Person:Michael Curley (3)

Michael Joseph Curley was born 29 April 1909 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, PA, and baptised 16 May 1909 in Wilkes-Barre. He died 3 March 1965 in Livingston, Essex, NJ; buried 6 March 1965 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, Morris County, NJ. He died while directing traffic at the scene of a truck fire, having been overcome by fumes. In 2005, his name was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

He married Rose Irene McEnery 22 October 1938 in Belleville, Essex, New Jersey, daughter of Henry McEnery and Lucy Donnelly. She was born 18 March 1915 in Belleville, Essex, NJ, and died 15 March 1988 in Belleville, Essex, NJ. She was buried 18 March at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

His mother died when he was two-and-a-half. His father took up drinking, and was often away from the family. As a result, while growing up, Michael lived with various relatives. In 1920 he was living at 42 Spruce St., Wilkes-Barre, with his aunt, the widowed Mary Kilcommons Dougherty, in a household that included her four unmarried sons and daughters, her daughter Mary and her husband John Klusky, a widowed daughter with her son, and Michael's two older brothers. His sister Sarah was living with their aunt Margaret Kilcommons Brohan in Livingston, Essex Co., NJ.

He was living with his sister Sarah and her family when he enlisted in the U.S. Army on 28 December 1926 at the U.S. Army recruiting station in Newark for a period of three years (#6689509). He gave his age at the time as eighteen years, seven months. Actually he was seventeen years, seven months. According to his enlistment record, which lists him as “Michael J. Curley, Jr.”, he had excellent horsemanship and was of excellent character. After “Knowledge of any vocation” is listed: tractor driver. His honorable discharge, given at Fort Robinson, Nebraska on 27 December 1929, states that he was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, that he was eighteen years and seven months old at enlistment, was by occupation a tractor driver. He had blue eyes, light brown hair, a ruddy complexion, and was five feet, seven and one-quarter inches tall.

At the time of the 1930 census he was living with his aunt Margaret Kilcommons Broham and her husband George in Livingston, Essex Co., NJ. He again enlisted at Newark on 3 April 1931 for a period of three years. On 1 January 1932, at Fort Davis, Canal Zone, he was promoted to Corporal, Battery “B”, Second Field Artillery. On 11 May 1932 he was certified as qualified to perform the duties of “Gun Commander, Chief of Range Section, and Machine Gun Platoon Sergeant.” On 2 July 1932, also at Fort Davis, he was promoted to sergeant.

On 28 October 1935, while acting as chauffeur for Fr. Cornelius McInerney of St. Philomena’s Church, Livingston, he drove Fr. McInerney, who had baptized “Dutch” Schultz (real name: Arthur Flegenheimer) on his deathbed, and Schultz’s relatives, to Schultz’s burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in New York.^S1 A photograph showing the mourners, where he is clearly visible, was taken by a photographer from a New York newspaper. (This photograph is reproduced in Kill the Dutchman by Paul Sann [New Rochelle, N.Y., Arlington House [1971]].)

In the 1936 Livingston directory he is listed as a chauffeur residing at 191 Hillside Avenue. This was the address of his sister and brother-in-law, Robert and Sarah (Curley) Fenske.

On 19 April 1937 he was appointed a special police officer in Livingston, NJ, for the balance of 1937. On 4 January 1939, he was appointed a chanceman for 1939. On 3 January 1940 he was appointed patrolman for the year, and the following year the appointment was made permanent. On 1 August 1949 he was promoted to sergeant, and on 1 January 1953 to Lieutenant.

1.   “Schultz Funeral Is Held Secretly,” , in The New York Times. (New York, New York)
   29 Oct 1935.
2. ↑ 1934 Livingston, NJ, Directory.
3. ↑ "Lt. Curley Dies", in West Essex Tribune
   p. 1, 4 March 1965.

   [1]

4. ↑ His birth was apparently never recorded civilly. He used his baptismal certificate when he needed to prove his date of birth.
5. ↑ Records of St. Mary's R. C. Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.