David Mancovitz

David Mancovitz (August 15, 1877 – June 25, 1936) was an American attorney and politician from Boston, Massachusetts.

Early life

Mancovitz was born on August 15, 1877 in Province of Posen, Prussia (now Poland).[1] He came to the United States at the age of seven. He was educated in Boston public schools and graduated from The English High School and Boston University School of Law.[1][2]

Political career

Mancovitz was a politician from Boston's Ward Eight and a protégé of Martin Lomasney. From 1903 to 1905, he was a member of the Boston Common Council. He then served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1907 to 1910 and in 1916.[1][3] He was a candidate for reelection in 1916, but withdrew in favor of Lomasney.[4]

During his political career, Mancovitz gained a reputation as one of the most clever speakers from Lomasney's Hendricks Club.[2]

Conspiracy charges

On December 1, 1913, Mancovitz was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, receiving money with a view to defeat the bankruptcy law, and perjury. According to the indictments, Mancovitz conspired with Jacob Watchmaker, a legal client and cousin, to conceal $33,116 in cash and a mortgage worth $8,000 from the trustee of Watchmaker's bankruptcy estate. Mancovitz's wife and father-in-law were also indicted in the case.[5][6] He pleaded not guilty and was released on $2,500 bail.[6]

United States Attorney Asa P. French wanted to consolidate three of the charges, but his motion was denied by Judge James Madison Morton, Jr. On March 19, 1914, Mancovitz went on trial for receiving money with a view to defeat an act related to bankruptcy.[7] Prior to the trial, Watchmaker pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges and became a witness in the government's case against Mancovitz.[8] Mancovitz contended that the only money of Watchmaker's that he had was $17,116 that he had found in Watchmaker's attic and that he was going to use this money to pay off Watchmaker's creditors.[9][10][11] A number of character witnesses testified on Mancovitz's behalf, including former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives John N. Cole, Surveyor for the Port of Boston Joseph A. Maynard, state senator John H. Mack, and former state legislators Simon Swigg and Charles I. Quirk.[10][11] The trial ended on April 2, 1914. After having deliberated all night, the jury was unable to come to a decision and the judge declared a mistrial.[12]

On October 14, 1914, two days before French was to leave office, he endorsed a Nolle prosequi upon the four indictments against Mancovitz.[12]

Legal career and death

After his political career, Mancovitz served as an assistant district attorney under Suffolk County District Attorney Joseph C. Pelletier. He then ran his own law practice.[2] In 1933, Mancovitz fought off an armed robber who entered his car while it was stopped at a traffic light.[13] On June 25, 1936, Mancovitz was found dead in his office at the Carney Building on Tremont Street in Boston. His death was due to natural causes.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Legislative Souvenir. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dies in His Office". The Boston Daily Globe. June 26, 1936.
  3. ↑ The Journal of the Senate. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lomasney Seeks Election to House". The Boston Daily Globe. October 24, 1916.
  5. ↑ "Lays Charges on Mancovitz". The Boston Daily Globe. November 21, 1913.
  6. 1 2 "Mancovitz Held on Indictment". The Boston Daily Globe. December 2, 1913.
  7. ↑ "Trial Opens on One Indictment". The Boston Daily Globe. March 20, 1914.
  8. ↑ "Watchmaker on the Stand". The Boston Daily Globe. April 1, 1914.
  9. ↑ "Testimony of Finding $17,000". The Boston Daily Globe. March 21, 1914.
  10. 1 2 "Murphy Sharply Questioned at the Trial of Mancovitz". The Boston Daily Globe. March 26, 1914.
  11. 1 2 "Duty to Client His Reason for Silence". The Boston Daily Globe. March 27, 1914.
  12. 1 2 "Another Trial Not Justified". The Boston Daily Globe. October 15, 1914.
  13. ↑ "Lawyer Battles Thief in His Car". The Boston Daily Globe. December 10, 1933.
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