The Washington times., 1924-04-25
S(JCClJMBS
SUDDENLY
At HIS
HOME
Democratic Chieftian of New
York Stricken by Acute
Indigestion Attack.

BY International News Service.
NEW YORK, April 25.-Charles
F. Murphy, leader Of Tammany
Hall, and for nearly a quarter Of
a century one of the most power
full Democratic leaders of the
country, died today.
His death, on the eve Of the
Democratic national convention,
due to assemble here in June,
created a profound sensation in
political circles.
It had been universally expect
ed-and conceded-that Murphy
would play an important part in
framing the Democratic national
ticket for 1924.
Death Was Sudden.
Murphy died at his home sud-
denly shortly after O. o'clock this
morning. HIS home was at 3O5
East Seventeenth street.
He had returned only few days
ago from a, vacation trip to Hot
Springs, Va, and was apparently
in good health.
Death was due to acute indi-
gestion. Murphy was at Tammany
Hall last night and seemed to be
III good physical condition. He
Rad held Il number of conferences
with Democratic leaders.
First intimation that Murphy
was in a weakened condition came
shortly after o'clock when Muir
ply complained to a servant that
he felt weak about the heart.
Doctor Summoned.
The servant Immediately sum-
moned DIR. John E. Herrity, who
lives next door to the Murphy home.
When the doctor arrived Muir
ply told him he felt the pressure
getting worse.
This alarmed the maid and =
she sent fNr Murphy's daughte, Mrs.
James A. Foley and her husband.
Surrogate Foley. She also sent
for Father Hogan, Of the Church
of Epiphany, who administered the
last rites.
Mrs. Murphy was not present
when the end came. She was in
Atlantic City when Murphy becam3
i'll and was Immediately notified
She is on her way to New York.
Governor Alfred z. Smith, close
friend of Murphy. also was notified
Of Murphy's death by Adjutant Gen
eral Berry,
Murphys death, so unexpected
and while he apparently was In the
best Of health. shocked his family
and friends. Fer time it was al
most impossible 70 obtain any de-
tails OF his sudden passing, so great
was the confusion that reigned in
his modest East Seventeenth street
nome.
Political Friends IncreduIous.
At the famous wigwam in Four
teneth street his friends and CO.
workers were at first incredulous
and then grief stricken.
Recently Murphy has been most
active. With the approach of the
national convention and the cam
paign, his duties as head of the
New York State organization called
for many activities and considerable
travelling.
Last winter he participated in a
conference at French Lick, Ind,
with Thomas Taggart, of Indiana,
and George Brennan. of Illinois, the
triumVirate of organized Democracy,
and at that time 1t was widely re-
ported and well understood that the
trio had turned thumbs down" on
William G. McAdoo. Other confer
ences followed, the last being at
Hot Springs, Va, last week with
Taggart.
Had Colorful Career.
History will record Charles
Francis Murphy as one Of Tam.
many's greatest leaders and as a
Democrat who in his time played a
star role on the country's political
stage for more than twenty years.
His rise to the head of the most
powerful single political organiza.
ton in the country reads like fic.
ton. Like so many of his prede-
cessors in the famous Wigwam on
Fourteenth street, he came up from
the ranks, up from the same lower
East Side of New York that has
produced so many colorful poten.
tialties in state and national affairs.
The East Side is poverty and
Murphy came from it. He was a
hand in a wire factory as a hoy.
Later he quit his job and drove one
Of the old Fourteenth street horse
cars. From this he graduated into
the saloon business where he
prospered. finally \ becoming the
owner of four establishments and