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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 24, 1910)
THE MORNING OREGONIAX. FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1910. 1 1 i i 1 i PORTER CHARLTON MURDEREB.GAUGHT Bank Clerk Confesses to Kill ing Wife After Dramatic Arrest on Pier. LAKE COM MYSTERY ENDS Callow Youth, Taken as He Steps From Lilner After Army Officer's Remarkable Premonition, Tells Story of His Crime. (OonUnued From tMrst Page-) Charlton's confession, the, prisoner said in a steady voice: "I beg your honor's pardon, but there Is a small mistake. Where that docu ment reads, '1 have no defense to make and wish to make none,' it should read, 'or wish none.' The man's tone was that of a care ful, clerkly person, anxious to have his manuscript read smoothly. His eye Wows were slightly raised, his lips slightly pursed, with the bored expres sion of a blase youth in a club window. The Recorder looked at him in blank surprise. Sweat was rolling down the Recorder s red iace, Dut cnariton was cold as Ice outwardly. He wasn't even perspiring in the choking atmosphere of the crowded room. "Very well. Charlton," said the Re corder, "if there are any errors or omis sions in this statement, you may cor rect them: Do you wish to make any? "I do," said the confessed murderer. "Will you' have a pen?" asked the re corder. "No, thank you," said Charlton, cas ually, almost airly, "this will do very well," and he drew from his pocket a bit of pencil and from the final sent ence of the confession struck out the words "to make." Handcuffs Slipped On. Charlton held out his hands, a. pair of steel handcuffs were slipped on them and locked and he was led away to a cell. Except for the fetters on his CHARGES AGAINST PACKERS OUAGHED Indictment of Beef Trust Seri ously Defective, Judge Landis Rules. added to his statement the following postscript: "I have been informed that C. K. Ispolatoflf has been Implicated, and I wish to state that this gentle man is absolutely guiltless. I have no defense to make, and don't wish to." "Don't you know that the autopsy showed that your wife was not dead when she was put in the trunk?" one of the detectives asked the prisoner. . Self-Control Lost. Again Charlton lost his self-control. "Oh, my God, it could not be," he cried. "She must have been dead." The youth showed a curious desire to protect the reputation of the woman he killed and refused to answer ques tions bearing on her life abroad. "Is my wife's name going to appear dn this?" was one of his first questions. After Charlton had been led away to a cell Captain Scott Bat with his bands clenched tight about his walk ing stick and told his story. "Several days ago," he said, "I made kip my mind that Porter Charlton would tome back to this country. He had no friends in Europe, and it would be his natural Impulse to come home. Tester day I learned that the Deutschland was due here, and later at night I got a ten days' leave of absence and made up ny mind to go to New York and watch every Incoming steamer. Description Obtained. "In New York," continued Captain Bcott, "I went to the National City Bank, where Charlton was employed. There I obtained a description of the man and a sample of his handwriting. Then I went to Hoboken and saw Chief of Police Hayes, and laid the traps for tbe apprehension of Charlton. "While I was giving the description of the man I was Informed that the Prinzess Irene had just docked. Al though I had made arrangements to tneet the Deutschland down the har bor with a tug. I hastened to the North German Lloyd dock. The Prinzess Irene had just discharged her passen gers and the customs officers were ex amining their baggage. Three de tectives were with me. "We looked in two or three stalls and in the last I saw a young fellow I thought answered the description , of Charlton. He was looking about him and his hands trembled slightly as he opened his bags tor the Inspectors. We went up to him ' and I asked: 'Aren't you Porter Charl ton?' He denied this emphatically and told me that his name was Jack Cole man." Charlton Signs Name. Captain Scott here described how he liesitated to order the man's arrest and forced Charlton to write his signature, which, tallied so accurately with a Bample in his "possession that he felt sure no mistake was being made. Charlton then was taken to headquart ers, where he again signed his name. Again there ' was marked resemblance to the handwriting