Putnam patriot., 1928-02-23
Charles L. Torrey Dies Early Tuesday
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 CT unite husband and wife than sepa- rate them. Especially was this so if there were small children.
 I Loved Boys And Girls I As a citizen he was aligned with ! every movement fer the betterment | of the city. He had steadfast be- llief in the future of Putnam. Often he would discuss what might be done for the boys and girls. He would liked to have seen gymnasium; a common meeting place; recreation park. He vas ever thoughtful of ] their interests and showed that inter ! est in his interest in the schools of l the town
 4 friendly man always. He liked to talk and those about him liked to I listen. He liked a joke he liked a I story. He was fond of music and was familiar with the masters al- ! though himself not musician. I Little has been written about Mir. Torrey. He did not like publicity. Even when he was deserving of cred l 1t he would say, keep my name out of it." Much might be written about the man, the citizen, and the official. 1 He would not have it SO. He was just an ordinary person." This is how he looked upon himself. He was proud that he had worked on a farm ! proud that he had worked in a mill. This had given him knowledge that became of use to him in farming and manufacturing community. He was not an orator. He did not sway juries with a careful choice of words or impassioned phrases. He culled out the facts that were favorable to his view of the case and, as he would say hammered them home" And in his own style of conducting a case he was eminently successful.
 This city can ill afford to lose such man as Mir. Torrey. He will be sad ly missed in all that is best in the life of the community His passing was untimely. Apparently in the best of health less than two weeks ago, now he is gone.
 The funeral was from the home on Grove street this afternoon at two O. clock, Rev. James F. English of the Congregational church officiating. Bu- rial was on Putnam Heights
 Charles Louis Torrey
 Charles Louis Torrey was the eldest of five children born to Charles D. and Martha tWarren) Torrey. He was born in Putnam December 14, 1862. He attended the public schools of Put nam, Killingly and Spraguc. It was in Sprague that he fitted himself to enter the Putnam High school. He completed a four years course in three years and graduated with the class of 1883. The class comprised four boys and two girls.
 Graduating from high school he inn mediately took the examinations for entrance to Yale, and was one of the class of 240 pupils to enter in the fall of 1883. He graduated with the class four years later, in 1887. For a year after he graduated he taught school and studied law in the office of Edgar Nj. Warner After three years he took the bar examination and was one of a minority of the whole to pass success fully.
 He was admitted to practice in Jan uary, 1891. and the following month opened an office in the Court House block. His success was almost instan- taneous. While he did not enjoy the large practice that came to him as the years passed, he did not have to strug- | gle on for years without a clientele. His powers and ability won him imme- diate recognition. He had the eonfi- dence of the judges of the superior court bench, and when the system of 1 public defenders for those charged with crime and unable to pay for coun- sel was established, Mir. Torrey was selected for this important office. He was elected corporation counsel of the city and has held that office for a term of years.
 In Education
 Mir. Torrey was early elected to the school board and acted as school visit or and secretary of the board. He then retired but again became active and has served as secretary for the past eighteen years. He was also elected tax collector of the town. In 1907 he was a member of the house of the state legislature and served on the judiciary committee. For many years he has been a member of the State Board of Education.
 During the war Mir. Torrey was a member of the exemption board and discharged his duties vigorously.
 Mir. Torrey was married October 23rd, 1897, to Miss Helen Martha Por- ter, daughter of George w. and Mary (Washburn) Porter of Hebron. There are no children. Besides his wife, Mir. Torrey leaves two brothers, Ernest and 0lin, both living in Put nam.