Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-25
CHARLTON'S CASE.
Wife Murderer Likely TO Escape PEN
atty of His Crime.

atty of His Crime.
Rome, Italy, June 25.-Despite the
complications that have arisen in
America, over the return to Italy OF
Porter Charlton TO answer to the charge
OF numbering his wife and throwing
her body into Lake Como, the Italian
foreign office is still confident that the
youthful slayer will be surrendered.
While the foreign Office officials re-
fuse to give the reason for this belief,
it is thought that their opinion is based
upon information that has come
through official channels from United
States Ambassador Leishman, who is
expected to return to Rome today from
Lake Como, where he spent many days
investigating the murder. As soon as
he resumes his official duties here,
Ambassador Leishman will take up the
matter OF Charlton's extradtion with
the Marquis di Sanguiliano, represent
ing the Italian government.
Italian lawyers who have given the
matter any thought declare that even
il the young murderer is sent back,
he stands an excellent chance for ac-
quittal on the plea now being fostered
by his father that he is insane. Even
if he should be sent back and found TO
be sane, the punishment might not be
severe, as there were no eye witnesses
to the tragedy, and Charlton's story
that the murder was the result OF sud
den passion, and therefore without
reconciliation, would bring only a
nominal sentence of two or three years
upon him. There is no death punish
ment in Italy, and the penalty for
murders committed in a frenzy is very
slight compared with the same punish
ment in America.
The Italian police are bitter today
against United States Consul Caughy,
who was first sent here by Ambassador
Leishman to look out after the interests
of the Americans. The police claim
that had it not been for Caughy's in
sstence that double murder had been
committed with Charlton himself as one
OF the victims, they would have been
able TO arrest the young slayer before
he escaped on ship-board for America.
This statement on the part Of the police
is laughed at by Americans here, who
point ont that young Charlton sailed
from Genoa on June 9, the day before
the body Of his wife was dragged from
Lake Como. Had the Italian police
been active, however, they might have
had the steamer searched at Palermo
or at Gibraltar, at both Of which points
it stopped on its way to New York.
The police insist that the reason they
took no such action was that Consul
Caughy kept demanding that divers
search Lake Como for Charlton's body.
The consul believed that the Russian,
Ispolatoff, had killed both Charlton
and his wife and had thrown both their
bodies into the deepest part of the lake.
No announcement could be secured
today as to the time when Italy would
make formal demand for Charlton.
Jersey City, n. j., June 25.-What
means shall be employed to prevent
Porter Charlton being extradited to
Italy to stand trial for the murder of
his wife, Mrs. Mary Scott Charlton,
will be determined within the next few
days. Everything hinges on the re-
port to Lawyer William D. Edwards,
who has commissioned four alienists,
DIR. A. NJ. Hamilton, DR.. Charles A.
Dana, DIR. Arlitz, and Dr. Fisher, to
make a thorough examination Of
Charlton. If they unite in declaring
that he is insane than every effort will
be made to have him sent to an asylum
in New Jersey for treatment. If, on
the other hand they decide that he is
not insane, but that he understands what
he is doing. there will be no opposition
TO his being taken back to Italy.
So soon as the report Of the alienists
is made, should they agree that CharI-
ton is not Of sound mind, application
will be made for a writ OF habeas cor
pus TO get him out Of the jail here. In
this way, it is expected, he can be COM
mitted to an asylum where he can he
properly cared for
Young Charlton spent quiet night
in his cell in the Jail here. He read
The Last Days of Pompeii" until the
lights were turned out. According to
the Waterman Charlton slept well
throughout the night and ate break
fast rs if he was hungry.