The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-06-09
Augustus Van Wyck,
IL Years Supreme
Court Justice, Dies
Ran Against Roosevelt for
Governor Long Prom
inent i'm Politics.

Augustus Van Wyck, formerly Su-
for thirty years prominent in Brook
In. and state politics, died yesterday
in Hahnemann Hospital. He under
went an operation for intestinal trouble
on April q, after long illness and had
been patient there since. A second
operation was performed yesterday. He
had lived recently at the Marie An
toinette Hotel. Private funeral services
will be held on Sunday and burial Will
lie in Greenwood cemetery.
Justice Van Wyck was elected to the
bench in 1886 and resigned in 1898 to
accept the Democratic nomination for
Governor against Theodore Roosevelt.
Van Wyck's campaign speeches were
vigorous and radical and he made a
campaign that attracted wide atten-
ton.
He was born in this city. October a..
1850. son of William and Lydia A. VAN
Wyck. His mother was a member of a
famous Texas family and his father
was a noted lawyer and politician and
for many years a member OF the Board
of Aldermen of the old city of New
York. The young man was prepared for
college at Phillips-Exeter and was
graduated from the University of North
arolina with high honors.
Enters Politics Young.
Soon after being admitted to the bar
in 1871. young Van Wyck became inter-
ested in politics. He allied himself with
the regular organization in Brooklyn
and with the exception of a short period
was a faithful follower and at times
friend and adviser of Hugh Mclaughlin.
for forty years the Democratic boss of
Kings County. When Thomas Kinsella
started the Jefferson Hall movement in
Brooklyn, in 1881. Van Wyci1 Joined in
the fight to overthrow Mclaughlin.
The movement was a fiasco and
brought about the first election of Seth
Low as Mayor of Brooklyn. Soon after
ward Van Wyck returned to McLaugh-
Inns councils and friendship. He was
made chairman of the county committee
and retained the position until in 1884
he was elected Judge OF the City Court.
He was active in the movement that led
to the nomination of Grover Cleveland
for Governor in 1882 and was known
afterward as a Cleveland Democrat.
The Democrats remained in power for
twelve years. Van Wyck was a dele
gate 10 the COuNeTtlOnS tfidt nOitiiIiuteu
Cleveland for President and conducted
his campaign in Brooklyn. He was
elected In 1886 to the Supreme Court
bench for a fourteen year term.
! Brother of Late Ex-Mayor.
| He was a brother of Robert A. Van
Wyck, who was first Mayor of Greater
New York and who died recently in
Paris. He was formerly president of
the Holland Society. the Southern So
ciety, the North Carolina Society, grand
master of the Theta Psi Society. trustee
of the New England Society. member OF
the standing committee Of the Diocese
of Long Island OF the Episcopal Church
and was a member of the Lincoln, Ok
ford, Brooklyn. Crescent, Hamilton and
Mcntauk clubs of Brooklyn and of the
Lawyers. Manhattan and National
Democratic clubs of Manhattan.
At his bedside at the time OF his death
were his two surviving children. Will
lam Van Wyck, formerly Assistant Dis
trict Attorney of Kings county, and his
daughter, Mrs. James w. Osborne.