Charles Perkins | |
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New York County District Attorney | |
In office 1915–1915 |
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Preceded by | Charles S. Whitman |
Succeeded by | Edward Swann |
Personal details | |
Born |
Charles Albert Perkins January 26, 1869 Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States |
Died | January 16, 1930 Suffern, New York |
(aged 60)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Miriam Nancy Shelton Rogers |
Children | Albert Perkins |
Parents | Albert C. and Caroline Perkins |
Education | Adelphi Academy |
Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
Occupation | Lawyer and reformer |
Known for | New York District Attorney who prosecuted underworld figures prior to and during Labor Slugger War; later special prosecutor for City Trust case in 1928–29. |
Charles Albert Perkins (January 26, 1869 – January 16, 1930) was an American lawyer and reformer who was New York County District Attorney in 1915. While with the District Attorney's office, Perkins prosecuted many of the city's gang leaders, labor racketeers and other underworld figures during the early 20th century. He also served as special prosecutor for several major state investigations into corruption most notably the City Trust cases of 1928-29.
Charles Perkins was born to Albert C. and Caroline Perkins in Lawrence, Massachusetts on January 26, 1869.
Attending public school in Exeter, New Hampshire, his father was principal of the Phillips Exeter Academy from 1873 to 1883 and later accepted a position at Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, New York where Perkins attended until the age of 18. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1890, where he was elected permanent secretary of his class.
Perkins returned to New York to take a position as a clerk in the law offices of Kenneson, Crain & Alling. Thomas C.T. Crain, another New York District Attorney, was also a member of the firm.
In 1893, Perkins received his law degree from the New York Law School and admitted to the bar. He entered private practice with Edward C. Bailey and, two years later, was an assistant to the prosecution during the Lexow Committee investigation. Perkins was involved in drawing up plans for the consolidation of present-day New York City and, in 1897, he was named Deputy Assistant District Attorney by William M.K. Olcott. Continuing private practice for another four years, he was appointed Deputy Assistant District Attorney in 1902 and Assistant District Attorney two years later. During his thirteen years in the District Attorney's office, while in charge of the bureau of indictments and extradition, he personally prepared over 75,000 indictments for grand jury consideration.