Francis J. Heney
| Francis J. Heney | |
|---|---|
Francis J. Heney
|
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| Born |
March 17, 1859 Lima, New York |
| Died | October 31, 1937 (aged 77) Santa Monica, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Frank Heney |
| Occupation | Attorney, District Attorney, Arizona Attorney General, U.S. District Attorney for the District of Oregon |
| Known for | Killing of John C. Handy in self-defense; prosecution of politicians in the Oregon Land Fraud scandal and the San Francisco graft trials |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Wentworth McMullin; Edna I. Van Winkle |
Francis Joseph Heney (March 17, 1859 – October 31, 1937) was a lawyer, judge, and politician who killed an opposing plaintiff in self defense, and who was shot in the head by a prospective juror during the San Francisco graft trials. In 1891 while an attorney in Tucson, Arizona Territory, he defended the abused wife of John C. Handy. Handy attacked Heney, and Heney shot and killed Handy. Heney later served as Attorney General of the Arizona Territory between 1893 and 1895. He was the chief prosecutor of the Oregon Land Fraud scandal from 1904 to 1910 and served as U.S. District Attorney for the District of Oregon from January 9 to December 3, 1905. He prosecuted corrupt San Francisco politicians from 1906 to 1908.
During 1906, Heney prosecuted San Francisco Mayor Eugene Schmitz and political boss Abe Ruef for bribery. Heney revealed that a prospective juror was ineligible because he was an ex-convict. The man deeply resented Heney’s action and while court was in recess, walked into the courtroom and shot the attorney in the jaw. Heney survived the wound and the trial went on. He ran for the U.S. Senate from California on the Progressive Party ticket in 1914.
Heney was born in Lima, New York to Richard Heney and Juliana Schreiber Heney. He had two younger sisters and an older brother, Ben. He grew up in San Francisco where his family relocated in 1863. He worked in his father’s furniture and carpet store while attending high school at night and, later, taught night school while attending the University of California during the day. After graduation, he moved to Idaho where he served as principal of a high school, but soon realized it was not his calling. He returned to San Francisco, enrolled in law school, and became a member of the bar in 1883.
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