James Joseph Hines
Encyclopedia
James Joseph Hines was one of the most powerful leaders of Tammany Hall
in New York City
.
. Jimmy Walker
's election as Mayor of New York City would also firmly establish Hines' influence over the local political scene As boss of Tammany Hall's Eleventh Assembly District in uptown Manhattan, Hines had access to various sources of wealth and developed close ties with many mobsters such Lucky Luciano
.
In 1932, New York Governor, and strong presidential candidate, Franklin Roosevelt Walker, who was tainted by allegations of corruption and was a threat to Roosevelt's campaign, into resigning. Liberal Republican Fiorello LaGuardia, a fierce opponent of Tammany Hall, was elected mayor in 1933 and Tammany Hall's longtime influence over local politicians faded. Hines, however, would not fall. After becoming President, Roosevelt appointed Hines to oversee the US Civil Service's patronage system for employees in the Manhattan District. Hines' empire grew soon afterwards.
He was accused of being involved in the policy racket with Dutch Schultz
and Dixie Davis
in 1938 and of violating the "lottery laws". Manhattan District Attorney Thomas Dewey would successfully get Hines convicted 13 counts of racketeering. Hines provided protection
for the policy racket in Harlem and other sections of New York. Hines was charged with influencing Magistrates Capshaw and Erwin to throw out policy cases in which the other conspirators had an interest, and to influence former District Attorney Dodge to 'go easy' on policy prosecutions. Hines was alleged to have received a cut in the proceeds of the policy racket.
After the first trial ended in mistrial he was charged again and Charles Cooper Nott, Jr.
presided over the second trial.
He died on March 26, 1957 at the Long Beach Memorial Hospital.
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
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
In his early years, Hines acted as a caretaker to residents in New York's Eleventh Assembly District. This helped him win support and influence over the area's residents. In the 1920's and 1930's, Hines maintained "absolute power" over his district and was arguably the most powerful political boss in Tammany HallTammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. Jimmy Walker
Jimmy Walker
James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932...
's election as Mayor of New York City would also firmly establish Hines' influence over the local political scene As boss of Tammany Hall's Eleventh Assembly District in uptown Manhattan, Hines had access to various sources of wealth and developed close ties with many mobsters such Lucky Luciano
Lucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
.
In 1932, New York Governor, and strong presidential candidate, Franklin Roosevelt Walker, who was tainted by allegations of corruption and was a threat to Roosevelt's campaign, into resigning. Liberal Republican Fiorello LaGuardia, a fierce opponent of Tammany Hall, was elected mayor in 1933 and Tammany Hall's longtime influence over local politicians faded. Hines, however, would not fall. After becoming President, Roosevelt appointed Hines to oversee the US Civil Service's patronage system for employees in the Manhattan District. Hines' empire grew soon afterwards.
He was accused of being involved in the policy racket with Dutch Schultz
Dutch Schultz
Dutch Schultz was a New York City-area Jewish American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the numbers racket...
and Dixie Davis
Dixie Davis
J. Richard Davis , also known as Dixie Davis, was the lawyer for Dutch Schultz.-Biography:He was born in 1905. He attended Syracuse University Law School and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1927...
in 1938 and of violating the "lottery laws". Manhattan District Attorney Thomas Dewey would successfully get Hines convicted 13 counts of racketeering. Hines provided protection
Protection
Protection may refer to:-Music:*Protection , by Massive Attack*"Protection" *"Protection" *"Protection," a song by Krokus from To You All...
for the policy racket in Harlem and other sections of New York. Hines was charged with influencing Magistrates Capshaw and Erwin to throw out policy cases in which the other conspirators had an interest, and to influence former District Attorney Dodge to 'go easy' on policy prosecutions. Hines was alleged to have received a cut in the proceeds of the policy racket.
After the first trial ended in mistrial he was charged again and Charles Cooper Nott, Jr.
Charles Cooper Nott, Jr.
Charles Cooper Nott, Jr. was an attorney and jurist. He served as judge of the New York General Sessions Court from 1913 to 1939. In 1919 anarchists were planting a bomb on his doorstep when it prematurely exploded killing both of the bombers...
presided over the second trial.
He died on March 26, 1957 at the Long Beach Memorial Hospital.
Timeline
- 1876 Birth on December 18
- 1904 Married Geneva E. Cox, had three children
- 1912 Election for New York CityNew York CityNew 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...
Eleventh Assembly District - 1913 Chief Clerk to the Board of Aldermen
- 1918 Lieutenant in the Motor Transport Corps during World War I
- 1920 Won primary in New York CityNew York CityNew 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...
Eleventh Assembly District - 1921 Lost election to become Manhattan Borough President
- 1926 Jimmy Walker is elected mayor of New York and Hines establishes a foothold in Tammany Hall.
- 1933 After endorsing Roosevelt for President, Roosevelt appoints him to oversee the US Civil Service's patronage system in the Manhattan District
- 1938 Indicted for protection of the Dutch SchultzDutch SchultzDutch Schultz was a New York City-area Jewish American gangster of the 1920s and 1930s who made his fortune in organized crime-related activities such as bootlegging alcohol and the numbers racket...
mob and for complicity in a lottery or numbers gameNumbers gameNumbers game, also known as a numbers racket, policy racket or Italian lottery, is an illegal lottery played mostly in poor neighborhoods in the United States, wherein a bettor attempts to pick three digits to match those that will be randomly drawn the following day...
in August - 1938 Mistrial declared by New York General Sessions Court Justice Pecora on September 12
- 1939 Hines found guilty of all charges in a New York General Sessions Court retrial in February
- 1939 Sentenced to 4–8 years in prison on March 23
- 1944 Hines paroled on September 12
- 1957 Death on March 26