Peter Townsend Barlow
Encyclopedia
Peter Townsend Barlow was an American jurist who served as a New York City Magistrate for nearly two decades.
to Samuel Latham Mitchell Barlow and the former Alice Cornell Townsend. His father was a prominent New York Wall Street
attorney who frequently represented the interest of the American railroad industry. Barlow’s grandfather was Samuel Bancroft Barlow, a noted American physician.
Barlow attended Harvard College
and graduated with the Class of 1879; receiving his law degree two years later from Columbia Law School
. After his admittance to the New York Bar, Barlow became managing clerk for his father's law firm, Shipman, Barlow, Larocque & Choate. Barlow left the firm not long after the death of his father in 1889.
In 1895 Barlow was elected to the Board of Directors
of the Sterling Mountain Railway Co. and in 1902 was chosen by New York Mayor Seth Low
to fill out the term of City Magistrate Willard H. Olmstead after the latter’s appointed to the Court of Special Sessions. Though he still had some years left on his appointment, the following year, Mayor Low named Barlow to a full ten year term as magistrate. Barlow went on to be reappointed to a second ten year term by Mayor William Jay Gaynor
and serve as president of the Board of City Magistrates for three terms. For a number of years Barlow presided over the Women’s Night Court located in Lower Manhattan
, and as president of the Florence Crittenton League
, a reformatory primarily for prostitutes and unwed mothers. Peter T. Barlow often chose to sentence women convicted of prostitution or petty thefts to workhouses or reformatories in the belief that it would weaken their ties with the men who controlled them.
who over several decades made headlines with their frequent lawsuits against wealthy men or fending off charges of failing to pay their debts. In 1902 Katherine Poillon filled a $250,000 breach of promise lawsuit against wealthy sportsman William Gould Brokaw, a cousin of Irving Brokaw
and later settled out of court for $17,500. Peter Barlow fell into their web in 1908 when the sisters were arrested for failing to pay several New York City hotels bills amounting to over $500. During the trial Katherine made the claim that Judge Barlow borrowed $25,000 from her and had promised to pay her hotel bills as partial payment. Later Barlow took the stand and denied her allegations, but did admit that some years earlier he had been introduced to the sisters. In an outburst during court Katherine declared their relationship had been personal and ongoing for a number of years. The Poillon sisters were eventually found guilty by the court and sent to a jail on Blackwell Island for three months..
. The couple went on to be the parents of two sons, Edward Matthews, who died at the age of thirteen on April 21, 1901, and Samuel Latham Mitchell II
, a Harvard educated pianist and composer. Over the years of their marriage, Peter and Virginia's names frequently made the society pages in New York newspapers.
and took ill on their train ride home; dying some ten days later on May 9, 1921 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Virginia Barlow preceded her husband in death on April 24, 1905 after struggling with heart disease. Peter and his wife are both interned at the Green-Wood Cemetery
in Brooklyn, New York.
Early Life and Career
Peter T. Barlow was born at New York CityNew 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...
to Samuel Latham Mitchell Barlow and the former Alice Cornell Townsend. His father was a prominent New York Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
attorney who frequently represented the interest of the American railroad industry. Barlow’s grandfather was Samuel Bancroft Barlow, a noted American physician.
Barlow attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and graduated with the Class of 1879; receiving his law degree two years later from 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...
. After his admittance to the New York Bar, Barlow became managing clerk for his father's law firm, Shipman, Barlow, Larocque & Choate. Barlow left the firm not long after the death of his father in 1889.
In 1895 Barlow was elected to the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Sterling Mountain Railway Co. and in 1902 was chosen by New York Mayor 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...
to fill out the term of City Magistrate Willard H. Olmstead after the latter’s appointed to the Court of Special Sessions. Though he still had some years left on his appointment, the following year, Mayor Low named Barlow to a full ten year term as magistrate. Barlow went on to be reappointed to a second ten year term by Mayor William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor
William Jay Gaynor was an American politician from New York City, associated with the Tammany Hall political machine. He served as mayor of the City of New York from 1910 to 1913, as well as stints as a New York Supreme Court Justice from 1893 to 1909.-Early life:Gaynor was born in Oriskany, New...
and serve as president of the Board of City Magistrates for three terms. For a number of years Barlow presided over the Women’s Night Court located in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, and as president of the Florence Crittenton League
National Florence Crittenton Mission
The National Florence Crittenton Mission was an organization established in 1883 by Charles N. Crittenton. It attempted to reform prostitutes and unwed pregnant women through the creation of establishments where they were to live and learn skills....
, a reformatory primarily for prostitutes and unwed mothers. Peter T. Barlow often chose to sentence women convicted of prostitution or petty thefts to workhouses or reformatories in the belief that it would weaken their ties with the men who controlled them.
Poillon Sisters
Katherine and Charlotte Poillon were sisters from Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
who over several decades made headlines with their frequent lawsuits against wealthy men or fending off charges of failing to pay their debts. In 1902 Katherine Poillon filled a $250,000 breach of promise lawsuit against wealthy sportsman William Gould Brokaw, a cousin of Irving Brokaw
Irving Brokaw
Isaac Irving Brokaw was an American figure skater, artist, lawyer, and financier. He represented the United States at the 1908 Summer Olympics in the figure skating competition, becoming the first American to compete in a sport included in the Winter Olympic program...
and later settled out of court for $17,500. Peter Barlow fell into their web in 1908 when the sisters were arrested for failing to pay several New York City hotels bills amounting to over $500. During the trial Katherine made the claim that Judge Barlow borrowed $25,000 from her and had promised to pay her hotel bills as partial payment. Later Barlow took the stand and denied her allegations, but did admit that some years earlier he had been introduced to the sisters. In an outburst during court Katherine declared their relationship had been personal and ongoing for a number of years. The Poillon sisters were eventually found guilty by the court and sent to a jail on Blackwell Island for three months..
Family
On 6, May, 1886 Peter Barlow married Virginia Louise Matthews at ceremony performed in Paris, France. She was the daughter of Edward Mathews, and a sister of author Brander MatthewsBrander Matthews
James Brander Matthews , was a U.S. writer and educator. Matthews was the first U.S. professor of dramatic literature.-Biography:...
. The couple went on to be the parents of two sons, Edward Matthews, who died at the age of thirteen on April 21, 1901, and Samuel Latham Mitchell II
Samuel Barlow
Samuel L. M. Barlow was a Harvard-educated American composer, pianist and art critic.-Early life:Born in New York City, Samuel Latham Mitchell Barlow was the son of Peter Townsend Barlow, a noted N.Y. City Magistrate and the former Virginia Louise Matthews, a sister of author, Brander Matthews...
, a Harvard educated pianist and composer. Over the years of their marriage, Peter and Virginia's names frequently made the society pages in New York newspapers.
Death
Barlow’s health began to decline about midway through his second full term in office; spending most of 1918 on paid medical leave. After a brief recovery he went back on medical leave that December, never to return to the bench again. Peter Barlow spent the winter of 1920-21 under the care of a nurse at Coronado, CaliforniaCoronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
and took ill on their train ride home; dying some ten days later on May 9, 1921 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Virginia Barlow preceded her husband in death on April 24, 1905 after struggling with heart disease. Peter and his wife are both interned at the Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
in Brooklyn, New York.