Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-27
The Charlton Case.

Charlton. slayer OF his wife, whose
body was found in a trunk in Lake
Como, Italy, is formally arraigned
tomorrow before Judge Blair in the
county court in Jersey City, it is prob
able that attorneys for the defense
will demand the appointment OF a
commission to investigate his mental
condition. The chances that Charlton
will be sent back to Italy to answer for
his crime are growing remote. 1t seems
probable that the commission will be
secured. Charlton declared insane
and confined in Jersey mad-house.
In the event the prisoner is found to be
of unsound mind, the Jersey authorl-
ties will probably refuse to turn him
over to the federal government for
transfer to the Italian authorities,
even should Italy decide formally to
demand extradition. As yet Italy has
made no formal request for Charlton.
Until this request is received, the State
Department can take no official cogni-
zance Of the case, and Charlton will
remain prisoner in the hands OF the
Jersey authorities.
Charlton is still in a highly nervous
condition in his cell in the county Jail,
under the constant care Of physicians.
Chief Of these is DIR. William J. Arlltz.
alienist, who still maintains that the
prisoner is insane.
Rome, June 27.-The Italian For
eign Office will make a formal demand
upon the United States for the extra
dition of Porter Charlton, who killed
his wife near Lake Como, but will not
press the demand. This action was
decided on today.
While no member of the foreign
office would make an official statement
regarding the governments attitude,
it is evident that a failure on the part
OF the United States to grant the de-
mand would occasion no regret here.
One OF the attaches of the foreign
Office intimated that he wished Charl-
ton would be found insane, so that
the demand could be refused without
any apparent slight to Italy.
Rome, June Elf Porter Charlton
is not insane, he probably will be with
in one year from the time he is sent
back to Italy, il, indeed, he is turned
over to this government.
That is the firm belief Of everyone
who knows anything regarding Italian
prisons and punishment.
Every prisoner convicted in Italy
must begin his sentence with term Of
solitary confinement, heightened ac-
cording to the total sentence imposed.
There is no capital punishment
The solitary confinement portion Of
Charlton's sentence would be served in
a stone cell, under the level Of the
street, where no light may ever pene-
trate The cell is six feet long, six feet
high and three feet wide. Usually it
is infested with rats and yermin.
Along the side of the cell is an 18-inch
board. six feet long. This must serve
as a bed and chair.
At the top of the cell is narrow
hole, through which, however, no light
can come. Through this hole food is
passed twice a day During his soil
tary confinement period, this food CON
sists of nothing but soup, bread and
water. A pitcher of water is allowed
in the room. There is no other furnl-
ture. As there is not enough light to
read, the prisoner must simply sit with
his thoIghs, day after day. He has no
reckoning of time. He does not know
night from day. He may think, that
is all.
One hour each day he will be allowed
to walk in the narrow court yard of the
prison, not with the other prisoners,
but in a narrow walled space reserved
for his use. He will not even see his
guards at this time, though they will
watch him. He will never hear the
sound of human voices. He will re-
ceiye no letters, nor write any.
Bresci, the Paterson, n. j., anarchist
who killed King Rumbert, could stand
only three months of this solitary inn
prisonment. Then he strangled him
self with his bed quilt Two other men
who attempted the Kings life are still
alive, but both are hopeless embeciles,
driven mad by the early solitary con-
finement.
A great agitation is sweeping Italy
now for modification OF this form of
but it has had little weight
with the government, which abolished
capital punishment at the demand OF
the people and substituted this form OF
punishment.
DlaZ Reelected.