The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-21
EX-POLICE CHIEF
DEVERY DIES AT
65 FROM SHOCK
Stricken in Home in Far
Rockaway and Never Re-
gains Senses.
PROBABLY A MILLIONAIRE
Twenty-seven Years on Force
When He Was Legislated
Out Of Office.

william Stephen Devery. the man
who was characterized by former
Mayor Robert A. Van wyck as ''the
best chief Of Police New York ever
had" died yesterday afternoon at
o'clock Of apoplexy In his home.
Breeze Point, in Mott avenue. Bays
water, Far Rockaway, Queens.
Mr.. Devery returned to his Rock
away home Thursday night from
Washington. where he had visited his
daughter. Mrs. Herbert G. oliver. who
Ia i'll. He was accompanied by his
son-in-law. Edward B. Fink. At that
time he was in as good health as
usual. although he had not been
strong since an attack Of influenza
last Christmastide. Yesterday morn
ing he decided to make a trip In the
afternoon to his Manhattan office in
236 West Thirteenth street. He had
luncheon, in the best OF spirits, with
his family and about o'clock went
to wash his hands. His wife, Mrs.
Anna Devery, heard the sound Of his
falling body and going to the bath
room found him unconscious on the
fioor..
Mr.. Fink and other members of his
family helped the former chief to his
bed and Mrs. Devery summoned Dr.
Joseph Baum, the family physician, who
49, M
Of apopiexy. The Rev. Herbert Farrell,
rector of the Church of St Mary Star
of the East, was called and administered
the Anal rites half an hour before Mr..
Devery's death, which took place at the
height of the electrical storm. which
was particularly violent at Far Rock
away. The former chief was 66 years
old and is survived by his wife. two
daughters, Mrs. Fink and Mrs. oliver :;
one brother, Lieut. Andrew Devery of
the Police Department and four grand
children. The funeral arrangements
have not been completed, but It Is prob
able that services will be held Monday
in ST Marys.
It Is likely that the New York police
force never has produced a more pic
turesque figure or one that gained more
notoristy Almost throughout his police
career, and particularly during the time
he was deputy chief and chief. he was
known to everybody in Manhattan as
Big Bill"
Coined Racy slang.
He was a big mana typical police
man. as the mind OF the average person
conceives an officer of those days
somewhat inclined to fat in his later
years. but always strong and muscular.
with a capacity for making friends and
being where things were happening that
amounted almost to genius. One OF the
| things for which he became particularly
noted was his ability to coin curious
and racy slang words and expressions.
He never hesitated to use any one or
more OF his amazing collection Of odd
phrases. whether 1t was for praisins a
friend or for ripping the political skin
of an opponent.
There Is very little In the way OF po-
lice experience that big Bill" Devery
did not have in his long service in the
Police Department He served almost
twenty-five years. and during that time
he was everything from patrolman to
chief. He knew every graduation from
praise to disgrace, yet one of the ino
things that his friends always said
about him was that when he was chief
he was Just as much "one Of the boys
as when he was pounding beat as a
patrolman.
He served as a patrolman. a rounds
man. sergeant and captain In many OF
the most difficult and troublesome pre-
cincts OF the city. and many times he
earned special distinction for able de-
tectivc work. He was the right hand
man and assistant of Chief Inspector
Continued on Tenth Page.