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-four years.
EUROPEAN ITINERARY OF COL. JAMES J. HEALY.
1909.
July 15 — Leave Chicago by Grand Trunk R. R. to Montreal.
July 17 — Leave Montreal by Allan Line S. S. "Pretorian." Ar-
rive Glasgow; North British Station Hotel.
July 27-28 — Leave Glasgow via Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine
and Trossachs, to Edinburgh; North British Station Hotel.
July 28-29— In Edinburgh, North British Station Hotel
July 30 — Leave Edinburgh for Ayr; Station Hotel.
July 31— Ayr to Portrush.
Aug. 1 — In Portrush.
Aug. 2 — Side trip to Giant's Causeway and thence to Belfast;
Midland Station Hotel.
Aug. 3 — Afternoon train to Dublin.
Aug. 4-6— In Dublin; Hotel Metropole.
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HBALY. 109
Aug. 7 — Dublin to Killarney.
Aug. 8 — At Killarney; Great Southern Hotel.
Aug. 9 — By coach to Glengarrifif.
Aug. 10— At Glengarrifif; Roche's Hotel.
Aug. 12 — By coach to Bantry and rail to Cork.
Aug. 13 — At Cork, visit Blarney Castle; Imperial Hotel.
Aug. I'l — Via Rosslare and Fishguard to London.
Aug. 12-20 — In London; Hotel Russell, Russell Square.
Aug. 21 — Via Calais to Paris.
Aug. 22 — In Paris; Grand Hotel.
Aug. 23 — Lucerne; Hotel Victoria.
Aug. 24 — Milan; Grand Hotel.
Aug. 25 — To Venice; Grand Hotel Victoria.
Aug. 26 — In Venice — to Florence; Grand Hotel Victoria.
Aug. 27 — In Florence — to Rome.
Aug. 28-30— In Rome; Hotel de Milan.
Aug. 30-31 — Naples; Grand Hotel Victoria.
Sept. 1 — Genoa; Hotel de la Ville.
Sept. 1 — Marseilles.
Sept. 2-5 — Paris; Grand Hotel Paris.
Sept. 6-9 — In London; Russell Hotel, Russell Square.
Sept. 9 — To Oxford; Warwick Arms Hotel.
Sept. 10 — Drive to Stratford-on-Avon, Kenilworth and back to
Warwick, thence by rail to Chester; Queens Ry. Hotel.
Sept. 11 — Chester to Liverpool and sail S. S. "Compania," '
p. m.
Sept. 18 — Arrive New York.
110 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY.
Long Service in the Courts
Colonel Healy's connection with the courts of record in
Cook County, covered a period of thirty years, in which
time he acquired a knowledge of the business of the judi-
ciary and the files and records equalled by none other, and
of perculiar value to the community.
His standing as a citizen and an official can best be
judged by the following unsolicited endorsements :
Hon. Charles W. Vail, Chicago, December 1st, 1904.
Clerk of Superior Court of Cook County.
Dear Sir: — We, the undersigned. Judges of the Superior
Court, respectfully represent that the faithful and efficient per-
formance of the duties pertaining to the office of Clerk of
this court are of the very highest importance in the administra-
tion of justice by the Judges thereof. We know by long ex-
perience that changes in the clerical force of the Clerk's office,
except for just cause, not only tend to delay judicial proceed-
ings, to increase errors, and in almost every way to render the
efficier\cy of judicial proceedings uncertain.
We regard it as of the verj' first importance that only n
trained and responsible clerical force be employed in the dis
charge of the many duties of the Clerk of this court. In no
department of the government is a competent, capable and well-
trained subordinate more essential than in the office and service
of a Court of Record.
We are glad to say that few complaints of any kind have
for many years come to our knowledge against the efficiency,
promptness or integrity of the Clerk's office of our court, and
we l)elieve that no public office has a higher record for the faith-
ful and impartial discharge of public duties. It is with this
knowledge and for these reasons that we earnestly request you
to retain Colonel James J. Healy in his position as Chief Deputy
of your office.
Colonel Healy has been connected with this court for a
period of more than twenty-nine years, and has been Chief
■ BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY. Ill
Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court for sixteen years of that
time. He fully comprehends in general and in detail every duty
and obligation involving upon the Clerk's office; certainly v^'ith
the highest degree of satisfaction to all of the Judges of this
court, and we sincerely believe, to the Bar and the public also.
