Arthur D. Hill

Arthur Dehon Hill (June 25, 1869 – November 29, 1947) was an American lawyer who served as District Attorney of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and was a defense counsel for Sacco and Vanzetti. Early life Hill was born on June 25, 1869, in Paris while his parents, Adams Sherman Hill and Caroline Inches (Dehon) Hill were on vacation. He grew up in Boston and attended Browne & Nichols School, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School. He began practicing law following his graduation in 1894. In 1895 he married Henrietta Post McLean, the daughter of General Nathaniel McLean. They had three children. Early legal career Hill was a partner of the firm Hill, Barlow, Bangs & Homans. In November 1904 he represented the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the "Tech riots". In 1908 he was appointed receiver for the American Insurance Company. Hill was also an active member of the bar association and specialized in disbarment proceedings against lawyers in Suffolk County. Political career During the 1906 gubernatorial campaign, Hill frequently spoke against the Democratic nominee John B. Moran's record as district attorney. He was the favorite for the Republican nomination for district attorney in 1907, but chose not to enter the race. Moran died in 1909 and Governor Eben Sumner Draper appointed Hill to fill the vacancy. He took office on February 24, 1909. During his tenure as DA, Hill secured the convictions of a former president of the Boston Common Council (Leo F. McCullough), a former Boston Alderman (George H. Battis) and the former head of the city's supply department (Michael J. Mitchell). He was defeated in the 1909 election by Democrat Joseph C. Pelletier. Pelletier kept Hill on as a special counsel on the "Steel Cases", which involved alleged collusive bidding between the city's structural steel corporations. The trial ended with an acquittal. After leaving office, Hill served as a professor at Harvard Law School.