W. Scott Peters
Winfield Scott Peters (May 25, 1861 – July 20, 1919) was an American lawyer and politician who served as District Attorney of Essex County, Massachusetts from 1899 to 1911. Early life Peters was born in Porter, Maine. His family moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts when he was 14 years old. He graduated from Haverhill High School and the Boston University School of Law. Public service Peters was elected Haverhill city solicitor in 1894. In 1898 he was elected district attorney of Essex County. In 1901, Peters, Massachusetts Attorney General Hosea M. Knowlton, and Assistant District Attorney Roland H. Sherman prosecuted John C. Best for the murder of George E. Bailey. Best was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Peters was unable to run for reelection in 1910 due to term-limits, so he ran for the 4th Essex District seat in the Massachusetts Senate. He lost the Republican nomination to incumbent Arthur L. Nason. The main issue in the campaign was that year's United States Senate election. Nason supported Butler Ames and Peters backed Henry Cabot Lodge. Private practice In 1905, Peters was retained by two cousins of Stephen Salisbury III who sought to contest his will. Salisbury left the