The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-14
MRs.CHARlT0NAND
HERHUSbANO BOTH
WERE SLAIN
IL u. 8. CONSUL CAUGHEY.
Ambassador Leishman and American
Representative at Milan Arrive at
Scene of Murder - Lake Is
Dragged for Charlton's Body.
Consul Says It's Plain Case Of Double
Murder With Robbery as Motive
Russian Still Held.

COMO, Italy. June 1.-THE police
have almost despaired of getting any
clue to the murderer OF Mrs Mary
Scott Charlton from Constantine lspo-
latoff, the Russian suspect. who Is I'M
der arrest.
Ispolatoff was In the "Sweatbox
nearly all night. but all TO no avail.
Ispolatoff's defense was so strong
that the detectives suddenly switched
their tactics and told him that they
were convinced that Charlton Killed
his wife and asked him whether ne
could not furnish them with the clue
10 the murderer. Aside from saying
he knew Charlton was jealous OF his
wife and frequently worked himself
into a frenzy through heavy drinking,
the Russian threw no additional light
on the case.
United States Ambassador Leish-
man and United States Consul
Caughey at Milan are now on the
scene At Leishman's request divers
were brought TO Lake Como today
and began searching the part or the
LAKE where the body of Mrs. Charlton
was found. Leishman and Caughey
are convinced that Charlton was muir
dered.
Its a plain case OF a double muir
der with robbery as the motive,
Caughey said to the United Press cor
respondent. "All the money and jew
clry belonging to the couple have
disappeared. Not the slightest trace
of Charlton has been found. We have
sifted all the stories that he was seen
I'm various places after the crime and
have found them absolutely unre-
liable. The report that Charlton had
sent messages to certain persons. fol-
lowing the discovery OF his wifes
body. Is absolutely false. Porter
Charlton's body is somewhere In Lake
Como. There Is nothing TO bear out
the theory that Charlton killed his
wife and then committed suicide
Stories of wild orgies in the Charl-
ton villa, of midnight dances on the
lawn. Of incantations and weird exer-
cises that savored strongly of orien-
talism have been told to the police by
country folk and villagers who hap
pened TO pass the Charlton home late
at night. The theory OF insanity is
strengthened by the statement OF the
Procurator OF Venice that Charlton
ana MS vile stopptu ioi ScNSiai uus %
at the Hotel Europe. the latter part
Of April and registered as brother and
sister. occupying separate rooms.
One OF the official staff of Count
Guiglia. the Milan procurator, who Is
assisting in the investigation. said to
the United Press today
THE Charltons were strange
couple ! think that Mrs. Charlton
was insane and her huband, probably
10 humor her. adopted her whimsical
ways.
THE woman suffered from a physi
cal malformation, the Importance OF
which should be disclosed In the Of
fetal report on the autopsy. Women
have frequently been known TO go In
sane from similar defects. There Is
every reason to believe that Mrs.
Charlton. despite her mental disorder,
exercised a potent influence over her
husband. The fact that he married
her after such a brief acquaintance,
when she was IA years his senior and
with a past that was none too attrac-
tive, proves this"