32:
848:
375:, Manhattan's new District Attorney, persuaded him to return to public service and he served as an assistant district attorney of the Indictments and Frauds Division, from 1942 to 1944, and as an assistant district attorney of the Appellate Division, from 1944 to 1950. In 1950, Knapp left Mr. Hogan's office to again enter private practice until his appointment to the federal bench in 1972. Concurrent with his private practice, he served as a special counsel to Dewey, who had become governor of
486:. He served on the bench up until his death. He was survived by his third wife, Ann Fallert Knapp, a son, Gregory Wallace Knapp, and by three children from his first wife, Elizabeth Mercer Nason; a son, Whitman E. Knapp, and two daughters, Caroline Hines and Marion Knapp; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
754:
KNAPP UNIT'S HEAD DEFENDS LEGALITY OF INVESTIGATION; Public
Attention Is Essential in Combating Corruption, Lawyer Tells Critics HOGAN BACKS HEARINGS But Roberts Scores Actions -- Police Bid Businessmen End Giving of Gratuities Knapp Commission Chairman Defends Legality of Investigation – New York
742:
KNAPP UNIT TELLS OF POLICE BRIBERY AS HEARINGS OPEN; Reports 'Extensive' Problem in
Corruption Here--Tape Evidence Is Presented DETAILS OF VICE GRAFT 2 Patrolmen and a Lawyer Linked to Payoffs to Help an East Side Madam Knapp Panel Tells of Police Bribery as Hearings Begin Here – New York Times
695:
Graft Paid to Police Here Said to Run Into
Millions; Survey Links Payoffs to Gambling and Narcotics Some on Force Accuse Officials of Failure to Act Graft Payments to Policemen Here Are Reported to Run Into the Millions Annually Some Members of Force Say Officials Fail to Act – New York Times
932:
748:
Patrolman Says 'All But 2' Of
Colleagues Got Bribes; Numbers Runner Tells the Knapp Panel That He Paid Off a Detective Monthly With Money From Social Security Patrolman Says 'All But 2' Colleagues Took Bribes – New York Times article: October 23,
411:, Knapp said that the relatively few convictions did not matter as much as his work did, for he felt his work had changed the culture of the police so that they took the charge of corruption in their midst more seriously.
937:
873:
424:
281:
134:
115:
731:
PERJURY LAID TO 2 IN POLICE INQUIRY; Patrolmen in Meat
Incident Are First to Be Accused in Knapp Investigation Perjury Charged to 2 Policemen In Knapp Inquiry on Corruption – New York Times article: June 9,
962:
157:
804:
927:
765:
Knapp
Witness to Tell of Lindsay Officials' Apathy; Witness Will Tell Knapp Panel Lindsay Officials Ignored Graft – New York Times article: October 30, 1971
805:'SORT OF AN OLD GUY,' DEFINITIVELY A JUDGE; TURNING 90 DOES NOTHING TO TEMPER OPINIONS ISSUED BY WHITMAN KNAPP – New York Times article: February 24, 1999
922:
794:
789:
764:
753:
611:
557:
730:
710:
705:
593:
828:
759:
747:
694:
636:
799:
736:
725:
720:
741:
700:
942:
690:
MRS. KNAPP WED TO JOHN W. NASON; Former
Elizabeth Mercer and Ex-Swarthmore Head Marry at Keene Valley – New York Times article: June 30, 1957
689:
907:
706:
PANEL ON POLICE MAY BE REPLACED; Mayor Is
Expected to Name a Larger Unit on Graft That Excludes Leary – New York Times article: May 9, 1970
368:
53:
379:, and was a member of the commission that revised the state's criminal code. Knapp served during 1953 to 1954 as special counsel to the
917:
800:
KNAPP PANEL SAYS WALSH AND OTHERS IGNORED TIPS BY U.S. ON POLICE CRIMES; KRIEGEL IS SCORED – New York Times article: December 28, 1972
701:
Mayor's
Committee Investigating Police Corruption Here Meets Tomorrow to Determine Procedures – New York Times article: April 26, 1970
100:
737:
Knapp Says Mayor Shares Blame for
Corrupt Police; Knapp Faults Lindsay On Corruption of Police – New York Times article: July 2, 1971
