St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-15
The Yokohama Coroner's Jury
Finds a Verdict Of Wil]ful
Murder.
Before Dying Robinson Ex-
pressed Forgiveness for
/. the Deed.
British Naval Vessels Had Re-
fused to Receive the
Dead Man.
Half a Million Men Lying Idle
II on Account Of the Miners
.
d Strike.

= IndICIl Ill G lIIQutSl
into the circumstances attending the
death of George Cover Robinson,
prominent broker and society man, shot
by Lieut.. j. III. Hetherington, of the
United States steamer Marion, Feb. Is.
was concluded on the 18th, with a YER
dict charging Hetherington with wlllful
murder. The latter had accused Rob
inson with alternating his wife's affec-
tons, and meeting Robinson, who was
driving with friend named M. Pors,
on the afternoon of the 18th, Hethering-
ton fired three shots at Robinson, one
bullet passing close to PorS. the secohd
also flying wide of the mark. but the
third striking Robinson in the side,
Shattering his hip.
The ball Travelled forward and upward
util it reached the stomach. Robinson
was carried into the United club build
ing, where he fingered until 1l:30
O'clock Sunday night, Feb. II, when he
died. Before death he caused q letter
to be written to United States Admiral
Belknap. expressing pardon for Heth
eringtOn'S act. and requesting that the
utmost possible leniency might be
shown in dealing with the case. Many
prominent officials and residents of
Yokohama were present at the inquest.
DIR. Wheeler testified that he found the
bullet in Robinson'S abdomen, and that
death was caused by hemorrhage. Dr.
Eldridge testified that Robinson told
him in ALI Indirect way who fired
the fatal shot, and added: doctor,
if l get through this time aliye,
He'll Finish Me
next time" The doctor replied: mo,
if you recover he'll be out of the way
of doing you any mischief" On Rob-
inS0n asking what the doctor meant, the
latter stated that Heiherington would
be- arrested. Robinson responded:
"Good God. that will never do; it will
ruin the poor fellow" After repeating
this Robinson asked DR.. Eldridgc to
write, from dictation, to Admiral Bel
KNAPP. In the letter Robinson used the
phrase. as nearly as the witness could
remember, to the following effect:
If anything from me can make the position
of Lieut.. Hetherington easier or better shall
be very glad. fully forgive him.
M. Pors testified that Robinson was
one of his best friends. On Saturday
afternoon he went driving with Robin
son. The witness attention was called
To man who stepped up to the side of
the cart with revolver in his hand.
The man, whom he subsequently aScer
tanned was Lieut.. Hetherington, cried
out 'Stop, You blackguafd." Robinson
made no reply, as Hetherington at the
same time fired the first shot. POrs
testified second shot was fired while
be was rising from his seat TO jump
out; Robinson cried out, "Oh, my God"
and bent over 10 the left side. The
witness jumped to the ground saying,
"Gower,
ases5 Drive for Your life;
I'll stop hiai.'' Witness struck the
ground and received some Commissions.
When he rose the cart had proceeded
some distance. PorS testified he threw
himself upon HetheringtOn and they
both fell. The latter rose. Pors clinging
to him, endeayorng to seize the reyol-
yer and imploring, Hetherington to de-
sist. ibis continued for some seconds,
Hetherington expressing his intention
of continuing firing. Finally he dropped
his arm, saying: Il have done it,"
Pors then ran after Robinson and two
DOlICtIUcu LOOh CltNlS vi IlctHCIinS
Robinson had told him that afternoon
he wa. in some trouble, but was pledged
not to aiyulge what he had heard.
Tie coroner then reviewed the evil
dei,-,, impressed upon the jury that in
cons saering a verdict they must dismiss
from their minds all reports and rumorS
which they might have heard. The jury
returned the following verdict: 1--WE
find from the evidence laid before us
that George Cover Robinson, broker, of
Yokohama. died Feb. IA from bullet
wound inflicted by j. Ii. Hetheringt0E,
lieutenant of the United States navy,
Feb. -. and we find said J. II. Hetl-
erington guilty of wIlful murder"
Robinson's funeral took place Feb 90.
and was attended by a majority of the
leading residents.
Lieut.. Reamy, of the Marion, was the
first OF Hethtringtons friends at his
side, and his wife arrived at the consul
ate shortly after Owing to the fact that
Robinson had beer involved in vai ious
other scandals. it is cOntenlled that the
feeling was SO strong against him that
a number Of British war vessels in port
refused to receive him on board. De
spite the fact that he was rich and
prosperous merchant, surrounded by
friends, none of the latter came forward
to swear to a complaint against his
slayer.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 14.-Rear Ad-
miral BeIknap was interviewed today
concerning the Hetherington tragedy at
Yokohama. While refusing to express
an opinion as to the business OF Heth-
erington's act, the admiral intimated
that public opinion in Yokohama was
not all against Hetherington, although
the occurrence is deeply deplored by
everybody,