Francis J. Heney
U.S. District Attorney
Died when: 78 years 228 days (943 months)Star Sign: Pisces
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Francis Joseph "Frank" Heney (March 17, 1859 – October 31, 1937) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician.Heney is known for killing an opposing plaintiff in self-defense and for being 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, who 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 US 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 US Senate from California on the Progressive Party ticket in 1914.