The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-29
WIN. HELLER DEAD.
Close Of the Career Of
Hudson's Sheriff a
Shock to the
Community.
GENIAL, WARM HEARTED, FAITHFUL
Happy in His Personal Re
lations and Mourned By
a Host of Friends.
WHAT DEMOCRACY OWED HIM
An Aggressive Parry Worker
and an Invincible Foe--
offices He Held.
WHAT DEMOCRACY OWED HIM

OfflCGS ne HSlO.
William Heller Sheriff of this county,
died last night few minutes after nine
o'clock. and although recovery from ms
complaint was almost impossible, yet ms
death yesterday evening was not. looked
for. He had been out for a drive last
Monday, and even yesterday morning
there was a slight change for the better
But towards evening his family per-
ceived dangerous signs and Drs. Mulvaney
and King were sent for. Mr.. robert
Davis arrived later A few minutes after
six oclock he lapsed into UNCONSCIOUS
ness and the sorrowful attendants around
his bed knew that the King of Terrors
was about to claim his victim. The dying
man only once recovered his faculties
after that time Slowly opening his eyes
he gazed at his family and friends beside
him and family muttsred:--
..Give me please some water.
1t was placed to his lips and he slipped
a small quantity. Then with sigh or
relief he sank into insensibiiity and at
twelve minutes past nine O'Clock the doc
tors lnade a sign and then it was known
that Sheriff Heller had passed from life's
stage.
Mr.. Heller leaves a widow, who was
Miss Margaret McCord, and two daugh-
ters, Marguerite nine years old, and
Oracle. eleven. The funeral will take
place on Saturday afternoon at two
O'Clock from his late home, No. 50 Mercer
street The arrangements will be per-
fected this afternoon.
Mr<- Heller WAS born at No 115 Mont
gomery street on March II, 1851. He first
attended old Public School No. and
afterwards went to Hasbrouck Institute,
from which he graduated with honors.
When only seventeen years of age he
obtained a clerical position in New
York dry goods establishment, leaving it
in 1884 when he first entered political
career In that year he was chosen Clerk
of the Board of Works, and in 1889 was
appointed Water Assessor, holding that
Office for four years. BY a change in the
political complexion Of the Board Mr..
Heller was replaced by Republican, A.
Dusenberry In 1893 he was elected to the
Board of Chosen Freeholders. He was
legislated out of office before he had
served half of his term, but so great
was his popularity that he was reelected
two year term, and in the following
month he was made Director of the
Board, a position which he resigned in
November. 1896, when he was triumphant-
ly elected Sheriff. His unexpired term
was filed by Tax Commissioner c. H.
Dayton.
Politically Mr.. Heller has always been
a Democrat of the hustling type. Ever
an organizer he had only as his superior
in the county Mr.. Davis himself. When
only a boy he carried torches in Demo-
cratic demonstrations and when he grew
older he was one Of the leading spirits
who organized the P. H. O'Neill Cam
paign Club for the Presidential election.
Afterwards that organization was made
permanent one and Mr.. James c. Clarke
was made its first president. Then, later,
when the P. H. ONeill Association was
merged into the powerful Robert Davis
Association, William Heller became It's
treasurer and was in that office to the
time of his DEATH
Between him and his chief Robert
Davis. there always existed the strongest
ties Of affection, and the shock of his
death has had g. visible effect on the par
ty leader In Heller were embodied rest
less energy and persistent enterprise in
a remarkable degree, and in Davis were
the cool Judgment ana penetration, the
union of which qualities made their eff
forts so successful and won for them
both the loyalty of the Democrats in
the county. Mr.. Davis implicitly relied
on him. and the confidence was never
for a moment misplaced. Heller saw the