Hugh Anthony Cregg was an American lawyer and politician who served as District Attorney of Essex County, Massachusetts, from 1931 to 1959.
17 Facts About Hugh Cregg
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Hugh Cregg attended Lawrence public schools, Phillips Exeter Academy, the University of Vermont, and Boston University Law School.
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Hugh Cregg played fullback for the Phillips Exeter and University of Vermont football teams.
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Hugh Cregg was admitted to the bar in 1912 and began practicing in Methuen, Massachusetts.
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Hugh Cregg served on the Methuen Board of Selectmen from 1923 to 1926 and represented the 5th Essex District in the Massachusetts Senate from 1925 to 1929.
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In 1930, Cregg defeated John A Costello 77,929 votes to 57,284 to become District Attorney of Essex County.
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In 1931, Cregg prosecuted Russell B Noble, a 17-year-old from Haverhill, Massachusetts, who ended up pleading guilty to the murder of Clara E C Ellis.
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In 1933, Cregg handled the high-profile prosecution of Jessie Burnett Costello, who was on trial for the murder of her husband, William J Costello.
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Hugh Cregg faced State Senator J Frank Hughes and Charles A Clifford in the Republican primary.
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In March 1935, The Boston Daily Globe reported that Cregg was considering firing his top three aides, Charles A Green, John E Wilson, and John J Ryan.
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In 1941, Cregg prosecuted John W Henry, a special policeman from Salisbury, Massachusetts, for the murder of Olive Farrell.
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In 1943, Cregg secured the conviction of Roger W Mason for the murder of his step-daughter, Ruth I Stone.
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In 1951, Hugh Cregg's office indicted Dr Harry Carver Clarke of Marblehead, Massachusetts, for allegedly selling 72 babies to wealthy families.
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Clarke died before his case went to trial and Hugh Cregg discontinued prosecution of his co-conspirator, Marcus Siegel, after he was convicted in New York.
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That same year Cregg tried Frank and Charles W McNeil for the murder of Leo F Monfet.
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Hugh Cregg died on May 8,1960, at his home in Methuen after suffering a heart attack.
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Hugh Cregg was survived by his wife, Winifred Gerrin Cregg, his daughters Maureen Cregg and Natalie Ballard, and his sons Donald and Dr Hugh A Cregg Jr.