New-York tribune., 1890-04-28
JOHN j. O'BRIEN DEAD.
THE With ASSEMBLY DISTRICT LEADERS
LAST DAYS SPENT AT COMFY ISLAND.

LAST DAYS SPENT AT CONEY ISLAND.
John j. OBrien, long identified with the politics
Of the With Assembly District, and recently Chief
OF the Bureau Of Elections, died Yesterday morning
at Z 40 O'Clock at Bader's Hotel in the Boulevard,
Copey Island where he had been lying III for the last
six weeks. He was taken from Albany several weeks
ago 10 the homo Of his daughter, Mrs. Bader suf-
ferng from general prostraton and great debility.
Last week his condition became alarming. His eld-
est son, John l.. OBrcn, and his two daughters were
In constant attendance at his bedside Yesterday
morning DR.. Dem0nd informed the family that his
patient was in dying condition, and his second son
was summoned from NewYorl. The end was peace
full
At O'Clock yesterday afternoon the body was
taken to the dead mans home, No 90 Rivingtonst.
where the funeral will be held on Wednesday morn
ing.
There will be a meeting Of the John J. OBrien
Association at No. 242 Grand-st at O'Clock this
evening TO make arrangements for the funeral.
John J. OBren born in this city OF lr'sh
parents, forty nine years ago. ard his education was
partly In Roman Catholic parOchla school. partly
In the public schools. lie was quick to learn ana
before he ceased to be a boy he was a competent
clerk AS as he of age he began 10 take
an active part In local politics and his sympahes al
the outbreak Of the made him Republican,
Readiness In speech and a happy disposition made
him popular in the With Assembly District, ana
he became the recognized leader of the Republicans
there in 1868. His first public service was performed
private secretary to Collector Thomas Murphy, who
procured his appointment wegher In the Castom
House. When General Arthur was Collector, Mr.
O'Biicn was Of his trusted political lIcutcnants
1t was by General Arthurs influence that he
was appointed Chief of the Bureau Of Elections at
salary OF $4,000, in August 1873 by Police Commits
soners Wheeler, Erhardt. Nichols and smith,
At that time he was a decidedly hand ,omc man,
little above the height, and OF solderly APP
poarance with regular features, dark flashing eyes
and coal black hair and mustache. In late years he
had grown stout and his face was riddy, but he had
a commanding presence. After organizing the DureSu
Of Elections in effective manner lie was not
obliged to perform much Of the office work His
welltraned subordinates, who detailed policemen.
did all the bookkeeping and filed out the thousands
OF blanks needed at election times, and Mr. O'Brcn
only kept general oversight OF the work. Ii was
his custom to absent himself from the Office for days
and weeks at a time. His original term of Office ws
for three years, and he reapponted in l7Sl and
again In 1884. In the latter year he was chairman
Of the Republican County Committee. As an unsuc-
cessfu candidate for the Office OF County Clerk. he stu
kept his position Chief Of the Bureau of Elections
When his third term OF Office expired in 1887, he
again candidate for reappointmcnt. and tho
question Of his eligibility under the Civil service rules
was raised lie entered the Civil service cXanina-
ton of application for the place but protested that he
eligible for appointment without on cximin ton
In the examination he passed with the highest
percentage. but lie was not placed Oh the eligible list
because he was not a veteran Of the war. Colonel
KOdenbOugh, his successor IN oiicc. Colonel EDWARD
Cilon and Richard +. Mott, the three veterans who
' Inc list ~
sell John F.. rrodsky. obtained mandamus requiring
the COmmis ssiOncrs 10 show cause why his client
should be considered eligible for ieappOint-
mcnt The case argued before the General Term
Of the supreme Court. and the decision was In Mr.
O'Brcn's favor. Mcanwhe there was long dead.
lock in the Police Board regarding the appointment
If his successor. Mes,rs. French and McClave. the
two Republicans in the Board, voted alternately for
ard John r. Noorhis voted for Colonel Rodenbougi
and Colonel Gilon The deadloct was still unbroken
after Charles +. Maccan succc"ded General Porter
a, Democratic Police Commissioner. When Mr..
Ircnchs term of Office expired in May last.
and James !. Martin was appointed a
Commissioner in order 10 give the control Of the Police
Department to Tammany Hall. II was believed that
Nr. D'Bre; would br turned on Of oicr iminsda.e{
tude Of Commits, Noorhis hostile 10 Tanmany
Hail. however and he desired 70 procure the appoint
ment OF his friend, Colonel Glon. The result was
another deadlock and the failure of the Police Board
10 rcorranze by the election Of president. II was
not until after the sweeping Tammany victory AT the
nols last fall tha. Mr. Ncorhls deserted MS former
comrades in tliay County Democracy and helped 20
elect Mr. MacLean president OF the foncc bosIu i:
colonel Glon in Mr.. OBren's place. but the publca
ton Of the plan led Colonel Gilon 10 withdraw his
name as n candidate. and on January 81 the three
Democratic Commissloners sppol,ttcu 'o0"'i "'''"
Mr. O'Brcn's We died IN 1856 Ills TWO sons,
John L. and Joseph j. O'iirien. arc married ana I'VE
AZ No 81 rivingOn st.. whore Nr. o'Brlen maze hls
no,nc His unmarried daughter. Loretta also lives
there his eldest daughter. Evangelne. j. the wife
Of the proprietor ot the hotel at Concy lsahd "here
he spent his list days.