We say without hesitation that we know of no one so
well qualified as Colonel Healy for discharging efficiently and
with high credit the many exacting duties of the otificial posi-
tion he now so acceptably fills.
We should regard his displacement without cause as a viola-
tion of every obligation which the public owes to the officials and
most faithful servants, and especially of one who for more than
twenty-nine years has in every detail of all the public duties which
have been committed to him, proved both by trial and experience
his fitness and fidelity in every way.
We ask you therefore most earnestly, in the interest of the
objects for which our court is maintained, to retain Colonel
Healy as your Chief Deputy, unless some substantial reason exists
for his removal. We are, Very respectfully.
F. Q. BALL, JOSEPH E. GARY,
W. M. McEWEN, JESSE HOLDOM,
PHILIP STEIN, AXEL CHYTRAUS,
HENRY V. FREEMAN, THEODORE BRENTANO,
ELBRIDGE HANECY, MARCUS KAVANAUGH,
A. C. BARNES, ARTHUR A. CHETLAIN.
I heartily endorse the within application.
JOHN J. HEALY.
Chicago, October 25th, 1905.
Hon. Charles W. Vail,
Clerk Superior Court, Chicago.
Dear Sir: — We recognize the responsibility of the Clerk of
this court for the proper conduct of the business of his ofifice,
and, therefore, he has the right to choose his assistants. The
Judges of the court are. however, much interested in the mannc
in which the Clerk's oftice is managed.
Col. James J. Healy has had a long experience as Chiet
112
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HEALY.
Deputy Clerk in the office of the Clerk, and so far as our obser-
vation has extended, and also so far as we know the sentiments
of the Bar, there is no criticism to be made of his efficiency, or
of his uniform courtesy. We shall greatly regret if he is dis-
placed and a new man without the experience of Colonel Healy
put in charge of the Clerk's office. Colonel Healy has been con-
nected with this court for a period of more than thirty years,
and has performed for many years, and with the highest degree of
satisfaction to all of the Judges of the Superior Court and, we
believe, to the Bar and the public, the many and exacting duties
of the position he now so acceptably fills.
We again ask you in the interest of the objects for which
our courts are maintained to retain Colonel Healy as your Chief
Deputy. Very respectfully.
JOSEPH E. GARY,
THEODORE BRENTANO,
AXEL CHYTRAUS,
GEORGE A. DUPUY,
MARCUS KAVANAUGH,
W. McEWEN,
F. Q. BALL,
HENRY V. FREEMAN,
A. C. BARNES.
ARTHUR A. CHETLAIN,
JESSE HOLDOM.
We concur fully in the above recommendation of the Superio!
Court Judges.
FREDERICK A. SMITH,
EDWARD O. BROWN,
GEORGE KERSTEN,
THOMAS G. WINDES,
R. W. CLIFFORD,
JULIAN W. MACK,
FRANK BAKER,
FRANCIS ADAMS,
JOHN GIBBONS,
R. S. TUTHILL,
LOCKWOOD HONORE,
CHARLES WALKER,
Circuit Court Judges.
KENESAW M. LANDIS.
C. C. KOHLSAAT,
U. S. District Judges.
Chicago, December 18th, 1902.
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY. 113
Exposure of Corruption.
The bench and bar of Cook county were for thirty years
an open page before Colonel Healy. His acquaintances in-
cUided every legal practitioner of note in Illinois, and
among the rank and file of the bar in Chicago were in-
cluded among his friends such leaders as Melville W.
Fuller, afterward Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court ; Leonard Swett, Emory Storrs, John Lyle
King, Robert Hervey, John N. Jewett, Julius S. Grinnell,
Joel M. Longenecker, George C. Ingham, Judge Joseph E.
Gary, Judge Murry F. Tuley, Judge Frank Scales, Judge
Richard Prendergast, Judge George Sugg, Judge Kettelle,
Judge David Davis, Judge Blodgett of the United States
Court, Judge R. S. Williamson, Mason B. Loomis, Judge
Kirk Hawes, Judge Sidney Smith.
When the exposure of corruption by the Citizens' Asso-
ciation of Chicago led to the conviction of John A. Linn,
clerk of the Superior and Circuit Courts, Colonel Healy was
supposed by the public to have instigated the investigation.
