Telegram-herald., 1886-07-27
HUBERT 0. THOMPSON
Death Of the Leader OF the
County Democracy
lP0PLln SUPPOSED TO Be THE CAUSE.
Foord Dead in 6ed Yesterday Morn
ing by MS Pfys'cian-tseit--
msnt Among the Politi-
cans OF Ne~ YORK.

Nav Hoag july ~ HIioer o lhomp-
sou. ex Commissioner of Public Works,
died Suddenly this morning al the Worth
house. here be had been stopping The
news of the sudden demise ~ this leader in
county politics has caused 4 proioand SEN
sAlion in political circles Mr Thompson
eas the recognized leader of The County
Democracy organization Of This city, and
was staunch adhefeut OF President Cleye-
land He vas a very hard worker in the
nomination and election Of Cleye-
land Mr. Thompson was about 40
years Of age. wealthy and unmarried
he wAS a very large man. weighing 900
pounds he bad been quite iii Tor some
months The cause OF his destnis supposed
% have been apoplexy lie had been COM
planning for over a month, bat ms friends
did not think 10 was anything serious. lie
had been treating himself u get rid OF
superfuOus flesh, which troubled hlm Tor
many yerrs past, and hal reduced himself
over sixty pounds About ten days ago he
became alarmlngly sick, bat TOLD his friends
that he was hopeful 81 speedy recovery.
Hundreds of friends, today tlocse ed 10 the
Worth House 70 gain fall particulars OF hls
death
Tne deceased was found dead in his bed
al tue Worth House al $50 o clock tins
morning, by his physician, Or. Roberts lie
had last seen his patient alive al O'Clock
this morning. There was no apprehension
Of fatal result Of the illness. The pupils
OF Mr. Thompson's eyes were dilated and
blOOdshOt, and his face and meek were hvid.
The immediate cause of death was cerebral
apOplexy. Coroner Messemer who was
summoned, said that the death probably Oc-
CURED al about 8 o'clock.
The deceased politician was born in Bos-
ton in 1914, his father being Cephas q.
Thompson, an artist OF considerable reputa-
ton Hubert came u New York al 10 years
Of age and was employed as a brokers' CLERK
in Waii-st He gained the intimate friend
ship of Thomas Campbell in 1876, and be-
came active in politics and IN opposition 10
Tammany Hall Through CampDeils s in
huence he was made Deputy Commissioned
of Public Works This position he held
until 1879, when he was appointed Coun-y
Clerk in place of Henry A. GumbletOn,
who was removed for cause. ThOmp-
son gained possession of this Office al
midnight by famous coup d'etat Ac-
companed by Police Justice Murray. James
Mccartney, Ed. Clarkson, W. T. Cannon
and ex Police Commissioner Mclean. they
gained access to the county court house,
and al / a m. broke open cellar door
leading into the County Clerk Office.
When Mr.. GumbletOn, who intended hold
ing the fort, arrived next morning he found
himself barred out. This, and Governor
RObinsons action in removing Gumbleton.
began the famous warefare of JOHN
resulted in the defeat OF Robinson Then
ensued relentless warfare between the
County Democracy and Tammany, which
has since gone on and is even yet very far
from being settled In October 1879, Mr.
Thompson was defeated for denomination
as County Clerk by one vote. He gradually
worked himself up to the leadership of
the County Democracy, and on October
I5lsS0. he was appointed Commission
Of Public Works. With the immense
patronage of tnat department al his
back he jumped to the front ranks Of
politics, national, state and municipal
Mr. ThOmpson's term Of four years as Com
missioner of Public Works expired Dee. 81.
lSo4. and despite the efforts Of his friends
Rollin VI Squire was nominated bT Mayor
Edison 70 succeed him. This was the sever
est blow Mr.. Thompson ever received, and
his power has been on the wane ever since,
for nearly all the men he had in the De
partment of Public Works have been re-
moved from office.
The appointment of Hedden rs Collector
Of Customs Is regarded as having practical
ly placed the patronage Of the office IN
ThOmpsOn's hands and the New York
Tunes has recently been waging war
against the office on ground of the abuse of
patronage