W. J. BRYAN DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19081, 28 July 1925, Page 9

W. J. BRYAN DEAD.

A FAMOUS AMERICAN.

SUDDEN DEMISE AT DAYTON

(Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Router. NEW YORK. July 2G. Tho sudden death occurred to-day at Dayton, Tennessee, of Mr. William Jennings Bryan, the famous lawyer and politician, aged 65. Tho causo of death was reported to hjve been heart disease. Mr. Bryan had remained at Dayton sinco the close of the Scopes trial. Ho retired for a short nap after his mid-day meal apparently in the best of health. Mrs. Bryan sat on the verandah reading. She sent tho chauffeur to wako her husband at 4.50 p.m. and tho man found his master dead in bed. Mrs. Bryan summoned a neighbour, who in turn called two doctors. Thet latter said Mr. Bryan had been dead about 15 minutes.

Mr. Bryan, who had vigorously dc> fended the teachings of the Bible in tho Scopes trial, was to have left Dayton ou Tuesday for Knoxville to deliver an address. Afterwards ho was to have gone to Florida. He had intended to prepare his speech on Monday evening. He was also to havo met some of tho citizens to lay the plans for a Bryan College, tho movement for which was launched at a dinner last Monday. Mr. Bryan was Secretary of State in tho first Wilson Cabinet and had been a national figuro of great promiuonco for years.

Mrs. Bryan has expressed a desire that her husband's remains shall be interred in tho National Cemetery at Arlington. Her husband's death has shocked tho whole country. In addition to his widow he leaves a son and two daughters.

SINISTER SUGGESTION.

DECEASED'S LIFE THREATENED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 8.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 26.

A messago from Chattanooga, Tennessee, states that Captain Marion Perkins, who was in charge of the squad of Chattanooga polico on duty at the Dayton trial, asserts that many threats were made against tho life of Mr. Bryan. It is also reported that an inquest is to be held.

In the opinion of Dr. Raymond Wallace, of Chattanooga, who was consulted by Mr. Bryan and who examined him on Friday, death was due to acute dilation of tho heart.

The lato Mr. Willi.-t m Jennings Bryan wa3 for years one of the best-known men in American politics. He was the Democrats' nominee for the Presidency on three occasions, namely, in 1896, 1900 and 1908. At each of these elections he was defeated, at the first two by Mr. McKinley and at the last by Mr. Taft. Mr. Bryan was born in 1860 in Jacksonville, Illinois. Ho was admitted a member of the Presbyterian Church when ho was 14, and one year later he entered Whipple Academy at Jacksonville, and at 17 the Illinois College, whero he completed a classical course and graduated with the highest honours in 1881. At Chicago he attended tho Union College of Law for two years, and studied in tho office of Judge Lyman Trumball. In 1883 ho entered tho office of Browri, Kirby and Russell, at Jacksonville, where ho won golden opinions from his employers; he was bright and industrious, and remarkable for his devotion to his blind father-in-law, with whom ho used to walk to church every Sunday. In 1888 he removed to Nebraska, and became a member of the firm of Talbot and Bryan. He had married his wife shortly beforo leaving Jacksonville, but she was admitted to the Bar very shortly after their arrival at Nebraska. It was in 1888 that he first made his mark in politics. He was elected to Congress in 1890, and soon won a reputation for his oratory. A few years later ho entered journalism, and about that time he lectured throughout America on "free silver." Mr. Bryan took tho leading part in tho recent prosecution of John T. Scopes, the young school teacher of Dayton, Tennessee, on a charge of breaking tho law of that State by teaching tho theory of evolution.