Joseph A. Bevilacqua Sr.

Joseph A. Bevilacqua Sr.
Born (1918-12-01)December 1, 1918
Died June 21, 1989(1989-06-21) (aged 70)
Boston, Massachusetts
Resting place Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island
Residence Silver Lake, Providence, Rhode Island
Occupation Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
Known for Association with organized crime figures

Joseph A. Bevilacqua Sr. (December 1, 1918 – June 21, 1989) was Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1976 through 1986. His career was tarnished due to his association with organized crime.

Early life and career

Bevilacqua grew up in Silver Lake, an Italian-American neighborhood of Providence.[1] He attended Providence public schools and received a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College in 1940.[2][3] He served in the Army from 1941 to 1946, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant and serving in the Italian Campaign (World War II) where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart.[3] He received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown Law School in 1948,[3] and his clients and friends included organized crime figures.[4]

Political career

Bevilacqua was elected to the Rhode Island House in 1954;[5] he became majority leader in 1966 and Speaker in 1969.[5] He worked for the passage of the state's medicare statute and for job retraining measures.[2] He was elected by the General Assembly as Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court in 1976,[5] and he promised to put aside "old friendships and causes."[4] Privately, however, he reassured mobster Nicholas Bianco: "Don't worry, I'll still keep my connections."[1]

Around this time, a number of allegations surfaced regarding Bevilacqua's ties to organized crime. It was said that he had harbored a fugitive from a 1963 department store robbery, and had accepted a payment of $2,000 from him.[5] It also became public that he had written a letter to the State Parole Board in 1973 vouching for the integrity of crime boss Raymond L. S. Patriarca.[1][5] The letter read, "To whom it may concern: I have known Mr. Patriarca for a good many years. I have found him to be a good person of integrity and, in my opinion, good moral character."[1] Bevilacqua officiated at the wedding of Patriarca's chauffeur, who was under indictment for fraud.[5] The State Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline investigated these incidents and took no action.[5]

Impeachment and resignation

The Providence Journal brought public attention to Bevilacqua's ties to organized crime figures in 1984.[5] State police officers followed him as he visited the homes of crime figures,[5] and he was also observed frequenting a mob-connected motel for mid-day trysts with women.[5] The Journal ran a front-page photo of him zipping his pants fly while leaving the Alpine Motel in Smithfield, Rhode Island.[1]

A judicial commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg censured Bevilacqua for associating with criminals.[5] The General Assembly began impeachment proceedings in 1986, the first such proceedings in the state's history,[1] but Bevilacqua resigned during the proceedings.[5][1]

Death

Bevilacqua was hospitalized several times in his last few months, including for a heart attack in early May 1989.[4][5] He was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital on May 30, 1989. He died there on June 21.[4][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reynolds, Mark (12 March 2017). "'Crimetown' Episode 12: R.I. chief justice kept close ties to mob friends". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 Joseph M. Muratore, Italian-Americans in Rhode Island, Volume 2 (1999), p. 92.
  3. 1 2 3 Manual with Rules and Orders for the Use of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1975), p. 237.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Joseph Bevilacqua; Judge Tied to Rhode Island Mob". The Los Angeles Times. 22 June 1989. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Joseph A. Bevilacqua Dies at 70; Rhode Island Judge Linked to Mob". The New York Times. 22 June 1989. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas H. Roberts		 Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
1976-1986		 Succeeded by
Thomas F. Fay
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