Robert T. Bushnell

Robert T. Bushnell
Robert T. Bushnell
30th Attorney General of Massachusetts
	In office; 1941–1945
Governor	Leverett Saltonstall
Preceded by	Paul A. Dever
Succeeded by	Clarence A. Barnes
Middlesex County District Attorney
	In office; 1927–1931
Preceded by	Arthur K. Reading
Succeeded by	Warren L. Bishop
Personal details
Born	Robert Tyng Bushnell; January 9, 1896; New York City, U.S.
Died	October 23, 1949 (aged 53); New York City, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Sylvia P. Folsom (1924-1949)
Residence(s)	West Newton, Massachusetts; New York City
Alma mater	Harvard University
Profession	Lawyer

Robert Tyng Bushnell (January 9, 1896 — October 23, 1949) was an American politician who served as Massachusetts Attorney General from 1941 to 1945.

Early life and career

Born in New York City, Robert Tyng Bushnell graduated from Phillips Andover Academy, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School.^[4]

From 1927 to 1931, Bushnell served as District Attorney of Middlesex County,^[5] President of the Republican Club of Massachusetts,^[6] and chairman of the Boston chapter of the Motion Picture Research Council^[7] before being elected Attorney General.

Attorney General of Massachusetts

As Attorney General, Bushnell lead the investigation into the Cocoanut Grove fire.^[8] Bushnell's investigation resulted a reform of fire codes and club owner Barney Welansky being convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

In 1941, Bushnell and state representative Benjamin Priest conducted the prosecution during the impeachment trial of Massachusetts Governor's Councilor Daniel H. Coakley. On October 2, 1941, the Massachusetts Senate found Coakley guilty on 10 of the 14 articles on impeachment. The Senate voted 28 to 10 to remove Coakley from office and 23 to 15 to bar him for life from holding a place of "profit or honor or trust" in the Commonwealth.^[9]

In 1942, Bushnell tried to have fascist leader Edward Holton James committed to a psychiatric state hospital after he was indicted on charges of criminal libel.^[10]

In 1943, he indicted Boston Police Commissioner Joseph F. Timilty and six of his subordinates on charges of conspiracy to permit the operation of gambling houses and the registration of bets.^[11]

Death

Bushnell died of a heart attack on October 23, 1949, in his suite at the Hotel Royalton in New York City.^[12]

References

^ "Bushnell, Robert Tyng (1896-1949)". Retrieved 2010-02-13.
^ Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard.
^ Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard.
^ Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard. 1941. p. 26.
^ "Bushnell, Robert Tyng (1896-1949)". Retrieved 2010-02-13.
^ "CURLEYISM' DOOMED, REPUBLICAN ASSERTS; Dog Racing in Massachusetts Will Also Go, R.T. Bushnell Declares at Wayland". New York Times. August 25, 1935.
^ "Block Booking System Flayed". Los Angeles Times. April 6, 1939.
^ FRANK S. ADAMS (December 2, 1942). "BOSTON SHUTS CLUBS AND BEGINS INQUIRY; Suspends Licenses and Halts Entertainment at 1,161 Other Establishments DOORS LOCKED, MANY SAY Witnesses Tell of Cocoanut Grove Flight -- Death List Is Revised Down to 474". New York Times.
^ Harris, John G. (June 14, 1941). "Coakley Outsted: Guilty on 10 Counts". The Boston Daily Globe.
^ "James, Leader of Harvard Fascists, Called Sane In New Trial Deferment". The Harvard Crimson. July 6, 1942. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
^ "Heads of Boston Police Indicted In Plot to Permit Gaming Houses; HEADS OF POLICE INDICTED IN BOSTON". New York Times. March 28, 1943.
^ "Robert Bushnell Dies Suddenly in N.Y. Hotel". The Boston Daily Globe. p. 25. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Party political offices
Preceded by Clarence A. Barnes	Republican nominee for Attorney General of Massachusetts 1940, 1942	Succeeded by Clarence A. Barnes
Political offices
Preceded by Paul A. Dever	Massachusetts Attorney General 1941–1945	Succeeded by Clarence A. Barnes

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[1] "Bushnell, Robert Tyng (1896-1949)". Retrieved 2010-02-13.

[2] Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard.

[3] Richard T. Howard. Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard.

[4] Public Officials of Massachusetts 1941-42. Richard T. Howard. 1941. p. 26.

[5] "Bushnell, Robert Tyng (1896-1949)". Retrieved 2010-02-13.

[6] "CURLEYISM' DOOMED, REPUBLICAN ASSERTS; Dog Racing in Massachusetts Will Also Go, R.T. Bushnell Declares at Wayland". New York Times. August 25, 1935.

[7] "Block Booking System Flayed". Los Angeles Times. April 6, 1939.

[8] FRANK S. ADAMS (December 2, 1942). "BOSTON SHUTS CLUBS AND BEGINS INQUIRY; Suspends Licenses and Halts Entertainment at 1,161 Other Establishments DOORS LOCKED, MANY SAY Witnesses Tell of Cocoanut Grove Flight -- Death List Is Revised Down to 474". New York Times.

[9] Harris, John G. (June 14, 1941). "Coakley Outsted: Guilty on 10 Counts". The Boston Daily Globe.

[10] "James, Leader of Harvard Fascists, Called Sane In New Trial Deferment". The Harvard Crimson. July 6, 1942. Retrieved 2010-02-13.

[11] "Heads of Boston Police Indicted In Plot to Permit Gaming Houses; HEADS OF POLICE INDICTED IN BOSTON". New York Times. March 28, 1943.

[12] "Robert Bushnell Dies Suddenly in N.Y. Hotel". The Boston Daily Globe. p. 25. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

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