Edward C. Peirce

Edward C. Peirce (March 7, 1895 – January 31, 1955) was an American politician who served as Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts and as a member of the Massachusetts Senate.

Edward C. Peirce
Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
In office
1952–1953
Preceded byArthur N. Harriman
Succeeded byArthur N. Harriman
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 3rd Bristol District
In office
1945–1953
Preceded byJoseph F. Francis
Succeeded byEdmund Dinis
Personal details
BornMarch 7, 1895
New Bedford, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 31, 1955 (aged 59)
New Bedford, Massachusetts
NationalityNew Bedford, Massachusetts
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationCotton broker
Florist

Early life

Peirce was born on March 7, 1895 in New Bedford, Massachusetts.[1] He started his business career at the age of 15 as an office boy.[1] In 1924 he formed Peirce & Winsper, a successful cotton brokerage firm.[2] The cotton market boomed and Peirce became a millionaire by the age of 30.[1] However, the market quickly turned and the firm's liabilities vastly outweighed its assets. On May 20, 1925 he was arrested on a charge of larceny for not delivering 150 bales of cotton for which he had been paid $21,000.[2] He was charged with 39 other counts of larceny, but was acquitted. By 1936, Peirce was on the relief rolls of the Works Progress Administration.[1] He later worked as a florist and lived in an apartment above his shop.[1]

Political career

After several unsuccessful runs for political office, Peirce was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1944.[1] In 1947, he ran in the special election to fill the 9th congressional district seat following the death of Charles L. Gifford. He was upset in the Democratic primary by State Representative Jacinto F. Diniz.[3]

In 1951, Peirce defeated nine year incumbent Arthur N. Harriman to become Mayor of New Bedford. During his tenure as Mayor, Peirce ordered a gambling raid that resulted in the arrest of 33 men and offered his office at city hall as a residence for stray dogs in order to save money on a contract with the Animal Rescue League and protest the organization's acquisition of an electrocution box to euthanize dogs.[4][5]

On November 25, 1952, Peirce, city council president Leonard T. Healy, two police detectives, and two others were indicted for conspiracy in connection with gambling.[6] On May 21, 1953, Pierce was found guilty of conspiring to impede enforcement of gambling laws.[7] On May 25, he was found guilty on a second indictment. The remaining four indictments were held in abeyance. Following his conviction, Perice maintained his innocence and vowed to run the city from his jail cell.[8] He was sentenced to four years in jail.[9] On July 3, Governor Christian Herter signed legislation to allow the New Bedford City Council to appoint one of its members to run the city as acting mayor while Peirce was in prison.[10] On July 7, Francis J. Lawler was elected temporary Mayor.[11] While in jail, Peirce ran for reelection with the assistance of his daughter. He finished fifth in the seven candidate race.[12]

On January 26, 1955, Peirce, who was terminally ill with cancer, was paroled.[13] He died on January 31 at a convalescent home in New Bedford.[1]

References
  1. "New Bedford Ex-Mayor Dies, Paroled 4 Days". The Boston Globe. February 1, 1955.
  2. "New Bedford Broker in Court on Larceny Charge". The Boston Daily Globe. May 21, 1925.
  3. "Diniz, Nicholson Winners in 9th District Primary". The Boston Daily Globe. October 29, 1947.
  4. "New Bedford Mayor, Threatened After Raid, Promises 'Showdown'". The Boston Daily Globe. January 8, 1952.
  5. "Barking in New Bedford City Hall; Mayor Opens Office to Homeless Dogs". The Boston Daily Globe. May 3, 1952.
  6. Glynn, Robert E. (November 26, 1952). "Indicted New Bedford Mayor, Council President Deny Charges". The Boston Daily Globe.
  7. Banner, Earl (May 22, 1953). "New Bedford Mayor Guilty, Claims'Frame'; 2d Trial On". The Boston Daily Globe.
  8. Banner, Earl (May 16, 1953). "Peirce Again Found Guilty, Would Run City From Jail". The Boston Daily Globe.
  9. "Peirce Can Run City From Jail, According to New Bedford Solicitor". The Boston Daily Globe. May 27, 1953.
  10. "Acting Mayor Authorized for New Bedford". The Boston Daily Globe. July 4, 1953.
  11. "Lawler Chosen Interim Mayor in New Bedford". The Boston Daily Globe. July 8, 1953.
  12. "Peirce Losing Jail Cell Fight for Mayor in New Bedford". The Boston Daily Globe. October 7, 1953.
  13. "Critically Ill Peirce Paroled, to Be Pardoned". The Boston Daily Globe. January 27, 1955.
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