The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-05
HETHERINGTON'S TRIAL.
The Result Depending Upon the
Evidence for the Defense.
His Trial Was Fixed for Last Week and Is
Probably Now Concluded-Mrs. Heth-
erirgton's Demsanor.

In the universal exclamation OF horror
which has greeted the announcement Of
various indiscretions on the part of Cover
Robinson and Mrs. Hetherington, number
Of wild statements regarding their intimacy
have been made which are not borne out
by later and presumably more accurate in
formation.
That is the opinion of r. nj. Varnum,
who has been resident of Yokohama for
score Of years and who knew all three
actors in the social tragedy during their life
in Japan. For a time the shooting occa-
stoned great deal Of talk and some ex-
element In Yokohama. but that has quoted
down and people have begun to realize that
they have made some eXtravagant state
ments.
Like all foreign colonies" said Mr.. Var
mum. "Ours has two sets, the more and the
less fashionable. There are about 800
European residents in each class, and those
who are not in what is considered the best
class are extremely jealous OF those who
are. and are inclined to gossip good deal
at the expense OF their neighbors WHO are
moro fortunate socially. This may ex-
plain some ScandalOus things which have
been said. and in which i know there is no
truth"
Mr. Varnum went on to say that the story
published in a San Francisco paper TO the
effect that Robinson maintained luxurious
apartments. in which he received Mrs.
HetheTingtOn and other married ladies' was
manifeStiy untrue, inasmuch as the
pleasure-loving broker resided with num-
Der OF other unmarried men.
BACHELORS QUARTERS.
These bachelors had kept house together
for the last two years In dwelling which
they called "The Niche" where it would
I have been impossible for one to take lady
without tho r0pniZauca of the others and il
is not presumed that either of the sup
p0sedly guilty parties desired to advertise
their amouTs. Any meetings between them
other than at social functions were held i'll
the hotel.
THE tragedy has been discussed good
deal in the club and in other circles" re-
sumed Mr. Varnum, land all the mutual
acquaiatanceS of the parties concerned
agreed to suspend judgment until some
proof Of Mrs. Hetherington's guilt was ad-
duced at the trial The inquest developed
nothing beyond the bare facts Of the shoot
ing:
CONSUL General Tilotson told me Just
before we sailed on the 18th ult, that beth
erlngton's trial would probably commence
on the 2jtI-a week ago-sO that ii is prob
ably concluded now and his fate known.
Whatever evidence tie defendant has of
his wife's infdelity is in the possession of
his lawyer, and il is sheer nonsense to say
that the letters exchanged between the
W
hands of Captain Bartlett
IF HE CAN PROVE 1T.
IF Hetherington can prove any OF the
wrOngdoibg which has been alleged, he will
certainly be acquitted; if not, he will almost
as surely be convicted"
DO you know anything of Mrs. Hether-
ington's demeanor since Robinson's death 2"
''She has kept quietly in her room, and so
far as l could learn went nowhere except to
visit her husband in prison. | have not
seen Hetheringt0n since his arrest. nor has
any one except his wife and his attorney,
SO far as | am aware.
He has always been regarded as fine,
manly fellow and made many friends dur
ing his short sojOurn in Yokohama. The
English residents are really more strongly
in sympathy with him even than the
Americans. The custom of shooting a
wfe's lover Is not so common With the
British as with us. Their remedies are
different. but they are not nearly so lax in
their social observances, and therefore con-
denim tho indseretion, # it was nothing
worse, more severely than we do. III Mrs
Hetherington had been an English woman
the whole affair would have been different
from start TO finish
''She is younger than you suppose. I
should place her age at about %. She is
just as pretty as has been represented and
probably very indiscreet but / have not
made up my mind that she is guilty of all
that has been laid at her door,"