Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-20
End Comes Suddenly at VOL
fert's Roost, His Home.
ABLE POLITICAL LEADER
Administration as Governor of New
York Was Conspicuous.
SPOKEN OF FOR PRESIDENCY
Senator From 1891 to 16o7-Instru.
mental in Bringing About Judge
Parker's Nomina ton.

ALBANY NY, October 2O.-David r.
Hill. ex-United States senator and for
mer Governor of New York. died sud
denly today at Wolfert's Roost, his coun-
try home.
seized with bilious attack while at
his law office in this city and. although
his condition was not considered serious
at the time, his physician advised him
to remain at home for few days until
he recovered. A cold developed and a
few days later alarming reports of his
condition were circulated These reports,
however. were denied by friends: in fact,
the senator appeared to be on the road
to recovery until last night. when he
suffered sinking spell, which resulted
in his death.
Was Sixty-Seven Years Old.
David Bennett Hill was born at Havana.
N. Y, August 3. 1s43 He was the son
Of Caleb Hill and Eunyce Durfey Hill.
Young Hill was educated at the acad-
emy in his native town and later went to
Eimira, n. Y. where he studied law. He
was admitted to the bar in 1864 and 50
highly was he thought of that I'm the
same year he was appointed city at
torney. All his life Mr.. Hill ranked high
In his profession, and in 1885 was presi-
dent OF the New York State Bar Associa-
ton He participated in many big legal
battles and in cases which involved huge
sums of money, including the Fiske-Mc
Graw suit against Cornell University. in
which more than I,5OO.OO0 in controversy
was lost to the university.
But Mr.. Hill had a natural bent for
politics and early in life he entered the
political field. in which he was to play
such an important part. He was soon a
recognized leader in Elmira and in 1868
was delegate to the democratic state
convention. Two years later he was
elected member Of the assembly and re-
elected in 1871.
In Reform Legislature.
Hill was now we'll launched on his
career. In 1872 he was a member of the
celebrated reform legislature, the reputa-
ton of which resulted from the expos-
ure of the ring frauds. In the assembly
there were only 26 democrats out of 10S
members. The judiciary committee. which
had charge of investigating the frauds
was composed of seven members two of
whom were demOcratS-Samuel j. Tilden
and David B. Hill. Tilden quickly rec
ognized the abilities of his young COL
litical and personal friendship between
the two men.
Illden took the lead in the investigation
or the scandalous and corrupt conduct of
the ring judges in New York and Hill
rendered him great assistance. The COM
mittee reported in favor of the impeach-
ment of Judge Barnard, Judge Cardozo
having resigned to escape. and Mr. Hill
was elected by 1O4 out of 40 in the as
sembly to be one of the managers of the
prosecution before the senate
Mr.. Hill served as chairman of the
democratic state convention of 1877 and
In 1881. He was elected mayor of Elnira
In 1hS2 and made good record. In No
vember, 1852, he was elected lieutenant
governor of New York, with Grover Cleve-
land as governor. When Mr. Cleveland
was elected to the presidency two years
later Mr.. Hill succeeded to the governor
ship for the unexpired term. In 1885 he
was elected governor for the full three
year term. In 1888 he was again a candi-
date for governor and was elected. not
withstanding the defeat of the national
democratic ticket, headed by Cleveland
Owned Elmira Gazette.
For a number of years Mr.. Hill was
proprietor of the Elmira Gazette, the
leading democratic organ of the south
ern tier but he retired from his connec-
tion with the paper before he became
mayor of EImira.
Mr.. Hills administration as Governor of
New York was notable for its indorse-
ment of the idea of freedom of worship
and OpDOSitiOn TO the CONTRACT la