Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-24
CHARLTON'S CASE
The Wife Murderer VIII plead Insanity
Counsel Employed by Defense.

Counsel Employed by Defense.
Hoboken, n. j., June 24.-With his
father and former friends rallying to
his defense, Porter Charlton, who con-
fessed that he murdered his wife, Mary
Scott Castle Charlton. in the villa on
Lake Como, Italy was more cheerful
today then when he was arrested after
his arrival on the Princess Irene. Al
ready plans for his defense have been
made. He will not be allowed to plead
guilty as he declared he would. In
stead powerful firm of lawyers will
defend him, and it will be alleged that
he was insane when he committed the
crime.
The first move made by Judge Charl-
ton. the father OF the boy, upon reach
ing this city from Washington, was to
engage attorneys TO defend his son. j.
Fred Clarke, New York lawyer, who
represented the elder Charlton. has
secured former State Senator William
d. Edwards, of Jersey City, to represent
the youth while he is in the Jersey jail.
As soon as Edwards entered the case he
issued an order that the rights OF the
prisoner we're to be respected and that
he was not to talk with anyone. He
also warned the accused that he has
done enough talking already.
Although Edwards refused to talk
about the case, it is certain that the de-
Tense will be insanity. Alienists will
be engaged to examine the young man,
and his statement made to the police
after his arrest yesterday will also be
taken as indicating lack of mental
balance.
The various divisions of the Italian
law bearing on homicide correspond
to some extent with those Of the Amerl-
can law. Attorneys who are familiar
with the Italian procedure declared to-
day that if all Of the evidence against
young Charlton is Of the circumstantlaI
order and if his confession made yester-
day is admitted, he can hardly be CON
victed OF any higher degree than man
slaughter, the penalty for which would
likely not exceed six years imprlson-
ment. That, however, would be close to
a death sentence, as the Italian prisons
run largely to solitary indoor confine-
ment and Charlton has tuberculosis.
1t developed today that Judge Charl-
ton met his sons wife in New York
hotel Immediately after they were
married. He called on them at Por-
ter's invitation and questioned Mrs.
Charlton regarding stories he had heard
about her past The result was a
quarrel between father and son, and it
was partly because Of this that the
couple decided to go abroad for time.
While the relatives of Charlton
were rallying to his defense Captain
Henry Harrison Scott, U. 5. A, who
was responsible for the capture, was
preparing to aid the Italian authOri-
ties in furnishing the murderer of his
sister. Captain Scott declared that he
was not actuated by any desire for
revenge in running down Charlton, but
that he wanted to see justice done.
He had already taken steps to have
Mrs. Scott Charltons body brought
to this country for burial in the fam
lily plot in San Francisco. According
to Captain Scott, the money with
which the Charlton's set up their es-
Enlistment on the shores of Lake
Como had been received by Mrs.
Charlton from her former husband,
Neville Castle, who, on securing a
divorce from her settled large amount
on her in lieu of alimOny. This state
ment takes issue with the declaration
OF Judge Paul Charlton that he furnish
ed the money.
Como, Italy June "a. The Italian
judicial authorities today took the
preliminary steps for the extradi-
ton of Portor Charlton, murderer of
his wife Mary Scott Castle Charlton,
who was arrested in New York yes
terday.
NJ. Guglia, the kings procurator,
who conducted the investigation OF the
murder, has sworn to an affidavit
formally charging Charlton with the
murder. This will be signed by the
Judge and sent at once to the Italian
foreign office, through which the de-
mand for extradition will be made
upon the United States State Depart
ment The feeling is strong here that
the demand for extradition will be COM
piled with.
Charlton's case was called in the
court at Hoboken this morning, but at
the request of the prisoners counsel it
was postponed until next Tuesday
morning. Charlton has been placed in
the Jail at Jersey City.
Rome, June 24.-The trial OF Porter
Charlton in the opinion of the deputy
minister of justice, will take place in
the Supreme Court at Como the week
of August l.