The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-29
COURT HOUSE MOURNS
Flag at Half Mast Tells the
Sad News Of the Sherif's
Death = Prosecutor
Erwin's Tribute.

An air of gloom pervaded the Court
| House this morning and everybody felt
| sad over the news of Sheriff Hellers
dea tn. The flag on the Court House was
| placed at half mast. Judge Blair, Pros
ecutor Erwin and Assistant Prosecutor
| Van Wrinkle held a consultation and de-
cided to adjourn the Court for the day
out of respect for the Sheriff's memory.
The motion to adjourn was made by
Prosecutor Erwin who paid a graceful
! tribute to Sheriff Heiler's personal and
| official character. He said
'If the Court please, l desire to make
a motion which is in the nature of an
! interruption of the business of the day.
| have learned, and l presume the Court
!, has learned the same information that
the Sheriff of this county. Mr.. William
Heller departed this life about nine
O'Clock last night. While it was known
that he was sick some time, yet his death
| was somewhat unexpected. and hardly
expected as soon as the news was CIV
en- of it. 1t seems to me in view or tre
position he held in this county, the fact
that he had only short time to serve
and the way in which his official duties
We're performed, that some mark OF re-
spect is due to his memory as an off1clal
of this county and also as a citizen OF
this commonwealth. AS far as the Sher-
iff was known to myself, may say that
/ had known him for great many years
personally; years ago as a schoolmate IN
old No. l School, and my relations with
him and with the Prosecutors office
were of a cordial nature, and we found
him unusually prompt in the discharge OF
his official duties. 1t is with regret
hear of his death, and l think the conn
munity generally will feel that COM
petant official as well as one who has
merited the good opinion of all In the
lines of his duty and the respect OF his
fellow men has been taken from us.
"Therefore, 1 respectfully inform the
co,1rt of the death of Sheriff William
Heller. and move that at the proper time,
in the Courts discretion the Court will
adjourn as mark of respect y MS
memory
The motion was seconded by former
Judge Thomas f. Noonan. who said
IF your Honor please it is proper pre-
sumo that a motion of this kind should
be seconded. heard this morning on my
way from home of the death of the late
Sheriff of this county, Mr.. William Heller
and it was with great sorrow and regre'
at his untimely decease that / learned
that sad intelligence. Undoubtedly his
untimely and rather sudden death-for 1t
was rather sudden, notwithstanding MS
illness for some time past-will be shock
to the sensibilities of this whole COM
munity. The late Sheriff was person OF
particularly endearing qualities OF both
heart and mind, and I doubt if there was
more sincerely popular individual or
official in the whole community of Hudson
county or in the Commonwealth of New
Jersey than William Heller. He was SO
cheerful cordial affable and obliging,
uniformly and under all circumstances, as
to have naturally and necessarily en-
deared himself to all with whom he came
in contact. doubt if there is any person
in the County of Hudson whose decease
would leave behind more cherished mem
ories than the decease of the late Sheriff
of this county. AS a member of the COM
munity individually he was very much
respected and loved. I think I voice the
sentiments Of the people Of the whole
community when / say that as Sheriff OF
the county he discharged the duties of
that high office-the highest executive
office of this county-with fidelity, with
industry, with efficiency, with general
acceptability and with satisfaction to the
people of this county, and honorably,
honestly and conscientiously. In his
death feel that the county has lost a
good and faithful official, that the people
Of the community have lost a good citizen,
and that great many of the poor have
lost very good and a very generous
friend Such being the facts and circum-
stances, 1t appears to me eminently
proper that the motion that has been
made by the Prosecutor should be pre-
sented to your Honor, and that it is very
proper that it should come from the
honorable gentleman who made the mo-
ton. and, therefore, with sad pleasure
and pleasing sadness I second that mo-
tion.''
.sThe Court remarked Judge Blair,
recognizes the entire propriety OF the
motion that has been made and the Court
will order an adjournment for the day,
and direct that note of these proceed
ings be made dn the mipates by the Clerk.
The Court stands. a65ocrned for the day."
Shortly before noon today Justice Lip
pincott designated Coroner William J.
Delaney to act as Sheriff until Governor
VOORHEES, fills the vacancy for the unex-
pired term. Under the law the presid-
ing Justice Of the Supreme Court was
required to designate the senior coroner
in snch an emergency, but the law has
been changed and it is optional with the
presiding justice of the Supreme Court to
select either of the three coroners. Cor
oner Greenleaf, who holds the place Of
seniority, was at the Court House this
morning and remained until he heard Of
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