William A. Stevens
Encyclopedia
William Asher Stevens was an American
jurist and Republican Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate
and New Jersey Attorney General
. As Attorney General he conducted the early phase of the state's investigation into the Lindbergh kidnapping
.
in 1879. In his youth he moved with his parents to Long Branch, New Jersey
, where he graduated from Chattle High School in 1897. He studied at the State Normal School (now The College of New Jersey
) in Trenton
and then entered the law office of Public Utility Commission President John W. Slocum. He attended New York Law School
, receiving a Bachelor of Laws
degree in 1901, and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar the following year.
form of government, Stevens was named City Solicitor. He served until 1921, when he was appointed Monmouth County
Solicitor.
His political career began in 1919 when he was elected to fill an unexpired term in the New Jersey Senate
. He was re-elected to a full term in 1920 and again in 1923 and 1926. He was selected by his fellow Senate Republicans as floor leader in 1923. In 1928 he became President of the Senate, serving as Acting Governor while Governor A. Harry Moore
was out of the state.
In 1999 Governor Morgan F. Larson appointed him to a five-year term as New Jersey Attorney General
. When the Lindbergh kidnapping
occurred in March 1932, Stevens took personal charge of the case, since Hunterdon County
, where the crime took place, had no prosecutor at the time. This paved the way for Stevens' successor, David T. Wilentz
, to lead the prosecution of Bruno Hauptmann
in the 1935 trial.
While Attorney General Stevens also led the fight against pollution of New Jersey beaches by garbage dumped at sea. He succeeded in forcing New York authorities to dispose of garbage by incineration.
After his tenure as Attorney General he returned to Monmouth County to serve as solicitor for Deal
, West Long Branch
, Little Silver
, and Rumson
. He was also a partner in the law firm of Applegate, Stevens, Foster, & Reussille in Red Bank
.
Stevens died in 1941 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital
in Philadelphia after undergoing a brain operation. He was 61.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist and Republican Party politician who served as President of 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...
and New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
. As Attorney General he conducted the early phase of the state's investigation into the Lindbergh kidnapping
Lindbergh kidnapping
The kidnapping of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was the abduction of the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The toddler, 18 months old at the time, was abducted from his family home in East Amwell, New Jersey, near the town of Hopewell, New Jersey, on the evening of...
.
Early life
Stevens was born in Stapleton Heights, Staten IslandStapleton Heights, Staten Island
Stapleton Heights is a neighborhood in northeastern Staten Island, New York, part of New York City in the United States...
in 1879. In his youth he moved with his parents to Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
, where he graduated from Chattle High School in 1897. He studied at the State Normal School (now The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
) in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and then entered the law office of Public Utility Commission President John W. Slocum. He attended New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
, receiving a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1901, and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar the following year.
Career
In 1912, when Long Branch adopted the commissionWalsh Act (New Jersey)
The Walsh Act is legislation in the U.S. state of New Jersey that permits municipalities to adopt a non-partisan commission form of government. The legislation was signed by Governor of New Jersey Woodrow Wilson on April 25, 1911. The commissions in Walsh Act municipalities are composed of either...
form of government, Stevens was named City Solicitor. He served until 1921, when he was appointed Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
Solicitor.
His political career began in 1919 when he was elected to fill an unexpired term in 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...
. He was re-elected to a full term in 1920 and again in 1923 and 1926. He was selected by his fellow Senate Republicans as floor leader in 1923. In 1928 he became President of the Senate, serving as Acting Governor while Governor A. Harry Moore
A. Harry Moore
Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...
was out of the state.
In 1999 Governor Morgan F. Larson appointed him to a five-year term as New Jersey Attorney General
New Jersey Attorney General
The Attorney General of New Jersey is a member of the executive cabinet of the state. The office is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey and term limited...
. When the Lindbergh kidnapping
Lindbergh kidnapping
The kidnapping of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was the abduction of the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The toddler, 18 months old at the time, was abducted from his family home in East Amwell, New Jersey, near the town of Hopewell, New Jersey, on the evening of...
occurred in March 1932, Stevens took personal charge of the case, since Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, where the crime took place, had no prosecutor at the time. This paved the way for Stevens' successor, David T. Wilentz
David T. Wilentz
David Theodore Wilentz was the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1934 to 1944. In 1935 he successfully prosecuted Bruno Hauptmann in the Lindbergh kidnapping trial...
, to lead the prosecution of Bruno Hauptmann
Bruno Hauptmann
Bruno Richard Hauptmann was a German ex-convict sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of the 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Lindbergh kidnapping became known as "The Crime of the Century".-Background:Hauptmann was born in Kamenz in the German Empire,...
in the 1935 trial.
While Attorney General Stevens also led the fight against pollution of New Jersey beaches by garbage dumped at sea. He succeeded in forcing New York authorities to dispose of garbage by incineration.
After his tenure as Attorney General he returned to Monmouth County to serve as solicitor for Deal
Deal, New Jersey
Deal is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 750.Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township....
, West Long Branch
West Long Branch, New Jersey
West Long Branch is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,097. It is the home of Monmouth University....
, Little Silver
Little Silver, New Jersey
Little Silver is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,950.Little Silver was established with a Kings Land Grant in 1663 and settled in 1667...
, and Rumson
Rumson, New Jersey
Rumson is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,122.Rumson was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1907, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a...
. He was also a partner in the law firm of Applegate, Stevens, Foster, & Reussille in Red Bank
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
.
Stevens died in 1941 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
in Philadelphia after undergoing a brain operation. He was 61.