell on the cash register ring I nudged my husband and he got out his 38 caliber pistol and looked through the window she said He saw two persons at the register and I heard them say "Let's get out of here!". As they ran for the door he shot three times and then fired another shot as they ran for the awaiting car. She said, "We found blood on the drive way after the state police car arrived at about 1". Mrs Boblitt said the thieves got only a few pennies from the filling station. They got about _____ from the tavern register. Camp when apprehended had _____ and the rest was found in the car. The three surviving said they dumped body beside the highway near Glenarm because his eyes were closed and he wasn't breathing. A few minutes before dumping the body they had tried to get (Local Police Nab Continued from Page 1) help at the View Motel 100 yards from the body was found. But when the called police for an ambulance the three carried him back to their car and left Police ties said the car a 1950 model Buick was stolen from St Louis State Albert Scherba and Tom Diew said they picked up the trail of the fleeing car at Litchfield. They said they chased the automobile at speeds up to 90 mph. Other state Lubre, John Kable, William Bueltner, Bob and Norman up the chase at Hamel. The police were about a quarter of a mile behind the fugitives when the bandits machine spun from the highway and landed upright in a ditch The three abandoned it and ran into the lands of Edwardsville in the vicinity of Mooney hill Marvel of Edwardsville route 3 came into the local police station about 6 am in Tuesday and told Night Ben Holtz who was the police radio while Chief Hartung and other members of his staff were joining the all-night search that his dogs were barking which was unusual. Spanholtz relayed the information to Hartung who took up the chase in the vicinity of the County Highway Department age on Marine road. They were about to call off the manhunt after daybreak when they caught the on Marine road one-half mile beyond the county garage walking toward Manne. The fugitives said they were lost and thought they were headed _____. St Louis State's Attorney George P of Sangamon county said a warrant was issued in charging the three with burglary and larceny which carries a penalty of one year to life in Illinois. He said the Sangamon county grand jury would be re- called in October and asked to indict the three.
One of the youths John Cenatiempo 14 was fatally shot by the owner of the establishment The three survivors including a 15 year-old girl were apprehended by Edwardsville police on Marine road about 7 after an all-night search in cooperation with state police.
The three St Louis _______ are shown in the Edwardsville Intellegencer newspaper Sept 22 1953 at the Edwardsville police station with their captors Left to right they are Kenneth Cole 15, William Camp 16, and Jeanette Basye 15. A companion identified as John Cenatiempo 14 also of St Louis fatally shot by the proprietor of the burglarized establishment Policemen in the photo are1 left to John Boda Melvin Trebing Chief Jack Hartung and Maxwell Bratten Sr.
EVENING TELEGRAPH YEAR Serving fie Heart of the Rock River Valley for More Than a Century Number 225 Dial DIXON ILLINOIS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24 1953:
Some residents of the housing project In the foreground were SLAIN YOUTH'S FATHER APPEALS TO OTHER DADS Closer to He Appeals At Coffin of Boy Burglar By Associated Press ST. LOUIS - Carlo stood by the casket of his 14-year-old fatally shot during a and made a plea for other fathers to closer to their don't know now what was said a factory now it's too Johnny Cenatiempo was fatally wounded Monday night when surprised during a burglary of a station at 111. Three teen-age fleeing in a stolen car from state dumped his body in a roadside They were captured a few hours described as intelligent by his school teachers was in mechanics and it was the father's dream send him to college to become an can't just lay down a set of rules and then practically divorce yourself from a child Cenatiempo said in an interview at a funeral home takes a lot more than that. You've got to be a buddy with them. Take an active interest in everything. The father said he tried to do just that when the an only began to drift away from his family last winter.Johnny was booked for juvenile delinquency by burglary and larceny early this year. There were other arrests, said he tried to trips with his son to the airport and to such events as the automobile show so that they could see more of each. But the boy wasn't had already become closely associated with undesirable peers the father said I made my move too late.
