St. Paul daily globe., 1886-07-27
RECoLLECT1oNs OF THomPsoN.
How the Dead Politician Assumed
the Duties of County Clerk.

The death of Hubert o. Thompson ia New
York yesterday morning was source Of
considerable surprise to MI. A. j. Keegah
of the Hotel Ryan, st. Paul. MI. Keat
gan and the deceased, when the latter Waa
in the bloom of political glory as TamI
many and anti-Tammany man, were
staunch friends and were interested alik}
in political schemes for the advancement ei
the Democratic party interests. WhiI
Mr.. Thompson occupied position as clerE
i'll the water surveyors Office and even aftei
he had received the appointment as COM
missioner Of public works, Mr.. Keegar
was deputy commissioner of jurors in New
York and a member of Tammany hall.
According to Mr.. KegaRs recollections
of Thompson his career was an exciting
and eventtul one. For several years he
filled the position Of bookkeeper in several
brokerage and railroad Offices on Wall street
and joined the Tammany society in '73 A
little later on, he secured position in the
water purveyors Office through the friend
ship of John Kelly. Allen Campbell was
at that time strong Kelly man and held
the Office of commissioner of public works.
His son was his private secretary and be-
tween him and Thompson there soon sprang
up friendship that increased in warmth
as the two men became better acquainted.
Young Campbell was stricken with fatal
disease and on his death-bed requested his
father to appoint Thompson as his deputy,
which he did. A short time after Campbell
and Thompson severed their connection
with Tammany hall. as they concluded
that Kelly was debating too many appoint.
ments on the board of public works, and
they at once began to discharge Kelly men
for the purpose of strengthening them.
selves. About this time the county Democ.
racy was looking for leader and Thompson
took the helm, working for Robinson, who
was then the anti-Tammany candidate fof
governor. Robinson was elected and ThompI
son was appointed county clerk in the place
of Harry Gumbleton, against whom various
charges had arisen.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES
surrounding the assumption of clerical du.
ties by Thompson were peculiar. He DUAL.
ified for the Office at midnight, and imme-
diately went to the court house, and forcing
his way through window into the bas&
ment he gained the offices on the first floor
and when Gumbleton's force came for work
in the morning they found Thompson ID
possession and Gumbleton retired with
good grace. A short time after this he was
elected chairman of the county Democratic
committee. He resigned the Office Of countH
clerk and was appointed commissioner 81
public works in 1880, which Office he held
until he was ousted to give place to the
present commissioner, Saulres.
In speaking of him, Mr.. Keegan SAYS he
was am exceptionally compapionabIe man
and thoroughly trained politician with a
vein of determination that never failed to
to help him to carry out successfully any
undertaking. When Cleveland was elected
president, Thompson was slated for the an-
pointment as collector of the port Of New
York, but fight was made against him by
the people and he was dropped out. He
never married. He never showed dispo-
sjtion to associate with the gentler sex, his
mind being absorbed in political schemes
and the sating of his morbid appe-
tite for champagne, of which he
drank enormous quantities, always gulping
it down from large glass as men ordin-
arily drink water. He was rich liver and
he seemed never to be free from yearning
for salads and rare dishes. Although not
above medium stature, he was very pertly
and weighed more than 800 pounds. 1t Is
said of him that he was in the habit Of
resting his paper on his stomach whenever
he wrote ON railroad train, much as he
would rest it on a writing-desk. His
obesity was almost deformity.