It was credited to him by the public press and even by
members of the Citizens' Association. This placed Colonel
Healy in a peculiar and trying position, and the facts re-
quired explanation.
Colonel Healy first obtained knowledge of the stulBng
of payrolls from subordinates in his office. The facts were
becoming the subject of gossip among the clerks. The pay-
rolls, however, were not in his possession, but were kept
by Mr. Linn or his confidential aids. Afterward when the
payrolls were shown to him Colonel Healy was able to
point out the names of a number of persons who were not
employed by the county, but on whose account salaries
were being fictitiously drawn. He discussed the subject
114
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMBS J. HEALT.
with his attorney, Colonel Francis A. Riddle, but they had
not decided on the proper line of action to pursue when
Colonel Riddle gave an inkling of the matter to the Citi-
zens' Association. On this point the following letter is
plain:
CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO.
Established 1874.
Room 33 Merchants' Building,
92 La Salle Street.
Officers
Willord C. Fhui-tleff. President.
Robert S. Hotz, Vice-President.
. Black, Treasurer.
M. Singleton, Secretary.
Executive Committee
F. W. Burlingham,
B. A. Eckhart,
Geo. R. .Tenkins,
C. S. Pellet,
.T. Stern,
Geo. E. Cole,
.M. E. Greenebanm,
Wm. Kent,
E. E. Prussing,
E. C. Wentwortb,
fos. Donnevsbevgpv,
R. S. Hotz,
John McLaren,
W. C. Slun-tleff,
I. Laurence Langhli
Telephone Main 2306.
Colonel James J. Healy,
511 Boyce Buildins
Chicago, May 20th, 1910.
My Dear Sir: — Regarding the misapprehension which you
mentioned today as existing in certain quarters, as to your part
in connection with the investigation of the county fee offices
made by the Citizens' Association in 1906, I would say that the
irregularities in the office of John A. Linn, former Clerk of
the Superior Court, were not called to the attention of the
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY. 115
Citizens' Association by you, but by the late Colonel Francis
A. Riddle. Colonel Riddle stated to me at that time that you
had informed him, as your attorney, of your belief that the
county had been defrauded by Linn and that certain names
placed upon the payroll by Linn were fictitious. This informa-
tion was the starting point of our investigation, which proved
the truth of the statements made by you to Colonel Riddle, who
told us that he brought the matter to the attention of the Citi-
zens' Association, because he felt that the matters involved were
of such importance as to call for stern action on behalf of the
public.
You had no connection whatever with the investigation of
John A. Cooke's management of the Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Our investigation of that office was undertaken solely on our
own initiative and the facts brought to light were discovered only
by an exhaustive study of the payrolls of Cooke's office. This
study, which extended over several weeks, was made in the office
of the County Comptroller, of which James Monaghan was then,
as now, the head. The Citizens' Association had no tip or in-
formation from any source regarding irregularities in Cooke's
office prior to beginning its investigation of that office. The
Cooke investigation was not undertaken until after the Linn case
had been perfected.
In closing I wish to repeat a statement which I made in a
previous letter to you, viz: that in connection with the thorough
investigation made by me of the management of the Superior
Court Clerk's office during the time that you were its Chief
Clerk, nothing to your discredit as an official or man ever came
to my knowledge. Sincerely, your friend. S. M. SINGLETON
Appended to the foregoing was the following:
"We concur in the expression herein contained, and if, out
of it all, should come an adequate civil service law, Colonel
Healy will have rendered valuable service to the community.
George E. Cole
S. M. Singleton
Frederick Greeley J. P. GARNER,
Chas. D. Richards Cook Co. Commissioner and
G F. Steele Sec. Citizens' Investigation Com.
116 BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HBALY.
May 29th, 1906.
Col. James J. Healy,
National Surety Co., Chicago.
Dear Colonel: — With reference to your connection with the
investigation of the Fee Offices in 1906, the matter was called to
my attention by Colonel Francis A. Riddle, subsequently or
prior to my interview with you as a representative of The Daily
News. The facts as stated by you at that time coincided with the
statement given to me by Col. Riddle for you had only cor-
roborated the information already in my possession, which was
given to me by Colonel Riddle at his home, 1441 Jackson boulevard.
