Merrill Aldrich
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|image =
|imagesize =
| name = Merrill Aldrich
| birth_date = February 11, 1899
| birth_place = Taunton, Massachusetts
| death_date = January 14, 1957 (aged 57)
| death_place = Boston
|restingplace =
| nationality = American
| website =
| occupation =
| residence =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Irene A. Hewitt (1920–1934; divorce)
| partner = Eileen Kelliher (1934–1946)
| alma_mater =
| title = Mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts
| term_start = 1941
| term_end = 1946
| predecessor = John E. Fitzgerald
| successor = John F. Parker
}}
Merrill Drake Aldrich (1899 – 1957) was an American politician who served as mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts from 1941 to 1946.
Early life
Aldrich was born in 1899 in Taunton. He served in the United States Army during World War I. Prior to entering politics, he worked in a furniture store.{{cite news|title=Ex-Chief In Taunton To Fight Suspension|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=May 6, 1931}} He also worked for many years as a funeral director.
Political career
In 1930, Aldrich was appointed chief of police by the Taunton's new mayor, Wllis K. Hodgman.{{cite news|title=Hodgman Becomes Mayor of Taunton|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 7, 1930}} He was not retained by Hodgman's successor and in 1932 he ran for the Republican nomination for Sheriff of Bristol County.{{cite news|title=Clemmey May Seek Post As Sheriff For Bristol County|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 1, 1932}} He finished fourth in the five candidate primary with 15% of the vote.{{cite book |title= Election Statistics, 1932 |author= |year= |location=Boston, MA |url=http://www.archive.org/stream/electionstatisti19311932mass#page/152/mode/2up}} The Republican nominee, Patrick H. Dupuis, defeated Democratic incumbent Edmond P. Talbot in the general election and appointed Aldrich as a deputy sheriff.{{cite news|title=Bristol County's Sheriff Picks Aides|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 5, 1933}}
In 1941, Aldrich ran in the special election held following the death of Taunton mayor John E. Fitzgerald. He finished second in the eleven candidate nonpartisan primary behind acting mayor Harold B. Johnston.{{cite news|title=Nonpartisan Primary Held in Taunton: Johnston, Aldrich Lead Field in Mayoralty Contest|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 16, 1941}} Aldrich defeated Johnston 5,968 votes to 5,795 to finish Fitzgerald's term.{{cite news|title=Aldrich Elected Taunton Mayor, Beating Johnston|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 29, 1941}} He was elected to a full term in December 1947 - defeating Bernard Cleary 79% votes to 21%.{{cite news|title=Mayor Aldrich Swamps Cleary in Taunton Vote: Wins by 8551 to 2298|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=December 17, 1941}} Two years later he defeated city councilor Robert Heap to win a second term.{{cite news|title=Taunton Mayor Leads in Election Returns|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=December 8, 1943}}
In February 1944, Aldrich was indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate the Corrupt Practices act. He was alleged to have "corruptly promised to use his official authority" to reappoint Israel Louison to the office of License Commissioner during his reelection campaign.{{cite news|title=Bristol County 'Fraud' Cases Go to Trial|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=April 21, 1944}} District Attorney Frank A. Smith's only piece of evidence was an undated letter signed by Aldrich stating that he would reappoint Louison. Judge John V. Sullivan instructed the jury that this was to enough to convict. On January 15, 1945, Aldrich, Louison, and a third defendant - county commissioner Leo Coughlin, were found not guilty.{{cite news|title=3 Officials Freed at Taunton in Corruption Case|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 16, 1945}} That December, Aldrich was reelected in a close race with city council president William Duffy.{{cite news|title=Six Bay State Mayors Win; Taunton Vote Very Close|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=December 5, 1945}} During the campaign, Aldrich donated a $10,000 ambulance to the city.
In 1946, Aldrich was an unsuccessful candidate for both the Democratic and Republican nominations in a June special election for the Massachusetts Senate seat in the First Bristol District.
