The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-24
JUDGE CHARLTON
SEES SON IN PRISON
Much Affected as He Grasps
Young Slayer's Hand.
LAWYER AND BROTHER THERE
Painful Scene Follows Meeting in
Jersey City Police Chiefs Office
Attorney Declares Prisoner Is De-
mented Because of Tuberculosis,
from which He Is Dying.

New York. June 23.-Judge Charlton,
the father, and his son, Robert Charlton,
arrived in Jersey City tonight from
Washington on the Congressional Linn
tied. Accompanied by ]. Fred. Clarke,
a lawyer, of 81 Wall street. they reached
the jail in Hoboken at 1856 o clock and
went into Chief OF Police Hayes office.
Recorder McGovern was called in FIVE
minutes later.
After a conference II was announced
that when Porter CharltOE is aTraigned
before the recorder tomorrow morning
counsel will ask for an adjournment OF
at least twenty-four hours. This, IL was
said. would be granted Former State
Senator William d. Edwards, OF jersey
City, is said to have been retained for
Charlton.
The prisoner was brought out from his
cell at 1925 o'clock by Detective Sergt.
Fallon. flashlight caused him to jump,
and he remembered the experience TO hold
up a newspaper before his face when no
returned to his cell. He was taken to
the chiefs office and there shook hands
with his father. His attorney Mr..
Clarke, said later that at first he refused
his head and saying mo, sir" After
ward. Mr.. Clark said, the two brothers
embraced and kissed each other.
Father Much Affected.
Judge Charlton was very badly broken
up by his sons arrest and confession.
and the scene between father and son
was peculiarly painful Chief Hayes fear
ed that the strain OF the meeting would
be too much for the young prisoner. and
called in Police Surgeon William J. Ar
litz The latter remained a few min
utes. but was not needed
After the conference, Mr.. Clarke made
an extended statement He said that on
March % Judge Charlton came on from
Washington 10 attend tie dinner Of his
Yale class. which Is also President
Taft's. at the University Club. His son
Porter met him at the station and took
hun to the Hotel Woodward 10 meet his
wife, whom his father had never seen.
The father was anxious TO find out some
thing about his daughter-in-law's past,
but the interview, Mr. Clarke added, was
not very satisfactory. After the dinner
Judge Charlton returned to the hotel, and
Z
satisfactory than the first. The son be-
came somewhat angry with his father
and considerably excited.
After Porter Charlton and his wife went
abroad. Judge Charlton received two let
ters from bis son. Both of these. Mr..
Clarke said were incOherent and peculiar.
and entirely different from any letters
that had passed between father and son
/ before.
The lawyer announced that Porter
/ Charlton would be examined b. alienists
within a few days. He said that the
young man was dying from tuberculosis,
and that Il was possible the disease had
unbalanced his mind. The Charltons
would fight any attempt at extradition,
( he said.
Insanity No Defense in Italy.
Mr.. Clarke was asked II insanity. in case
a commission should decide that the
young man was insane. would make any
/ difference with an effort at extradition.
1 He said that this would raise some nice
/ questions Italian lawyers say that in
sanity is no defense against a charge Of
murder in Italy
When his son entered the room Mr..
/ Clarke said that Judge Charlton stepped
/ forward, tooh nm bN tite manu. anu Sdlu
I'VE will protect you" The son replied:
Nothing will make any difference what
| ever becomes of me.
1 Mr. Clark said that he believed the
/ prisoner is suffering from partial de-
mentia; that he seemed clear enough in
some things. but blunt in others The
/ lawyer said the young man was prac-
/ tically unmOved by the meeting with his
/ father. and seemed indifferent. The diff
/ ference between father and son in this
/ regard was striking. Porter Charlton
said. in the course Of the interview, that
/ IL anybody should say anything against
/ his wife he would not believe it: that he
still believed in her fully He also said,
I Mr.. Clark continued. that he was not
/ drunk at the time OF the murder, sad
that he had been living happily with his
| wife The lawyer said he seemed 10 be
unable to recall the details OF the muir
| der or of the events leading up 10 ii.
Mr.. Clark said that just after the
| young man was twenty-one his father
tried to get him to so away for treat
ment for tuberculosis, but that Porter
refused TO CO. and when his father
pressed the matter the son said he was
Of age.