The Detroit times., 1910-06-11
ALARM IS SOUNDED
FOR MANS ARREST
IN MURDER CASE
Mutilated Body of Mrs. Mary Scott
Castle Charlton, an American, Is
Found in Trunk and Police
Seek Her Husband.
Victim of Murder Tried To Kill New
Yorker Last Year and Had
Spectacular Career.

COMO, Italy. June 1.-THE whole or
Italy Is being searched today and the
seas are being honeycombed with
wireless messages In an effort to APP
prehend Porter Charlton, OF Washing
ton, the youthful husband OF MrE.
Mary Scott Castle Charlton. whose
mutilated body was taken from a
trunk found In Lake Como yesterday.
The theory that Charlton also was
slain has been abandoned by the po-
lice. There are reports that he was
seen In Como as late as Wednesday,
but these have not been verified.
ismolatoff, the Russian arrested at
Roggiano yesterday, who was seen
many times In the company OF the
Charltons at their cottage near Mol
trasio, has been sweated by the police
but has thrown no light on the MUIR
der. The police, however, look upon
him as an important witness and po-
lice experts from Rome have arrived
here TO continue the investigation.
lsmolatoff insists he last saw tho
Charlions In their cottage and that
there was nothing then TO indicate
that crime was impending.
The authorities cling to the belief
that there may be connection be-
tween the murder of Mrs. Charlton
and the death of Miss Estella Reid,
the New York girl whose body was
found on the beach at Naples on April
"A. They were In almost constant COM
munication with the Naples authori-
ties today regarding the murder. Noeh
ing 10 connect the two murders has
yet been made public.
The proprietor OF the Suisse hotel
In Como, where the Charltons stopped
for few days before taking up their
residence in the cottage near Moltra-
sio, was examined by the police today
regarding Charltons alleged mistreat-
ment OF his wife. He admitted that
the stories of cruelty were true and re-
peated his statement that the couple
auarreled so violently and that Charl-
ton treated his wife SO badly that he
was forced to expel them from the
hotel.
The police believe that Charlton,
who was at least IL years younger
than his wife. soon tired OF her after
their marriage three months ago. In
formation having been received from
AIIeTlCd tudt lie IudIEltu hcl do ZIG
result of sudden infatuation.
One of the most complete dragnets
ever set for fugitive Is spread for
Charlton and 1t Is not believed that he
can long evade arrest. Every ship
ping point has been warned and the
police throughout Europe have been
given descriptions of him.
The Charltons evidently sought to
throw an air OF mystery about them
selves while here. They reversed their
names and were known as the Charl-
ton Porters. To some people Charl-
ton passed as the nephew of his wife.
the disparity In their ages making this
easy.
A search OF the effects OF Mrs. Charl-
ton found in her cottage failed to
give any clue to the murder. There
we're scores of letters addressed to
her under her maiden name Of Mary
Crittenden Scott and the name Of her
first marriage, Mrs. Castle.
Mrs. Charlton had spectacular
career. She startled New York Aug.
last by shooting VIM. B. Craig,
New York lawyer, as he stood In the
Waldorf-Astoria Her revolver was
pathetically small. and the bullet was
DETECTED by fountain pen In Crafg's
pocket and he was uninjured. The
case never came to trial.
Mrs. Charlton was formerly Miss
Mary Crittenden Scott, daughter Of
the late II. II. Scott, at one time a
leading coal merchant OF San Fran
cisco. She went on the stage 10 years
ago, and was later married to Neville
II. Castle, who is now United States
district attorney at Nome, Alaska. He
got q divorce from her at Nome on
The grounds of desertiOn.