And what of John Thomas View, the name Carey gave
to the Virginia State Police? Investigation showed that View's
home in Philadelphia had been burglarized on June 19th. Two dollars
were missing. Also gone was View's wallet and identification,
stolen by a career criminal named Ollie Carey.
Ollie Melvern Carey was born on New Year's Day,
1909 in Portsmouth, Virginia. A cook by trade, Carey was also
known as "Buddy Brown," "Chippy," and "Harry
Barnes." Carey had been arrested for burglary in the past,
and spent six years in prison, from 1941-1947. In the months before
Off. Mathews' death Carey had been working with a road construction
crew in Rydal. His job afforded him ample opportunity to target
homes for break-ins.
In February, 1950 Carey went on trial for the murder
of Officer Thomas Mathews. The highly-respected Judge William
Dannehower presided over Carey's proceedings in Montgomery County
Common Pleas Court. District Attorney J. Stroud Weber led the
prosecution team. Attorneys Julian Barnard and James Peck served
as defense counsel.
Following closing arguments, the trial jury deliberated
for three and a half hours before returning a guilty verdict on
February 9th, 1950. Jury foreman Albert Fry of Cheltenham rose
and spoke the particulars of the guilty verdict to the court.
"First degree, with the penalty fixed at death."
After several years worth of appeals were exhausted,
Carey's sentence was carried out on May 18th, 1953 at Western
State Penitentiary in Rockview, Pennsylvania.
Although the death of Officer Mathews
took place long ago, he is not forgotten.
The Abington Township Police Department marked the
50th anniversary of his passing with a ceremony on June 29, 1999.
Dozens of current and retired officers attended, along with community
members and dignitaries. Officer Mathews' widow, Mary, was an
honored guest.
Officer Tom Mathews was an Army veteran. Here he is seen in
his paratrooper uniform with wife Mary.
On May 10th, 2003, a plaque honoring Officer Mathews
was unveiled during the dedication of the Police and Fire Memorial.
The Memorial is located at the Abington Township complex.
Officer Mathews' name is also a part of the National
Law Enforcement Memorial, located in Washington, D.C.
Tom Mathews, age 32 at the time of his death, was
a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served in the South
Pacific as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division. Before
joining the Army he graduated from Northeast Catholic High School
in Philadelphia.
Officer Mathews was a popular figure among his police
colleagues, and was an active member of Montgomery County's Fraternal
Order of Police Lodge 14. Tom served as an official of the F.O.P.,
as well as a member of its color guard. An excellent marksman,
Officer Mathews was officially recognized by the F.O.P. for his
pistol skills.
Tom Mathews left behind wife Mary and two-year old son, Michael,
as well as numerous friends and colleagues on the Abington Police
Department.
It is a truism that the pain and heartache caused
by the on-duty death of a police officer never go away. Consider
these words, written by Tom Mathews' widow in 1999:
Sadly, Mary Mathews McGettigan passed away in June,
2003 at the age of 84. She is buried next to Tom.
Michael Mathews, son of Officer Tom Mathews, relocated
to the Dallas, Texas area in 1978. Currently, Michael is employed
as a Regional Service Manager for Monitronics. He and wife Donna
raised four children, Thomas, Donna Michelle, Michael and Stephen.
All four of Officer Mathews' grandchildren are grown, with careers
and/or families of their own. Fifty-four years after his father's
death, Michael Mathews remains intensely interested in honoring
his father's memory.
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Tom
& Shawna, Trey, Silas, Michal
Donna Michele & Tracy, Stephanie, Kayla, Tracy (not
in photo)
Michael & Trisha, Gavin, Grace, Garrett
Stephen & Brandi, Nick (not in photo)
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Officer Tom Mathews, a true Abingon hero, is buried
at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Montgomery County Pennsylvania.
Written by: Lt. Dennis McCauley
Web design by: Liz Webb
