J. Weston Allen

J. Weston Allen
Massachusetts Attorney General
In office
1920–1923
Preceded by Henry A. Wyman
Succeeded by Jay R. Benton
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives[1]
4th Middlesex District[2]
In office
1915[1]  1918[1]
Personal details
Born (1872-04-19)April 19, 1872[3]
Newton Highlands, Massachusetts[3]
Died January 1, 1942(1942-01-01) (aged 69)[4]
Waverly, New York[4]
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Caroline Cheney Hills (1901–1942)[4]
Residence Newton, Massachusetts[3]
Alma mater Yale University
Harvard Law School[3]
Profession Attorney

John Weston Allen[4] (born April 19, 1872 in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts,[4] died January 1, 1942 in Waverly, New York[5]) was an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1915–1918[3] and as Massachusetts Attorney General from 1920–1923.

As Attorney General, Allen was aggressive in his pursuit of white collar criminals.[6] During his tenure, Allen prosecuted Thomas W. Lawson, L. C. Van Riper,[6] and Charles Ponzi.[4]

Instead of seeking reelection, Allen ran for Governor of Massachusetts in 1922. He won the Republican nomination, but lost the general election to incumbent Channing H. Cox. Allen served as a member of the United States Attorney General's National Crime Commission from 1926–1936 and was the commission's chairman from 1930–1936.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Howard, Richard T. (1921), Public Officials of Massachusetts 1921–1922, Boston, MA: The Boston Review, p. Page 28.
  2. Who's Who in State Politics, 1918, Boston, MA: Practical Politics, 1918, p. 102.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1921–22. The Boston Review.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "John Weston Allen (1872–1942)". Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  5. "J. Weston Allen, 69, Ex-Attorney General In Bay State, Dies". The Hartford Courant. Jan 2, 1942.
  6. 1 2 "LAWSON AND OTHER BOSTON BROKERS FINED; Pleading Guilty to Breach of Statute on Mining Stocks, He and Van Riper Pay $1,000.". New York Times. April 22, 1920. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
Political offices
Preceded by
Henry A. Wyman
Massachusetts Attorney General
1920–1923
Succeeded by
Jay R. Benton


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