The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-28
Here's Story Of Young
CbarIton's Mad Love Affair

years ago. when she was twenty-four,
Mary Scott. daughter cf II. II. Scott,
of San Francisco. was ole OF the bellies
of the Golden Gate city and the life
OF its gay society.
AT that time in the city Of Omaha
. little boy OF ten years, sou of Paul
Charlton, leading attorney. was
romping with Tie kids" of his neigh
horhood, and leading them into in-
Vulnerable pranks of the boyish kind.
His name was Porter; his mother was
dead
Within 10 years a blind fate drew
the boy OF ten and the society belle
OF twenty-fcur from their homes In
different corners OF the continent and
placed them. as chief figures. in one
OF the most remarkable murder case :
that have ever stirred the capitals OF
America and Europe.
She is dead now: lie murdered her
after they had been husband and wife
for only three months.
In 1897 Mary Scott, In San Francis
co, became the wife OF Neville Castle.
lawyer. Castle lost his fortune In
litigation. and his wife. luxury-lovihg.
ran up hills which would have thrown
him into bankruptcy out for friends
In 1900 she went on the stage, In
play called The Princess and the
Butterfly" This was at Stockton,
Cal. and the wrenching which she
gave the nerves OF her fellow players
and the stage force by her demands
and dictation on that opening night IN
January are in the annals OF the Pa
cific coast stage world
Falls In Love With Actor.
Mary Scott continued her stage
career. Her eccentricities grew. She
wouldn't sleep under the covers Of
her bed at all hours of the night, In
the sleeping cars, she would awaken
members Of the company by calling 10
them Historically. One OF her pen
chants was 10 fart on the train just
as it was pulling into a town. She
feE in love with Lawrence Griffith,
an actor in the company. and loved
him with a wild. desperate abandon.
Her husband secured a divorce from
her, and went TO Alaska, where he IS
now United States district attorney
Mrs. Castle and Griffith quarrelcd
and violently. Together
they went 10 New York To appear in
hut Griffith at last broke
the spell, and left her; she chased
him twice across the continent in
vein.
This was in 1905. Porter Charlton
was a high school boy in Omaha
then. His father Paul Charlton. an
intimate friend of VIM. II. Taft
they were members of the same class
al Yale--was seeking an official posi-
ton in Washington. and he was ap-
I Ointed to the legal department OF
the bureau OF insular aaffirs.
He went TO Washington In 1907. talk
ing his son Porter with him
Porter wanted 10 go into the bank
ing business; his father went to Frank
A. Vanderbilt. president of the Nation
al City bank, in Wallst.. and asked
lin 10 give his son place. Wander.
lip Immediately took Porter IN. That
was Dec. Z. 1908 He became one OF
rhe most promising clerks in the
tank. lie was spirited, ambitious
and wrote verses
Last August Mary Scott came to
New York: her love for VIM. p Craig.
lawyer. had turned TO hate. and
murder was i'm her heart Now fate
hdh hiOhEbA lhtii iiltO the same CITY.
Mary Scott and Porter Charlton. On
the afternoon If Aug. 3. In the won.
derfully beautiful peacock allev" Of
the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Mary Scott
met Walter Craig.
You will go back on me?" she
shouted, drawing a pitifully small. sill.
ver-plaited revolver from her gown.
She fred the weapon at the man; the
bullet struck his fountain pen and
caused only slight injury. She was
arrested but the case was dropped.
Loves Her at First Siuht.
She established herself in n small
but exclusive hotel. One night i'm
January OF 1910 Porter Charlton was
taken by friend to her apartments.
Their paths had met ut !ast-he
boy lust looking out ON life: she a
woman who had seen so much of Il
thot the eyes of her mind and soul
were tired.
lie loved her from the very first
sight, and she loved him. To her he
seemed 20 bring back the youth that
had gone, with all It's PASSIONS and It's
i Ares.
/ ~ the bank they soon discovered a
chsnee In him: his smile was gone:
be grew haggard. One DAY ne tele.
phoEed TO his father IT. Washington
that the doctor had told sim he rad
tuberculosis: he pleaded for advice
The father hurrfad to Nau va.t 80