The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-24
CHARLTON CAUGHT
MAKES COMPLETE
CONFESSION
Admits the Killing Of His Wife
In Italy
TRUNK MYSTERY SOLVED
Missing American Youth Arrested as
He Lands from Steamship at
Hoboken, N. J.

New York, June 24.-Porter Charl
ton, husband of Mrs. Mary Scott Cas-
tie Charlton, whose body was found
stuffed in a trunk which was taken
from Lake Como, Italy, recently, was
arrested as he stepped from the
steamship Princess Irene in Hoboken
yesterday. Charlton at first denied
his Identity but after being given the
third degree" he admitted that he
was the husband Of Mrs. Charlton.
Charlton made a signed statement
to the Hoboken police.
The police later announced that
the statement signed by Charlton was
a confession that he had slain his
wife.
Charlton said, in his confession,
that he and his wife had been having
supper together at the villa on Lake
Como and that they had engaged in
violent quarrel.
Charlton said his wife, who was
one OF the best women in the world,
but had an ungovernable temper,
called him some vile names and that
finally when he could not stand her
abuse any longer he attacked her
with a wooden mallet
The young man said that he struck
her over the head three times knock
ing her unconscious and killing her
as far as he knew.
Charlton told the police that he
then stuck the body of his wife in a
trunk, and carried II down to the
lake where he threw the trunk in the
water.
Within half an hour after his ar
rest Charlton had signed the follow
ing statement:
MY wife and ! lived happily toget-
her. She was the best woman in the
world to me, but she had an ungov-
ernabe temper. So had |. We fire.
quently quarreled over the most triv-
ial matters, and her language to me
was frequently so foul that know
she did not know the meaning OF It.
The night / struck her she had
been quarreling with me. She was
in the worst temper | had ever seen
her in. told her If she did not
cease | would leave her and put a
stop to it. She stopped for a little
while and started again.
Il took a mallet, which | had used
to do some household repairs. and
struck her three times thought
she was dead. put the body In a
trunk in which | also threw the NAL
let.
About - that night | brought the
trunk to my house and dragged II
down to small pier and threw II
overheard. | left the following night
and went to Como and from there to
Genoa, where took the steamer
Irene three days later.
"The room where | killed her was
an outdoor sleeping apartment
(Signed) Porter Charlton"
While Charlton was being sweated
under the third degree" he became
Infatuated, and, drawing a revolver
tried to shoot Chic of Police Hayes
He was quickly disarmed and in q
few minutes later confessed the
crime
AT the suggestion of an attorney
whose services he secured shortly az
tel his arrival at the police station
Charlton added this postscript to his
statement:
Il have been informed that C.. X
Ispolatoff has been implicated, and
wish to staUe that this gentleman 1:
absolutely guiltless. have no de
Tense to make and don't wish to-
(Signed) Porter Charlton.
Captain Scott, the brother of Mrs
Charlton. who had come TO Hoboker
today to aid the Hoboken police II
identifying the suspect from the Deu
tschland. was quickly summoned L
the pier when Charlton was arrested
Captain Scott took one glance at IN,
prisoner and said the man was Charl
ton.
In the meantime the patrol Wagon
had been summoned from the station
house and the prisoner. with III,
three detectives and Captain Scot
was hurried % headquarters. wher,
Chief Hayes put him through tn,
third degree"
The arrest Of Charlton and sucl
prosecution as will follow presen
some unusual questions Of interna
tional law. The murder of Mrs
Charlton occurred In Italy and II I
assumed that the Italian authoriue
viii undertake the prosecution. The
asked 0harlion's apprehension by tn
police of London. where II wa
thought he had sought refuge. Sim
lar requests we're made TO the polio
at other leading transatlantic ports
and II is this general warning tina
led to the arrest yesterday.
The Italian government will see
extradition through the federal GOV
eminent at Washington. which I
turn will make It's representations {
the state authorities OF New Jerse,
The extradultion rights betwee
Italy and the United States, as we
as the laws of New Jersey relatin