W. J. MAHER FALLS DEAD IN HIS OFFICE

Blair Attorney Was Talking To Client At Time

Mr. Maher, 43, Dies While Starting Commissioner Campaign

Throng Present At Funeral Services

Rites Held at Catholic Church Yesterday: Father of Seven Children, Mr. Maher was Prominent Attorney Here Twenty Years.

William J. Maher, 43, Blair city attorney and democratic candidate for county commissioner from this district, collapsed and died at his law office in the Mathiesen building late Monday afternoon while talking to a client.

His son, Richard, a stenographer for his father heard Mr. Maher fall and found him slumped to the floor. Death was due to coronary thrombosis.

Members of the family were summoned to the office and arrived there before a physician pronounced him dead. Last rites of the Catholic church were administered by father Daniel O’Sullivan, pastor of the church of which Mr. Maher had been a member all his life.

The community was stunned by the news of Mr. Maher’s sudden death, for he had been in apparently good health, and had conversed with many of his friends on the streets only a short time before he died.

In his first political venture during the 20 years he had practiced law here following graduation from Creighton university, Mr. Maher early this month won the democratic nomination for county commissioner in a field of four. Only Monday afternoon, Mr. Maher had received word that E. V. Newkirk, Arlington farmer, one of those he defeated in the primary, was to give him his whole-hearted support in the campaign preceding the November election.

Won Fame as Lawyer

Mr. Maher had won fame throughout eastern Nebraska as a courtroom lawyer. Specializing on defense cases, he had appeared in nearly every major court trial here in recent years. Disliking prosecution work, he shied away from such cases. Last winter, however, he aided County Attorney Grace Ballard in securing convictions on a chicken theft case. “I’ll never prosecute or help prosecute a case again,” he said after the trial.

Born in Blair October 25, 1894, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Maher. His father was a leading merchant and livestock man, and for many years served as a county commissioner in addition to being active in other public affairs. His grandparents were early pioneers here, coming from Ireland.

After being graduated from Blair high school in 1912, Mr. Maher attended the University of Nebraska and Creighton university. He received his law degree in 1916 from the latter university, since which time he had been a Blair attorney.

He was formerly associated in a law partnership with Clark O’Hanlon and Reed O’Hanlon; later with John A. Carrigan, the present county judge.

Mr. Maher was married in Omaha August 9, 1915, to Winifred Donahue of that city. They resided there until Mr. Maher completed his law studies.

Surviving Mr. Maher are his mother, Mrs. Grace Maher; his wife, Winifred; five sons, Jack, student at Creighton university, Richard, who was to have entered the University of Nebraska this fall, Robert, Eugene and Larry; a daughter, Mary Catherine; three sisters, Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon of Blair, Mrs. John Leehy of Florence and Miss Margaret Maher of Omaha; and two brothers, James and Robert Maher of Blair.

His eldest son, William, jr., died in 1919 at the age of three years. Mr. Maher’s father died in 1926, and a brother, Roland T. Maher, died two years ago.

The body was taken to the Campbell mortuary and later removed to the Maher home on west Washington street, where the rosary was recited Tuesday night.

A brief service was held at the Maher home at 8:30 a.m. yesterday, and a requiem high mass was said at St. Francis Borgia church at 9 a.m. by Father Daniel O’Sullivan. The church was filed to overflowing.

Pallbearers were Robert and James Maher, brothers of Mr. Maher; Joseph Donahue of Omaha, a brother-in-law; Reed O’Hanlon, jr., Robert O’Hanlon and Clark O’Hanlon, jr., nephews.

Interment followed in Holy Cross cemetery here.

FROM OUT OF COUNTY AT MAHER FUNERAL

Included among those from outside of Washington county who were present at St. Francis Borgia church yesterday morning at funeral services for Attorney William J. Maher were:

From Omaha – Mayor Dan Butler, City Attorney, Seymour Smith, District Judge Frank Dineen, District Judge Willis G. Sears, District Judge John A. Rine, District Judge Charles Leslie, Attorney Richard E. Robinson, Attorney M. O. Cunningham, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Dempsey, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lester, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Black, Mrs. Benjamin Haller and Peggy, Frances and Catherine, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Vogel, Mr. and Mrs. George Haller, Miss Catherine Carrick, Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Stewart and Mary Frances, Mr. and Mrs. James Thorsson, Mrs. C. C. Carmichael, Joseph Donahue, Mrs. Patrick Gillespie, Mrs. Ellen Leehy, Mr. and Mrs. Brady, and Ed and Frances Dempsey, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Quinlan, also of Omaha, called at the Maher home Tuesday evening.

Others present included Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Brown of Council Bluffs; County Judge B. C. Enyart and former County Judge Orville Chatt of Tekamah; Mr. and Mrs. John Gillespie, sr., and Mr. and Mrs. John Gillespie, jr., of Millard; Miss Grace McMahen of Lincoln; Tom Barry and two daughters of Hastings; Mrs. Harry Mortlock of Ralston; Miss Catherine Welch of Logan, Iowa; Mrs. Anne Carpenter, Fred Schwertly and Mrs. Nell Antrim of Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Enterprise 1 Sept. 1938

W. J. MAHER SUCCUMBS SUDDENLY

Blair Lawyer Succumbs Monday. Was Native of Blair

Dies In His Office

Death came suddenly and unexpectedly to Wm. J. Maher Monday afternoon as he sat in his office consulting with a client.

His son, Richard, who was working in an adjoining office hear him collapse and found him slumped on the floor. Death was due to coronary thrombosis.

Deceased was a native of Blair, a son of the late James E. Maher. He had practiced law in Blair since his graduation from Creighton over twenty years ago and during that time had become known as an exceptionally fine trial lawyer. He had specialized on the legal aspects of river accretion lands and had had the honor of carrying many suits to the supreme court.

In his first political venture at the recent primaries he won the democratic nomination for county commissioner in a field of four.

In his dealings with his fellowmen he was always accorded as being fair and upright and he has many warm friends who will miss his congenial smile and his friendly attitude which he bore toward all. He was nearly forty-four years of age at his death.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Grace Maher; his wife, Winifred, and six children, Jack, Creighton university student; Richard, who was to have entered Nebraska University this fall; Robert, Eugene, Larry and Mary Catherine; three sisters, Mrs. Reed O’Hanlon, Blair; Mrs. John Leehy, Garryowen, Nebraska; and Miss Margaret of Omaha; and two brothers, Robert and James E. of Blair.

Funeral services were held from St. Borgia Catholic church in Blair on Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock and interment was made in the Catholic cemetery.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.