Walter D. Van Riper

Walter David Van Riper (May 18, 1895 – March 4, 1973) was an American politician and judge. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of West Orange, New Jersey, and was a county court judge for 18 years before being chosen to serve as the Attorney General of New Jersey from 1944 to 1948, focusing on combating racketeering while in office.

Early life and education

Van Riper was born in Montville, New Jersey, and graduated from Boonton High School in 1912. He attended the New Jersey Law School (since merged into Rutgers Law School) and was admitted to the state bar in 1916.Walter D. Van Riper
New Jersey Attorney General. Accessed December 22, 2021. "Walter D. Van Riper was born in Morris County, New Jersey on May 18, 1895. He graduated from the Boonton High School, New Jersey Law School and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in November 1916." He was mayor of West Orange, New Jersey, in 1920 and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey from 1922 to 1924.

New Jersey Attorney General

Having served for 18 years as a judge in the Essex County Court of Common Pleas, he was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Walter Evans Edge to succeed David T. Wilentz. Van Riper took office as New Jersey Attorney General in 1944 and served through 1948.

As part of an effort to target Frank Hague, boss of the Hudson County Democratic machine, Van Riper was appointed to take over the county prosecutor's office. Using outside investigators and 55 state troopers, Van Riper conducted a series of raids in August 1944 on Hudson County horse-race betting wire rooms that had been protected by Hague and was able to obtain indictments against more than 50 people who had been involved in the illegal activities, the first such indictments in Hague's 27 years controlling the county. In retaliation, Hague had charges of check kiting and black-market gasoline sales filed against Van Riper in federal court through a United States Attorney controlled by Hague.Curtin, Edmond
"Walter Van Riper, 77, dies in Florida"
''The Record'', March 5, 1973. Accessed December 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "As attorney general in the waning years of World War II, he became the target of Hudson County Democratic boss Frank Hague after he broke up Hague's gambling dynasty, centered in Union City. Hague, using his influence in the federal government, had a U.S. attorney charge Van Riper with violations of wartime rationing and check-kiting. Both charges ultimately were rejected by the courts." Van Riper went to trial on both indictments and was acquitted of all charges."Directed Verdict Frees Van Riper As Court Assails His Check-Kiting; Directed Verdict Frees Van Riper As Court Assails His Check-Kiting Edge Calls Charges 'Flimsy'"
''The New York Times'', November 30, 1945, p. 1. Accessed December 22, 2021.

Death

A resident of West Orange, Van Riper died of a heart attack he experienced while swimming in the pool at the Boca Raton Hotel and Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, on March 4, 1973, at the age of 77."Walter D. Van Riper, 77, Dies; Was Jersey Attorney General"
''The New York Times'', March 5, 1973. Accessed December 22, 2021. "Walter D. Van Riper former New Jersey Attorney General, died of a heart attack yesterday at the Boca Raton Hotel. He was 77 years old and lived at 22 Harbor Terrace in West Orange, N. J."

References

External links

New Jersey: State Attorneys General
from The Political Graveyard

{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Riper, Walter D.
1895 births
1973 deaths
Boonton High School alumni
Mayors of places in New Jersey
New Jersey state court judges
People from Montville, New Jersey
People from West Orange, New Jersey
New Jersey attorneys general
New Jersey Republicans
Rutgers Law School alumni
20th-century New Jersey state court judges
20th-century mayors of places in New Jersey