The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-06-04
OBITUARY NOTES
Death of Ex-stute Senator and Auditor
James p. Bree.


James p. Bree.
With sincere and genuine sorrow
large circle of friends will mourn the
death of ex-senator James P, Bree,
who passed away at his home, 200
Blatchley avenue, Saturday afternoon
after long decline All that medical
skill and most devoted care could do
was unavailing to save him. and he
died while yet in lfes prime, but with
a fine record for attachments and USE
fulness already achieved. He leaves
behind also not only an unblemished
name but the record of a man Of re-
| markably fine traits of character. He
| had been confined to his house since
early last February and for the past
! two months had been kept to his bed.
For the past several weeks he had been
failing rapidly and the end was ex-
| pected. Long sojourns in the Adiron-
| dacks and in Colorado failed to perma-
nently restore his health.
\ Through his connection with Irish
and Catholic societies and as a state
| legislator Senator Bree was one of the
best known men in New Haven and
was widely acquainted throughout the
! state. He was born in Fair Haven
forty-tWo years ago and received his
education in the grammar and high
schools of this city. He learned the
| trade of printer and worked in the
! Journal and Courier and other local Of
fees besides writing for several Catho-
lie publications. In 1883 he entered the
Yale law school and graduated in the
class of 1890. He at once opened an
office here and was successful from the
beginning. His pleasing disposition and
the spirit of fairness which always
guided his actions made him popular
at the local bar.
Senator Bree served one term in the
lower house of the general assembly
before he was elected to the senate in
1902. He was also state auditor from
1902 until his resignation a few months
ago In 1890 he was sent by the
Twelfth ward to the board Of council
men and acted as auditor of accounts
for several years under the old town
government.
While in the legislature he originated
and advocated many measures for the
public good which have since been
adopted. One Of them was the resolu-
ton providing that school children
should be carried for half-fare by the
street railway companies. He was the
father of the act adopted, during his
term in the house of representatives,
providing for the sprinkling of streets
by trolley companies. One Of his great
est efforts was for the establishment
of state sanitarium for tuberculosis
patients, He succeeded in passing the
bill in the term of 1902, and the institu-
ton at Wallingford was started.
Senator Bree had always been a
prominent worker in Catholic temper
ance circles and In Irish-American so
cieties. He was president of the St
Aloysius T. A. B. society for three
years, and served as president of the
Connecticut Tota Abstinence union
for two years. He became a member
of the Second division A. o. H. in 1891
was president of the organization here
then county president and finally was
placed at the head of the order in this
state, In 1900 the TIibernians in nation
al convention at Boston elected him MAJ
tional secretary, which position he filled
for four years. He was also member
Of Elm City council, Knights Of Co.
lumbus, the Robert Emmett club and
the Knights of ST. Patrick.
He leaves a widow and three children
, He is also survived by his father Pat.
rick Bree; three sisters, Mrs William
! Wehner, and the Misses Anna ant
Katherine Bree and brother, William
Bree, student in the Yale law school