The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-15
.CHARLT
SLEW WIFE
IS THEORY
SECOND WOMAN APPEARS
IN LAKE COMO
MYSTERY
COUPLE ALWAYS DRUNK,
ACCORDING TO TALES
s..S-----N~
Peasants Tell Of Wild Orgies
Seen IN Villa Of
Americans

Como Italy, June 15,--rhe Como
r'vslery dcepens. Mary Scott Castle
Charlton was killed OH the night OF
....e D. Il Il now learned that on the
afternoon OF that day Porter Charl-
ton and the Russian, Constantine Is
polatof, were seen together on the
lake sho! g near Moltrasio, in an an
cry dispute with a woman who was
not Mrs. Charlton.
Then who was this strange woman?
The police believe she will soon be
found She arrived in the lake dis
srict at the same time as the Charl
tons, registered at the Hotel Moltra-
sio as Elfrida Durchesen, age 81,
rom Hamburg. On the day the trunk
was fished up she was among the first
on the scene to view the ghastly find
but fled when she saw the police APP
preaching.
On the next day the strange wo
man was seen in Ce!nobbio where
she ate and drank in the restaurant
and asked. HAS the assassin been
arrested When informed of the
Russians arrest she showed conster-
Eatlon and left abruptly and has not
been seen since, so the Hamburg po-
ice have been asked TO investigate.
Since Charlton told his parents he
was going to take a position in a
bank in Hamburg the police are now
interviewing all those who knew the
tragic Americans.
After a days investigation and the
assistance of all the courts officials
see no escape from the conclusion
that Charlton killed the wretched wo-
man. Whether he is now a fugitive
or a suicide, time will tell. Here are
the facts
Mrs. Charlton Beaten.
The Charltons took the villa Leg
nazzi at Moltrasio early in May Two
weeks later they appeared at the llo-
tel Suisse in Como. On May II there
was violent scene in the hotel. A
porter told me how he broke into
their oom at ocolck in the morn
ing Charlton, half naked, was shrek
ing and cursng, but not drunk The
woman had been severely beaten and
crouched, silent, in corner. Charl
.on was turned out and the woman
followed at his heels. They vanished
into the night
drove to the Moltrasio villa, now
locked and guarded by the police, but
saw sister of the proprietor who
lives near by She said:
Both the Chafltons were nearly al
ways drunk especially the woman.
She was seen half dressed lying dead
drunk ON the piazza at all hours sof
me night rhey shouted and r0ared
rag time ana other American songs
Complaint was even made to the To-,
cal police about their disorder no
labIy their dirty habits. They threw
all the house refuse from the balcony
into the street.
talked with peasant women wash
ing clothes in a mountain Stream
!, ..ch uns down TO the lake near
,illa. They described drunken, naked
orgies they had seen through open
windows of the villa. One of these
women, Rosa Riya, was CharliOns
washef-woman She told me that on
June 6, abeut 2 O'Clock she carried
Back wash and found the house
locked She got no answer to her
knocks until finally Charlton stuck
his head out Of a first floor window
and came down and paid for the wash
ing He was extremely agitated,
said Rosa, his face was flushed and
he slammed the door violently
Last Meal at Restaurant
On Sunday night, June 5, Mrs
Charlton was last seen alive at the
little estanrant Caramazzal on the
hill above the villa. The husband and
wife arrived at half past eight. lie
was dressed IN Scotch tweeds, the on.
" suit of clothes he possessed. She
wore black gown, no hat. a thick
veil and silk cape They slipped In
through a side door in order 10 es
cape the notice OF people on the ter
race. Their last meal was simple
the landlord said, contrary to theli
usual custom and they drank only one
bottle OF champagne At half past tel
they paid and left, taking the road K
the villa.
That was the end Of Mary Scot
Castle Charlton. -Four days later .
i fisherman OF Carate Lario dragged VI
irom the lake the trunk containing
! her body.
How was the trunk removed BY
Charlton, #ho was weakling2 Th'
police suspected he had an accomplish
/ until today when they discovered !
l hard cart OF the villa In an unuse'
! she'd where number OF ealpentes
i tools were also found. The ston
with which the trunk was weighte'
/ he'd been taken fsom the stone wal
OF the lanr leading from the bacl
Tor the villa to tffe lake
n And the nlotlyeT The police hav
\ put together fragments Of pspe