George Graham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1913 – July 4, 1931 | |
| Preceded by | William Reyburn |
| Succeeded by | Edward Stokes |
| 7th District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 5, 1880 – January 2, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Hagert |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Rothermel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1850-09-13)September 13, 1850 |
| Died | July 4, 1931(1931-07-04) (aged 80) Islip, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania |
| Profession | Attorney, Politician |
George Scott Graham (September 13, 1850 – July 4, 1931) was aRepublican member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania.
Graham was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the law department of theUniversity of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1870, and practiced law in Philadelphia. He was member of the select council of Philadelphia from 1877 to 1880, and an unsuccessful candidate forDistrict Attorney of Philadelphia in 1877. He was elected district attorney of Philadelphia in 1880 and served until 1899. He later resumed the practice of law in Philadelphia andNew York City. He was a professor of criminal law and procedure in the University of Pennsylvania from 1887 to 1898. He was adelegate to theRepublican National Conventions in1892 and1924.
He was elected to Congress as a Republican in1912, and served until his death at his summer home inIslip, New York.
While serving as Philadelphia District Attorney, Graham tried several notable cases. In 1887, Graham prosecutedHannah Mary Tabbs and George H. Wilson for the murder and dismemberment of Wakefield Gains. In his opening statement, he declared, "We will show by scientific testimony that Wakefield Gains was dismembered while there was yet life in the body."[1][2] Wilson was convicted of first degree murder, but was granted a new trial. Judge Hare accepted a plea of second degree murder and sentenced Wilson to twelve years inEastern Penitentiary.[3][4] ForHannah Mary Tabbs part in the murder, the judge sentenced her to two years in prison.[5]
In 1895, District Attorney Graham prosecuted notorious criminalJimmy Logue's stepson, Alphonso Cutaiar, for the murder of Logue's wife, Johanna, whose body was found in their old home underneath the kitchen floor.Philadelphia Police DetectiveFrank Geyer originally thought Jimmy committed the murder but after Jimmy's story checked out and all evidence pointed to his stepson, who eventually confessed to her murder, Cutaiar was arrested and convicted of first degree murder.[6][7]
By far the most famous case he prosecuted as district attorney wasH. H. Holmes, one of America's first serial killers. Although Holmes confessed to killing twenty-seven men, women, and children, he was only tried for killing his business partner, Benjamin Pitezel. Graham worked closely with DetectiveFrank Geyer and requested he search for Pitezel's missing three children, whom Holmes took temporary custody of after Benjamin's death. Geyer went on a cross-country, international search for the children, which led him to discover their remains in two locations, Irvington and Canada. However, Graham made it clear, Holmes was to be tried only for Benjamin Pitezel and if found not guilty, he would consider extraditing Holmes toIndianapolis orToronto, Canada for the murders of the children. Holmes was found guilty and was hung May 7, 1896.[8][9][10]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1913–1931 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Henry Hagert | District Attorney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1880–1899 | Succeeded by |
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
