Charles A. Perkins

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Charles Perkins
Charles S. Whitman
Succeeded byEdward Swann
Personal details
Born
Charles Albert Perkins

(1869-01-26)January 26, 1869
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.

Early life

Charles Perkins was born to Albert C. and Caroline Perkins in Lawrence, Massachusetts on January 26, 1869.

Attending public school in

secretary of his class
.

Career

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.[2]

In 1893, Perkins received his

indictments and extradition, he personally prepared over 75,000 indictments for grand jury consideration.[2]

After the election of D.A.

New York Republicans over Frank Moss but lost the election to Judge Edward Swann in November 1915, and resumed his private practice at the beginning of 1916.[2][3]

Perkins formed a partnership with writer

Arthur Train and later joined the law firm of Perkins, Malone & Washburn remaining with them for the rest of his career. He was also retained for a number of high-profile city trust cases. In 1921, he was appointed special prosecutor in the Lockwood Committee's investigation of building supplies. In June 1928, Perkins was named prosecutor by Moreland Commissioner Robert Moses in the state investigation of the Banking Department and the cases arising from the failure of the City Trust Company. He also served on numerous committees for the New York County Bar Association including serving as chairman during a committee investigation into police brutality
in 1929. Resigning his position as special prosecutor due to poor health in August 1930.

Personal life

He married Miriam Nancy Shelton Rogers and together had a son, Albert Perkins, who was born a year after their marriage on August 27, 1904.[8]

He died at his home in Suffern, Rockland County, New York, on January 16, 1930. His funeral was held at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church on Fifth Avenue and Fifty-Fifth Street with his body later being cremated.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Who's Who In New York City and State. New York: L.R. Hammersly Company, 1904. (pg. 458)
  2. ^ a b c d "Charles A. Perkins, Ex-Prosecutor, Dies — Served as District Attorney of New York County When Mitchel Was Mayor — Handled City Trust Cases — Took Part In the Lexow Investigation — Made a Drive Against Notorious Gangsters". New York Times. January 17, 1930. p. 23. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-56025-275-8
  4. ^ Seidman, Harold. Labor Czars: A History of Labor Racketeering. New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 1938. (pg. 50-51)
  5. ISBN 0-231-09683-6
  6. ISBN 0-306-80565-0
  7. ISBN 0-7867-1250-3
  8. ^ Leonard, John William, ed. Woman's Who's Who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada, 1914-1915. New York: American Commonwealth Company, 1914. (pg. 640)

Further reading

  • Moses, Robert. Public Works: A Dangerous Trade. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
  • Taylor, Robert C. New York County Lawyers' Association Yearbook, 1930. New York: New York County Lawyers' Association, 1930.
  • Psi Upsilon. "Charles Albert Perkins, Zeta '90." The Diamond of Psi Upsilon. 16.3 (March 1930): 212–13.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Charles S. Whitman
 New York County District Attorney
1915 		Succeeded by
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