I was directed by the managing editor of the Chicago Daily
News to call on Colonel Riddle the latter part of December, 1905,
You were not in the city at that time, having gone South, des-
tination Cuba. You had no mention to make concerning any
other office in Cook county or the State. I am only too pleased to
state the facts.
JOS. DILLABAUGH.
Following in due course was the following letter from
G. F. Steele, one of the afore-mentioned committee :
Port Edwards, Wis., Feb. 28, 1907.
Col. James J. Healy,
Rookery Bldg.,
Chicago, 111.
My Dear Mr. Healy: — I have your valued favor of the 19th
inst. on my return from a rather prolonged absence from home,
and enclose herewith identical letter to that signed by my fellow
members on the Committee, together with Messrs. Cole and Sin-
gleton, and I want to say in passing that this is not formal con-
ventionality either.
I have been greatly impressed as I came to know more of
your work of the great tact, discretion and judgment which you
have displayed in handling some very difficult matters.
With best regards, I am, yours sincerely,
G. F. STEELE.
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY. 117
COLONEL HEALY'S OWN STATEMENT.
The appended article appeared in the Chicago Daily
News February 7th, 1906. It was an authorized interview
with Colonel Healy :
"When I first discovered any irregularity it was the latter
part of 1902," said Mr. Healy. "My attention was directed to it
by deputy clerks in the office stating that they had copied the
pay rolls after they were in the comptroller's office and had
been sworn to and deposited with the county comptroller. They
discovered certain names on the pay roll of men they knew were
not working in the office. I went around to try and verify it, not
having anything to do personally with the pay rolls or the making
up of them. In other words, I never saw a pay roll unless it
was when T signed it for my salary, in the comptroller's office.
I hadn't anything to do with it, the cashier and bookkeeper
having it in charge.
"Shortly afterward I had a talk with one of the judges of
the Superior Court. I called his attention to the discovery. From
then on I commenced to be rather on the alert. I had nothing
then except suspicions; nothing to warrant any publicity, because
everything was hearsay. But I always stated that if they would
get me the original pay roll and I could see that I would then
tell them whether there were any 'dummies' on it or not. Of
course I knew who were working in the office, but never having
seen the pay rolls, could not tell whether there were any 'dum-
mies' on it or not.
"So when I did happen to see a pay roll I noticed there were
several names on it of men who were not working in the office.
Among them were the names of Ed. Stone, E. T. Martin, J. W.
Green, John Jackson, James Crane, S. M. Clark, J. J. Carlson
and F. G. Edwards. When my attention was called to those
names I stated that I never knew any men bearing them to work
in the office. This was about eight months before I left the
office and I left on November 1 last. At that time I had a talk
with a judge about it.
"I had talked about it pretty freely, and before I left the
office Mr. Vail sent for me and told me he wanted to see me
after office hours. This was about October 28. He said that
118 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY.
he understood J had made some remarks about his administra-
tion. I went into his private office, he and I being alone, and
I told him yes that there was any amount of crookedness going
on. He wanted to know if it was under his administration. T
told him yes. He wanted to know why I hadn't called his atten-
tion to it. I told him I had not been spoken to or treated as a
chief deputy; that he had never consulted me in any form what-
ever regarding the running of the office, that I had never received
a key to his office and that if I wanted to get in there any morn-
ing I had to wait until one of the subordinates would open the
door for me. Yet I was filling the position of chief deputy. I
told him furthermore that when I made an allegation against
him, I would prove it.
" 'I will make no allegations, Mr. Vail, but what I can prove,
and when 1 get ready to make them against you, I will prove
every one I make.' I said to him.
"He swung around in his chair and looked out of the window
and said he thought I ought to tell him. But I said no, that he
was running the office and that if there was any irregularity he
ought to know where it was. Then I asked him if there was
anything further that he wanted and he said there was not.
"I retired from his private office and reported every morning
for duty after that until November 1, v/hen I came in and turned
over to him the key to my desk and the key to the safe, and walked
out for the last time.
"I informed him before I left that I cared nothing about the
position, but that my long and honorable service in the Superior
Court entitled me to courteous treatment, which I had not re-
ceived since his inauguration. He stated that he meant nothing
by it. I told him that the discourteous treatment I had received
at his hands since he had been clerk for eleven months was the
common talk of the clerks in the office. I pointed out that if I
merely wanted to get some stationery I had to go to subor-
dinates, because I never was allowed to possess a key to the
stationery closet or a key to the cage where the filing clerk, Mr.
