Background
Noah Davis was born at Haverhill, New Hampshire, but the greater part of his youth was spent at Albion, New York, to which place his parents moved in 1825. They were poor.
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Noah Davis was born at Haverhill, New Hampshire, but the greater part of his youth was spent at Albion, New York, to which place his parents moved in 1825. They were poor.
The greater part of his youth was spent at Albion, New York, United States, to which place his parents moved in 1825. They were poor, and his only education was obtained at the public schools. Later, by copying deeds in the evening for the deputy clerk, S. E. Church, he earned money which enabled him to attend Lima Seminary in the daytime. Subsequently he studied law at Lewiston, Niagara County, and was admitted to the bar in 1841.
Practising first at Gaines, and then at Buffalo, New York, Davis met with no success and returned in 1844 to Albion, where the deputy clerk—now a lawyer—took him into partnership.
Under the firm name of Church & Davis they rapidly acquired an extensive practise and became one of the best-known firms in western New York.
In March 1857 he was appointed a justice for the 8th division of the supreme court of New York, to fill a vacancy, and when his term expired, November 1857, was elected for the succeeding term.
In 1868 he was elected to Congress from Orleans and Monroe counties and resigned from the bench. He did not complete his term, however, as President Grant in July 1870 appointed him United States district attorney for southern New York. It was a critical period in the history of New York City, the contest between the Reform party and the adherents of William M. Tweed being at its bitterest, but his firm and vigorous administration of the duties of his office defeated the endeavors of the “Tweed Ring” to influence the municipal elections, and the Reform party triumphed over bribery and intimidation.
The judiciary also needed to be delivered from the Tweed influence, so in 1872 he was nominated by the Republican party, indorsed by the Reform “Committee of Seventy, ” and elected a justice of the supreme court for the 16t judicial district. The first trial of Tweed took place before Davis in January 1873 and was abortive, owing to disagreement of the jury. A retrial was held in November, its opening being signalized by a unique incident, all the defense counsel signing and presenting to Davis a written protest against his again officiating as trial judge, on the ground that he was prejudiced and had expressed unfavorable opinions respecting the defendant. The second trial resulted in a conviction on twelve counts, and, feeling that to treat the verdict as if rendered upon a single misdemeanor would result in an entirely inadequate punishment, Davis imposed a cumulative sentence upon Tweed of twelve years imprisonment and $3, 000 fine. He also treated as a contempt of court the protest of the defense counsel, fining three of them $250 each. Subsequently the court of appeals set aside the cumulative sentence on purely legal grounds.
In 1874 he was appointed presiding justice of the General Term, and retained this position until his retirement December 31, 1886, thus completing a service of more than twenty-five years upon the bench. Among other celebrated trials over which he presided were those of Edward S. Stokes for the murder of “Jim” Fisk, Jr. , and of Chancellor Wallworth’s son for the murder of his father. A great deal of the litigation in which the City of New York was involved through the operations of the Tweed Ring also came before him.
On leaving the bench he resumed practise in New York City, and for a time was active in local political circles, but retired from public life in 1901, and died in New York City, March 20, 1902.
As a judge he was an outstanding figure. His attitude in the Tweed case, though subjected to strong criticism from some quarters, met with emphatic popular approval.
An intimate friend of General Grant, he often acted as his personal counsel.
His only contribution to literature was a small book, Intemperance and Crime (1883).
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Davis had always taken an active interest in political affairs, being a strong Republican.
As a judge he was an outstanding figure. By nature a man of strong convictions and prejudices, he found it difficult to conceal his feelings on all occasions, and his austere demeanor procured for him a reputation for severity which his scrupulous fairness, patient attention, and the care which he bestowed upon all matters before him, did not always dispel. His attitude in the Tweed case, though subjected to strong criticism from some quarters, met with emphatic popular approval. As a public speaker he was in the front rank and his jury charges were masterpieces of exposition. Throughout his life he was a close student of public affairs.
Quotes from others about the person
"He brought to the bench wide experience, broad and comprehensive knowledge of the law, and a dignified and forceful personality which made him the strongest and most eminent of our judges during his entire term of service”. (Theron G. Strong)