New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15
Made Spectacular Fight in
1911 to Succeed Depew
as Senator
Began as an Office Boy
Noted Lawyer, So Years Old,
Returned from Florida
Tuesday

William +. Sheehan, Lieutensn. Gov
crnor OF New York from 1892 10 1879
and former Democratic National Com
mtteeman. died early yesterday morn
ing at his nome. is East Fifty-siXth
Street. A newsboy IN his carly life IN
Buffalo. where re was born. he became
Democratic leader in that city and a
potent factor in state politics. lie was
fifty-eight years old
Mr.. Sheehan had been in i'll health
for year. He returned from two
months stay in Florida Tuesday. He
was taken to his home, where he had
a treatment for the kidney trouble
from which he suffered. a relapse fol-
loved and he died few hours later.
Although he had not been prominent
IN politics for several years. he was
one Of the best known lawyers in this
city, and his firm, Parker, Hatch &
Sheehan. enjoyed one of the most lu-
crative practices Of corporation law In
the United States. Ex-Chief Judge
Alton B. Parker and former Justice
Hatch. of the Supreme Court. we're his
partners. Mr. Sheehan was affection
ately known as "Blue-Eyed Billy"
among his political associates.
Sheehan in Senate Battle
Mr.. Sheehan was last in the public
eye during his losing fight to succeed
Ckauncey NJ. Depew as United States
Senator. in 1911. This fight kept the
legislature 0eadlocked for months and
was one of the most sensational polit-
;cal battles ever waged in this state.
The Legislature had Democratic
working majority in 1911, and the plan
10 elect Sheehan 20 the Senate was
upset by the refusal of several upstate
Democrats, led by Franklin ID. Roose-
welt. to attend the party caucus. They
selected Edward VI. Shepard. Of Brook
lvn. as their c; ndidate and the struggle
beqsn. 1t ended in March OF that year
with the selection Of James A. O'Gor-
man as a compromise candidate
Mr.. Sheshsr was admitted 10 the
New York bar in 1881. and practlsed
law in Buffalo several years, coming TO
this city in 1885.
Rapid Rise in Legislature
He entered politics early under his
elder brother. John c. Sheehan, VINO
was then one of the Democratic lead,
ers Of Buffalo. Grover Cleveland
strongly opposed the Sheehan organ
cation and the Sheehan men worked
hard against Cleveland's political ad,
varcement. Young Sheehan entered
the Legislature in 1884 and was re
elected for six consecutive terms. lie
became Governor David Is. HIS rlgnt
hand man. was leader OF the Demo-
cratic minority for five years and was
Sneaker Of the Assembly in 1891.
He was nominated in that year Tor
Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with
Rozwell p. Flower. and elected. A
month after he took office IN 1882 he
became member Of the famous Hill
snap convention in Albany, and from
that time until the Chicago convention
no was actively engaged in organizing
tho Hill forces for the attack upon
Grover Cleveland, being one Of the
signers of that remarkable document
which set forth that Cleveland could
not carry New York State il nominal
ed. After Cleveland's nomination Shee--
han fell into line and declared he would
wcrk for the ticket.
Mr.. Sheehan's death was announced
IN TIE Senate at Albany yesterday by
senator Thomas +. Cullen, Of Brooklyn,
who paid a brief tribute 70 his mem
orv. The President of the Senate and
the Speaker of the Assembly appointed
P committee to represent the Legis-
lature at Mr.. Sheehan's funeral, which
will be held at st. Patrick's Cathedral
AT 10 o'clock tomorrow. lnterment
will be in Buffalo.