947:
75:
774:
785:
Phillips, a Knapp Witness, Indicted in Two Murders; Phillips, Knapp Witness, Is Indicted – New York Times article: March 21, 1972
451:
349:
967:
912:
902:
396:
285:
790:
KNAPP NOMINATED AS FEDERAL JUDGE; Head of Police Inquiry Unit One of Four Named Here – New York Times article: June 16, 1972
575:
784:
779:
721:
KNAPP SAYS LAWS SPUR POLICE GRAFT; Lindsay Appointee Explains Objectives of Inquiry – New York Times article: June 7, 1970
711:
LINDSAY APPOINTS CORRUPTION UNIT; Subpoena Power Asked for 2d Panel to Study Police – New York Times article: May 22, 1970
715:
463:
655:
357:
277:
46:
40:
780:
The Knapp Commission Didn't Know It Couldn't Be Done; The Knapp Commission – New York Times article: January 9, 1972
769:
684:
594:"MISS MERCER PICKS BRIDAL ATTENDANTS; Brookline, Mass., Girl to Be Wed to Percy Whitman Knapp in Maine on Saturday"
760:
Knapp Urges a Permanent Body on Police Corruption to Succeed His Panel – New York Times article: October 25, 1971
558:"HER HORSE KILLS HER IN CENTRAL PARK; Falls on Mrs. Knapp, Crushing Her Chest, While She Is Riding with Daughter"
57:
612:"DEWEY APPOINTS 14; AVERAGE AGE IS 32; Eleven Republicans, Two of Labor Party and Democrat Named as Assistants"
795:
Knapp Panel's Recommendation a Touchy Problem for Mayor and Governor – New York Times article: August 27, 1972
884:
833:
641:
181:
380:
726:
41 Policemen Are Subpoenaed By Knapp Unit in Betting Inquiry- New York Times article: February 17, 1971
439:
on November 23, 1987. His service was terminated on June 14, 2004, due to his death in New York City.
957:
952:
432:
317:
304:, Knapp was the son of Wallace Percy Knapp, a wealthy lawyer in New York. His mother was killed in a
864:
455:
428:
313:
169:
333:
329:
256:
525:
520:
515:
459:
361:
510:
408:
400:
376:
337:
325:
301:
260:
251:
237:
217:
20:
775:
Serpico's Lonely Journey to Knapp Witness Stand – New York Times article: December 15, 1971
505:
495:
479:
392:
364:
321:
247:
847:
660:
284:. Previous to that service, he led a far-reaching investigation into corruption in the
896:
530:
436:
420:
404:
297:
233:
213:
111:
843:
448:
309:
305:
395:
appointed Knapp to head a five-member commission investigating corruption in the
933:
Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
839:
576:"YALE ALUMNI HOLD COLORFUL REUNIONS; HONORED MEMBERS OF YALE'S GRADUATING CLASS"
500:
372:
716:
Graft-Inquiry Head; Percy Whitman Knapp – New York Times article: May 23, 1970
348:
After his graduation from law school, he started working with the law firm of
770:
Leary Agrees to Be Knapp Witness – New York Times article: December 14, 1971
483:
353:
685:
MRS. MARROW WED TO WHITMAN KNAPP – New York Times article: November 4, 1956
435:
on June 28, 1972, and received his commission on June 30, 1972. He assumed
403:. The probe was sparked by revelations from two police officers, Patrolman
99:
467:
536:
367:. In 1941, Knapp returned to private life and joined the law firm of
823:
631:
470:, in declaring that they would no longer preside over drug trials.
874:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
425:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
282:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
135:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
116:
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
464:
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
938:
United States district court judges appointed by Richard Nixon
25:
447:
In 1986, Knapp presided over the racketeering case against
407:, and Sergeant David Durk. Looking back on the work of the
356:. He remained there until 1937, when he left to become an
963:
People associated with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
340:. He married Elizabeth Mercer shortly after graduation.
