The sun., 1919-11-02
COL. JAMES D. BELL
DIES AT AGE OF IA
G. A. r. Commander in Chief
and a Leader in Politics
in Brooklyn.
ACTING U. s. PROSECUTOR
Well Known in Civic Life and
Held Many Offices in
Borough.

leading figure in the civic and political
life of Brooklyn, died yesterday at his
home, 81 Rugby Road. Flatbush, at the
age of "a years Col. Bell had been i'll
since his return from Columbus, Ohio,
last September, when he was elected
commander in chief of the Grand, Army
OF the Republic. His illness had not
been regarded as serious, however, until
few days ago. when he contracted
pneumonia.
| Col. Bell was born In New York city
September 20, 1916. and had lived in
Brooklyn since 1871. Until recently he
was an acting United States District
Attorney for the Brooklyn district.
Col Bells was life of varied and
unceasing activity. At sixteen he fought
in the civil war, for eight years he en-
gagged in newspaper work. for almost
fifty years he was prominent politically
in Brooklyn, where he practiced law.
| Three Years I'm War.
During three years and nine months
service he was with Troop b, First New
|
He was wounded in battle and was for
time a prisoner of war. He held the
rank of sergeant.
Thirteen times he was annually re-
detected commander Of Abel Smith. First
Long Island Post, @. A. r.. OF Brooklyn,
Iof which post he was a charter member.
He was unanimously chosen commander
in chief OF the G. A. Il. at the annual
,encampment at Columbus.
During his newspaper work Col Bell
studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1880. He formed the firm OF Daley
4 Bell in Brooklyn, with which ne was
connected for twenty-five years. He
early identified himself with the Depo-
lcratic party and was first elected TO an
office in 1885 when he became a super
Visor OF the Nineteenth ward. In this
initial victory he had the distinction of
being one of the only two Democrats
elected to Office in that ward in more
than forty years.
Thereafter he held many Offices. In
1883 and 1889 he served as Police Com
missioner of Brooklyn and two years
later began a ten year term as a COM
missioner OF the East River Bridge
serving during most OF that period as
| secretary and executive official of the
| board. On January ., 1904, he became
mead OF the Brooklyn Law Department
and an Assistant Corporation Counsel
For quarter of n century he had been
q trustee or the Law Library and was
st one time president of the Brooklyn
Institutes law department and lee
turer in the departments classes.
Organized Bar Association.
Col Bell organized the Brooklyn Bar
Association and was its president from
1903 to 1906. He was life member
OF the State Bar Association and also
member of the Society for Interna-
tiOnal Law. For years and at the time
OF his death he was chairman OF the
Kings County Democratic Committee.
Many times Col. Bell was grand mar
shall of Memorial Day parades. He had
always retained the keenest interest in
the G. A. r. in this State, and twelve
times was chosen as delegate to national
oncampments. He had also been State
department commander Of the G. a. r
In addition to his Affiliations with the
c. A. r. and the State Bar. Col. Bel
| belonged to the Hanover and Brooklyn
clubs, the City Club of Manhattan the
American Academy of Political and So
cial Sciences and the Selden Society OF
London Col. Bell qetired on october
1, 1914, on pension from the office OF
Assistant Corporation Counsel.
| Col Bell is survived by his wife, one
| son, three daughters and two graudsons
A meeting of the Democratic executive
committee will be held Sunday Afternoon
at Democratic headquarters, As Couri
Square. to take suitable action on th'
death of Col. Bell, who was chairman OF
; the committee for sixteen years.