Edward Conger
Encyclopedia
Edward Augustus Conger was a prominent federal judge
in New York City
.
and read law before being admitted to the New York bar. He practiced law in Poughkeepsie
, New York until 1908, when he was appointed as Assistant District Attorney
of Dutchess County
. Conger was then elected as the Dutchess County District Attorney in 1913, and served until 1918 when he became city judge.
During his time as District Attorney, Conger is remembered for his pursuit of murderer Harry Thaw
, who in 1906 had shot and killed architect Stanford White
on the roof of Madison Square Garden
and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Thaw escaped in 1913 from the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane
and was later arrested in and extradited from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Conger returned to private law practice in 1922.
In 1938, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
appointed him to serve as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
in Manhattan. Among prominent matters before Judge Conger were cases arising from the United States Senate
's contempt citation of notorious underworld figure Frank Costello
and with other criminal trials of smugglers, gamblers and narcotics dealers. Conger also presided at the 1949 trial of 17 Communist Party
leaders indicted under the Smith Act
. He also handled the protracted bankruptcy proceedings of the New York, Ontario and Western Railway
, which dragged on for almost 10 years.
After 19 years as an active judge, Conger assumed senior status
on the court in 1954, which he retained until his death nine years later.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Biography
Conger attended the New York University School of LawNew York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
and read law before being admitted to the New York bar. He practiced law in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York until 1908, when he was appointed as Assistant District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
. Conger was then elected as the Dutchess County District Attorney in 1913, and served until 1918 when he became city judge.
During his time as District Attorney, Conger is remembered for his pursuit of murderer Harry Thaw
Harry K. Thaw
Harry Kendall Thaw was the son of coal and railroad baron William Thaw. He is best known for murdering the architect Stanford White at Madison Square Garden in 1906 in a jealous rage.- Early life:...
, who in 1906 had shot and killed architect Stanford White
Stanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
on the roof of Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
and was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Thaw escaped in 1913 from the Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane
Fishkill Correctional Facility
Fishkill Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in New York, USA. The prison is located in both the Town of Fishkill and the City of Beacon in Dutchess County.Fishkill was constructed in 1896...
and was later arrested in and extradited from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Conger returned to private law practice in 1922.
In 1938, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
appointed him to serve as a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
in Manhattan. Among prominent matters before Judge Conger were cases arising from the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
's contempt citation of notorious underworld figure Frank Costello
Frank Costello
Frank Costello was an Italian New York City gangster who rose to the top of America's underworld, controlled a vast gambling empire across the United States and enjoyed political influence.Nicknamed the "Prime Minister of the Underworld", he became one of the most powerful and influential Mafia...
and with other criminal trials of smugglers, gamblers and narcotics dealers. Conger also presided at the 1949 trial of 17 Communist Party
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
leaders indicted under the Smith Act
Smith Act
The Alien Registration Act or Smith Act of 1940 is a United States federal statute that set criminal penalties for advocating the overthrow of the U.S...
. He also handled the protracted bankruptcy proceedings of the New York, Ontario and Western Railway
New York, Ontario and Western Railway
The New York, Ontario and Western Railway, more commonly known as the O&W or NYO&W, was a regional railroad with origins in 1868, lasting until March 29, 1957 when it was ordered liquidated by a US bankruptcy judge. The O&W holds the distinction of being the first major U.S...
, which dragged on for almost 10 years.
After 19 years as an active judge, Conger assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on the court in 1954, which he retained until his death nine years later.