in Scott's posses sion ' but there was yet doubt in the minds of the police until they examined the Inside of a small collar-bag. There they found a tag, such as is attached to clothing. It was lettered "P. Charlton." Several sheets of paper covered with typewritten verses were found also and one of these bore the signature, "John Rodney" (Porter Charlton), the former apparently a pen name. When the youth saw this evidence he stepped close to Chief Hayes, and said: "Yes, I'm Porter Charlton. I admit it." Then he glanced fearfully at his brother-in-law. fi "I won't make any statement in the presence, of Captain Scott," he said trembling. TH tell everything: only get Captain Scott out of the room." Scott withdrew and the youth then told his story. Finishing, he added calmly, almost smugly: "I have no defense to make. No defense." Charlton looked anything but capable of the deed to which he confessed. He is a blond and slender, under average height, with a face rather weak, but by no means repellent. He had on, a well rworn suit of blue serge and appeared rather down at the heels. His baggage consisted of two leather suit cases. Verses Are Found. Among the verses found in his effects were some written when he was only 12 years old. One bit ran as follows: "I struck with idle hands the strings on the harp of life "Twilight shadows fell across the up lands from the sky, ''Boft. fleecy clouds and tender shadows hid the signs of strife "Twixt the day and the night; and my touch unrolled before the eye '"The scroll that each man slowly learns to read, "Who soars above the common things and will the heights attain, "Whose heart -from earthly lust, from selfishness and pride is freed, "And In it reads these words, Who seeks for peace must pass through pain.' " Another verse was in part as follows: "The women whom I love indeed None has the time to sing. Because they are a multitude Greater than anything." Confessed murderer though he is, Charlton is not without resources. Soon after he was locked up he got an at torney. His father. Judge Charlton, ar rived In Hoboken to look after his son's case. The young man will be ar raigned before Recorder McGovern at 9 o'clock tomorrow as a fugitive from justice, and tbe disposition of his case from that time win rest with the J?ed ral authorities. Italian Consul Acts. As soon os Gustavo Dirosa, the Italian Consul at New York, learned of Charl ton's arrest, he. cabled his government for instructions. He believes tonight that he will be ordered to make applica tion tomorrow for extradition for trial in Italy. While life imprisonment is1 the se verest penalty Charlton could pay for Jiis crime under the Italian law. it is ex pectod that his family will endeavor to keep him fn this country. While the international law on the subject is not clearly defined, attorneys here and in -Washington think that in this they have a, good chance of success). After Charlton's confession, he was ar raigned before Recorder McGovern. As the Recorder finished reading ... . j i i ' immH.Uj:- -t-- 111 : '' Pi-vM ijjgj if Sjgiiijji!i!i;,;iSgiiif y v It Jjgaig.i'l."'iii Mihl'liftLlliil M r: Jadsre Kneuw M. Landis, Who Orders New Investigation of Beef Trust. wrists he might have passed anywhere for a bank clerk in rather indifferent health. As he was being taken out It de veloped that the murdered woman s Jewels had just been round in his baggage. Charlton's trunk, found on the pier. bore the single initial, "C." Satisfied that they had the right man, the offi cers, with Charlto'n securely manacled, started for police headquarters. It was then Charlton began to break down, for he wavered and almost fell. and the detectives had. to let him sit on the pier to recover himself. Charlton's arrest for murder gave every one who made the voyage with him from Italy on the Prinzess Irene a decided shock. They could not believe that the modest, unassuming, gentle manly young fellow, who made him self so pleasant on board, could be guilty of the crime he confessed. Youth Steward's Friend. Walter Rheinhold. of Dresden, stew ard of the second cabin In which Charl ton traveled, said Charlton cam to him on the dock in Genoa late in the aft ernoon of June 8, the day before . the steamer was to sail. He said his name was Coleman and that as he was some what short of funds after purchasing his ticket, he would like the privilege of sleeping on board the steamer that night. The steward looked him -over ana was