Henderson, was located. I recalled the fact that I had never been
consulted by him on any matter whatever pertaining to the office
unless it was some question that came up so knotty that no other
person there c;.nld furnish an answer. I had even called a certain
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HEALY. 11$)
judge's attention to the discourteous treatment wliich I had
received at the hands of Mr. Vail since he came into the office.
and this judge had called Mr. Vail's attention to it.
"I took care to state specifically to Mr. Vail at tliat time
that a petition for my retention, which had been presented to
liim by Judge Gary, the oldest man on the bench, and by Judge
Kavanaugh, then chief justice of the court, had not been circu-
lated at my suggestion. Mr. Vail had stated to those judges
that he thought I did not care to rertiain in office. That was his
reply to their petition.
"I was at my brother's house one night when a phone mes-
sage came from Mr. Joyce of the National Surety Company, who
ivas on his way from New York here, asking me if I would go
ivith the National Surety Company. I told him that I would noi
until after January 1, because I was going south.
"I met my friend. Col. Francis A. Riddle, and we got to
talking about reform and about Governor Deneen discovering
the amount of money that the state treasurers and state auditors
had gotten away with, over $300,000, I believe, and I said to Col.
Riddle:
'If they mean business, there is lots of it in this county
building.'
"And I gave Colonel Riddle some pointers and he presented
the whole matter to Secretary Singleton of the Citizens' Associa-
tion. Then I went south to New Orleans and Memphis and I was
going to Cuba, but they had not raised the quarantine from Cuba
coming back, so I did not stay away as long as I intended to.
When I got back here I found Mr. Singleton had been to the
county comptroller's office and had procured a lot of evidence,
the 'dummy' pay rolls, etc., as I understood from Mr. McCarty
and Mr. Monaghan of the comptroller's office.
"When I went before the grand jury I simply stated what
I knew. The questions they put to me were in regard to the
identification of certain papers. I stated to the grand jury that
so far as the outward office was concerned, it was all right, and
that the system was all right and thorough. I told them thai
every night I used to check up with the filing clerk, who takes in
all the money, the daily receipts, and that we struck a balance,
and then that envelop would go inside to the cashier, who would
check it up, and if there was any deficiency the filing clerk had
120 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY.
to make it good the next morning, and that if there was any
plundering or robbing it was done in the inner office and not the
outer office. Of course, what they did in there I could not see. I
had nothing to do with it.
"Here, for illustration, I have before me a sheet showing
the receipts for August 5, 1905, as follows:
For filing suits $170
(\ppearances 57
Miscellaneous 3
Naturalizations 1
Total $231
"The currency on that date footed up $232. It came $1 over
in checking up the currency in the drawer. That money was put
in an envelop with the blotter and turned over to Mr. Chaiser in
the inner office. He checked it up, and if there was any shortage,
the filing clerk had to make it good the next morning. It was
the cashier's duty to transcribe that on the daily ledger — that is,
on the ledger where all the accounts were kept. If he failed to
transcribe it correctly and there was any looting it was done in
the inner office and no person would have knowledge of it but
himself and the clerk of the court.
"These blotters were always supposed to be kept intact for
reference in case an attorney came up and stated that he had filed
an appearance on such and such a date and had got the wrong
number. We would always keep the blotters to refer to and
straighten out mistakes and, if the blotters were destroyed, it
must have been after this matter had received publicity.
"I declare positively that it never was the custom to destroy
the daily blotters and that they were always kept for reference
and if they were destroyed by Mr. Chaiser or Mr. Vail it was done
for reasons best known to themselves; that these blottters should
be there always, so that the chief clerk could refer to them in
order to answer inquiries intelligently.
"As a man who has had a great many years' experience in
the offices of the civil courts, I would say that the system em-
ployed is good if you have reliable help. All moneys are paid
in at the filing clerk's window and checked up every night and
turned over to the cashier, who checks it up. As I have already
said, if there is any shortage the filing clerk has to make thai
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HEALY. 121
shortage good each morning. It is not the system that is at fault.
"It is after the money gets into the hands of the bookkeeper
and the cashier, or into the inner office, that the trouble comes.
