Justice Charles E. Murphy was born around the year 1895 in Trenton, New Jersey. He graduated from Rider College and worked as a journalist at the Trenton Times, then attended the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. He joined the U.S. Army in 1917, serving overseas during the first World War. After the war he worked as an assistant advertising manager at the Texas Oil Company while attending night classes at Fordham University Law School. He graduated in 1925 and began practicing law, founding the firm of Murphy, Block, Sullivan & Sawyer. Murphy was also active in Democratic politics and served as Corporation Counsel for New York City in 1947.
Later that year, Murphy joined the bench when he was elected as a Justice of the State Supreme Court. He was later designated to the Appellate Division, Second Department by Governor Thomas E. Dewey on December 31, 1953. He was re-designated to that position in 1959 by Governor Rockefeller.
In addition to participating in professional and fraternal organizations, Murphy served as president of the Advertising Club of New York, where his role included greeting and hosting prominent visitors from abroad. He also served as chair of Civil Defense activities in Brooklyn during World War II.
He was married to Elizabeth Sawyer and had three children. He died suddenly on November 22, 1959 at Brooklyn Hospital at the age of 64.
Sources
“Charles Murphy, Justice, is Dead.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 31. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2008). Nov 23 1959. Web. 23 May 2012.
Egan, Leo. “C. E. Murphy Gets Appellate Post.” New York Times (1923-Current file): 24. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2008). Jan 01 1954. Web. 23 May 2012 .