impressed wun his ance, but had to tell him that the rules would not admit the granting of his request. Charlton went away, but was on hand early the next morning, hours before the steamer sailed. The next day when the steamer arrived at Na ples the steward found .the cabin would be crowded so he doubled up ioie- man with Charles J. Farquharson, a Canadian, with whom he made the re mainder of the journey. Charlton, the steward said, was pleas ant company to those with whom he as soclated, and everybody seemed to tmnK well of him. Relnhold spoke of him as "nice a fellow as you'd want to meet. The steward added: I can t believe ho committed a mur der." Charlton kept in the Canadian's com pany most of the time until last night when, on the eve of what he must have assumed would be the trying ordeal of landing, he invited one of the few Amer lean women in the second cabin, with whom he had formed an acquaintance, to an informal supper. Charlton opened two bottles of champagne during the re past, the steward said, and seemed ir the cheeriest of moods. This morning although he had retired late the night be fore, he was up before 7 o'clock and looked up Rheinhold. He told the stew ard he was still short - of funds and wanted to borrow $5. Rheinhold accom modated him this time. Charlton said he expected relatives to meet him at the pier and supply him with plenty of money, out of which he would repay the aeDt. ITAIilAX POLICE VINDICATED Consul's Theory of Double Murder Proves to Have Been Wrong". The body of Mrs. Mary Scott Castle Charlton was found packed in a trunk. which was taken from Lake.Como, pear the Village of Moltrasio, by fishermen' on June 10. The woman, with her hus band, Porter Charlton, had occupied a villa on the lake front leased by them some time before. At the time the worn an's body was recovered. Porter Charlton could not be- found. The Italian police have insisted that Charlton was alive and have directed their energies to finding the young man. American Consul Caughey, on the other hand, held to the theory that a double murder had been committed, and it was through his representations that the Ital ian authorities engaged divers to make a search of the lake bottom near where the trunk had been submerged. This work was only recently abandoned. Meantime, tne detectives ioiiowed up their own theory and their most recent conclusion was that Charlton was a pas- senger upon some steamer which had sailed from Genoa or other Italian port for New York. The only arrest made in Italy in con nection with the case was the detention of Constantino Ispolatoff. a Russian who had "made the acquaintance of the American 'and his wife. He was examined-repeatedly, but satisfied the police that he had not figured in Jhe tragedy and was released. NEW GRAND JURY CALLED Court Cannot Supply Fundamental Element ot Offense Is Decision Sustaining Demurrer Date of Wrongdoing Omitted. CHICAGO, June 23 Judge Landis in the United States District Court here today sustained the demurrers of the so-called beef trust to the indictment charging a combination in restraint of trade. A new errand jury was ordered to renew the Investigation of .the pack ing companies. The Indictment, drawn on evidence secured by the agents of the Federal Government, was against the National Packing Company and its 10 subsidiary companies, charging violation of the Smiles, handclaps and congratulations were exchanged when Judge Landis an nounced that the indictment would not stand, but the demonstration came to a sudden end when the court added: "Call a special grand Jury venire of 75 men for July 14." ' This body will be ordered to hear testimony with a view to finding valid Indictments against the packing com panies. The indictment quashed today failed to show, in the view of Judge Landis, that any offense had been committed within thettast three years. It did not show thatluring this statutory period the defendants had been engaged -a interstate Commerce. The general state ment that the packing companies en gaged In a combination in restraint of trade, the court declared to be a mere conclusion. Judge Landis said: "The court is not clothed with au thority to supply, entirely by inference, the complete omission of so fundamen tal an element of the offense." BOND BILL IS MODIFIED CONFEREES I DEADLOCK OVER IRRIGATION MEASURE. House Insists on Original Bill and Senators Will Not Yield An other Meeting Set for Today. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, June 23. The House having disagreed today to the Senate amend ments to the bill providing for $20, 000,000 of bonds for irrigation in the West, a conference is now in progress seeking to adjust the differences be tween the two houses. President Taft and several of the Western Senators held a meeting today to discuss the possibilities cf reaching an agreement. . The President was sat isfied to omit the provision that no project shall be aided unless it has the approval of a board of Army engineers. The Western " Senators have objected strongly to having the irrigation issue placed In Army hands. The compro mise agreed upon Svith the President sets forth that no project shall be iauuijcu Liitik ib uui appruvea ) y engi neers to be chosen by the President himself. - The bill as modified was submitted to the conferees, but the House members refused to agree to it. They insisted upon the original House bill. The Sen ate conferees, however, refused to yield, and there -will be a further con ference tomorrow. Under today's compromise provision, if it is adopted, projects in Northwest ern States which are in condition to re ceive part of the $20,000,000 will be promptly approved by the President. What is desired is to afford tu Presi dent some means of preventing waste of money on projects of questionable nature. There axe none such in the Northwest. TAFT CONTEMPLATES VETO? Rivers and Harbors Bill May Delay Congress' Adjournment. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, June 23.-Senators who talked with the President today declare that he Is inclined to veto the river and harbor bill, because he is anxious to economize; he regards it as too much of a "pork barrel" proposition. The parliamentary situation is such, however, that he may not be able to veto it. Unless the bill Is signed or vetoed by midnight Saturday it automatically becomes law. for It will then have been in the President's hands ten days. This situation Is likely to carry. Con gress over into next week, for the mem bers generally want the bill signed and do not want to adjourn leaving it In doubt. Should Congress adjourn before midnight Saturday and the bill not be signed, it would fail to become a law. Land Exchange Bill Blocked. OREGONIAN NEW 9 BUREAU, Wash ington, June 23. Senator Jones today undertook to pass through the Senate the Hamer bill permitting the exchange of scattered school sections in the forest reserves for compact tracts of reserve lands of equal value and area, but Sena tor Heyburn objected. Jones will renew his .motion at the first opportunity, though the chances are against its adoption. Private Collins Transferred. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, June 23. Private Hugh Collins, of the Signal Corps at Fort Omaha, has been ordered transferred to Fort Law-ton- t BOY CONFESSES MURDER When Girl Tried to Strike Him With Rocks, He Killed Her. CUMBERLAND, Md.. June 23. Harry Noland, arrested on suspicion of hav- Milllonalre Loses Daughter. LA GRANDE. Or.. June 25. (Special.) Diphtheria today claimed a victim in the home of George Stoddard, millionaire lumberman and prominent Latter-Xay Saints churchman. The deceased , was a girl of 4 years who was ill two days. An older daughter is critically ill and a younger son is threatened. No other cases have been reported In the city. HP m F7A?k " Schaffner & arx Clothes Hart M are all that's best in good wearables; know what you're getting when you them; you pay less than they re really worth and get more value than in any other clothes; high quality, correct style, best of tailoring. $20, $22.50, $25, $27.50, $30, $35,$40 you buy Manhattan Shirts $1.50 to $3.00 John B. Stetson Hats $4 to $10 The "Multnomah $3.00 Hats" "For style and quality lead them all" "Wunderhose" The "guaranteed hose for men, women ana cnildren, Box of 4 pairs for $1.00 Baseball Suits Free With Each Boy's Suit Cef jrritkt Han ScaaAer It Mars Sam'l Rosenblatt & Go. Northwest Cor. Third and Morrison Sts. ing murdered Mrs. Alice Brown Lytton, whose body was found in the woods below South Cumberland yesterday morning with her throat cut, has made a confession of the murder, police au thorities stated today. Noland, - who is only 16 years old, said he and the young woman quarreled over another girl. Growing furious, Alice, Noland claimed, attempted to strike him with rocks. He choked her and threw her to the ground, drew his knife and cut her throat twice, and