Charles Norris (December 4, 1867 – September 11, 1935) was New York's first appointed chief medical examiner (1918–1935) and pioneer of forensic toxicology in America.

He was first educated at Cutler's Private School in Manhattan, later entering Yale University and earning a bachelor of philosophy with emphasis on science.

[2][3] Mayor John F. Hylan immediately took legal action against them, claiming that in performing autopsies as part of the examination they had violated the law.

Following threats of legal action from Leonard Wallstein and other civic groups, Governor Charles Whitman intervened, forcing Hylan to appoint one of the three applicants, of which Norris was chosen to be chief medical examiner.

After hiring several distinguished scientists and chemists, including Alexander Gettler, he was forced, due to the lack of any supplies, to buy them all out of his own money.

In December 1926, Francesco Travia was caught carrying parts of Anna Fredericksen's body towards the Brooklyn waterfront in New York city.