The Washington herald., 1910-06-13

Even to his intimate friends. Judge
Paul Charlton has denied himself since
the receipt of the shocking news of the
murder Of his daughter-in-law. whom he
had never seen. and the disappearance OF
his son. Porter Charlton. Indeed. those
who know him best say that the father
Is Frustrated over the tragedy, but frnly
convinced Of his sons innocence of
Wrong-doing. A friend of his said yes
terday that the judge was eagerly await
ing some news OF his sons whereabouts,
as he fears that the boy is out Of funds,
and though the Judge Is far from being a
rich man-having lost rather heavily in
real estate transactions In Omaha-he is
prepared to do all that he can to defend
his son.
Young men in Washington who asso-
ciated with Porter Charlton while he
lived here all agree that he had Inherited
much Of the careful elaboration of his
father, and was by no means the sort OF
man 10 be LED to crime or TO act on i'm
pulse. They scout the idea that Porter
Charlton is a murderer. and are much
more Inclined TO think that, like his wife.
he has become a victims
Popular in school.
When he first came here from Omaha,
then lad OF about fifteen, he entered
school and was very popular with his as
soeiates. The same was true of his
younger brothers, Robert and Denison.
All three were manly. companioEable fel-
lows, and made friends rapidly. Porter s
education was finished at st. Luke's
Academy, near Philadelphia. He devel-
oped an aptitude for business. and sue
ceeded admirably in New York.
Porter Charlton is now reputed to have
been a somewhat unruly youth. So de-
claTes dispatches published In several
newspapers yesterday. II. however, the
testimony Of near and dear friends of
Judge Charlton are to be believed, men
who knew not only the father, but the
son, these reports are erroneous.
Porter Charlton's boyhood was spent In
Omaha. where his father moved from
Pennsylvania. Judge Charlton was a
member Of the firm of Montgomerv.
Charlton & Hall, one of the leading com
mercial law firms of Omaha. The father
was not what might be called a highly
successful lawyer. He was a man i'm
bued with the Eastern spirit. Essentially
a gentleman, he was too sensitive. Der
haps. to enter into the hurly-burly prae-
tee Of Western city, but a scholar
we'll read in law. thoughtful, and con-
sentative Senator Willard, of Nebraska.
believed very highly in Judge CharItons
talents and co nmended him to President
Taft, who was the more willing to listen.
as Charlton and the President had been
Of the class of IS at Yale. So when Gov
Magoon was sent TO the Isthmus OF
Panama, making vacant the position of
law officer of the Bureau Of Insular AZ
fairs, the appointment Of Judge Charlton
was logical
Boy Was Not Wild.
I see by the papers, said a friend
yesterday, that Porter. the judges son.
is described as something OF an athlete.
should think this description was far
from the truth. I saw him about a wear
ago. He looked younger than twenty
three years. with which he is credited
He is about the same height as his IA
Their, who is not a tall man: slight of
build, and rather delicate Of manner. I
never knew the boy well, but I do know
that he got on well in the banking bust
ness in New York. and the fact that he
won promotion and was sent abroad TO
act as foreign banking correspondent
would seem adequate refutation of ali
The stories that he was inclined to be
Wild. The New York banks are not pro-
noting to positions of trust young men
IF that character.
From my knowledge of the Young
man. his character, and bringing up. I
should regard the suspicion that he was
n any way a party TO the murder Of his
vile as out Of the question. I an conf
lent that further search viii have to he
made for the mystery in this case"
Many Washington people now racsr,
he murdered woman, Mrs Porter Charl-
ION. Her appearance here at Chase's
vas the week of May s, l9Cl-not 1902. as
heretofore stated-and the announce |
neW featured her as follows:
And an extraordinary attraction Mary s.,+. |
md Company, in the stirring colonial sketch. "In
WaShiDgtons Time.
Comment on sketch.
Referring to her performance. a local
paper said:
Mary Scott, a clever young actress, and her CON-
ANY presented ene-act story. "In Washington
Time. Paul Lawrence. played by Lawrence Grif- |
tn, bearer Of dispatches from Gen. Washington /
lists his sweetheart. Molly seswell He is pursued
y British. and the adroitneSs Of Molly in conceal
ng Paul and the papers and their capture Of the
ofroral commanding the detachment Of purslers /
make the story, Miss Scott is very natural in her
york. and invests the heroine with the charm Of /
ainty personality. well as with dramatic warmth.
. jackson plays the part Of Tory and ]. Williams /
hat Of CORPORAL Blake.
Her stage venture. however did not
'rove promising and she secured no fur
her engagement Immediately. Remain /
ng here, she sought other work. and /
ried, among other things, to turn her |
land to newspaper writing. For a few /
lays only she was employed at a photo /
'raphic establishment She was bright |
nd attractive, and those who made her |
acquaintance unite in saying that she |
conducted herself with the ut /
most modesty and propriety. Two or
hree distant relations of Mrs. Charlton
eside here. but they know nothing about
er life other than has already been
rinted