Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-11-06
WAR DELAYS TRIAL.
Charlton, Who Killed Wife in
Italy, Awaits Fate.
New York Judge, Retained for Dc
fenss, Processes to Be conhdept
Of Freeing Hlm-For Years
Behind the Barr.

New York.-It IL now more than
four years since Porter Charlton. the
twsnty.yearold American youth. killed
his middle aged wife In their cottage
q Lake Como. Italy, and placed her
body In . trunk and sank II In the
laka 1t II more than q year since his
Aght against extradition from this
country-to which he ded-failed. His
oass has been an extraordinary record
Of the laws delay. The European war
now intervenes to prevent his trial
nsxt November. the date set.
Judge Palmieri Of this city. retained
b ex,Judge Charlton. the young mans
fhthsr. to defend the youth. left New
York on July IL, on the steamship
Noltks. and arrived at Genoa to find
Italy excited over Austria's declara-
tioa Of war against Servia and every.
hing At standstill, the machinery Of
5ustice - well a. that Of commerce.
because Of the seemingly probability
tAst Italy herself would be involved in
he impending struggle. says the New
York World. He went on to Lake
Como and conferred with the authori-
tiss there. and 1t quickly became APP
parent that Charlton would not be
trisd in November. Judge Palmieri
found that under the circumstances
the trial will not be reached before
next February. 20 he decided to re-
turn to America. II took him weeks
to get steamship accommodations,
and he got back only recently. coming
IN the steerage, where one of his fel.
Iowa passengers was . Catholic arch
bishop from Kansas.
Il ind" said Mr.. Palmieri. that
there 10 general public misunderstand-
ing % to what punishment. II any.
may b meted out to young Charlton.
In Italy murder In the FIRST degree
calls for life imprisonment. But It
seems not to be generally known that
The young man IL not indicted for muir
der In the nrst degree. Following the
inQuisition which Charlton underwent
shortly after he was returned to Italy
Tie presiding magistrate gave It ~
bic opinion that the killing of Charl.
toa's wife was not premeditated: that
Il was done In the heat of passion.
The extreme penalty for such . con-
uction 10 20 years imprisonment. OF
course 1t would be of the most drastic
nature. because years of 1t would
have to be passed In solitary confine-
nent But the sentence may be much
hshter. The court may impose as
night sentence a. one year.
italian Judges in passing sentence
always take into consideration the
Sngth Of time the defendant has been
b prison awaiting trial. The condi-
tons under which an accused prison
= hives In jail over there are far
04erent from here. Here the law
Dsssumes that man IL innocent until
y b proven guilty; he can have his
ulends In to see him frequently. can
eoafer with his lawyer as often as he
Dleases. and may write letters without
stint and their complete privacy is
Secoenized.
Porter Charlton.
1t isn't like that In Italy. When
~ are arrested for . crime you are
supposed to be guilty until you can
how that you are not. In jail you
have to endure all the restrictions and
psivations of q convicted felon In
America. There are . few privileges.
ut the full opportunity to receive rel
atves and friends. privacy Of CORE
pondence and ample opportunity for
szerciss In the prison corridors and
yards arc fatty denied. Even Charl-
nae letters to me are censored"
Judge Palmieri expressed himself a
eompletely confident OF securing Charl-
ms acquIt:al IL Italy rs he did that
q Josephine Terranova In this city q
NJ years ago on the ground Of ado
tscent insanity. That will be the con-
uation In Charlton's case.
Judge Palmieri has been accorded
Ncnsnition at the Italian bar with the
livilege Of freely participating In the
uAl He has. however. engaged a.
Ne associate Giovanni Prozio member