19:
For the comic book character named Whitman Knapp, see
478:
On June 14, 2004, Knapp died at the age of 95 at the
656:"Whitman Knapp, 95, Dies. Exposed Police Corruption"
360:
in Manhattan under the newly elected racket-busting
320:(now Choate Rosemary Hall), graduating in 1927, and
243:
223:
196:
191:
175:
163:
151:
132:
110:
90:
383:, which looked into corruption on the waterfront.
312:when he was only three years old. He attended
8:
809:Hon. John F. Keenan, A MAN FOR ALL DECADES,
853:
846:
276:(February 24, 1909 – June 14, 2004) was a
147:June 30, 1972 – November 23, 1987
128:November 23, 1987 – June 14, 2004
98:
87:
813:, Vol. 26, pp. 1407–1410 (May 1999).
76:Learn how and when to remove this message
829:Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
637:Biographical Directory of Federal Judges
381:Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
39:This article includes a list of general
549:
627:
625:
369:Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Lumbard
7:
928:New York (state) state court judges
458:. In 1993, Knapp joined with Judge
423:on June 15, 1972, to a seat on the
45:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
923:American people of German descent
654:Severo, Richard (June 15, 2004).
419:Knapp was nominated by President
350:Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
30:
755:Times article: October 24, 1971
397:New York City Police Department
286:New York City Police Department
296:Born on February 24, 1909, in
1:
332:, where he was editor of the
943:20th-century American judges
336:, graduating in 1934 with a
324:, graduating in 1931 with a
278:United States district judge
908:Choate Rosemary Hall alumni
358:Assistant District Attorney
984:
431:. He was confirmed by the
18:
16:American judge (1909–2004)
918:Harvard Law School alumni
881:
869:
861:
856:
811:Fordham Urban Law Journal
743:article: October 19, 1971
267:
187:
140:
121:
106:
97:
948:History of New York City
415:Federal judicial service
292:Early life and education
885:Robert P. Patterson Jr.
834:Federal Judicial Center
832:, a publication of the
696:article: April 25, 1970
642:Federal Judicial Center
640:, a publication of the
182:Robert P. Patterson Jr.
60:more precise citations.
968:Browning School alumni
913:Yale University alumni
903:Lawyers from Manhattan
328:degree. He went on to
316:, graduating in 1927,
433:United States Senate
865:Walter R. Mansfield
824:Percy Whitman Knapp
632:Percy Whitman Knapp
618:. 29 December 1937.
456:Stanley M. Friedman
429:Walter R. Mansfield
399:later known as the
314:The Browning School
288:from 1970 to 1972.
274:Percy Whitman Knapp
201:Percy Whitman Knapp
170:Walter R. Mansfield
616:The New York Times
598:The New York Times
580:The New York Times
562:The New York Times
468:Brooklyn, New York
334:Harvard Law Review
330:Harvard Law School
257:Harvard Law School
891:
890:
882:Succeeded by
526:Police misconduct
521:Police corruption
516:Mollen Commission
460:Jack B. Weinstein
427:vacated by Judge
362:District Attorney
318:The Choate School
271:
270:
211:February 24, 1909
86:
85:
78:
975:
876:
862:Preceded by
854:
850:
672:
671:
669:
668:
651:
645:
629:
620:
619:
608:
602:
601:
590:
584:
583:
572:
566:
565:
554:
511:Knapp Commission
409:Knapp Commission
401:Knapp Commission
387:Knapp Commission
371:. Within a year
338:Bachelor of Laws
326:Bachelor of Arts
230:
210:
208:
192:Personal details
178:
166:
154:
145:
126:
102:
88:
81:
74:
70:
67:
61:
56:this article by
47:inline citations
34:
33:
26:
21:Manikin (comics)
983:
982:
978:
977:
976:
974:
973:
972:
893:
892:
887:
878:
871:
867:
820:
681:
679:Further reading
676:
675:
666:
664:
653:
652:
648:
630:
623:
610:
609:
605:
600:. 27 June 1934.
592:
591:
587:
582:. 16 June 1931.
