One-Time President of Bridgeport Bar, Six Years City Attorney and Democratic Candidate for Mayor in 1925, Dies this morning--Friends Pay Tribute

Thomas M. Cullinan, a leader and one time president of the Bridgeport Bar, six years city attorney, once under a Republican mayor, several times mentioned for a Superior Court Judgeship, a candidate for mayor on the Democratic Ticket in 1925, died at his home at 116 Elmwood place at 6:45 this morning.

Taken Suddenly Ill

Attorney Cullinan was taken ill the first of the present year with a nervous breakdown. Never of rugged health he did not respond to treatment and his failure to come back began to alarm his family and friends. Two months ago some complications began to set in and he grew gradually worse.

His mind was always clear, and although realizing his condition was always cheerful and did much to cheer his family by his wit. All hope of his recovery was given up some time ago.

His funeral will be held from the home and from St. Augustin's Church, Thursday forenoon. The funeral arrangements were not completed this forenoon.

Born in 1867

Mr. Cullinan was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, November 14, 1867, the son of John and Catherine Cullinan, but lived most of his life in this city. After his graduating from the High school, he entered Yale University and graduated in the class of 1889. One of his class mates was Justice John W. Banks of the Supreme Court. He graduaged from the Yale Law School in 1891 with degree of L.L.D. and was admitted to the Bar in June of that year.

Mr. Cullinan began the practice of the law with his brother, John J., who had proceeded him at the university and the law school. It was in 1895 that Mr. Cullinan began to take active interest in politics. At that time the dominent political party was the Democratic.

There was a feeling among the younger element that the patronage of the probate court was limited to an exclusive circle, and that summer Mr. Cullinan accepted the invitation of the younger element to run for the probate judgeship. It was a stormy convention, and ended up by dividing itself and Albert Talmadge and Mr. Cullinan were both nominated. As the Republican party nominated Mr. Talmadge that year his election over Mr. Cullinan was assured.

City Attorney 6 Years

Mr. Cullinan was city attorney for six years, four years under Mayor Denis Mulvihill and two years under Henry Lee, the latter a republican. It was during Mayor Mulvihill's administration that Mr. Cullinan's reputation as a lawyer began to attract attention throughout the state. His first big victory was, in the case of James Staples vs. City of Bridgeport, when he advanced the opinion that not all state acts were obligatory. For some years there had been considerable agitation for a new City Hall building which took active shape when Hugh Sterling was mayor in 1900 and 1901.

At the request of the city an act was passed by the legislature authorizing the common council to issue bonds for the new city hall, and the plans of the building had been drawn by Sanford & White of New York. Mayor Mulvihill came into office on platform of strict economy and one of his first acts was to try and smash the new city hall scheme with his substitute proposal of remodelling the present building of course, Mr. Mulvihill was guided by the legal advice of Mr. Cullinan.

The proposed remodeling drew fire and much local opposition. James Staples, the banker, heading a group of citizens who preferred a new building rather than a remodelled one filed on injunction to prevent the remodeling, which was upheld by Judge Cager of the Superior Court. The appeal on the injunction was argued before the January term of the Supreme Court, the firm of DeForest A. Klein on one side and the city attorney on the other.

The opinion of Justice Torrance was that the act of the legislature to issue bonds was permissive and not mandatory, that the committee on new building represented the city rather than the legislature and that the issue of bonds was not a command but a privilege.

Mayor Mulvihill continued to rub the fur the wrong way on in many instances. His summary dropping of Charles E. Williams as director of Public Works and the appointment of Patrick Kennelly in his place, was upheld by the Supreme Court too, the court holding that under the powers of the mayor, as defined by the charter, his official act was not subject to reversal by the court.

Mr. Cullinan was city attorney under Mayor Lee, a Republican 1907-09. At that time the common council had the power to appoint the city attorney and not the mayor. As the common council was Democratic it voted for Mr. Cullinan. A charter amendment later gave the appointing power to the mayor.

As it happened, the appointment of Mr. Cullinan was not altogether distasteful to Mayor Lee. There was a strong friendship between the two and as Mayor Lee stated later, "His services to me were able." Mr. Cullinan represented the Bridgeport Democrats in several state conventions, and was a delegate to the national convention in 1908.

Extensive Practice

Mr. Cullinan's law practice was extensive, and he was not again active in politics, but was induced to run for mayor in 1925 against Mayor Behrens, but was defeated by 1,646 votes. Several times Mr. Cullinan's name had been prominently mentioned for a judgeship on the Superior bench. He was elected president of the Bridgeport Bar Association in 1914.

Married in 1901

Mr. Cullinan married Miss Lucy A. Fitzpatrick of this city, October 16, 1901, who survives him. Also one daughter, Catherine a teacher at the Central High School, and a son John, a senior at Notre Dame University.

Mr. Cullinan was a member of the Fairfield County Yale Alumni association, the Knights of Columbus, and a trustee of the Financial Federation and Council of Social Agencies.

Mr. Cullinan's death evoked general expressions of sympathy, among them being the following:

Mayor Behrens said: "An outstanding citizen has been lost to Bridgeport in the death of Mr. Thomas M. Cullinan. He had served Bridgeport with distinction to the community and to himself. His innate skill and integrity had won for him an enviable position at the bar of this state. His personal character and professional accomplishments are monuments which will perpetuate his memory among all who knew him."

Homer S. Cummings

Homer S. Cummings, former state's attorney said when informed of Mr. Cullinan's death:

"I have known Mr. Cullinan for many years and I am very deeply affected by the death of this great lawyer. His death is a great loss to his friends and to the profession which he was so great a representative."

Justice John W. Banks

Judge John W. Banks, Justice of the Supreme Court of Errors was deeply moved when informed by the Post of the death of his former classmate at Yale. He stated: "It was my privilege and good fortune to have maintained the friendship that formed during all the subsequent years."

"From our earliest association he impressed me as one who cherished and maintained the highest ideals. Throughout his career at the bar, in which he met with conspicuous success as an able advocate and sound advisor, he upheld the highest standards of the profession which he loved and to which he gave such devoted services."

"He filled the office of city attorney, to which he was repeatedly appointed, with signal ability and conscientous devotion to the city's interests. In his death, the city lost one of its most loyal and public-minded citizens and the bar of the state one of its best loved and most highly honoured members."

In commenting on the death of Mr. Cullinan, Coroner John J. Phelan, declared: "I have known him all of his life particularly during his membership at the bar. He was a man of unusually high character, an excellent lawyer and a kindly and courteous gentleman. His passing leaves a void in the ranks of the bar membership which will be hard to fill. He was, in a social and legal point of view one whom any and all persons with whom he came in contact could well afford to emulate."