The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-31
DAILY DEAD.
Hudson's Representa-
tive Dies Sudden
ly at Far Rock
away.
AN EVENTFUL LIFE
Humbly Begun in a Found
ry It Ends in
Congress.
LEADER OF DEMOCRATS
Prominent in the Partys
Councils in the State
and Nation.
CAREER AT THE BAR
An Able Counsellor and Lead
ing Criminal Lawyer
of the State.
An Able Counsellor and Lead
ing Criminal Lawyer
of the State.

William D. DAILY, representative of this
district in Congress, died early this morn
ing in Far Reckaway, L. l., from kidney
trouble. He went to Far Rocxaway yes
terday afternoon to spend the evening,
expecting 10 return by the last train.
This however, he missed and he went to
the boarding house of Theodore H. Petit
to spend the night. About one O'Clock
this morning he was seized with convul-
sions and Drs. Mcguire and France were
summoned to attend him. They saw at
once that he was in very dangerous
condition and bent all their energies to
relieving their patients suffering and if
possible prolong his life.
Their labors, however, were in vain and
at five o'clock this morning the Congress-
man breathed his last.
For some years Mr.. Daily has been a
martyr to rheumatism and he has, been
for some time fearful that it would reach
his heart ana prove fatal Yesterday
afternoon while in this city he met Mr.
William d. Edwards in the First National
Bank building. Mr.. Edwards asked him
how he was feeling and the Congressman
replied that ne was feeling first rate and
that his general health was good. He
feared. however, he added, that each re-
curing attack of rheumatism was bring
ing the disease nearer to his heart.
Mr. DAILY was born in 1851, in Jersey
City, and he had always resided within
the limits of Hudson county. His early
education was acquired in Public School
No. l, in Jersey City, and among his
schoolmates were some who have since
hao f0,.
Mayor Wanser, Samuel D. Dickinson,
ex-City Treasurer of Jersey City, and the
late City Clerk John e. Scott At the age
of fourteen he went to work in Corys s
iron foundry as an apprentice, and later
he was employed in. the foundry of the
Erie Railroad Company and at Black
more's. Among his shopmates in Black
more's was Mayor Pagan of Hoboken.
But the legal profession had always Offer
ed an attractive field to Mr. Daily, and in
1870 he entered the office of Stephen B..
Ransom. in Jerse City. Four years later
he was admitted to the bar as an at
torney, and later he was made counselor.
In Mr.. Ransom's office during the time
that Mr.. DAILY was a student there were
the late Chancellor Alexander T. McGill,
Judge John A. Blair, Flavel MCGEE and
John w. Heck. 1t was In the company of
such men these that he pursued his
legal studies and acquired the foundation
of that knowledge of the law which sub
sequently brought him to such promi-
nent position at the bar of the State. Mr..
Daily was a hard student and Mr.. Ran
som often said of him that he was one of
the best students he ever had. In those
days, which was before the establishment
of the District Courts, justices of the
peace had jurisdiction In civil matters to
the extent of 500, the tribunals being
designated 1.-THE court for the trial of
small causes" and law students to a large
extent practiced in these cases. During
the last two years he was a student, Mr.
DAILY had a very extensive practice in the
justices courts, from which he derived an
income equal to that received by many an
old practitioner
Mr.. Daily entered upon the practice of
law with the tact and energy peculiar to
self-made men. He had practiced law in
ali the courts of the State and had repre-
sented the defense in more capital cases
than any lawyer in the State, and stood
in the front rank of criminal lawyers in
the State of New Jersey
In the great Erie Railroad strike of
1873 Mr.. DAILY appeared as counsel for the
arrested freight handlers and secured
their acquittal In 1887 he conducted the
defense of the Cigarmakers' Union in
Jersey City, whose leaders were charged
with conspiracy. In this case also he sue
ceeded in obtaining verdict of acquittal
His early associations had made Mr.
Daily entertain very kindly feeling
toward laboring men and labor organiza-
tions
In appreciation of his legal ability, Presi-
dent Cleveland, during his first term, ap-
pointed Mr.. DAILY Assistant United States
District Attorney, and this office he held
for three years, handing in his resignation
to an incoming administra ton. In 1888 he
was made alternate delegate to the Ma
tional Democratic convention at St Louis.
and again, in 1892. to the Chicago conven-
ton. In 1886 he was district delegate to
the National Democratic convention. at
Chicago. In 1891 he was urged to accept
the nomination for member Of the House
OF Assembly from the Eighth district Of
Hudson county Elected By a rousing ma
5ority, he took his place % the door Of
the House as the practical leader Of his