William Travers Jerome
Encyclopedia
William Travers Jerome was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
under President Millard Fillmore
, NYC Alderman 1871) and Kate (Hall) Jerome. He attended Amherst College
but left in 1881 without graduation. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in New York City. From 1888 to 1890, he was a Deputy Assistant D.A. under John R. Fellows
. In May 1888, he married Lavinia Taylor Howe, of Elizabeth, New Jersey
, and their son was William Travers Jerome, Jr.
From 1894 to 1895, he worked for the Lexow Committee
. In 1894, he managed the successful campaign of William L. Strong
for Mayor of New York City
. In 1895, the Court of Special Sessions was re-organized, legislating out of office the six incumbent justices. On July 1, 1895, Jerome took office as one of the first five new justices of the re-organized court.
He was New York County District Attorney
from 1902 to 1909, elected in 1901 on the Fusion ticket headed by Seth Low
. As D.A. he led a campaign against political corruption
and crime, often leading raids personally, notably the one against the gambling house of Richard Canfield. On October 13, 1905, the Republican county convention nominated Judge Charles A. Flammer for D.A. with a vote of 237 to 9. Flammer declined to run, and on October 27 the county convention met again and nominated Jerome in place of Flammer unanimously. However, it was too late to change the names on the ballots, the limit being 20 days before the election. Thus Jerome was re-elected with a plurality of about 4,000 votes as an Independent, while Flammer received more than 12,000 votes on the Republican ticket. In 1907 and 1908, Jerome prosecuted Harry Kendall Thaw for the murder of Stanford White
.
In September 1910, Jerome defended successfully former State Engineer Frederick Skene
against charges of grand larceny
in office.
He died of pneumonia
.
Financier Leonard Jerome
was his uncle, Jennie Jerome was his first cousin, and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill
was his first cousin once removed.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Biography
He was the son of Lawrence Jerome (1820–1888, Collector of the Port of Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
under President Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
, NYC Alderman 1871) and Kate (Hall) Jerome. He attended Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
but left in 1881 without graduation. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1884, and commenced practice in New York City. From 1888 to 1890, he was a Deputy Assistant D.A. under John R. Fellows
John R. Fellows
John R. Fellows was an American lawyer and politician from Arkansas and New York.-Life:...
. In May 1888, he married Lavinia Taylor Howe, of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, and their son was William Travers Jerome, Jr.
From 1894 to 1895, he worked for the Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee
Lexow Committee . The name given to a major New York State Senate probe into police corruption in New York City. The Lexow Committee inquiry, which took its name from the Committee's chairman, State Senator Clarence Lexow, was the widest-ranging of several such commissions empaneled during the...
. In 1894, he managed the successful campaign of William L. Strong
William L. Strong
William Lafayette Strong was the Mayor of New York from 1895 to 1897. He was the last mayor of New York before the Consolidation of the City of New York on January 1, 1898.-Biography:...
for Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
. In 1895, the Court of Special Sessions was re-organized, legislating out of office the six incumbent justices. On July 1, 1895, Jerome took office as one of the first five new justices of the re-organized court.
He was 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....
from 1902 to 1909, elected in 1901 on the Fusion ticket headed by Seth Low
Seth Low
Seth Low , born in Brooklyn, New York, was an American educator and political figure who served as mayor of Brooklyn, as President of Columbia University, as diplomatic representative of the United States, and as Mayor of New York City...
. As D.A. he led a campaign against political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and crime, often leading raids personally, notably the one against the gambling house of Richard Canfield. On October 13, 1905, the Republican county convention nominated Judge Charles A. Flammer for D.A. with a vote of 237 to 9. Flammer declined to run, and on October 27 the county convention met again and nominated Jerome in place of Flammer unanimously. However, it was too late to change the names on the ballots, the limit being 20 days before the election. Thus Jerome was re-elected with a plurality of about 4,000 votes as an Independent, while Flammer received more than 12,000 votes on the Republican ticket. In 1907 and 1908, Jerome prosecuted Harry Kendall Thaw for the murder of 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...
.
In September 1910, Jerome defended successfully former State Engineer Frederick Skene
Frederick Skene
Frederick Skene was an American civil engineer and politician from New York...
against charges of grand larceny
Grand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
in office.
He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
Financier Leonard Jerome
Leonard Jerome
Leonard Walter Jerome was a Brooklyn, New York, financier and grandfather of Winston Churchill.- Early life :...
was his uncle, Jennie Jerome was his first cousin, and U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
was his first cousin once removed.
Sources
- LAWRENCE JEROME DEAD, his father's obit, in NYT on August 13, 1888
- COURT IN THE CORRIDOR in NYT on July 2, 1895
- GREATER NEW YORK DEMOCRACY'S CONVENTION in NYT on October 2, 1901
- VICTORY FOR THE FUSION TICKET in NYT on November 6, 1901
- FLAMMER IS NAMED in NYT on October 14, 1905
- REPUBLICAN CONVENTION UNANIMOUS FOR JEROME in NYT on October 28, 1905
- JEROME; Elected District Attorney by 3,525 in NYT on November 8, 1905
- SKENE'S ASSISTANT BEGINS TESTIMONY in NYT on September 3, 1910
- ACCUSER OF SKENE CALLED A PERJURER in NYT on September 6, 1910
- JEROME SAYS SKENE WAS TAMMANY'S DUPE in NYT on September 8, 1910
- JURY ACQUITS SKENE in NYT on September 9, 1910
- MRS. W. T. JEROME HURT IN AUT0 CRASH in NYT on September 26, 1921
- JEROME DIES AT 74 in NYT on February 14, 1934 (subscription required)
- MRS. W. T. JEROME, 79, DIES IN YONKERS HOME, his widow's obit, in NYT on June 1, 1934 (subscription required)