O'Malley, James L. (1901-1938)

OMALLEY, MORGAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/16/2015 at 17:55:23

Daily Freeman Journal, Thursday, August 4, 1938

NO HOPE FOR O'MALLEY

SHERIFF PROBABLY FATALLY HURT WHEN CAR RAMS CULVERT

BULLETIN!

3:30 P.M. - Sheriff James L. O'Malley was still unconscious at the Boone county hospital after suffering probably fatal injuries in an automobile accident early this morning.

Sheriff James L. O'Malley, 37, was seriously injured, probably fatally, early this morning when his automobile crashed into a concrete culvert railing about four miles north of Boone on highway No. 60.

The Hamilton county officer was so badly hurt, that attending physicians declared it would be almost a miracle if he should survive. O'Malley suffered a fractured skull; his lower jaw was fractured and teeth knocked out, one tooth being extracted from his throat; one foot was crushed and his left side was paralyzed, Dr. E. F. Rambo said upon returning from Boone late this morning.

Mrs. O'Malley was taken to the Boone county hospital by Co. Atty. George B. Aden about an hour after the accident was reported. She remained at the bedside of her husband during the day. They were accompanied by Father F.J. Frein who administered the last rites of the Catholic church.

Shortly after 8 a.m. today, the attending physician at Boone summoned Dr. Rambo, probably at the request of Mrs. O'Malley who wished to do everything possible to save the life of her husband.

Sheriff O'Malley had gone to Des Moines yesterday to secure extradition papers from Gov. Nelson G. Kraschel for the return of Charles DeVault, who is being held at Detroit for breaking out of the Hamilton county jail here March 17, 1937.

It was learned by the Daily Freeman-Journal this morning that Sheriff O'Malley had left the governor's office at the state capitol with the extradition papers signed by Gov. N. G. Kraschel between 3:30 and 4 p.m. yesterday.

None of the Boone or Hamilton county authorities were able to say at just what time the accident happened. There is the probability that Sheriff O'Malley struck the culvert railing and then lay unconscious in the automobile for several hours before being discovered by two other motorists shortly before 4 a.m. today.

Sheriff O'Malley was found in his wrecked machine by Dan Wheelock, Ames, accompanied by D. Griffith, Boone, as they were driving along the highway. They removed the unconscious man from the car and then drove to the Boone county hospital.

In all likelihood the accident was caused by a heavy fog which blotted out the highway in all the low spots, Father Frein said after returning from Boone. He said that even when Aden, Mrs. O'Malley and he went to Boone early this morning that there were many foggy places, especially where they found the O'Malley machine.

Father Frein said that the tire tracks of O'Malley's car showed that the machine had run over to the left side of the highway and then went 25 feet straight along the shoulder crashing into the culvert railing which stood about three feet in height.

The machine straddled the concrete railing driving the left front wheel way back to the driver's seat, shoving the floorboard at O'Malley's feet far over to the right side of the machine.

Probably upon seeing that he was going to crash into the fog shrouded culvert railing, O'Malley shrank back in the driver's seat, turned his head to the left as the machine crashed. This was accepted as the fact because the steering wheel post struck O'Malley on the right jaw.

Doubtless the sheriff was knocked unconscious by the terrific blow upon the head. Even one of his shoes was found with the sole almost torn loose. In fact, the leather was doubled underneath and one was unable to bend it back to normal position.

Sheriff O'Malley is the first man to win a county office on the democratic ticket for about 30 or 35 years. He was nominated to the office at the democratic primary in 1932 and in the fall of that year defeated Charles Blair, republican seeking reelection.

O'Malley has proven to be one of the most efficient law enforcement officials the county has ever had and when he came up for reelection in 1934 and then in 1936, he received the largest number of votes any one candidate has ever gotten in the county for many years.

This spring O'Malley was again nominated for sheriff at the democratic primary without any opposition.

The O'Malley's have two sons - James and Richard who are known more commonly as just Jimmie and Dickie.

The wrecked O'Malley machine was brought to Webster City by the Parkhurst garage.

Daily Freeman Journal, Friday, August 5, 1938

O'Malley Funeral Tomorrow

Funeral services for Sheriff James L. O'Malley, who died in the Boone county hospital at 6 p.m. yesterday, will be held tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at the Catholic church. The Rev. Father F. J. Frein will officiate with burial in the Catholic cemetery. Foster's will be in charge.

Sheriff O'Malley was fatally injured early yesterday morning when his automobile, in which he was riding alone, crashed into a concrete culvert railing four miles north of highway No. 30 on highway No. 60. He never regained consciousness.

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LEWIS IS SHERIFF

Under the law, Dr. W. B. Lewis, coroner, is now the acting sheriff of Hamilton county. The Iowa code provides that in cases of vacancies in the sheriff's office, the coroner shall act in this capacity. He holds the office technically until the board of supervisors names a man to the office to serve until the next general election. The board is now in session and will probably name a successor to James L. O'Malley tomorrow. Meantime, E. E. Meller, deputy, is carrying on the actual work, though the responsibility of the office rests with Dr. Lewis.

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The body will be at the O'Malley residence, 1045 Bank street, from 5 p.m. today until the time for services tomorrow morning. The Rosary will be said at 8 o'clock tonight at the O'Malley home.

Mr. O'Malley was born at Farnhamville, Iowa, March 14, 1901, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. John F. O'Malley. When 18 years of age the family moved to a farm near Williams. In 1921 James enlisted in the army and was stationed at Fort Des Moines. Completing his enlistment, he went to Chicago in 1926 where he spent a year and a half in the insurance business.

It was then he met Miss Alice Morgan who later became his wife. In 1929 James was called home to assist in the operation of the O'Malley farm due to the serious illness of his father.

In the spring of 1932 James was nominated for sheriff on the democratic ticket and in the fall election won handily over the republican candidate. It was on Sept. 5, 1932, that he and Miss Morgan were married at Ackley. To that union were born two sons, James, who will be 5 years old next month, and Richard, 3-1/2 years.

In addition to Mrs. O'Malley and two sons, James is survived by his mother, Mrs. John F. O'Malley, Fort Dodge; one sister, Hazel, Fort Dodge, and four brothers, Miles, of Bloomington, Ill.; Raymond, of Iowa Falls, and Donald and Robert, both of Fort Dodge. James' father preceded him in death which occurred Jan. 3, 1937.