Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
State Department Ponders
What to Do With Charlton

Upon the answer which the Department
Of State sends to Recorder John ]. Nc
Govern Of Hoboken, N. j., who has tele-
graphed here asking what disposition the
Department of Justice and the Depart
ment of State wish made Of Porter
Charlton. may hang the solution of the
problem of what is to become of the
man who murdered his wife in Italy and
escaped to this country.
The acting attorney general, Solicitor
General Bowers. has referred the dis
patch to the State Department. The
solicitor general has Informed the re-
corder in Hoboken that any question Of
extradition was matter for the State
Department to handle.
1t is expected that the State Depart
ment will send reply to Mr.. McGov-
is a tabooed subject for the present at
the department. All questions in regard
to the disposition of Charlton are met
with the same answer, Nothing can be
said at this time"
The question seems to be whether there
should be simply an acknowledgment Of
the receipt Of the inquiry or whether the
recorder should be told that at this time
the department has no wishes in the mat
ter which can be communicated to tine
court.
No Application From Italy.
No application has been received from
the Italian government for the extradi-
ton Of Charlton. it is said at the depart
ment.
The policy of the department will be
fully determined, however, before the
conclusion of the hearing at Hoboken
next Tuesday.
Reduced to its last analysis it may de-
volve on the United States government to
decide whether 1t desires to surrender
Porter Charlton tO;he italian authorities
It Is admitted In official circles that the
case cannot be tried in any of the courts
Of the United States and that the Italian
government cannot even request his ex-
tradition without imperiling a cherished
Italian precedent designed for the protec-
ton Of Its own subjects.
At the same time It Is commended that
there Is nothing In the treaty between the
United States and Italy to prevent the
United States from placing Charlton in
the custody of the Italian authorities 'in
the interests of justice" as general act
of comity-that IL, provided always that
crime 90 unpunshed.
However, IL Charlton Is adjudged in
| sane and committed to an asylum for
treatment there will be no occasion for
| return to Italy with or without extra
| dition proceedings. 1t Is seriously
questioned whether the government
could surrender Charlton to the Italian
| authorities. even IL II desired to do SO,
| except with his consent.
| Unofhcial Communications.
| The State Department. IT is said here
has been in unofficial communication
with the Italian government about the
matter in an effort on the part of each
to ascertain the view of the other as
| to what should be done.
| In view Of the precedent on Italy's
part OF refusing to grant extraditiou
on her citizens her position in this
case Is one OF decided embarrassment
! 1t Is thought that she will not make q
formal request for the extradition OF
Charlton
The feeling is that inasmuch as 1,
was two Americans who were involved
one OF whom Is dead and the other In
America. Italy will decide to let the
matter drop.
As TO the suggestion that under the
Italian Law. which provides for the trial
of "a person in his absence. Charlton
might be tried by Italy, and, II convicted