Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-06-07
Jersey CITY MAN
DIES SUDDENLY
Dennis Mclaughlin, Formef
Democratic Leader, Drops
Dead at His Home.

JERSEY CITY. Jun 7.-After al Ill
ness of only a few days Dennis Nc
~lpughlin, "A former Democratic leader
and one of the best known men in Hnd
son county, died last night at his home
al Eighth street. His death was I'm
expected and was a shock to the mem
bers of his family and to thousands OF
friends who had not even Known he had
been Ill. Though acute indigestion wni
the actual cause of death II is known
that Mr.. Mclaughlin was not the same
man since the death of his second wife
two months ago, and many of his closest
friends believe that he died of a broken
heart.
The funeral will be held In st. Mich.
ael's Church, Jersey City, Mt 10 o'clock
Monday morning.
Mr.. Mclaughlin was apparently in ex-
ceIlent health and spirits when he left
this city, May %, for his country home
In Milford. Pa. Before his departure he
voted at the primaries and chatted
pleasantly with the election officers and
friends whom he met at the polling
booth.
Decoration Day, two days after n.
arrived In Milford, Mr.. Mclaughlin
complained Of not feeling well and nc
returned to his home In this city. DIR.
John J. was summoned. He
found Mr.. Mclaughlin suffering from
Indigestion and advised that he take to
bed. His condition was not regarded as
serious and Mr.. Mclaughlin did not re-
main In bed long. He found comfort in
an armchair which had been drawn up
to n window in his home overlooking
Hamilton Park. 1t was in this chair
that he died. His nurse had brought
him a dainty and appetizing dish, but
Mr.. Mclaughlin said he did not feel like
eating anything. The nurse was per
sistent and Mr.. Mclaughlin said to
please her he would take a little of the
food she had prepared,
After he had finished eating he asked
for a drink of water. This was brought
him.
Alone When He Died.
The nurse left the room for n minute.
When she returned MIR. Mclaughlin
was dead. The glass was In his hand.
II was overturned and the water Ii a
contained was on the floor at his feet,
Indicating that Mr.. Mclaughlin breathed
his last while raising the glass to his
lips. 1t was a few minutes before Z
o'clock and members of Mr.. Me-
Laughlin's family were at the dinner
table two floors below. The nurse sum
moned them to the death chamber.
The children were shocked. They could
hardly believe their father was dead.
Only half an hour before they had been
In his presence and his condition, If any
thing, seemed improved.
Maurice, J. Stack, custodian of the
Court House and former county clerk,
who was Mr.. McLaughlin's brother-in-
Ian was summoned from his home in
Hoboken, and Michael j. O'Donnell,
clerk of the Board OF Tax commissioners,
and Edward a. Dugan, close personal
and political friends of Mr.. Mclaughlin,
were among the first TO reach the house.
They assisted in comforting Mr.. Nc
Iaughlin's children.
Mr.. Mclaughlin was twice married
His first wife, who died March ID. 1892.
was Johanna Biggan. His second wife,
10 whom he was married In 1894, was
Theresa Stack, sister of Maurice j.
i. Stack. She died on March IA, this
year. There were six children, all
hoys. by the first marriage. Two of
them. James and Henry. are dead. The
others are Hugh, Thomas, Dennis, ar.
and John.
BY the second marriage there We're
four children. three girls and a boy.
They are Edward, Marie, Dorothy and
Theresa.
Mr.. Mclaughlin was SO years old. hav-
ing been born In Ireland in 1919, As a
baby Mr.. Mclaughlin CAME to this coun-
try with his parents, both of whom
died before he reached manhood's estate.
His early life was one long struggle
again adversely.
Before he became of age he worked in
the moulding department of the Erie
Railroad shops. Although denied the op-
portunlty Of obtaining an education he
was ambitious and accepted every chance
to better his condition that was offered
him. In the early seventies Mr.. Me
Innghlin established a news stand and
cigar store in Pavonia avenue, In what
was known In those days az the Horse
shoe District" His place soon became
the resort of politicians of that section
and Mr.. Mclaughlin took II fancy 10 the
game. He was a model young man,
free from any vices, popular with young
and old, and II was not long before he
had a chance of becoming active in politi-
cal life. The Democrats Of the district
nominated him for alderman and he was
twice elected to that body. AfterwRrd
he became an assessor of taxes In the
Hx,r-d 4fatrf,t TIiu r-a,d x.oc nc mood
as his bond, a rare trait among poll
tioians, and he soon, began to show
leadership qualifications. Men from
whom Mclaughlin learned the rudlments
OF the political game were glad to net
his advice and support
A%ssemblyman in 1880.
In 1880 MIR. Mclaughlin was elected an
A~ssembiyman from the Second District.
He was reelected In 1881 aud In 1882. In
1884 he had become y power In county
politics and was given the nomination
for county clerk. There was a split IN
the Democratic party that year. The
late Edward r, Mcdonald. of Harrison,
one of the best known and popular mem
beers of the party, was put mp by a fac
tion of the party and, with the Repub-
lican Endorsement, he entered into a
csmpaign against Mclaughlin. The con
test was a bitter one and Mclaughlin
was elected, He was renominated and re.
rlected in 1889. During his i~neumbency
OF the county clerkship In his first term
he divided the party leadership with the
late william McAvoy. and later he sue
ceeded McAvoy as leader. holding that
title until the defeat Of the late Allan
J.. McDermott for Mayor In 1892. Soon
after that he gave wayfto the late Robert
Davis and practically retired from active
~nnlifirs-