There is where the leakage occurred, because there were dishon-
est men handling it. We will say the statement checks up every
day here in the outer office straight. If I give you the money
at night and you count it and you find it all right, but you get
away with it afterward, you and the clerks in the inner office,
the system is not to blame for that. Armour & Co., Swift,
Marshall Field or anybody else could use that system right along,
because they would have honest men to run it. The system is
good.
"Before the grand jury the question was asked me in regard
to the blotter, if it would not be better to transcribe the record
of the daily receipts upon the ledger instead of the blotter. I
answered that it made no difference whether the day's receipts
were transcribed on a ledger or a blotter, because, when Mr. Linn
left the office, both the ledger and the blotters disappeared. So
it doesn't make any difference whether the record was kept on
the ledger or the blotters. I will bank on the system if you will
give me honest men to handle it, and if you haven't got honest
men you can have systems galore and they will still loot you.
"Now, Mr. Vail intimated, if his statements be true as pub-
lished in the newspapers, that he and I did not agree; that I
would not carry out his instructions. You can say for me that
he never gave me an order, never spoke to me about anything
that he wanted. He always conferred with the subordinates and
never came to me with any instructions and never conferred with
me about the running of the office except on one occasion, and
that is when we were moving from the old building. He called
me in with Mr. French and Mr. Breidt for suggestions to express
our views and that was the only time that he ever advised with
me. And even then he carried out his own plan and as a result he
got the files all mixed up in the Monadnock building.
"When I came back from Denver, where I had been attend-
ing the Grand Army encampment, I said to Mr. Vail: 'Is there
anything that you will assign me to do?' He replied: 'I will
get around to that.' I never could get any instructions from him,
and it is laughable when he makes the statement that he and
I disagreed. We never had an opportunity to disagree, for the
122 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HBALY.
reason that he never consulted me, and it is pretty hard to dis-
agree with a man when he never consults with you or speaks to
you. '
CLERKS OF THE SUPERIOR COURT.
Capt. John J. Healy was elected Clerk of the Superior
Court of Cook County on the Republican Ticket in Novem-
ber, 1875. First clerk under salary, $3,000 per annum,
fixed by the Legislature of the State of Illinois. Re-elected
November, 1879, continuing in office until 1884. M. Lester
Cofifeen was his chief deputy for nine years in the Superior
Court. Record excellent ; office run on business principles.
Healy was then elected clerk of the Appellate Court, First
District, State of Illinois, for six years.
Capt. Patrick McGrath, elected Clerk of the Superior
Court, Cook County, November, 1884. Appointed George
P. Gary chief deputy. Record good. Re-elected November,
1888. James J. Healy appointed Chief Deputy. Record
Good. Office conducted on business principles.
Stephen D. Griffin elected Clerk of the Superior Court
of Cook County, November, 1892. First Democratic Ad-
ministration in the history of the Court. Appointed
Michael J. O'Donahue Chief Deputy. Record good. Office
run on business principles.
John A. Linn, Republican, elected clerk of the Superior
Court of Cook County November, 1896.
James J. Healy was re-appointed Chief Deputy. Record
and management of the Clerk's office most excellent. Re-
elected November, 1900, office force demoralized ; too much
politics; competency a secondary consideration and con-
tinued under the incoming administration of Charles W.
Vail, 1904, until the investigation of the office by the Citi-
zens' Association December 20th, 1905.
On the re-election of Capt. Patrick McGrath, clerk of
BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HEALY. 123
the Superior Court of Cook County, 111., he appointed James
J. Healy Chief Deputy Clerk December 1st, 1888, who
prepared the following printed rules and orders for the
guidance of the Deputy Clerks connected with the Clerk's
office. These rules were still in force November 1st, 1905,
viz. :
RULES GOVERNING CLERICAL WORK.
December 1, 1888, the following order was issued out of the
Clerk's office of the Superior Court of Cook County, and is still in
force and must be observed by the Deputy Clerks of this office:
James J. Healy has been appointed Chief Clerk.
1. The office hours will be from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m.
2. Deputy Clerks are required to register their arrival at
the office each morning in a book kept for that purpose; each
Clerk must be found at his station during office hours ready
to attend to the business assigned him. A reasonable time for
lunch is allowed not to exceed one hour. If absence is necessary
during office hours, it can be arranged through the Chief Clerk.