fled. The slain woman was 18 years old. She was married at the age of 14 years to Charles F. Lytton, with whom she is said to have lived but one day. Hotel Idea Xot Abandoned. KLAMATH FALLS, Or.. June-" 23. (Special.) J. T. Anderson and B. D. Posthlwaite, who - have - been bere for the past two weeks trying to interest local people in the construction of a fireproof first-class hotel building, left this morning for Portland. While they failed to secure the necessary means here to put 'up the hotel they have not given up the idea. ; Man Injured in Rock Crusher. MILTON, Or., June 23. (Special.) Smith Hayes was seriously Injured while at work on a rock crusher here this afternoon. He was standing between the chute of the crusher and a car filled with crushed rock when the chute dropped and he was,-caught between it and the car. A rib was broken and be was otherwise injured. Hand Mangled In Gearing ATHENA, Or., June 23. .(Special.) Henry Miller, an employe of the Pres-ton-Parton Milling Company in this city, lost his hand In an accident at the mill last night. His hand was caught in some gearing and badly mangled. Physicians hope to save tbe Injured member. lample Shoe Man Wright Rooms 600, 601, 602 and 603 Oregonian Building as Purchased The Entire Stock of the World-Famous Korrect Shape $4.00, $5.00 and $6.00 urt L Packard Shoes For Men and Women, and Will Close Them Out FOR MEN FOR WOMEN .00 A PAIR NO RESERVE A Tip to the Wise: COME EARLY 0A ROOMS 600 TO 603 v SIXTH FLOOR OREGONIAN BUILDING MsmBBMHTAKE ELEVATOR wmmmmmmmmmmm These Are Player Piano Days at EilersMusIc House ELEVEN MORE . DISCRIMINATING BUYERS JOINED CLUB "E" v YESTERDAY. Latest Style $850 Player Pianos Procurable on the Eilers Club'plan for Only $586 A Big Library and Cabinet to Match Free. r i i 4 l-;. I.I, iff SSf ':. We want you to shop around and s$; the Player Pianos sold elsewhere. Ask them to show you their $1000 Player Pianos have them demonstrate them; or, better still, sit down and thoroughly test them out yourself. Note their mechanical points listen to the tone of the piano then ask on what terms the instrument is procurable. After you have thoroughly posted your self, come to Eilers Music House, and let us show-you what you secure by joining Club "E." We'll show you Player Pianos that are in every way superior, tonally and mechanically, to the instruments for which you are asked to pay $1000 elsewhere, sold regularly at the House of Eilers for $850. We'll also show you how, by joining Club "E," you secure one of these very latest' style 88-note brand new Player Pianos on the Club Plan for only $586. , We'll not only show you that this is exactly so, but we will prove it to you conclusively if you will but take a few minutes' time to investigate. Eleven more discriminating buyers, five of whom had looked all around, joined Club "E" yesterday. This is probably the greatest sales record for Player Pianos known. Not only do you effect a clean-cut saving of $264, but you secure, in addi tion, absolutely free, a magnificent library of nearly 100 rolls of music, con sisting of the best classical, operatic and popular selections, together with a beautiful cabinet to match. Club members also secure a beautiful bench, free tuning, free delivery and free insurance. You not only obtain the very finest of Player Pianos at a handsome saving, but you actually secure a com plete outfit without an extra item to pay for. This is a point you should not overlook. This unprecedented offer would in itself cause extraordinary buying. But on top of all this, you are not esked to pay from $75 to $100 down, and $25 to $30 a month. Pay only $21 down and the instrument is delivered to your home at once the balance can be paid on easy weekly installments of only $2.50. Remember, there are no dues, no red tape nor waiting. The Club Plan means simply that we're retailing a great number of instruments on a big wholesale basis. You haven't a moment to lose now. If you prefer a fine Baby Grand, you can obtain one now on Club "E" prices and terms you choose between the finest of Player Pianos and the choicest of Baby Grands. Think of it, the small sum of $21 places either one of these most desirable of all musical in struments in your home immediately. Act! S53 WA5HIXCTOS ST., AT PARK. Wholesale Dept., 1.1th and Ptltjgrove Sts. i Copyright, 110, by Eilers Music House In accordance -with U. March 4, 1903. 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