The Washington times., 1909-04-22
LOlY Of GlY-RNOR
WILL lie IN STATE
Funeral Of George Leaven
Lilley Will Be Held
Monday.
DEATH CALL CAME
EARLY LAST NIGHT
Dies After Illness of Four Weeks.
Guard on Duty at Executive
Mansion.

NAdiiSiOll.
HARTFORD, Conn, April 22-The
body Of Gov George Leaven Lilley,
who died last night, will lie in state
in the rotunda of the state Capitol
until Monday. On that day funeral
services will be held from Trinity
Church, Hartford.
Governor LIlley died at the execu-
tive mansion at 7:26 o'clock last night
after an Illness of over four week..
Death. due to acute nephritis, came
peacefully, as the patient did not re-
gain consciousness from the coma in
which he had lain for many hours.
With the FIRST news of his death.
the fire bells of Hartford tolled out
the age CT the dead governor-forty-
nine-and a detachment of the first
company, Governors Foot Guards. were
mustered 30 go on guard Immediately
at the executive mansion
Involved in Boat Scandal.
Governor Lilley came prominently into
the public eye during his last term in
Congress because of his charges of cor
ruption in connection with the sub
marine boat contracts. Before his exit
from Congress ne suffered the unenvi-
able distinction Of receiving an ex-
coriation at the hands Of the special
committee appointed to investigate
these charges, which attacked his mo-
tives and declared he had permitted
himself to be a tool of the Lake Tor
pedo Boat Company, a competitor of the
Electric Boat Company, which latter
concern Mr.. Lilley charged with having
improperly Influenced certain Of his
colleagues.
In January of this year Mr. Lilley,
then the governor of Connecticut, again
, figured in a difference with the body OF
which he was a member by refusing to
resign his seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives after taking the oath of Of
nee as governor. Mr. Lilley, in reply
10 the special Congressional committee
named TO pass up his status, declared
that II would mean additional expense
10 mis- State to hold an election at that
time to ill the short unexpired term.
Nevertheless, the committee reported
oeciaTing Mr. Lilley's seat vacant, and
the report was adopted BY the House.
prar dcally with unanimity. Represent
ative John Wesley Gaines called atten-
tion TO the fact that Mr.. Lilley's name
was still carried upon the rolls: imme-
ctately after the convening of Congress
following the Christmas recess.
Defended His Ats.
The investigation by the sepeciaI com
submarine boat scandal charges, held
sessions from March to April 30 of
last year, and the reading of the COM
mittee's report, excoriating a fellow
member, was one OF the most dramatic
scenes ever witnessed in Congress. Mr.
Lilley maintained to the last that he had
acted honestly in bringing his charges,
Notwithstanding the fact that the COM
mittee found that his resolution had
not been introduced in good faith; that
he had TO information 10 Justify his
charges against certain fellow members.
both of Congress and the press; that
he had acted in bad faith both in max
ing the charges and concealing certain
information the investigating committee
wanted, and that Mr.. Lilley violated
his obligation as a member Of the
House by preferring groundless charges
against Representative Loud and others.
The hearings were marked by sensa-
tional Tits and developments, among
them being Mr.. Lillev's accusation that
both he and Mrs. Lilley were being
shadowed by private detectives because
o1 the original charges A number of
naval officials and other prominent
public men were called during the hear
ings 70 refute the charges that there
had been any irregularity in the letting
-Of the boat contracts.
Dramatic Scene in House.
buked by the Speaker OF the House, but
the~hndings OF the committee were read
N opening session Of Congress and
amid intense silence. Later. Mr.. Lilley
issued a statement in which he reiter-
sted his good faith, declaring that his
motives had been honest. and that he
had nothing to regret
The election to the high office of gov
ernor OF his State came somewhat as
a vindication 10 the Representative,
who, however. IL is known, felt keenly
10 the day OF his death the disappoint-
ment and chagrin caused by his ordeal
during his last term in the House
Personally, Representative Lilley was
popular among the members Of the
House. and 10 TIE last had a number q c
stanch defenders among his colleagues,
who. granting that the Connecticut
member had made a mistake in prefer
ring nis charges, deemed IL a mistake
of the head rather than the heart, and
never for a moment doubted the per-
sonal integrity of the man or his desire
70 serve his constituents and his coun-
Governor LilIey was successful as a
business man. and died possessed OF
considerable means. He was born in
oxford. Mass. August 3, 1853, receiving
his education IN the common schools
OF Oxford and later at the Worcester
High School. He spent one year at the
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and
then settled IN Waterbury, Conn, where
ne entered business and had since re-
sided
In addition 10 his Waterbury business
interests he was also a director Of the
Terrington, Conn, National Bank. He
had served on the Republican State
committee since 1901. was elected to the
Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Con-
crosses. reelected 70 the Sixtieth Con-
gress. and was elected governor in the
fall Of 1905 a position into which he
was inducted in January.
BUYS RIFLE RANGE.
ROwLESBURG, w Va, Auril ~
Col. Charleton Q. Pierce. OF the West
Virginia National Guard, has closed the |