New-York tribune., 1920-12-20
J.F. Ahearn, Noted
TammanyPo olitician
Is Dead of Pleurisy
Leader of 18th Assembly Dis
trict Was Removed as Head
of Aldermen by Hughes
on Charges of Corruption

John F. Ahearn, Tammsny politi-
clan, who made one of the most stub
born legal fights on record to retain
Office as President Of the Board of AL
dermen after Governor Hughes had re-
moved him, died yesterday afternoon at
his home, 296 East Broadway. He had
been suffering from pleurisy ever since
his return from the Democratic Ma
tional Convention last summer.
He was Democratic leader of the 4th
Assembly District and had been active
in politics for more than thirty years.
He was born in this city April IS, 1858,
and. after finishing a course il the
public schools, worked as clerk in
several stores, meanwhile interesting
himself in politics and becoming a stanch
Tammany man
In 1889 he was elected to the Assem-
bly, in the 4th District and in the same
year he served as clerk in Essex Mar
ket Police Court From that time forth
politics was his profession. lie was a
member Of the State Senate from 1899
to 1903 and became a sachem of Tam
many Hall.
In 1903 Mr.. Ahearn was elected Presi-
dent Of the Board of Aldermen and in
1908 he was reelected to serve a term
Of four years. He served it in spite
of the efforts of the Governor. the
courts and private citizens to eject him.
He came under fire in 1906 for al
legged misconduct in Office and in the
1ail OF that year requested Mayor Nc
Clellan to start an inquiry into the
charges against him. The inquiry was
started and before it had gone far
Mayor Mcclellan appointed the late
John Purroy Mitchell, then an assistant
Corporation Counsel, to the office of
Commissioner of Accounts to take
cnarge Of the investigation.
Inc investigation was tedious one,
Mr.. Ahearn refusing to answer oues-
tions put to him until commitment for
contempt Of court was threatened. In
eiAciency, neglect, waste and corrup-
tion we're charged against him and
when the report of the investigators
hnally was made it bore out the
charges, in the main.
The Mayor transmitted the report to
Governor Hughes. and George McAneny
and other members Of the City Club,
tearing that the Mayor had not made
ene case urgent enough, went to Al
bany, where they presented formal
charges against Ny. Ahearn.
governor Hughes removed him. The
Board Of Aldermen reelected him to
complete his unexp red term. The
courts, from Supreme Court TO the
Court of Appeals. held that the re-
election was illegal. but by protracted
litigation Mr.. Ahearn held Office almost
up to the day lis term would have ex-
plred, and the Board of Aldermen de-
clined to elect his successor, so the
post was Mr.. Ahearn's or nobody's
until John Purroy Mitchell was sworn
in January /, 1910.
Mr.. Ahearn is survived by his wife,
three daughters, Miss Margareta
Ahearn, Mrs. Will am J. Murray, of
Cincinnati, and Mrs. George L. Loft. of
200 West Fifty seventh Street; two
sons, Edward and William j. Ahearn;
two brothers, Charles j. Ahearn and
Deputy Chief Thomas J. Ahcarn Of the
Fire Department, and three sisters, the
Misses Mary Ann and Julia Ahearn, of
Flushing. Queens, and Mrs. Jacob Laux
of 1914 Stprljner plocn T,ooE11,r