The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-03
FORMER DICTATOR
DIES IN IRELAND
Duke OF Gloucester" Old Pres,
tige Gone, Meets Death in
Land of Birth.
ONCE A POLITICAL POWER
Came Into His Title Through
Dominance in Southern
New Jersey.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]


Philadelphia, Pa. July civilian j.
political dictator OF New Jersey twenty
years ago, and owner of the Gloucester
race track, passed away to-day at Bel
fast. Ireland. his birthplace. TO which
he returned, broken in health, entangled
financially and with all his old prestige
gone.
William J. Thompson, the Duke of
Gloucester" came into his title By rea-
son Of the dominance which he gained
over Democratic politics in Southern
New Jersey, with the little town OF
Gloucester for its base. Fifteen or
twenty years ago the papers discovered
that q resort where gambling went on
unrestrained. where a row of dance
halls was strung along the Delaware
River. had grown up within striking
distance OF Philadelphia.
Born in Ireland.
Thompson came to this country from
Ireland as a lad siNtyfive years ago.
He had a Job as g. boy in billiard
room of Philadelphia. and later as a
saloon keeper he prospered in this city
for a time. After he had married a
girl who lived in Gloucester. Thompson
carried his liquor business TO that
place. In the years that followed the
town changed its appearance A boat
from Philadelphia carried over the
folks who were attracted thither BY
the race track and the rest Of the
places equipment.
Thompson went to the State Assem-
bly,, and came to be power. not only
in his town and county, but In the
whole district. In his more prosper
Gus days he controlled the Democratic
party In the lower part of Jersey, just
as his friend, Ex-senator James Smith,
Jr.. did IN the northern section. y
word from Thompson in those days was
just about enough to settle the aspira-
tons of any Democratic candidate in
that neighborhood.
Fifteen years ago he was rated as
worth something like s2.OoO.OoO In
April Of the present year he was made
defendant in proceedings of involun-
tary bankruptcy. brought In Trenton by
two of his largest creditors Shortly
before that the Gloucester Ferry Com
pany. In which Thompson was heavily
interested. went into the hands of a
receiver This did not signify by any
means. though. that the Duke OF
Gloucester" was without resources.
HIS friends estimated that the assets
probably aggregated from 100000 to
s25oG00 at this time
Why City Was Quiet.
The resort on the Delaware River
was a picturesque place in its prime.
The writer's IN the papers of two de-
cades ago used to say that the reason
Philadelphia was quiet place was
that its more unruly element found
plenty to do at Gloucester. and did il.
An extensive campaign was carried on
for time. when it looked as II
Thompson had a chance for the United
States Senate. 1t was said that the
we'll to-do young men of Philadelphia
were constantly losing their watches
and being drusged In the darker parts
OF the town: that the gambling places
were adequately backed to take any
wager from n dime upward. and that
the police made no effort to stop these
things
At one time the Assembly considered
the advisability OF putting charges of
fraud against Thompsons election
saying that the migratory population
Of Gloucester was not a proper cleo
torate. Thompson permitted 1t to ba
known that he was primed to say
something about the manner in which
some or the Republicans in the Assem-
bly, had obtained their seats. and 1t
was decided that he was a properly
elected representative of another dis
! trict of Camden.