The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-26
PORTER CHARLTON
ACTS LIKE MADMAN
Alienists Will Recommend In
sane Asylum for Him
A RIGID EXAMINATION
Counsel for Captain Scott, Brother of
the Murdered Woman, Does Not
Believe That Charlton Is as
Crazy as He Seems


Crazy as He seems
New York, June 25.-(speeial.) lit
was announced tonight that the
group of alienists who were examin-
ing Porter Charlton. the self-con-
fessed slayer of his wife at Lake
Como, Italy. would make their official
report on Tuesday, declaring Charl-
ton insane and recommend that he be
sent to an asylum for the insane or
private sanitarium.
According TO the statements of the
doctors. Charlton has displayed forty
different moods since locked up in the
Hudson county. New Jersey jail. He
has cried. laughed. roared with rage,
sobbed thrown himself on his bed, and
then stood defiant. That's a statement
from DR.. William Jerome Arlitz. one
Of the alienists employed by Judge
Paul Charlton, the victims father.
He conyinces me-" said DR.. Arlitz
tonight that he is suffering from a
form Of criminal insanity not unlike
that which afflicted Harry Thaw.
There is no doubt that Charlton is
insane" continued the doctor He has
become worse since he was arrested
and the confinement is telling on him
with remarkable rapidity. I ques-
toned him for more than an hour on
the subject of the Lake Como murder.
He impressed me as The most emotional
character I have ever seen.
THE diagnosis, while not complete.
bears out what I have learned of his
early life. There has always been in
sanity, but 1t did not manifest itself
in acute form until the moment of the
murder. On several occasions he has
shown a wild rage such as is common
in dementia praecox."
Rigid Examination
The examination through which young
Charlton was put by DR.. Arlitz was the
most rigid test ever given a prisoner in
the Hudson jail. He was questioned on
almost every detail OF his life.
Some Of the alienists who are engaged
In this case took part in the fight for
Harry h Thay's life. The alienists are
DR.. Charles L. Dana, DR.. Allen Nc
Lane Hamilton and DR.. William Jerome
Arlitz. They held a long session with
the youthful prisoner in the Hudson
county jail late this afternoon and even
ing. There will be another examina-
ton tomorrow and another on Monday.
BY Tuesday, the time for the hearing
in the state courts Of New Jersey, the
report will be ready.
Judge Charlton returned to Washing
ton late today 10 confer with the depart
ment of state and make the request 10
person that extradition negotiations be
held off until the alienists make their
final report on his sons mental condi-
ton.
There was a pathetic scene IN the Jail
when Robert Charlton met Porter Charl-
ton. his younger brother. late today. Rob-
ert was the more affected. He wept
copiously. "Oh. l say, old chap, brace
up" said Porter, carelessly. They can't
do anything to you, you know" Later
Charlton called for his favorite book.
THE Last Days of Pompeii." Then he
asked for the newspapers. but these were
refused him. II only want to see the stock
reports and to learn how things are go
ing in Wall street." said the prisoner.
Searching for Precedent
=
by Capt Henry Harrison Scott. the vic
Tins brother, burned the midnight oil to-
night delving into law books and records
of previous cases. He Is determined the
move to send Charlton to a mad house
In America be thwarted. Mr.. Fuchs Will
make an appeal 10 the state department.
asking that Charlton be turned over to
the Italian authorities for trial.
1T cannot understand why a man whose
70 a brutal murder should
be declared insane said Captain Scott
when told Of Charlton's examination. 1T
seems strange that such efforts are being
made to prevent extradition.
At the Army and Navy club tonight
Captain Scott spoke feehngly of his sister.
She was a noble-hsarted, generous and
lnselfsh sister." said he. I'm 1896 both
OF our parents died in San Francisco,
mother first and father less than four
months afterward. from pneumonia an a
broken heart" he continued. Il -vas In
the University of California al the tine.
AS there were four children younger than
Mary and /, 1t devolved upon us to take
charge of the family. | was "a years old.
Members of Family
The other members of the scott fam
lily are Mrs. Fred levin, whose hus-
band is an official of the Bank of Brit
ish North America IN Montreal; Miss
Katherine Scott, now living at NO. EVZf
Broadway, San Francisco; Austin Car
rington Scott of Oakland, Cal, and Ted
Robinson Scott, who died yearsago.
Mary, the eldest and most talented
member Of the family. had graduated
from Miss Lakes sch DOL when she w9s
IS years DID, said the army officer
She was an accomplished pianist, and
had a beautiful singing voice. besides
having real literary ability. I1er aunt.
Mrs Monroe Salisbury, had Introduced
her into society and she had a host
of gentlemen admirers, and many pro-
posals Of marriage. At the time of
our parents death she was 23 years
old, and at the height or her social
success.
up to the time of the death OF my
father we children had always believed
him to be man of considerable means.
We lived In large house on Wash
ington street In the Preside Heigh $
district. and we were accustomed to
every luxury.
Then / found that l had to take
off my coat and go to work and /
WAS here tLat my sister showed her
fine qualities.
'Sbe gave UP many of her rich
friends and became a foster mother
to the younger children"
oTFET. GnMRINE