New-York tribune., 1910-06-24
INSANITY TO BE THE PLEA
Charlton's Father Will Try to
Get Him Into an Institution.

paul Charlton, father or forteT CHdtl'oii,
! arrived at Hoboken from washington
about 10 o'clock last night with another
| son, George Charlton They were met py
r Floyd Clarke, a lawyer. OF NO. 81 wall
street and he went with them to the office
OF Chief Hayes. Recorder McGoVern WAS
called. and after a conference if was an
nounced that on the request OF the young
mans father the Recorder had agreed to
withhold disposition of the case unui
Charltons friends had an opPoi lui1fe' ~
arrange their defence
IT was intimated that the defence might
he insanity. Under the laws of Italy there
is no capital punishment. and 1t Is the
,,r.c+soe there when person of whose
nrobatle guilt the authorities are saushed
&c ont of the country, to have MIN con-
der,na55 At what is termed trial IN con-
+umscv" This practice is adopted 10 rop
tho fugitive of the benefit Of the statute
- I,r,itations which would otherwise
render his arrest illegal after five years
Such q course however, is not seherahs
adopted until after the police nave eA-
hausted their resources trying to ma the
man suspected.
In any case whatever other plea may De
entered his friends viii urge that there
mee no reconciliation in the Killing anu
will exert all the influence tney possess "
boya the charge of manslaughter suosI-
tured for that of murder
After his talk with Recorder Mcdo'erh'
NJ charlton and his other son asked u
COO tbe prisoner. Porter charlton was
brought TO the chiefs office, ana as He
entered shook hands with his father. A
long conference ensued.
Mr. Charlton, after the interview saiu
that he would apply to the feoerai au-
,horities for permission to ascertain MS
SONS mental condition, and ne hah no
doubt that the report would JUSTIFY MS III
csrceration in some institution Cnder such
circumstances it is said. the Unlted States
Government would decline to allow eXtradi-
tion even though the Italian government
should demand it
Porter" said the father, was a tuoer-
culous boy, who had to go away for rest.
She was a woman Of experience and almost
twice his age After they went abroad L
had two letters from my boy, both unlike
ANYTHING he had ever expressed and as
absolutely different If he were an en-
tirely different person He had been re-
fined and moderate, but those letters were
so different 1 could not believe 1t was my
son.
ITO my mind" he continued, 1.-The most
| convincing proof of his insanity is his re-
turn to this country. His every action
since his arrest points TO an unsound mind
For instance when he was told that i was
coming here to help him he remarked:
| How fattering!"
MI Charlton added that he had heard
of the marriage only when he came to New
! York In March to attend the annual dinner
| Of the University Club. His son met him
at the station, and on their way TO the
Hotel Woodward Porter told him Of his
marriage. The father met his daughter
in-law, but their talk was unsatisfactory,
as was another after dinner
MI Charlton proposed that his son should
join the army, he could be sent to a
post where the climate would improve his
lungs Porter insisted on going to Italy,
however, and as that climate was favor
able, the father consented to provide for
him financially.
Throughout the conversation in the police
Office the young man appeared listless and
Indifferent, although his father manifested
his affection for him and assured him that
he would receive all the protection that the
law could afford, and would have the best
defence obtainable.
Mr.. Clarke wouldn't say much about the
line Of the defence, except that there
would be insanity plea. He expects to
have associated with him when he appears
before Recorder McGovern this morning
William D. Edwards. former State Sena-
tor and one OF the leaders of the Hudson
County bar, with a reputation as an able
criminal lawyer. A bitter fight will be
made against extradition