Charles A. Perkins

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 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.

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.

In 1893, Perkins received his law degree from the New York Law School and admitted to the bar. He was nominated for re-election by the 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.

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.