Court Clerks must procure all necessary stationery, etc., for
their court rooms in the morning prior to the convening and
opening of court; messengers will not be recognized.
3. All fees or deposits must be paid in the General Clerk's
office, and all papers, upon the filing of which fees are to be
paid, must be filed in the General office, and all orders for
copies upon which fees are to be collected, must be made in, or
immediately referred to the General Clerk's office.
4. Court Room Clerks will please transfer all minutes from
minute-book to the docket daily, mark on wrappers the final
disposition of all cases disposed of, and on the absence of the
Judge, notify the Chief Clerk of the fact and report for duty.
5. Clerks will please hold themselves in readiness to per-
form any duty necessarily connected with the business of the
office, and will receive their salaries at the end of each month.
6. Prompt attention and courtesy to those seeking informa-
tion is most respectfully requested.
7. Each Clerk is required to remain during office hours at
his own desk, and ready to attend to the business under his
charge and must not interfere with the duties of other Clerks
124 BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY.
unless directed by the Clerk of this Court or his Chief Deputy.
Visiting with brother Clerks during office hours is strictly for-
bidden.
8. Docketing Clerks are required to have suits docketed
prior to 9:15 a. m. the following day after commencement, and
immediately turn over the same to the Registering Clerk.
9. The Registering Clerk is required to have all new suits
registered by 10 a. m., and deliver the same to the File Room
or Vault Clerk.
10. In order to prevent loss of files, the File Room and
Vault Clerks are required not to allow any one to have access
to the files, but at the request of parties wishing to examine them,
the Clerks are required to deliver the same, and under no cir-
cumstances allow parties to help themselves.
11. Should any notice be brought to the knowledge of the
Clerk of this Court that any Deputy Clerk has been remiss in
extending the utmost courtesy to attorneys or litigants, or in
any manner shown a disinclination to give all needed informa-
tion to parties desiring the same, a prompt resignation will be
requested. Smoking during office hours is strictly forbidden.
12. Any violation of the above rules will be deemed suffi-
cient cause for removal.
13. In order to ascertain the status of each case, Law
Minute Clerks are requested, when preparing their Short Cause
Calendars from the Short Cause Docket, to examine the Files,
Registers and Law Docket. After such examination, cases not
found to be at issue should not be placed on the Short Cause
Calendars. More especially Appeal Cases, if the appearance of
the plaintiff or defendant is not entered when the appeal has
been perfected in this court and transcript from Justice not
filed in this court.
Such causes not at issue will be so noted on the Short
Cause Docket opposite their titles. Any files or part of files
missing, which are required in court, on -calling the Chief Clerk's
attention to the fact he will have them located, if possible, and
returned to their proper wrappers, where Minute Clerks can get
themi. By order of
PATRICK McGRATH, Clerk.
BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY. 125
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.
September 6, 1910.
The Editor and Manager of the Chicago Journal, Chicago.
Dear Sir: —
If you will not consider it presumptuous on my part, I desire
to call your attention to two articles appearing in your issue of
Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, 1910— headlines, Thirty Healys in Public Jobs.
One, ambitious, Thomas J., hopes to be County Treasurer. (No
doubt, an honorable aspiration.)
I am somewhat surprised at these false statements. "See, hear
and speak no evil" is one of the first lessons implanted in the mind
of a Japanese child. Why not extend this sentiment to all people?
In the year 1861, at the time Fort Sumter was fired on, and our
martyred President, Abraham Lincoln, issued a call for volunteers
to fight the battles for the preservation of the Union, four broth-
ers, uncles of the present candidate for County Treasurer, enlisted
in the Union Army. At the close of the war they were mustered
out with honorable records, viz.:
William Healy enlisted in the First Minnesota Mounted Rang-
ers. After two years' honorable service he was mustered out, in
1864. (Now deceased.)
Capt. John J. Healy, Chicago, enlisted April 19, 1861, Com-
pany I, 23d Illinois Infantry (Col. Mulligan's regiment), was pro-
moted through military channels to the rank of captain, and mus-
tered out March 16, 1865. Died May 8, 1910.
Daniel D. Healy, Chicago, assistant engineer on the Missis-
sippi Gunboat Squadron three years; honorably discharged in
1864; died March 3. 1910.
