Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-31
TOM H[ALY NAY DE
Prominent Lawyer and Politi-
clan Critically Ill Of
Pneumonia
HEART TROUBLE coMPLlcATEs
Consultation Of Physicians Held and
Only Slight Hope Held for Recovery
-HeaIy Was Conspicuous in Franz
ing Iowa's Board of Control Law
Became III Christmas Day.

Became III Christmas Day.
Special to Times Republican.
Fort Dodge, Dec. 31.-As The old
year is drawing to close, it is feared
that the end is also near for one Of
Iowa's most prominent citizens and
leading attorneys, ex-senator Thomas
d. Healy. Mr. Healy is i'll Of pneu-
monia, with which he was stricken
Christmas morning.
Altho the fact of Mr. Healy's critical
illness has been kept very quiet, and
even some of his nearest friends are
not aware that his condition Is espec-
tally dangerous, there is no longer
need of attempting to suppress the
fact that unless a change for the bet
ter comes very soon the patient can not
withstand the ravages of the terrible
disease.
Unconscious Since Saturday.
Mr.. Healy's attack Christmas morn
ing showed a most violent form from
the very start, and since Saturday
morning, or twenty-four hours after he
was stricken, he has been unconscious.
While his physicians have hopes. they
are only slight. DR.. Priestly, of Des
Moines, is here, and is in attendance
at the patients bedside, together with
several prominent local physicians.
At o'clock this morning Mr.. Healy's
temperature was 105, and his pulse
200.
Weak Heart Feared.
E,asIt has been known, for,Ias. long stirae
among intimate friends that "Tom'
Healy had weak heart. Evidences
of an organic trouble have made their
appearance on several different occa-
sions. The last attack was only two
weeks ago at Toledo, when Healy was
conducting an examination Of a witness
in the Toler n1anslaughter trial from
Marshall county. Healy collapsed dur
ing an exciting moment in the evidence
and court was adjourned until after
noon He rallied quickly, and was quite
himself again. AS pneumonia is one
of the dangerous diseases known to
affect the heart, and heart compli-
cation is always to be feared, this
complication makes Healy's case even
more grave.
Well Known in Iowa.
"Tom'' Healy Is well known in Iowa.
both as lawyer and politician. He
is native of Iowa, and was born in
Lansing, Allamakee county, May 25,
1866. He was educated at Notre
Dame, and at the state university, and
after finishing in law went to Fort
Dodge and engaged in practice. For
five years he was city solicitor.
Becoming active in republican pol
itics he went to the state convention
in 1893, and acted as member OF
the committee on resolutions. In 1895
hS, was reelected, serving In the
Twenty sixth, Twenty seventh, Twen-
ty-eighth and Twenty ninth general
assemblies.
A Great Political Leader.
Senator Healy when in the state leg
islature proved himself one OF the
strongest mon who ever appeared in
Iowa public life. He led the fight for
the creation of board Of control to
manage the state institutions in place
of the inefficient and sometimes cor
rupt trustee system. It was Tom Healy,
who made the original pencil draft Of
the board of control bill. Senators
Frank Garst, now governor, Cheshire OF
Polk and Carney of Marshall, met IN
Healy's room because Healy was even
then not well, and agreed upon the
final draft Of the bill and it was these
five men with Healy at the head, who
made the memorable legislative fight
for the board of control reform. It
was Tom Healy who faced the un-
friendly Governor Shaw and notified
the executive that If he persisted In
appointing machine politicians to that
hoard that the senate would either de-
feat the bill or defeat the appoint
ments.
Later in politics Tom Healy became
the fighting captain of the progress
sives or Cummins forces. When Tom
Way managed the campaign for Cum
Minis first nomination for governor 1t
was Tom Healy who made the spec
tacular fight in the Cedar Rapids con-
vention for seating Cummins delegates
on a minority report and won. Later
Blythe got even with him by prevent
ing his appointment as federal judge
upon the retirement of Judge Shiras.
In the terrific convention struggle OF
1905 it was Tom Healy who addressed
mass meetings and when Ed Hunter
had a. seryile state central committee
under orders to throw out Cummins
delegates and steal the convention, 1T
was Tom Healy who led the Cummins
steering committee and scared Hunters 9
crowd into retreat All Iowa has thus
become acquainted and interested in
this brilliant lawyer of Ft. Dodge and
all Iowa extends most sincere hope for
his recovery.