The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-11
OLD GUARDIAN OF
| YALE CAMPUS DEAD
Jim Donnelly for 90 Years
Was Friend and Mentor to
Undergraduates.
,RULED THEM BY READY WIT

NEW HAVEN, Conn. Nov 1o.--Jim
Donnelly. Yales campus policeman and
the most popular character about the
university died here this afternoon in his
sxty-thlrd year. Several months ago
he was taken i'll with heart trouble and
for the past six months has been seen on
the campus only infrequently.
Mr.. Donnelly was born in Westboro,
Mass. and before coming TO this city was
member OF the famous old hook and
ladder company OF that town.
Jim Donnelly has ,fteu been compared
IN build to ex-Prcsident Taft. and at
Yale banquets they have often been
referred to as "Yaes two big men"
For twenty years he was the custodian Of
the Yale peace, the personal adviser OF
the Yale undergraduates and the means OF
keeping them out OF the police court when
they got little too hilarious on the
campus. Il was his boast that he never
arrested an undergraduate. and seldom
have the local police ever had any trouble
within the quadrangle.
1t was before ex-President Timothy
Dwight retired as president OF Yale that
on the advice OF some OF the older pro-
fessJrs II was decided that the campus
peace would he better preserved IL two
members OF the local police department
were assigned to that section of the town.
Thai was in 1894. Jim Donnely was at
that time on the police force OF the
city and Superintendent of Police Tread
well Smith picked him out as a desirable
man for the place. In short time Wills
Wiser, who has been his pal for twenty
years. was assigned as his side partner.
Headquarters were established in Van
derbllt Hall which had just been
completed II wasn't long until the Yale
undergraduates began to make head
quarters a meeting place and the room
was too small. so after few months n
move was made 10 S1uth Middle. one of
the buildings then still standing OF the
fam us old brick row. The Yale au-
thorties were then tearing down one by
one the old dormtories and II was during
this period that Donnelly had his hands
full to keep the undergraduates from
burning them up. When II was noised
about the campus that Old North had TO
go bunch 81 Yale undergraduates de-
cided that II would make a bully bonfire.
Jim appeared on the scene just as the
lads We're putting the finishing touches on
the preparations. In vain he attempted
to dissuade them. Old North had to go to
celebrate recent baseball victory
Then quick as a fash Donnelly called
the ringleaders together and said: SAY
fellows, do you know that three OF the
members OF the crew Cthe crew was then
In New London In training for the Yale
Harvard boat race) room In that old
| shack and all they have In the world IL
stored there? Say 1t would be a shame
TO burn up their things. especially as they
are working their way through college, and
perhaps II would mean giving up their
| college course" IL worked. Every man
threw up his hands and the building was
left standing.
There was seldom a Yale banquet or
any underestimate function at which
Donneliy was not an invited guest He
was invited In 1904 TO 20 with the Yale
cadets as their guest to tine ST. Louis
exposition, and again in 1912 he was the
guest OF the class of that year on "A trip
| 10 Europe on this trip he attended the
Olympic games, visited eleven countries
and was away seventy days. II was the
great event of his life. although he was so
| homesck the first twenty-four hours out
OF New York that he prayed for an acct
dew to the ship that would necessitate
putting back to port.
Mr. Donnelly's widow survives him.