574:
573:
569:
556:
555:
551:
546:
506:John V. Lindsay
496:Thomas E. Dewey
492:
480:Cabrini Hospice
476:
445:
417:
393:John V. Lindsay
391:In 1970, Mayor
389:
365:Thomas E. Dewey
346:
322:Yale University
294:
255:
248:Yale University
232:
228:
212:
206:
204:
203:
202:
176:
164:
152:
146:
141:
127:
122:
93:
82:
71:
65:
62:
52:Please help to
51:
35:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
981:
979:
971:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
905:
895:
894:
889:
888:
883:
880:
868:
863:
859:
858:
857:Legal offices
852:
851:
837:
819:
818:External links
816:
815:
814:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
751:
745:
739:
734:
728:
723:
718:
713:
708:
703:
698:
692:
687:
680:
677:
674:
673:
661:New York Times
646:
621:
603:
585:
567:
564:. 22 May 1912.
548:
547:
545:
542:
541:
540:
533:
528:
523:
518:
513:
508:
503:
501:Frank S. Hogan
498:
491:
488:
475:
472:
444:
441:
416:
413:
388:
385:
377:New York State
373:Frank S. Hogan
345:
342:
293:
290:
269:
268:
265:
264:
245:
241:
240:
231:(aged 95)
225:
221:
220:
200:
198:
194:
193:
189:
188:
185:
184:
179:
173:
172:
167:
161:
160:
155:
149:
148:
138:
137:
130:
129:
119:
118:
108:
107:
104:
103:
95:
94:
91:
84:
83:
38:
36:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
980:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
898:
886:
877:
875:
872:Judge of the
866:
860:
855:
849:
845:
841:
840:Whitman Knapp
838:
835:
831:
830:
825:
822:
821:
817:
812:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
752:
750:
746:
744:
740:
738:
735:
733:
729:
727:
724:
722:
719:
717:
714:
712:
709:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
682:
678:
663:
662:
657:
650:
647:
643:
639:
638:
633:
628:
626:
622:
617:
613:
607:
604:
599:
595:
589:
586:
581:
577:
571:
568:
563:
559:
553:
550:
543:
539:
538:
534:
532:
531:Frank Serpico
529:
527:
524:
522:
519:
517:
514:
512:
509:
507:
504:
502:
499:
497:
494:
493:
489:
487:
485:
481:
473:
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
450:
443:Notable cases
442:
440:
438:
437:senior status
434:
430:
426:
422:
421:Richard Nixon
414:
412:
410:
406:
405:Frank Serpico
402:
398:
394:
386:
384:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
363:
359:
355:
351:
343:
341:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
298:New York City
291:
289:
287:
283:
279:
275:
266:
262:
258:
253:
249:
246:
242:
239:
235:
234:New York City
227:June 14, 2004
226:
222:
219:
215:
214:New York City
199:
195:
190:
186:
183:
180:
174:
171:
168:
162:
159:
158:Richard Nixon
156:
150:
144:
139:
136:
133:Judge of the
131:
125:
120:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
96:
92:Whitman Knapp
89:
80:
77:
69:
66:November 2009
59:
55:
49:
48:
42:
37:
28:
27:
22:
870:
844:Find a Grave
827:
810:
665:. Retrieved
659:
649:
635:
615:
606:
597:
588:
579:
570:
561:
552:
535:
477:
449:Bronx County
446:
418:
390:
347:
344:Legal career
310:Central Park
308:accident in
306:horse riding
295:
273:
272:
229:(2004-06-14)
177:Succeeded by
153:Appointed by
142:
123:
112:Senior Judge
72:
63:
44:
958:2004 deaths
953:1909 births
466:, based in
165:Preceded by
58:introducing
897:Categories
879:1972–1987
667:2008-06-18
544:References
452:Democratic
207:1909-02-24
41:references
484:Manhattan
354:Manhattan
244:Education
143:In office
124:In office
490:See also
302:New York
238:New York
218:New York
826:at the
634:at the
537:Serpico
462:of the
454:leader
280:of the
114:of the
54:improve
43:, but
474:Death
261:LL.B.
749:1971
732:1971
252:B.A.
224:Died
197:Born
842:at
482:in
352:in
899::
658:.
624:^
614:.
596:.
578:.
560:.
300:,
236:,
216:,
836:.
670:.
644:.
263:)
259:(
254:)
250:(
209:)
205:(
79:)
73:(
68:)
64:(
50:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
