Joab H. Banton
Encyclopedia
Joab Hamilton Banton was New York County District Attorney
from 1922 to 1929.
, and Imogene (Hamilton) Banton. He graduated A.B.
from Kentucky University
in 1890, and was admitted to the bar in Texas
in 1891. On June 17, 1896, he married Maud Harris in Belton, Texas
. Afterwards he removed to New York City
and continued there the practice of law.
In January 1918, he was appointed by D.A. Edward Swann
an Assistant D.A. and remained in office until August 1919 when he resigned to resume his private practice as a partner in Banton, Ferguson & Moore. In July 1920, he defended D.A. Swann in a one-million-dollar suit brought by Gaston Means
. Banton was appointed by Swann Chief Assistant D.A. in January 1921, and during most of the year acted as District Attorney while Swann remained out-of-state. In November 1921, Banton was elected on the Tammany Hall ticket New York County District Attorney
, defeating the "Coalition" candidate John Kirkland Clark. On taking office in January 1922, Banton appointed Ferdinand Pecora
as his Chief Assistant D.A.
As D.A. Banton indicted more than 100 bucket shop
s during the Roaring 20's. In 1924, he got a conviction of William H. Anderson
of the New York Anti-Saloon League
on fraud charges.
In 1925, he was re-elected with a large plurality over Ex-Governor Charles S. Whitman
who had been New York County D.A. from 1910 to 1914. Banton was instrumental in establishing peace between the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association and the Hip Sing Association
in the Tong War for control of Chinatown.
His office investigated the murder of Arnold Rothstein
and prosecuted George "Hump" McManus who was acquitted.
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
from 1922 to 1929.
Life
He was the son of Joab H. Banton, a judge in Waco, TexasWaco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, and Imogene (Hamilton) Banton. He graduated A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Kentucky University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
in 1890, and was admitted to the bar in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1891. On June 17, 1896, he married Maud Harris in Belton, Texas
Belton, Texas
Belton is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bell County.Belton is part of the Killeen – Temple – Fort Hood metropolitan area.-Geography:...
. Afterwards he removed to 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...
and continued there the practice of law.
In January 1918, he was appointed by D.A. Edward Swann
Edward Swann
Edward Swann was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
an Assistant D.A. and remained in office until August 1919 when he resigned to resume his private practice as a partner in Banton, Ferguson & Moore. In July 1920, he defended D.A. Swann in a one-million-dollar suit brought by Gaston Means
Gaston Means
Gaston Bullock Means was an American private detective, salesman, bootlegger, forger, swindler, murder suspect, blackmailer, and con artist....
. Banton was appointed by Swann Chief Assistant D.A. in January 1921, and during most of the year acted as District Attorney while Swann remained out-of-state. In November 1921, Banton was elected on the Tammany Hall ticket New York County District Attorney
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
, defeating the "Coalition" candidate John Kirkland Clark. On taking office in January 1922, Banton appointed Ferdinand Pecora
Ferdinand Pecora
Ferdinand Pecora was an American lawyer and judge who became famous in the 1930s as Chief Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Banking and Currency during its investigation of Wall Street banking and stock brokerage practices.-Early career:Ferdinand Pecora was born in Nicosia, Sicily,...
as his Chief Assistant D.A.
As D.A. Banton indicted more than 100 bucket shop
Bucket shop
Bucket shop refers to a particular type of fraudulent business:* Bucket shop * Bucket shop The term is used as a pejorative colloquialism to refer to different kinds of businesses, indicating that the speaker believes it is a fraud or scam...
s during the Roaring 20's. In 1924, he got a conviction of William H. Anderson
William H. Anderson
William Hamilton Anderson was the superintendent of the New York Anti-Saloon League. He worked toward the prohibition of alcohol and the closing of saloons. In 1924 a jury convicted him of skimming contributions to the league.-Biography:...
of the New York Anti-Saloon League
New York Anti-Saloon League
The New York Anti-Saloon League was an American organization that worked toward the prohibition of alcohol and the closing of saloons. Located at 156 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, it was an offshoot of the Ohio based Anti-Saloon League. Adna W. Leonard of Buffalo, New York was its president. The...
on fraud charges.
In 1925, he was re-elected with a large plurality over Ex-Governor Charles S. Whitman
Charles S. Whitman
Charles Seymour Whitman served as the 41st Governor of New York from January 1915 to December 1918. He was also a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1916.-Biography:...
who had been New York County D.A. from 1910 to 1914. Banton was instrumental in establishing peace between the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association and the Hip Sing Association
Hip Sing Association
The Hip Sing Association formerly known as the Hip Sing Tong was a Chinese-American criminal organization based in New York's Chinatown during the early 20th century. They, along with their rivals the Four Brothers and the On Leong Tong, would be involved in the violent Tong wars for control of...
in the Tong War for control of Chinatown.
His office investigated the murder of Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein , nicknamed "The Brain", was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous kingpin of the Jewish mafia. Rothstein was also widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed...
and prosecuted George "Hump" McManus who was acquitted.
Sources
- BANTON RESIGNS POST in NYT on August 28, 1919
- SWANN ANSWERS MEANS in NYT on July 3, 1920
- CLARK, IN OPEN TILT, BOMBARDS BANTON in NYT on October 31, 1921
- BANTON ASKS DEITY TO GUIDE HIS TERM in NYT on January 2, 1922
- JOAB H. BANTON, 79, ONCE PROSECUTOR in NYT on July 21, 1949 (subscription required)