The New York herald., 1922-07-15
Matthew j. CahiH,
Borough President
of Richmond, Dies
Succumbs to Acute Indigestion
at 51-Was Party Leader
of Staten Island.

Matthew J. Cahill. Borough President
OF Richmond and Democratic leader
there. died suddenly of acute indiges-
ton at 7:l5 o'clock yesterday morning
at his home. at Fourth street and La
fayette avenue. New Brighton. Staten
Island. Robert Bailey. acting Commits
sioner OF Public Works. will serve as
temporary Borough President until a
successor to President Cahlll Is chosen
by the Richmond Borough Aldermen.
Mr.. Cahill suffered much from the
heat on Thursday. He presided at a
tumultuous hearing of charges or in
competency preferred against John f.
Minnahan. Street Cleaning Commits
suspended pending a decision which was
to have been rendered to-day. The hear
ing ended about o'clock and Mr.. Cahill
at once went to the Hofbrau. Broad and
Van Dusen streets. Stapleton. where he
made vivacious speech at a dinner
given by the automobile dealers Of
Richmond to William Eizinger OF Port
Richmond. who had just been appointed
a special Deputy Fire Commissioner.
He left at midnight and drove home in
his automobile.
An hour after retiring Mr.. Cahill
awakened his wife and complained OF
intense pain In his abdomen. Home
remedies were resorted to and later,
against Mr.. Cahills protests, Drs. Eu-
gene Mcclure and William Bryan were
called. He continued to sink, however,
and the physicians were unable to bring
about rally.
Mr.. Cahill was born on Staten Island
fifty-one years ago and was educated
in the New Brighton public schools and
at Manhattan College. He was Tax Col
lector for Castleton at 21, later becom-
ing town and district leader. After
consolidation he was elected Coroner
and became Deputy Tax Collector of
Richmond. Three years ago he as
sumed the leadership of the Democratic
organization on Staten Island. Last fall
he polled the largest majority ever re-
co,;ed by a candidate for Borough
President in Richmond.
Because of a striking physical re-
semblance. Mr.. Cahill frequently was
mistaken for Mayor Hylan and he
thoroughly enjoyed the frequent humor-
Gus incidents which arose at public
occasions as a consequence. Soon after
ne assumed office he removed thirty
office holders for the good of the
service" intending. II was said. to fill
the places with his own political fol-
lowers. The civil service law proved n
stumbling block. however, and the dis
missed employees were taken back.
Much i'll feeling resulted from the In
cident.
Out Of respec. for the nemory OF
Mr. Cahill, the Sinking Fl 4 Commits
sion adjourned its fnectllg until 3
o'clock, July 1S and the Board of Esti-
mate adjourned after a short session
until 1870 o'clock. July 10. Mayor
Hylan said
'.The news of Mr.. Cah.ll's Death Is
a great shock to me. He was one OF the
most valuable members of the Board OF
Estimate and a very capable city
official. He had many constructive
ideas. and his whole heart was bent
upon improving the condition of Staten
Island"
The flag on the Richmond Borough
Hall was at half staff as tribute to
Mr.. CahilI. He leaves a wife. who is
an invalid.
Mgr. Charles A. Cassidy. rector of st.
Peters Church. New Brighton. will off,
ciate at the funeral services Monday
morning. The body will lie in state in
Borough Hall from s until 10 80 o'clock
Monday morning and all public business
in Borough Hall will be suspended until
after the funeral. Burial will be In
ST. Peters Cemetery. West New
Brighton. A police escort will attend.
Mayor Hylan. members of the Board of
Estimate and other city officials will be
present