Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-12
CHARL TON GIVES
Up HOPE As HIS
FRIENDS DESERT.
Suffers MeIancholia in Italian
PrisOn-BeIieved Hounded by
Ghost of Slain Wife.
BY CAMILLE ciANFARRA.
Special Gable to The American.

ROME. April 11.-Writing to a
lend here from Como Jail, wnere he
IS awaiting trial, Porter Charlton
says that unless something is done to
insure the appearance at this trial Of
some witnesses favorable to him ana
efforts were made to hire at least one
alienist to fight the Government ex-
perts as to his mental condition a.
the time of the crime he committed,
he is almost sure to get the longest
sentence ever melted out to any assas-
sin of the brigand type.
Since Deputy Porto withdrew as
one of counsel retained to defend him,
All preparations for Charlton's defense
have been discontinued and to-day
the young man is practically left
without a legal adviser. with the ex-
ception of eX-Judge Palmiefi, who is
in New York and can not be Of much
help to him At the same time the
Kings prosecutor at Como is power
less to aid Charlton in any way ex-
cept by assigning to him some lawyer
to defend him when the trial begins
Apparently Charlton is under the i'm
preston that the prosecution. with
nobody looking after his interests,
will obtain the maximum penalty.
Deserted by Relatives.
To his Roman friends Charlton
makes no secret of the fact that his
relatives and friends in the United
States have all deserted him and that
unless someone hastens to his aid he
will not be able to place before the
court even the "extenuating circum-
stances" which is refused only to the
most hardened criminals.
Explaining the latest developments
in his case. Charlton says that for
the last three months he has not re-
ceived a single word from his father
who is now a practicing attorney in
Porto Rico. Warm as the appeals to
him have been. Judge Charlton has
not. for reasons yet undisclosed
deemed it opportune to take direct
interest in his sons trial
Those Americans who considered it
their patriotic DUTY to retain Deputy
Porzio during the preliminary inves-
tigation now feel that they have done
more than their share of duty and if
the prisoners father refuses to con-
tribute to his sons defense fund they
must withdraw.
Prison Rules Strict.
Owing to the limitations imposed
upon him by the stringent rules of
Italian prisons. one Of which forbids a
prisoner to write more than two let
ters a month. Charlton has not vet
been able TO acquaint his friends with
the exact status Of his case.
1t is known, however, that of the
long list Of witnesses residing in the
United States which the prisoner sub
mitted to the authorities in order that
thagra axrfda,,1o 5r,I,A /. -
Italian Consular agents, only a few
have been considered important
enough to be called Among such
witnesses are physicians who exam
ined Charlton during his detention in
the Trenton prison. but their testi-
mony serves no practical purpose I'M
less Corroborated by an Italian alien
list
Deputy Perzio's defense was based
on the theory that on the night Of the
crime. following a two months de-
bauch, In the course of which Charl-
ton imbibed tremendous quantities of
alcohol, the defendent was not moral
" responsible for his actions.
Suffers Decisions.
In the course of long examinations
by the investigating judge. Charlton
became convinced that so far not a
single WltneS IS favorable to him has
been heard. This has induced a
state Of melancholia which the prison
physicians are trying to counteract
hV special treatment. He is allowed
more freedom and more books than
Italian prisoners, and Of late he has
dropped into the study of Italian,
which, In the course OF "A few months,
he has mastered TO the extent Of
reading and writing and making him
self understood by an examining
Magistrate
According to the story from the
prison. Charlton also is suffering from
decisions. Recently while Wild
storm was raging on Lake Como, the
echoes of which Charlton distinctly
could hear IN his cell, he was sudden
~ seized by violent agitation and
loudly exclaimed:
Il heard the voice OF Mary Scott"
He was finally quoted, but since
then wild expression in his eyes as
Of q man bounded by ghosts is dis
tinctly noticeable.
owing TO delay caused by taking
testimony in the United States,
Charlton's trial is not expected to be
called before the fall term of Como
assizes.