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OBITUARY. HENRY SMITH. Commissioner Henry Smith, President of the Board of Police, died in Room No. 214, Metropolitan Hotel, last evening at 10:30 o'elock. He had been sinking rapidly all day, and at 6 o'clock he fell into a connatose state from which he never rallied. Mrs. Smith was called in, but to her sad entreaties for recognition, the dying man made no sign beyond rapid and heavy breathing which continued until death ensued. At o'clock the last consultation took place, Drs. Vanderpoel, Henry, Thebaud, Satterlee, Stimson, and Walker being present. Thurlow Weed was also in the room, where he had remained most of the day. The consultation ended in the decision that mortal skill was useless. The dying man had taken no nourishment since 71 o'clock, and all efforts had failed to rouse him from his comatose state. At 101 o'clock his friends, who had thronged the halls of the hotel since the first hour of his illness, were invited in, and surrounded by these he died. Henry Smith was born on October 20, 1820, in the village of Amsterdam, Montgomery County, N. Y. The son of a farmer. he began life as a driver on the Erie Canal. When quite young he opened a shop in the village of Fultonville, where he sold groceries and canal stores. He was subsequently employed as an agent of the Albany Merchants' line of canal boats. He did so well that he was induced, about 1843 or 1844. to come to New York as the agent for the Fultonville line of canal boats. He filled this position for several years and purchased an interest in the line. By his efforts he built up an extensive forwarding and commission business. He was subsequently connected with Abram Van Santvoord in running & line of tow-boats, and afterward with Albert Van Santvoord in the same business. Van Santvoord and he built the handsome steamboats Chauncey Vibbard and Drew, and organized a day line to Albany. Mr. Smith has bean for 25 years one of the most active politicians in the Whig and Republican parties, and for several years past has been one of the most influential Republican politicians in the State. He was for many years extremely popular with the working classes in the lower part of the city, and was on several occasions elected over his Democratic opponent in a strong Democratic district. In 1853 he was chosen Councilman from the Ist District, and was reelected two years later, serving in the Board of Councilmen during the years 1854. 1855, 1856, and 1857. He was defeated for Alderman in the latter year, but was elected two years later. and served in the Board of Aldermen until 1863, having been reëlected on the expiration of his first term. In 1863 he was chosen one of the Board of Supervisors, and six years later was again elected. His seat was contested by John Foley, but while the case was before the courts the Charter of 1870 was passed, abolishing the Board of #Supervisors on July of that year. In the Winter of Mr. Smith was chosen by the Legislature to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Police Commissioner Thos. C. Acton. When the Police Board Iwas reorganized in 1870, un der the provisions of the Charter passed by the Legislature of that year, Mr. Smith was reappointed by Mayor Hall, and drew the long term. Under the provisions of the present Charter he retained his office with several other heads of departments. He served two years as Treasurer of the Board of Police. In 1870, on the reorganization of the Board of Police. he was chosen President Mr. Smith has also been a member of the Board of Health ever since he entered the Police Board under the new Charter, by virtue of his position as President of the Board of Police. Mr. Smith has been an ardent politician ever since he reached his majority. He was always active in primaries and nominating conventions. The First Ward where he was best known, and where he resided for many years, was strongly Democratic yet he was chosen Councilmen on the Whig ticket on two occa sions, and afterward Alderman, though running as a Republican. He attended nearly every Whig and Republican State Convention held in this State during the past 20 years, and though seldom a delegate probably wielded more influence than nine-tenths of those who attended the Convention in that capacity Mr. Smith was for a long time President of the First Assembly District Republi can Association. He was also a member of the Central Committee In 1870, when the rival Republican Commit tees coalesced he was one of the Committee selected on the Republican State Executive Committee to bring about that result. In that year be was made a member of the State Executive Committee and served until 1872 As President of the Bowling green and National Savings Banks, both of which failed during the W inter of 1871, he was held responsible for the mismanagement which 1éd to their failure. Especially was this the case with the former, where large number of poor people in the First, Second, and Third Wards had deposits. The investigation into the mismanag of the bank showed that the funds had been squandered in the most reckless manner by the officers stock speculations and in other ways. The friends of Mr. Smith claim that in this case he was more sinned against than sinning, and that besides losing considerable amount of money which he bad invested in the bank, he made advances after the failure toward paying the depositors. No arrangements have as yet been determined upon for the disposition of the body. Mrs. Smith has placed the matter entirely in the hands of Mr. Ackert, a friend of the family, who will, of course, consult with the Police Commissioners relative to the funeral. The Board will meet to-day Among the notable people who were present in the halls of the hotel during the day were Taurlow Weed, Commissioners Gardner, Charlick, Duryee, Russell, Senator Tobey, Coroner Woltman, James Lee, Sheridan Shook George O. Jones of Albany, Geo. Starr, Commissioner Van Nort. Assemblyman Biglin, and Daniel D. Conover. These gentlemen used Room No. 204, opposite the dying man's apartment, as 8 reception-room The questions of municipal complications which grow out of the death of President Smith were very genorally discussed by the city and State pollticians. Ever since his death seemed inevitable, this matter has been the subject of considerable solicitude By his death, it will readily be seen, a tie occurs in the Board of Police and the two members who constituted what, with President Smith, was termed a Ring' and governed the entire proceedings of the Board, are now contronted with a party in the Board as strong as themselves. Commissioners Gardner, Russell, and Duryee, being all Repubiticans, it 18 thought not improbable that Mr. Charhek may be deprived of his power. Some of those present were 80 sanguine as to believe that the Board would now become a unit and work amicably together for the municipal good without regard for Rings. Of course the duration of this threatened dead-lock will extend only to the time it may require Mayor Havermeyer or the Legislature to select new member, buton this point another complication arises. It will be remembered that Henry Smith was retained in office by the charter of 1873 as President of the Board of Police Commissioners, and that a question of law arose on the legality of a retention in such terms, it being held by shrewd corporation yers that a charter could not retain any individual by name as President of a body which, in equity, had the right to name its own presiding officer. This trouble was bridged over by a formal election held by the Police Board at which Mr. Smith was elected President The question now recurs whether the Legislature has the right to nominate another man as President of the Board, or Mayor Havemeyer the right to nominate another member. CHARLES SHIRLEY BROOKS. A London telegram of yesterday states that Charles Shirley Brooks, the novelist and dramatic author. is dead. Mr. Brooks was a native of England, and was born in 1815. Preferring literature to law, he retired from the latter profession, and devoting himself to dramatic composition, he wrote several comedies and dramas, which met with success, and thus decided his subsequent career. He wrote the parliamentary summary of The London Morning Chronicle for several years, and also acted as correspondent of that journal in Russia. Syria, and Egypt, describing the condition of the laboring population in these countries. Mr. Brooks was theauther of several novels, the best known being " Aspen Court," "The Gordian Knot," The Silver Cord," and "Sooner or Later." Since the death of Mark Lemon Mr. Brooks had been editor of Punch, and also wrote regularly for The Illustrated London News. PERSONAL
