Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-27
w. u. HENSEL DIES
TN THE SOUTH WHILE
INSEARCH OF HEALTH
Former Attorney General
of Pennsylvania Sue
cumbs to Long Illness.
Had Distinguished Ca
reer in Law and Politics.

SAVANNAH, Ga. Feb. 97--willlan
Uhier Hensel. ex-Attorney General OF
Pennsylvania and for years prominent
Democratic leader in that state, died
here last night His body will be taken
to HE home In Lancaster, Pa.
Mr. Hensel, a sufferer from an organic
diseese, left his home for the South about
three weeks ago IN company with a party
Of friends, among them Ex-senator j.
Donald Cameron, and for a time was the
latter's guest on his plantation in South
Carolina short time later he came to
this city. IL was his intention TO return
North several days ago, but his Illness
had taken turn for the worse and he
was removed to a private sanitarium.
Mr.. Hensel was SO years old. having
been born IN Quarryville, Lancaster
County, December 4. 1851 He was edu-
Gated IN the public and private schools
OF southern Lancaster County and was
graduated from Franklin and Marshall
College, in the city of Lancaster, In 1870.
He was admitted to the bar in 1873. His
natural ambition for politics and newspa-
per work had developed during his col
lege career, and In 1872, during the cele-
brated gubernatorial contest between
Hartranft and Buckalew, Mr. Hensel.
not yet a voter, canvassed Pennsylvania
for the latter. In 1874 he bought one
half interest in the Intelligencer at Lam
caster which he edited during the next
IL years. In 1852 he was elected presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania State Editorial
Association. Two years earlier, by
editorial criticism on the action of
Judge he was brought into court and
disbarred. but the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania restored him to practice
after legal contest in which the
young lawyer-edltor was represented by
Jeremiah S. Black, James q. Gowen,
Rufus E. Shapley and Colonel A. X. Nc
Clure.
Mr. Hensel was elected chairman of
the Democratic Committee of Lancas-
ter County, In 1875 ana retained the posi-
tion until 1882, when he was chosen by
the candidates on the Democratic ticket
to conduct the State campaign, which
resulted in the election of Pattison as
Governor and a majority in the Lower
House of the Legislature. He was re-
elected State chairman annually until
1856
In 1850 he was n delegate TO the Demo
cratic National Convention in Cincinnati
which nominated General Hancock for
President, and was also delegate to the
conventions OF 1884, 1888 and 1892, in the
latter year being chairman of the Penn
sylvania delegation. He retired from the
Democratic State Committee and his
newspaper In 1886.
Mr. Hensel was the biographer of Vice
President Hendricks in 1884. and of Mr..
Cleveland and Mr. Thurman in 1888, each
Of whom he numbered among his friends.
with the late Judge Black. Speaker
Randall and many leaders of his party |
he was for years on terms of the most |
familiar intimacy.
In 1886 Mr.. Hensel formed a law part
nership with J. Hay Brown, at present |
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of |
Pennsylvania. the partnership proving !
remarkably successful.
Mr.. Hensel refused at all times to ac-
cept nomination or an office. He de-
clined offices rendered him by President
cleveland, but in 1891, following the sec
ond election of Governor Pattison he ac-
cepted the post of Attorney General, dis
charging the functions of that office with
ability.
Since his retirement from office In 1895
Mr.. Hensel has bean leader of the bar
In his native county and in the State, and
for many years past has devoted himself
largely to literary composition, with es-
oecial reference to historical events af-
,ecting Lancaster County and Pennsylva-
MA. He, was an eloquent orator and much
sought after as a speaker at public func-
ions. He was deeply interested in his
lima mater Franklin and Marshall Col
ege. and at the last meeting of the board
" trustees of that institution was elected
president TO succeed the late George f.
5aer.