J. Weston Allen

J. Weston Allen
Allen c. 1900
25th Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In office 1920–1923
Governor	Calvin Coolidge Channing H. Cox
Preceded by	Henry A. Wyman
Succeeded by	Jay R. Benton
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 4th Middlesex district
In office 1915–1918
Personal details
Born	(1872-04-19)April 19, 1872 Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
Died	January 1, 1942(1942-01-01) (aged 69) Waverly, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Caroline Cheney Hills (1901–42)
Residence	Newton, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Yale University Harvard Law School^[citation needed]
Profession	Attorney
[1][2][3]

John Weston Allen[4] (April 19, 1872[4] – January 1, 1942[5]) was an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1915 to 1918[3] and as Massachusetts Attorney General from 1920 to 1923.

As Attorney General, Allen was aggressive in his pursuit of white collar criminals.[6] During his tenure, Allen prosecuted Thomas W. Lawson, L. C. Van Riper,[6] and Charles Ponzi.[4]

Instead of seeking reelection, Allen ran for Governor of Massachusetts in 1922 but lost the Republican primary election to incumbent Channing H. Cox. Allen served as a member of the United States Attorney General's National Crime Commission from 1926 to 1936 and was the commission's chairman from 1930 to 1936.

See also

• 1915 Massachusetts legislature
• 1917 Massachusetts legislature
• 1918 Massachusetts legislature

References

1. Who's Who in State Politics, 1918, Boston, MA: Practical Politics, 1918, p. 102.
2. Howard, Richard T. (1921), Public Officials of Massachusetts 1921–1922, Boston, MA: The Boston Review, p. Page 28.
3. Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1921–22. The Boston Review.
4. "John Weston Allen (1872–1942)". Retrieved February 13, 2010.
5. "J. Weston Allen, 69, Ex-Attorney General In Bay State, Dies". The Hartford Courant. January 2, 1942.
6. "LAWSON AND OTHER BOSTON BROKERS FINED; Pleading Guilty to Breach of Statute on Mining Stocks, He and Van Riper Pay $1,000". New York Times. April 22, 1920. Retrieved February 13, 2010.

Party political offices
Preceded by Henry Converse Atwill	Republican nominee for Attorney General of Massachusetts 1919, 1920	Succeeded by Jay R. Benton
Political offices
Preceded by Henry A. Wyman	Massachusetts Attorney General 1920–1923	Succeeded by Jay R. Benton