The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
DEATH OF HENRY D. PURROY.
EMPIRES SUDDENLY or HEART
FAILURE IN SARATOGA.
Formerly Influential In Local Politics. Both
az Supporter and Opponent Of Tame
many Hall-SupDOrted Low for Mayor
In lAOS.-Marm Friend or Bryan.

IN hSD5-Wnrm rFiehu vi nFS""'
SARATOGA, N. Y, Aug. 22.-Henry d.
Purroy. former County Clerk, Fire Com
missioner and president Of the Board OF
Aldermen Of New York City, died suddenly
of heart failure at 5:45 this afternoon at his
Saratoga summer cottage. 100 Regent
street. Four hours previously he returned
from sixteen-mile drive to the south end
of Saratoga Lake. and was accompanied
by his brother, Chief Charles d. Purroy
of the New York city Fire Department, who
arrived here yesterday. Du ing the latter
part of the drive he complained OF feeling
faint, and it was with extreme difficulty
that he aGghted from his carriage. He had
TO be assisted TO the cottage and to his room.
Medical aid was summoned. but Mr.. Purroy
continued to sink up to the moment of his
unexpected demise.
Mr.. Purroy was IS years old. For over
ten years he had made Saratoga his sum-
NOR home, and frequently made winter
visits here Besides his widow Mrs. Pur-
roy, and his brother, Chief Purroy. he is
survived by two sisters. Mrs. James Mitchell,
and Miss Josephine Purroy OF New York.
The funeral will take place from the church
Of ST.. Francis Xavier. in New York city,
but the time has not yet been fixed upon.
Henry D. Purroy was born in Fordham,
westchester County, on Aug. H. 1913,
and became a resident Of New York city
by annexation in 1874 He lived in Ford
ham all his life, and was the first repre-
sentative Of the annexed district in the
Board Of Aldermen. He was educated at
st. Johns College, Fordham and was adj
mitted to the bar here in 1859. He was
short, chunky man always assertive, always
aggressive. even pugnacious and ready
for a political fight at any hour OF the day
or night, vet a warm friend, Of kindly dis
position, and he particularly enjoyed his
prominence in politics for the opportunities
II gave him to give his relatives, unto tne
third and fourth generations, places IN
most Of the city departments. de reJolced
in being good to his own, as ne frequently
said. ..
Mr.. Purroy was a schoolmate at St.
Johns of John kellys son. the John Kelly
who rehabilt4ted Tammany Hall AFTER
the Tweed ring scandals. who became the
masterful leader OF the organlzation' ana
who had himself nominated for Governor
in 1879 as an independent Democratic can
didate, defeating Lucius Robinson. the
regular candidate of the Democracy. and
throwing the Governorship into the hands
of the Republicans in the person OF Alonzo
B. Cornell Mr.. Purroy's assertiveness
led him to break the jaw OF a man at Con-
arees Convention who once assailed John
Kelly.
The Kelly influence made him President
OF the Board of Alderman when he entered
that body at the age OF 20 years, and ne
was continuously in Office until the closing
Years of his life. He fell from favor with
I'll III, bNu n when
charged with aiding the late Police Justice
Andrew White in undermining the Tam
many organization in the interests OF the
County Democracy. The charge was sus-
tanned. and he was expelled. joined the
County Democracy; and was wi{Iisan 3
Grace in 1881 In 1885 he was reappointed
Fire Commissioner and might have be-
come the leader of the County Democracy.
John Kelly died, and later Mr. PNirroy
returned to Tammany The occasion OF
his return. no always said. was the refusal
Aag over the City Hall on St. Patrick's
day. March II. 1897. Although native
American, Mr. PurrOy was ever warm
advocate Of Home Rule for Ireland. and
for years was actively engaged in various
movements in New York city TO aid the
was an admirer of Charles Stewart Parnell,
and chung to the Redmondites after the
Irish leaders death. He subscribed S5H
to the fund to erect monument TO Parnell.
Mayor Grant, in 1889, reapponted Mr..
P,Irrov Fire Commissioner and in 1892 he
was elected County Clerk, and was re elected
in 1895, being supported both times by
Tammany During all Of his Tammany
connection. from the time he returned 10
that organization when Richard Croker
succeeded John Kelly as leader, Purroy
and Croker were warm friends, P,IrrQy
would not recognize John c. Sheehan as
deputy leader Of Tammany Hall in Mr..
Croker's absence during the campaign Of
1905. and he Quarrelled with Mr.. Sheehan's
friends at that time: but on the return Of
Mr.. Croker in 1897. when Mr. Sheehan was
displaced, Mr.. Purroy found little favor,
and he came out for Low for Mayor in the
three-cornered battle between Robert A.
Van WICK, Gen. Tracy and Seth Low, He
was one o. Bryan's chief supporters in
1906.
At one time Mr.. Purroy was sachem
OF Tammany and on the executive and
organization committees of the Hall He
was delegate to the National Democratic
conventions which nominated Mr. Tilden,
Gen. Hancock and Mr. Cleveland, and to
the BRYAN convention Of 1925.
In 1897 Mr. Purroy bitterly denounced
Croker and Sheehan. and organized what
he called the "Tammany Home Rule General
Committee" He came out for Low. with
the polite al slogan of Reform and Political |
Purify OF course he WAS again ont Of |
favor with Tammany, John G.. She"han. |
deputy leader Of Tammany the year before |
had said OF MIR. Purroy
"Purroy il a chronic malcontent. He I
has been treacherous to every organiAa-