The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-09-07
BOSS M'KANE DEAD.
Career OF Once Noted Political
Chief Closed.
HELD MANY IMPORTANT OFFICES.
Accused of Illegal Instructions to
Hegistry Boards, He Was Tried,
Convicted and Sentenced to
Six Years Imprison

NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-John Y. Nc
Kane died at his home in Grayesend at
G:1o o'clock last night.
Mr.. McKane had been i'll for several
weeks. For several years there had been
indications of heart disease and kidney
disease, put it was not until Aug. 10 last
that any serious symptoms appeared.
He was overcome by vertigo on that day
and remained confined to his home for n
week or more. He then undertook to at
tend to his business, but was not equal
to much exertiou. On Sunday night Mr..
McKanc retired early, and when his wife
called him early Monday morning he
failed to respond, and il was found that
he was unconscious. Since then until
the time of his death he remained in
scmcomatose and delrious condition.
His wife and mother and his daughter
Fannie and his blind son George were
present when the end came.
John Y. Mckane, formerly the politi-
cal boss of Gravescnd and Coney Is
land was born in County Antrim, Ire
land, on Aug. 10, 1911. His parents
came to this country when he was lad,
and he learned the carpenter trade ut
Gravcsend About all the large hotels
of Coney Island and two-thrds of the
smaller buildings were built under Nc
Kane's supervision.
McKane first became village constable.
| Later he was appointed commissioner of
| common lands, then was made supervisor
! and president of the county boards of the
| town Of Gravesend. He had been a
! Democrat in politics, but in 1887 he
! quarrclcd with the party and the general
| committee expelled him from the organi-
| zation. He was then president of the
| police, health and water boards, chief of
| police and president of the board of SUI
! pcrvisorS of Kings county and president
! Of the town of Gravescnd.
| He was reputcd to be worth 81 ,OOO,OOO
| lie was n prominent member of the
| Sheepshead Bay Methodist church and
superintendent of its Sunday school.
He made his peace with the Demo
cratic party in 1891, and was then at the
| zenith of his power. But he bccam,
too bold, and when William j. Gaynol
| was candidate for supreme court Judge
and declared that he intended to devote
! particular attention to the vote at Coney
Island controlled by McI<ane, Gaynol
sounded the death kncll to the power OF
the boss of Concy Island. Judge Gaynol
| determined to have the registry lists n
| Gravescnd, Sheepshead Bay and ConeA
| Island inspected and copied for his in
| spection. This led to Il conflict of au
thorty. which resulted in the indctmen
of McKanc for willfully instructing thu
inspectors to violate the law in refusin;
to expose publicly their registry lists 70
inspection. He was tried, convicted an'
sentenced to six years in Sing Sing pris
on and entered the Jail to serve his tim
on March 30, 1894. Influence of all kind
was brought to bear on the governor t.
obtain the pardon of McKane, but it fail
ed, and he served his time, less the com
mutation he had earned as a model pris
oner.
Mcl\ane was liberated on April 3C
1898. and returned to Coney Island, bu
he never reassumed the reins of power
owing principally to the fact that he wa
unable to obtain a restoration of his Cit
| ZenshiD.