On May 30, 1946, Aldrich fell ill with a heart condition after marching in a Memorial Day parade. On doctor's advice he went to his summer home in Falmouth, Massachusetts to rest. In July 1946, doctors told him that he had less than six months to live.
Personal life
On June 15, 1920, Aldrich married Irene A. Hewitt. On June 2, 1934 she filed for divorce on the grounds of "neglect to provide".{{cite news|title=Bristol County Deputy Divorce Suit Defendant|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=June 3, 1935}} The divorce was granted on June 22 and she was awarded $7 a week in alimony.{{cite news|title=Woman Accuses Taunton Mayor of Being Father of Her Child|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=June 22, 1946}}
Following the divorce, Aldrich was seen with Eileen Kelliher, a bookkeeper ten years his junior. It was believed that the two had married on a trip they took to Florida following Aldrich's divorce. On June 21, 1946, Kelliher filed a paternity suit against Aldrich, alleging that he had fathered her 2-year-old daughter out of wedlock. Records failed to show a marriage license, but showed a birth certificate issued May 10, 1944 listing Merrill D. Aldrich and Elieen L. Kelliher and the parents of Mary L. Kelliher.{{cite news|title=Taunton Mayor to Finish Term Despite Charges|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=June 23, 1946}}
On July 8, 1946, Aldrich was arrested for "lewd and lascivious cohabitation".{{cite news|title=Taunton Mayor Is Arrested on Morals Charge|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=July 9, 1946}} Aldrich admitted to living with Kelliher for several years. He also admitted being the father and offered to set up a trust fund for the child. After several postponements due to Aldrich's ill health, Aldrich and Kelliher were convicted of cohabitation and each sentenced to a year in jail.{{cite news|title=Mayor Sentenced To Jail|work=The New York Times|date=September 28, 1946}} Aldrich appealed and was released on bail. He pled guilty on November 25, 1946 and his sentence was reduced to three months. He resigned as mayor after entering the guilty plea.{{cite news|title=Taunton Mayor Sent to Jail|work=The New York Times|date=November 26, 1946}}
Later life
While in jail, Aldrich ran in the special election to finish his term. He finished fifth in the ten candidate primary.{{cite news|title=Jailed Ex-Mayor Runs Fifth in Taunton Primary|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 15, 1947}} Aldrich also ran in the 1947 and 1951 elections, but lost both times to his successor, John F. Parker.{{cite news|title=4 Cities Elect Today in State|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=December 2, 1947}}{{cite news|title=6 Cities in State Unseat Mayors|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=November 7, 1951}}
Aldrich spent his later years residing in Falmouth, where he worked in the real estate business.
Death
On January 13, 1957, Aldrich, who was scheduled to undergo a serious abdominal operation, saw 2000 A.D. a television program on WBZ-TV about the Boston Eye Bank. When the program ended, he called the bank and donated his eyes to them. He died the following day.{{cite news|title=Merrill D. Aldrich; Ex-Taunton Mayor, Sheriff, Police Chief|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 15, 1957}} His eyes were donated to a 21-year-old mother of three from Saint John, New Brunswick, who had lost almost all of the vision in her left eye, and a 42-year-old Maine grandmother who had been totally blind for the past ten years.{{cite news|title=Ex-Taunton Mayor's Final Wish Granted--Eyes Given 2 Patients|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 16, 1957}}{{cite news|title=Mother Flies Home Today; Has Full Eyesight|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=January 29, 1957}}{{cite news|title=Woman Sees Granddaughter With 'Gift Eyes'|work=The Boston Daily Globe|date=February 20, 1957}}
References
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Category:American municipal police chiefs
Category:American funeral directors
Category:Law enforcement officials from Massachusetts
Category:Mayors of Taunton, Massachusetts
Category:Massachusetts politicians convicted of crimes
Category:Massachusetts Republicans
Category:People convicted of cohabitation
Category:People from Falmouth, Massachusetts