The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-24
DEFENSE WILL
Be INSANITY
Porter Charlton's Counsel Will Con-
tend Prisoner Was Mentally I'm
sound When He Slew Wife.

HoBOKEN. y. Y, June 24.-Plans
for the defense Of Porter Charlton'
who confessed that he murdered MS
wife. Mary Scott Castle Charlton III
their villa on Lake Como, Italy are
being made. His lawyers VIII con
tend he was insane when he killed.
his wife
The first move made by Judge
Charlton. the father OF the boy, on
reaching this city from Washington
was 20 engage attorneys 10 defend MS
son. ! Fred Clarke. a New YORK law
yer. who represented the elder CharE
ton. has secured former State Senator
William ID. Edwards, OF Jersey Clty'
10 represent the youth while he Is III
the Jersey Jail AS soon as EDWARDS
entered The case he issued an -order
that the rights OF the prisoner were
20 be respected and that he was not
10 talk with anyone. He also warned
the accused that he has done enough
talking already
Alienists will be engaged 10 examine
Charlton and his statement made 10
the police after his arrest yeSterua!
will also be taken as indicating lack
of mental balance
The various divisions OF the ltallah
law bearing on homicide correspond
20 some extent 10 those or the Amerr
can law. Attorneys who are tamiiiar
with the Italian procedure declared
today that il all OF the evidence
against young Charlton is of the CIR
cumstantial order and II his comics
sion made Yesterday is admitted. ne
can hardly be convicted or any hlgher
degree than manslaughter the penalty
for which would not exceed six years
Imprisonment. That. however, would
be close 10 death sentence as the
Italian prisons run largely to soltary
indoor confinement and Charlton mas
tuberculosis,
On the other hand Marquis Di Mou'
Itaeliari. the Italian charge aHalres
of the washington embassy. who IS
here TO represent the Italian govern
nent in the case against Charlton
said he believed the evidence all point
ed TO premeditated murder. lie sal!l
that he was prepared 10 institute tne
formal proceedings for the return OF
Charlton TO Italy without unnecessary
delay. First the Italian consel-general
complaint alleging that Charlton Is i
fugitive from justice, wanted IN ltaly
for murder This complaint VIII DC
fled with the United states comm ;
yioner in Hoboken, who VIII then set
a date for a hearing on the charge
Young Charlton passed last night IN
his cell with a guard watching ais
every movement through the bars,
Chief OF Police Hayes said that while
he did not believe that Charlton would
attempt suicide. he was not takin
chances.
ITO my mind" said Judge Charlton
.odav. "the most convincing proof that
NV son is insane Is the fact that he
returned 10 this country in the man
rer that he did His every action
since he was placed under arrest
shows that he is not responsible, lie
las talked with every one he has met;
there has been LITTLE sense in many OF
his statements. and when he was told
that I was coming here to aid him he
said: How fiattcring. And his let
ters TO me since bis marriage were
alled with extravagant statements
that would never come from man
of sound mind"
Charlton's preliminary examination
was adjourned today by Recorder
McGovern at the request of Charlton 5
attorneys. They explained that they
had lust been brought into the case
and wanted time TO familiariZe them
selves with It. There was no op-
nositjon from Prosecutor Garven and
the case was set down for next Tues
lay morning at 10 o'clock.