New Britain herald., 1922-12-29
Prominent Official Struck Down By Heart Failure
 Before Physician Could Be Called.
Had Remarkable Career of P Years in Department Was Known as Man With Unusual Memory for Faces.

Captain Thomas w. Grace, for 27
 years member of the New Britain
 police department, and captain since l. 1909, died suddenly shortly before $ n o'clock this morning, while on his way to police headquarters to com e mence his days duty He was strick- en in the police service car on West Main street, and was rushed to the , office of Dr. Henry T. Bray on Court
 street, but before the physician came out to the automobile which was . standing in front of his house, Cap- : tain Grace expired. Dr. Waterman Lyon. medical examiner, pronounced death due to heart trouble. Captain Grace had not been in good health for more than a year, and as
 had been the custom for several
 months, the police service car was
 used to take him to the office in the morning and home at o'clock in the
 afternoon at the conclusion of his
 days work. Patrol Driver James Me-
 Cabe went to the home at 63 Vine
 street this morning. When Captain
 Grace came out of his house, he ap- l peared to be in the best of spirits,
 and he commented upon the bad
 weather as he sat in the front seat
 with Driver McCabe
 l v%he automobile passed through
 Murray street, thence to Liberty street
 where the captain spoke to a man l who had blocked the road. When the
 automobile had proceeded along | West Main street to point near
 Grove Hill, Captain Grace asked Driver McCabe to stop the car ana Miss May Burns, who was on her way down town, was invited to get in. In the car also was John Burns, an em- ploye of the Connecticut Light and Power company. The next and last
 time that the captain spoke, was as the car reached the Court of Honor
 entrance to Walnut sSiit. park. He noticed that taxi driver was exper-
 fencing considerable difficulty in get
 ting up the grade and he remarked,
 Hell never make it.''
 At point west of TGmmons Place. the captain fell over slightly, with his head resting on Driver McCabes shoulder. Mir. Burns who was in the back seat, spoke about his position. At the post office, Miss Burns aighted and went inside to call Dr. Bray's or flee. Driver McCabe then started in haste to the office of Dr. Bray on Court street. The physician was in bed at the time, but arose and quickly came out to the car. He saw at once that Captain Grace had died The body was removed to Undertaken M. J. Kenney's morgue.
 It was with surprise and profound grief that the police learned of the death of the popular police official. Y Those who knew him intimately, real ized that he was not in robust health, but they did not anticipate his passing so soon. Those who talked with hile yesterday at the police station re- marked today that he never appeared to be in better health in long time.
 Friend of Newspapermen.
 Among hundreds of friends of Cap- ain Grace were local newspapermen. md in his passing they lose friend who was ever solicitous in aiding hem in getting the news correctly
 Captain Grace was native of this 'ity, the son of the late Mir. and Mrs. Thomas Grace. He was in his ifty-second year. He attended the i'd Town school, and after completing lis schooling, he went to work for he Humason & Beckley Co.,, where Ie remained for several years. In is younger days he was an athlete. ie was a baseball catcher who used 0 glove, mask or chest protector, nd he also played football, being nember of the Y. NJ. T. A & B. so- < iety eleven at one time. He was lso a fast runner in his younger avs.
 Retiring from the employ of the [umason & Beckley Co.,, he entered le employ of Thomas McCabe S Co., 'hich at the time represented Ar tour X Co. in this city. It was hile working for this concern that e first became identified with the olice department as a supernumer- ,y. He served but short time in lis capacity and was named mem- ,r of the regular force on February l, 1895. Those in the department
 the time who are still members e Lieutenant Samuel Bamforth and olicemen Frank English, Gustave ellberg and Michael Cosgrove. The te Joseph R. Johnson was chief and e late John E. O'DonnelI was cap in at that time.
 Succeeded Patrick Ice as Captain In 1907 the board of police com- issioners decided that roundsman
 sergeant was needed in the depart ent, and Mir. Grace was named. e served in that capacity until the te Patrick Lee retired as captain. i'd was then elevated to the position has so capably filled. 1t is claimed men well versed in police matterss at there has never been an official 10 knew the workings of a depart ent better than the captain. He d remarkable memory for faces d facts. He also cared for much
 the office detail work. and his sthod of keeping records Of the ,n and doing other clerical work $ only recently praised by statis- al expert from Washington, D. C. Captain Grace ever exercised an in- est in the men under his command.
 took an active interest in legisla-