James J. Healy. Chicago (only survivor), enlisted May 19, at
the age of sixteen years, in Company G. 132d Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry. After the expiration of his term of enlistment, he re-en-
listed in Company C, 32d United States Infantry, and on the con-
solidation of the United States Army, under general orders No. 31,
dated Headquarters, San Francisco, May 12, 1869, he was mus-
tered out of Company C, 21st United States Infantry, Oct. 3, 1869,
at Camp Verde, Arizona Territory, with the rank of First Ser-
geant. Was wounded at Grief Hill by Apache Indians, having
served five years and six months honorably. Also served sixteen
years as an officer in the Illinois National Guard, retiring voluntar-
ily with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Second Infantry, I. N. G.,
12G BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES J. HEALY.
a position I was elected to by the line officers, and re-elected after
five years' honorable service (I wish I could say as much for
knockers) — no salary but patriotism.
During the railroad riots of 1877, commanded Company A,
Chicago Union Veteran Club.
The Healy brothers had honorable records, both in an out of
the army, while serving their country on tented fields during the
Civil War, and while occupying positions of public trust in civil
life.
The only surviving brother of this family is James J. Healy,
and he has no public position. The other three brothers having
died within the past year, the only relatives who now hold public
offices are three nephews — Thomas J. Healy, drainage trustee, who
was elected by the votes of the people of Cook County. Another
one, William J. Healy, was also elected by the votes of the people
for alderman of the Eighteenth Ward.
The combined salaries paid the Healy family would not pay
the salary of one judge of the Municipal Court. The Healy rec-
ords are good, and they are entitled to the worthy consideration
of a grateful people, and all law-abiding citizens.
There were not too many Healys, independent of all party affil-
iations, when the life of the nation was in jeopardy. Four uncles
of the present aspirant for County Treasurer went to the front
with knapsacks on their backs, and muskets in their hands to pro-
tect Old Glory, the name our late comrade. General vSherman, gave
to the flag, which represented the cause that every soldier for the
Union died for; some on the battlefield, some in dreary hospitals,
some in the rebel prison pens. No doubt all other Healy families,
whose names appear in the city directory, and whom you have
charged up to our family as office holders, come of good stock and
are law-abiding citizens.
In conclusion the Journal has always treated our family fairly
in the past, and I sincerely hope it will continue to do so in the
future. Very respectfully, JAMES J. HEALY.
P. S. — The enclosure will bespeak my record for the past fifty
years. You have a broad field to operate in, if you would only go
after the grafters, high and low, in public office, and encourage
honesty in public affairs. The old Healy cry again presents itself,
without cause or justice to public interests and business. Active
critics, as a rule, are lazy builders.
Addenda
Mr. C. C. Bowsfield, Publisher.
Dear Sir: —
Your request for a further expression from me covering my con
nection with the investigation of the Cook County fee offices, made
by the Citizens' Association in 1906, duly considered.
In reply will say that the so-called exposure was public prop-
erty more than a year prior to the newspapers giving it publicity,
my attention having been called to "pay roll padding" by Deputy
Clerks in the office who had procured copies of the pay rolls from
the County Comptroller's Office. These clerks had furnished
copies of the list of dummies on the monthly pay roll to other
clerks connected with the office later on, who called my attention
to it.
I, in return, immediately notified the bookkeeper and cashier,
including the clerk of the court, of my discovery. My part in the
investigation was mandatory, not voluntary. I have no apologies
to offer so far as I am individually concerned. I simply performed
my duty in the premises, regardless of political factions.
I was very much surprised to learn that favoritism existed to an
alarming extent among the officials at the time of the prosecution.
I was in hopes that equity and justice might prevail, in the presen-
tation of the case to the Grand Jury, but this was not done. It
128 BIOGRAPHY OP JAMES J. HEALY.
savored more of factional punishment, which in my judgment was
not equitable nor creditable.
The following piece of poetry entitled "Success" covers my case
fully in connection with this matter, namely:
SUCCESS.
I'd rather fall than have it said
I zvon by lying or deceit;
I want no laurel round my head
If zvinning it I have to cheat.
I'd rather have the public jeer
And call me quitter, cozvard — yes,
I'd rather stand to see them sneer
Than fraudulently gain success.
For zvinning isn't all of life.
Success is stamped upon the soul,
I'd rather falter in the strife
Than cunningly attain my goal.
Sincerely yours,
JAMES J. HEALY.
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