Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-08
He Had Been Sick Less Than
 One Week.
SIXTEEN YEARS ON THE FORGE.

News of His Death Came As Shock
 to Many Who Were Not Aware of
 His Sickness-C Chief 'Egan Consider
 ed Him Faithful Officer and One of
 His Best Funeral VIII Be Hel
 To-Morrow Morning
 James T. Healey, for several years popular and efficient member of the Waterbury police department, died Saturday night at 10 o'clock at his home, CSC Baldwin street, after q short illness with a severe cold com plicated by heart trouble. The officer worked until week ago to-day when he was obliged to retire and take to the bed. At first his condition was not considered serious, but towards the end of the week his heart showed signs of giving out and for day or so before he succumbed little hope was entertained of his recovery. He was stout, healthy man and his death was a great surprise to many of his friends who were not aware that he was i'll until they saw an item to that effect in the papers Saturday.
 MT Healey was born in Ireland Sep tember II, 1858, and came to this country when boy with his parents and the rest of the family and lived here ever since. He worked for q time at the Waterbury Clock Co and about twenty years ago he accepted position ill the stamping department of the Waterbury Buckle Go where he remained until he was elected a menl- Der of the police department on Oc- tober s, 1886. Prior to being promot. ed to the reguplar force he was a su- pernumerary officer, position to which he was elected March 4, 1884. He was one of the most popular mem- bers of the police department and while endeavoring to do his duty as an officer succeeded ill maintaining the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact including the men on the force and the different officers. Chief Egan told representative of the Democrat to-day that he was very much grieved over the death of Officer Healey. He was q man, he said, in whom he could always con fide and the department could i'll afford to dispense with his service. The board of public safety will hold a special meeting tonight to take action relative to his death. The following
  bearers: Miles McNiff, Maurice 'Noon- an, Michael Sullivan, John Byrnes, Martin Moore and John Cavanaugh. The men were selected by the chief and ill choosing them he picked all of them with the exception of Officer Cayanaugh from those who have been members of the department for several years. He said he put Officer Cavan- augh on the list because he is a neigh bor of the deceased officer and one of his warm personal friends.
 Officer Healey is survived by his widow and one son John Healey boy about 14 years old; also his mother, Mrs Mary Healey of Pleasant street, an old and much respected lady. who yentured out to see her son before the final summons came to him, one brother, Police Officer M. T. Healey, and sister, Mrs James Connor.
 MT Healey will be missed among a wide circle of relatives and friends all of whom regarded him as an ideal companion and fast friend In his younger years he was an all around athlete and when walking matches were all the rage in Waterbury he was one of the best heel and toe men in the city and could run a hundred wards fsoOh IiiiiS' llS lOOlA ueeD I1IcrcSt in sporting matters and whenever the opportunity offered he took n tour through the wods with his dog and gun and rarely returned without some substantial evidence of his skill with the rifle. He was faithful husband and kind father, and agreeable neigh bor and exemplary citizen and con- sidering the nature of his position had as few personal enemies as any man who ever wore police mans coat i'll Waterbury for the num- Der of years he did. He was almost n giant in stature and strength and his sudden removal from the sphere of &C., ton cannot help reminding people of the Scriptural passage "e'en in the midst of life we are in death"
 The funeral will take place to-nlor- row morning at S:30 o'clock to st Francis Xavier's church.