Hugh Cregg

Hugh Anthony Cregg (November 5, 1888 – May 8, 1960) was an American lawyer and politician who served as District Attorney of Essex County, Massachusetts from 1931 to 1959.

Hugh Cregg
District Attorney for Essex County, Massachusetts
In office
1931–1959
Preceded byWilliam G. Clark
Succeeded byJohn P. S. Burke
Member of the Massachusetts Senate for the 5th Essex District
In office
1921–1929
Preceded byFrederick Butler
Succeeded byJames E. Warren
Personal details
Born
Hugh Anthony Cregg

(1888-11-05)November 5, 1888
Lawrence, Massachusetts
DiedMay 8, 1960(1960-05-08) (aged 71)
Methuen, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
RelationsHuey Lewis (grandson)
Alma materUniversity of Vermont
Boston University School of Law
OccupationLawyer

Early life

Cregg was born on November 5, 1888 in Lawrence, Massachusetts to Edward and Rose (MacAlister) Cregg.[1][2] He attended Lawrence public schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, the University of Vermont, and Boston University Law School.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1912 and began practicing in Methuen, Massachusetts.[2]

Political career

Early service

Cregg served on the Methuen Board of Selectmen from 1923 to 1926 and represented the 5th Essex District in the Massachusetts Senate from 1925 to 1929.[1] In 1928 he chaired a special legislative investigative committee that looked into allegations made by William M. Forgrave that legislators held a "wild party" at the state house and that members of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety improperly diverted confiscated liquor. The committee found that there was no evidence to support the charges.[3][4]

District Attorney

In 1930, Cregg defeated John A. Costello 77,929 votes to 57,284 to become District Attorney of Essex County.[5] In 1931 Cregg prosecuted Russell B. Noble, a 17-year-old from Haverhill, Massachusetts who ended up pleading guilty to the murder of Clara E. C. Ellis.[6] In 1932 he prosecuted Gus Sonnenberg, a football player and professional wrestler who was charged with drunk driving after car he was driving hit the car of policeman Richard Morrissey, who was killed. Sonnenberg was acquitted in March 1933.[7]

In 1933, Cregg handled the high-profile prosecution of Jessie Burnett Costello, who was on trial for the murder of her husband, William J. Costello.[8] Costello was found not guilty, however Cregg's performance during the trial was praised. Joseph F. Dinneen of The Boston Daily Globe described Cregg as "the unexpected and surprising star of the trial" and having presented an argument "that might well be the envy of illustrious contemporaries".[9][10]

On January 2, 1934, C. Fred Sumner, a bill poster, was fatally shot during a robbery of the Paramount Theater in Lynn, Massachusetts. Cab drivers Clement Molway and Louis Berrett were put on trial. Joseph F. Dinneen of The Boston Daily Globe and Lawrence R. Goldberg of The Boston Post were able to link a bullet from the Needham Trust Co. robbery to the murder of Ernest W. Clark. One of the bullets in Clark was then linked to the theater robbery.[11] After Abraham Faber confessed to his role in the robbery and eyewitnesses changed their testimony Cregg dropped the charges against Molway and Berrett.[12]

Cregg faced a tough reelection in 1934. He faced State Senator J. Frank Hughes and Charles A. Clifford in the Republican primary. During the campaign, Hughes attacked Cregg for his handling of the Costello murder trial, the arrest and release of Molway and Berrett, and several other cases.[13][14] Cregg won the primary with 50% of the vote.[15] In the general election he defeated Democrat John J. Foley by 335 votes.[16]

In March 1935, 'The Boston Daily Globe reported that Cregg was considering firing his top three aides, Charles A. Green, John E. Wilson, and John J. Ryan.[17] This move upset local Republicans as well as the County Bar Association.[18] It was believed that this was so that Randall T. Cox (nephew of Channing Cox) could be appointed first assistant and eventually run to succeed Cregg.[19] Green resigned instead and Wilson and Ryan were promoted and Cox was added as third assistant.[20] Green challenged Cregg for the Republican nomination in 1938, but Cregg was victorious 56% to 44%.[21] Cregg then defeated Democrat Alphonsus McCarthy in the general election 63% to 37%.[22]

In 1941, Cregg prosecuted John W. Henry, a special policeman from Salisbury, Massachusetts for the murder of Olive Farrell. Henry allegedly beat Farrell unconscious and left her on Salisbury Beach to drown.[23] Henry was instead found guilty of manslaughter.[24]

Cregg coordinated the investigation into the 1941 murder of Frances Cochran, a 19-year-old Lynn woman whose raped and beaten body was found near a "lovers lane" in Salem, Massachusetts. The investigation involved police from Lynn, Salem, and Swampscott, Massachusetts.[25] The case remains unsolved.[26]

In 1943, Cregg secured the conviction of Roger W. Mason for the murder of his step-daughter, Ruth I. Stone.[27] Later that year he tried Edward Dow for the murder of Lydia Cook also known as the "Egg Lady".[28][29] Dow, who was 13 years old, was the youngest person to be tried for murder in Massachusetts.[28] Dow was instead found guilty of manslaughter.[30]

In 1951, Cregg's office indicted Dr. Harry Carver Clarke of Marblehead, Massachusetts for allegedly selling 72 babies to wealthy families.[31] Clarke died before his case went to trial and Cregg discontinued prosecution of his co-conspirator, Marcus Siegel, after he was convicted in New York.[32] That same year Cregg tried Frank and Charles W. McNeil for the murder of Leo F. Monfet. During the trial, Charles McNeil confessed to the crime to clear his brother.[33] As a result Charles was found guilty and sentenced to death while Frank was acquitted.[34]

