Alexander Simpson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Simpson was an American
journalist, attorney, and Democratic
politician. He served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
and as Assistant Attorney General of New Jersey.
. He graduated from Jersey City High School and attended Columbia Law School
but could not afford to complete his studies there. He worked for a judge and took a second job as a reporter, working for the New York Recorder and then for the New York World
and New York Globe.
Simpson started his political career as an election officer in Jersey City's First Ward. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
for three terms and the New Jersey Senate
from 1920 to 1930. In 1932 he was the Democratic candidate for United States Senate
, unsuccessfully opposing Republican
nominee Dwight Morrow
.
In his position as Assistant Attorney General, Simpson achieved fame as the prosecuting attorney in the Hall-Mills Murder
trial. After investigating the 1922 murder of Edward Wheeler Hall, a New Brunswick
Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Reinhardt Mills, a member of Hall's choir, Simpson was assigned as a special prosecutor in 1926 in the state's case against the priest's wife and her brothers. The three defendants were never convicted and the case remained unsolved.
Simpson died in 1953 at Jersey City Medical Center
at the age of 81.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, attorney, and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician. He served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
and as Assistant Attorney General of New Jersey.
Biography
Simpson was born in 1872 in Jersey City, New JerseyJersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. He graduated from Jersey City High School and attended Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
but could not afford to complete his studies there. He worked for a judge and took a second job as a reporter, working for the New York Recorder and then for the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
and New York Globe.
Simpson started his political career as an election officer in Jersey City's First Ward. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
for three terms and the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
from 1920 to 1930. In 1932 he was the Democratic candidate for 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...
, unsuccessfully opposing Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee Dwight Morrow
Dwight Morrow
Dwight Whitney Morrow was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat.-Life:Born in Huntington, West Virginia, he moved with his parents, James E. and Clara Morrow to Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1875. His father James, was principal of Marshall College, which is now Marshall University...
.
In his position as Assistant Attorney General, Simpson achieved fame as the prosecuting attorney in the Hall-Mills Murder
Hall-Mills Murder
The Hall-Mills murder case involved an Episcopal priest and a member of his choir with whom he having an affair, who were killed on September 14, 1922, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The suspected murderers, the priest's wife and her brothers, were acquitted in a 1926 trial...
trial. After investigating the 1922 murder of Edward Wheeler Hall, a New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Reinhardt Mills, a member of Hall's choir, Simpson was assigned as a special prosecutor in 1926 in the state's case against the priest's wife and her brothers. The three defendants were never convicted and the case remained unsolved.
Simpson died in 1953 at Jersey City Medical Center
Jersey City Medical Center
The Jersey City Medical Center is a hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey. The hospital has had different facilities in the city.-History:The hospital began as the "Charity Hospital" but the Board of Aldermen of Jersey City bought land at Baldwin Avenue and Montgomery Street in 1882 for a new hospital...
at the age of 81.
External links
- Biographical information for Alexander Simpson from The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...