Augustus McCloskey explained

Augustus McCloskey
District:14th
State:Texas
Term:March 4, 1929 – February 10, 1930
Predecessor:Harry M. Wurzbach
Successor:Harry M. Wurzbach
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:23 September 1878
Birth Place:San Antonio, Texas
Death Place:San Antonio, Texas
Occupation:Lawyer

Augustus McCloskey (September 23, 1878 – July 21, 1950) was a U.S. Representative from Texas.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, McCloskey attended Atascosa (Texas) School, St. Joseph's Academy, San Antonio, and St. Mary's College, San Antonio. He was employed as a stenographer 1903–1907. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1907, and commenced practice in San Antonio. He served as judge of Bexar County from 1920 to 1928, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Houston, in 1928.

McCloskey presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Seventy-first Congress and served from March 4, 1929, to February 10, 1930, when he was succeeded by Harry M. Wurzbach who successfully contested his election. Wurzbach had made allegations of gross fraud in Bexar County and when the House committee investigating that claim demanded to see the election records and to recount sundry ballots, McCloskey instead appeared before the committee and conceded stating that "I am satisfied that I was not elected and that Mr. Wurzbach was elected, and I am contending no further in this matter."[1] Vote totals were revised and instead of winning by 319 votes, he was found to have lost by 61 votes.

He was not a candidate for renomination in 1930. He resumed the practice of law. He served as judge of the corporation court of San Antonio, from January 1943 to July 1947. He practiced law until his death in San Antonio on July 21, 1950. He was interred in San Fernando Cemetery.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cannon's Precedents Vol 6 . 356 . 23 February 2021.