On May 15, 1956, Massachusetts Attorney General George Fingold reopened the case of Lorraine Clark, who had pleaded guilty to the murder of her husband, Melvin W. Clark Jr. two years earlier. Lorraine Clark was now claiming that her lover Anthony Jackson was the actual murderer. This resulted in a legal battle between Cregg, who believed Clark's original confession, and Fingold.[35] On May 25, a grand jury decided against indicting Jackson for the murder of Melvin W. Clark Jr. Following the jury's decision, Fingold stated that he was shocked by the decision and that Jackson "owe[d] a debt of gratitude to Dist. Atty. Hugh Cregg for his temporary respite from prosecution".[36]

In 1958, Cregg was defeated for reelection by Democrat John P. S. Burke.[2]

Later life and death

Following his defeat, Cregg continued to practice law in Methuen with his son Donald, who had served as first assistant District Attorney when Cregg was DA.[2]

Cregg died on May 8, 1960 at his home in Methuen after suffering a heart attack. He was survived by his wife, Winifred Gerrin Cregg, his daughters Maureen Cregg and Natalie Ballard, and his sons Donald and Dr. Hugh A. Cregg Jr., a radiologist and the father of Hugh A. Cregg III, better known as Huey Lewis.[2][37]

References
  1. Howard, Richard T. (1927), Public Officials of Massachusetts, 1927-1928, Boston, MA: The Boston Review, p. 36
  2. "Hugh Cregg, 72, Dies, Essex D.A. For 28 Years". The Boston Daily Globe. May 9, 1960.
  3. "Rum Investigation Hearings Uncertain". The Boston Daily Globe. June 14, 1928.
  4. "Finds State House Rum Charges Baseless". The Boston Daily Globe. July 10, 1928.
  5. "Foley, Bishop And Cregg Take Contests For District Attorney". The Boston Daily Globe. November 6, 1930.
  6. "Noble Pleaded Guilty In Second Degree". The Boston Daily Globe. May 26, 1931.
  7. "Gus Sonnenberg Cleared By Jury". The Boston Daily Globe. March 3, 1933.
  8. "Mrs. Costello Asks Jury To Free Her". The New York Times. August 15, 1933.
  9. "Jessie Freed, Returns To Family: Throng Rushes Cottage To See Her". The Boston Daily Globe. August 16, 1933.
  10. Dinneen, Joseph F. (August 15, 1933). "New Cregg Puts Spell On Court". The Boston Daily Globe.
  11. Kenny, Herbert A. (September 6, 1957). "Two Innocent Cabbies Indicted: But Reporters Find Link to Millens-Faber in Burned Auto". The Boston Daily Globe.
  12. Lyons, Louis M. (February 28, 1934). "Two Men Freed With Apologies". The Boston Daily Globe.
  13. "Candidates Lash Rivals At Rally". The Boston Daily Globe. August 26, 1934.
  14. "Hughes Again Hits Cregg For His Conduct Of Cases". The Boston Daily Globe. August 28, 1934.
  15. Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1934.
  16. Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1934.
  17. "Firing Of Three Aids By Cregg Seen Near". The Boston Daily Globe. March 26, 1935.
  18. "Cregg Declines Republicans' Plea". The Boston Daily Globe. March 30, 1935.
  19. "Cregg Denies Wilson Slated To Lose Job". The Boston Daily Globe. December 30, 1935.
  20. "Cox To Take Office With Cregg Monday". The Boston Daily Globe. March 29, 1935.
  21. Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1938.
  22. Election Statistics; The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1938.
  23. "Left Companion Alive, Henry Asserts on Stand". The Boston Daily Globe. February 8, 1941.
  24. "Henry and Wife in Tears Over Manslaughter Verdict". The Boston Daily Globe. February 12, 1941.
  25. Cutler, Samuel B. (July 24, 1941). "Mystery Friendship Clew Hunted in Cochran Slaying". The Boston Daily Globe.
  26. Pinkham, Joan Noble (2015). Who Killed Frances Cochran?. Kensington Publications.
  27. "Mason Receives Life in Murder of Stepdaughter". The Boston Daily Globe. February 26, 1943.
  28. "Newburyport Boy, 13, Goes on Trial Today for Hammer Murder". The Boston Daily Globe. June 16, 1943.
  29. "'Egg Lady' Death Case Will Go to Jury Today". The Boston Daily Globe. June 24, 1943.
  30. "Dow Boy to Be Sentenced Today for Manslaughter". The Boston Daily Globe. June 29, 1943.
  31. "Baby Sales Charged to Physician". The Boston Daily Globe. September 18, 1951.
  32. "Adoption Case Dropped". The New York Times. December 18, 1952.
  33. "McNeil Confesses Slaying to Clear Brother He Accused". The New Boston Daily Globe. November 11, 1951.
  34. "Doomed McNeil May Not Be Tried for 2d Shooting". The Boston Daily Globe. November 19, 1951.
  35. "Recapitulation of Clark Case". The Boston Daily Globe. May 24, 1956.
  36. Dinneen Jr., Joseph F. (May 25, 1956). "Angry Fingold Raps Clark Grand Jury". The Boston Daily Globe.
  37. MacAlaster, Gretyl (October 25, 2012). "'80s pop hitmaker talks about touring, new project, N.E. roots". The Union Leader.
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