Camden Daily Telegram, January 3, 1887View transcription
CHIEF FRANKS DEAD.
AN ILLNESS OF SEVERAL MONTHS BRINGS HIS LIFE TO AN END.
WHO WILL BE HIS SUCCESSOR?
Lieutenant Stehr Wants It—So Does Contractor Shearman and "Davy" Baird is Working for His Brother.
Rev. Waldo Messaros in Camden—Two Men Arrested for Drunkenness Give a Performance at the City Hall—One is Sent to Jail and the Other Discharged.
CHIEF OF POLICE FRANKS DEAD.
After an Illness of Several Months he Finally Succumbs.
Chief of Police Harry Houston Franks is dead. The deceased who is 50 years of age, had been ailing for several months and died about 2:30 o'clock Saturday morning, at his residence, Third and Royden streets. Mr. Franks who was an efficient officer was a candidate for the Mayoralty nomination in the Spring of 1885 and secured a number of delegates. Jesse Pratt had already been nominated by the Prohibitionists and was the young syndicate's choice for nomination on the regular Republican ticket. In consequence of this a "deal" was made and when the Convention met Mr. Franks threw his delegates over to Pratt with the understanding that he was to be made Chief of Police in case of Pratt's election. Unfortunately for the good government of the city, Pratt was elected and Chief of Police Franks, although not able to attend to his duties as he would have done if his health had permitted, did his best in every way to suppress violations of law which became a daily occurrence. The dead Chief is a brother of Detective Franks, of Philadelphia, and was born in the old Northern Liberties district of that city. He moved to this city in 1859 and immediately began to take a hand in politics. In 1878, * * * he was elected Constable for several terms in the Twenty-fifth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, in which he served until the close of the war. The dead chief was a member of William B. Hatch Post, No. 37, G. A. R.; Camden Castle, No. 1, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Kearney Conclave of Heptasophs or Seven Wise Men. He was also a member of the Mysterious Brotherhood a social organization of this city.
During his illness Chief Franks often expressed the wish that a post mortem examination be made on his body after death. This was done yesterday by the Medical Examiner of County, Dr. Onan Gross. The organs of the dead man were found to be in a comparatively healthy condition, although the heart was observed to be much smaller in size than the average. The physicians examination proved beyond a doubt that death was due to cancerous ulceration of the oesophagus.
The Third Ward Republican Club, of which deceased was an active member, will meet this evening at Second and Bridge avenue for the purpose of appointing a committee to frame resolutions of condolence and to make arrangements to attend the funeral in a body. The city officials have also issued a call for a meeting with the same object in view. The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon next at 1 o'clock.
Interment will be made in Evergreen Cemetery.
As yet he will not consider the question as to who will succeed the late Chief of Police for several days yet.
There are already three candidates for the position in the personages of Lieut. Louis H. Stehr, Contractor William Sherman and James Baird.
The patrolmen for the next thirty days will wear their badges in mourning.
An Illness of Several Months Brings His Life to an End.
Who Will Be His Successor?
Lieutenant Stehr Wants It—So Does Contractor Shearman and "Davy" Baird is Working for His Brother.
Chief of Police Franks Dead.
After an Illness of Several Months he Finally Succumbs.
Chief of Police Harry Houston Franks is dead. The deceased who is 50 years of age, had been ailing for several months and died about 2:30 o'clock Saturday morning, at his residence, Third and Royden streets. Mr. Franks who was an efficient officer was a candidate for the Mayoralty nomination in the Spring of 1885 and secured a number of delegates. Jesse Pratt had already been nominated by the Prohibitionists and was the young syndicate's choice for nomination on the regular Republican ticket. In consequence of this a "deal" was made and when the Convention met Mr. Franks threw his delegates over to Pratt with the understanding that he was to be made Chief of Police in case of Pratt's election. Unfortunately for the good government of the city, Pratt was elected and Chief of Police Franks, although not able to attend to his duties as he would have done if his health had permitted, did his best in every way to suppress violations of law which became a daily occurrence. The dead Chief is a brother of Detective Franks, of Philadelphia, and was born in the old Northern Liberties district of that city. He moved to this city in 1859 and immediately began to take a hand in politics. In 1878, * * * he was elected Constable for several terms in the Twenty-fifth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, in which he served until the close of the war. The dead chief was a member of William B. Hatch Post, No. 37, G. A. R.; Camden Castle, No. 1, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Kearney Conclave of Heptasophs or Seven Wise Men. He was also a member of the Mysterious Brotherhood a social organization of this city.
During his illness Chief Franks often expressed the wish that a post mortem examination be made on his body after death. This was done yesterday by the Medical Examiner of County, Dr. Onan Gross. The organs of the dead man were found to be in a comparatively healthy condition, although the heart was observed to be much smaller in size than the average. The physicians examination proved beyond a doubt that death was due to cancerous ulceration of the oesophagus.
The Third Ward Republican Club, of which deceased was an active member, will meet this evening at Second and Bridge avenue for the purpose of appointing a committee to frame resolutions of condolence and to make arrangements to attend the funeral in a body. The city officials have also issued a call for a meeting with the same object in view. The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon next at 1 o'clock.
Interment will be made in Evergreen Cemetery.
As yet he will not consider the question as to who will succeed the late Chief of Police for several days yet.
There are already three candidates for the position in the personages of Lieut. Louis H. Stehr, Contractor William Sherman and James Baird.
The patrolmen for the next thirty days will wear their badges in mourning.