NOTES FROM A CITY EDITOR'S, several days ago in this space we expressed a desire to re-some answers to juvenile vandalism. Here are some replies to that. A Dixon resident In f your column of Sept 22 you dis-cussed juvenile delinquency and seem to grope for a cure. In a recent issue of the Chicago Daily News an column is devoted to the subject with an absolute attitude of helplessness. What can we do says the author with confessed weakness. There is plenty the alert parent can do. For one thing obedience at home and at school, two respect for the property of others respect for the law of the country and love of rights for rights sake. The writer contends that a repetition of the Ten Com- in the home or in the school would be a deterrent and finally a cure of much crime The discontinuance of religious instruction in the school was a step backward and a bad one. Those persons responsible for it did our country harm. The spiritual strength of a nation develops a real patriotism and a nation is no stronger than its spiritual strength. The Ten Commandments are the base of all law Obedience to them insures obedience to all law Let us as parents teach this law .Father Says It Was Too Late Carlo Cenatiempo stood by the casket of his boy fatally shot during a burglary and made a plea for other fathers to get closer to their sons. I know now what was said Cenatiempo a factory foreman. But now it's too late. Johnny Cenatiempo was fatally wounded Monday night when surprised during a burglary of a station at Divernon 111 Three companions fleeing in a stolen car from state police dumped his body in a roadside ditch. They were captured a few hours later Johnny described as intelligent by his school peers was interested in mechanics and it was the father's dream to send him to college to become an engineer. You just can't lay down a set of rules and then practically divorce yourself from a child. Cenatiempo said in an interview at a funeral home Thursday. It takes a lot more than that. You've got to be a buddy with them. Take an active interest in everything a boy does. The father said he tried to do just that when the boy an only son began to drift away from his family last winter. Johnny was booked for juvenile cy early this year. There were other arrests. Cenatiempo said he tried to arrange trips with his son to the airport and to such events as the automobile show so that they could see more of each other. But the boy wasn't interested. He had already become closely associated with undesirable peers the father said I made my move too late. U S Offers to Return MIC to Rightful Owner to our children m the home We are true to our country in war A nation as strong as is the individual. Let us teach our children the fundamentals of character. The rule is summed up in 10 short. You asked for an answer. This is mine XYZ. Another observation from Somewhere recently I read this and it inspired enough to pass. You don't keep a boy from idling on the corner by haranguing him. You help him set up a workshop and build a canoe. You don't keep a girl out of the back seat with horrified of the pit. You roll up the nig for a dance. you ask What can be done about vandalism by youthful I am a mother of two children 12 and 15 We live m an uptown apartment where we can see what actually goes on. It has always continued to amaze me that there are so many children running the streets at all hours One night for example we were awakened about 2 by loud and filthy talk we got up to see what was going on. There were probably a half- dozen youngsters ranging In age from about 12 to 16 What are their parents thinking of children of that age out until 2 in the morning. I have come home from work at 1 p.m and seen groups of about a dozen youngsters racing up and down the streets One time the whole group ran across the street. In front of a line of traffic then joked about almost getting hit. All of kids use the hall of our apartment building as race the front door throwing papers marking them in a nice way to stop and tried to explain that someone to clean up all the but they hack and run calling back very language I think discipline begins at home but maybe a 10 o'clock would help get those off the who have no crime at home.
Elaine and Beverly's information:
Just remember their dad telling them that John (Johnny)
Cenatiempo robbed a filling station dressed like an older man when he was just
a kid and whoever shot him felt so bad because he was just a kid.
Mike's information:
Carlo was my
dad's brother. My dad was Bennie. I followed Johnny around like a
little puppy when I was a small child. I have spent many good times in Carlo's
basement piddling with his camera stuff and just listening to him. I also
serviced my car, and my dad's cars, in Carlo's garage. Many times. He and I
also worked on Uncle Eugene's cars from time to time.I remember like yesterday when Johnny died, and when Carlo and Lorraine divorced. Both tore up our family because we loved them so much.
Carlo came to my dad's funeral and comforted me when I really needed a lift. I will never forget his kindness to me and my young wife and 6 month old baby during that very difficult time. Carlo was a great guy. Really. I want you to know that. We named our youngest child after him, Carla. And, she shares many of his good traits (and some not so good, too.)
Thanks so much for the provided information. I hope this was interesting to at least a few.
The next entry will hopefully be about Cenatiempo Bootlegging. If anyone has any info they want to share, get it to me!
Ciao for now,
Nina
