The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-15
TRIAL OF HETHERINGTON
Partial Detailed Report of the Procses
ings Before Consul G eneraI Tiliotson,

Partial Detailed Report of the Proceed
ings Before COnsul-GeneraI TilIotson.
SAN Francisco, April l4-The Yoko-
hama papers which arrived on the steamer
China yesterday contain reports of the
first three days proceedings.of the trial of
Lieutenant Hetherington for shooting
Cover Robinson. In his address for the
prosecution H. c. Litchfield dwelt upon
the fact that Robinson and Hetherington
had had quarrel on January 1 and had
been separated by friends. Then that
matter seemed to be dropped. Litchheld
claimed that Hetheringtons acts showed
that he shot Robinson in cold blood and
that the act was premeditated. The testi-
mony of those who witnessed the shoot
ing was similar to that given at the in
quest.
The only new testimony was given by
Constable McCanes, of the United States
consulate, and by Lieutenant Rogers, on
the Marion. The constable testified that
when Hetherington came to the consulate
Immediately after the shooting he was
greatly excited. Witness heard him say,
as he walked up and down waiting impa-
tiently for the consul general to appear:
"Oh, if had only followed my first i'm
pulse, and had used that whip. tried to
scare him, only lost control of myself"
The lieutenant testified that he was a
friend of Hetherington. Then he added:
/ went with him to the Union Club on Janu-
AIRY !, aud with him saw Cover Robinson. Mr..
Read was there, as well as some Others. We
went there with the intention of horsewhipping
Robinson. Hetherington was very much ex-
cited at the time. but he was pacified and the
whipping was not done. In February i saw
Read aud gave him to understand that Robin
son was coming back; if so, there would be
trouble, and asked him to keep Robinson from
coming back.
On cross-examination the lieutenant
said that Read declared he had washed
his hands of the whole matter since Janu-
airy /. Read remarked that it would be
better to let Robinson come back and take
his whipping, as it would do him good.
The trial then went over to March 81.
YOKOHAMA, March 26.-On Wednesday, March
%, the work OF swearing in four assessors to Re
associated with United States Consul-GeneIIl
Tillotson in the hearing of the trial of Lieuten-
ant j. H. Hetherington, United States navy, for
the murder of George Cover Robinson, whom
Hetherington accused OF undue intimacy with
the latteI's wife, began at the United States con-
sulate The complaint against Hetherington
was sworn to by William b. Herbert. a resident
OF Yokohama, aud charged the lieutenant with
feloniously, willfully and of malice Afore-
thought numbering said George Cover
Robinson, against the peace and dig
nifty OF the United States" H. C.
Litehfeld was counsel for the prosecution,
A. Iison for Hetherington and J. y. LOwder
attended under a retainer for the British min
lister CAPTAIN J. F. Bartlett, of the United
States steamer Marion, Hetherington's vessel,
was also present when Hctherington was ar
raigned. number of those summoned to act
as assessors testified that they had formed opin-
ions on the case. They were accordingly ex-
empted n f. Smith, 5 Sondhem and Rev.
Z. s. Booth were accepted as assessors despite
the objections OF Lowder to one OF them,
the consul general denying the right OF
loyder TO take part in the proceedings.
Counsel Litehfeld requested that Lowder
be- permitted to assist him In the
case but Tison objected on behalf of the defend
ami. as Iowder was employed by the British
minister and the law provided that counsel to
assist the prosecution could not De employed by
any one not a party before the court Consul
Tillotson said he had been informed that Low
der had also been requested by Nj. BAD, wit
ness in the case, 10 appear III court as associate
counsel for the prosecution. He had received
the information from Litehfield. Lowder asked
nermission to deny the statement, but the court
ruled that he could not be permitted 10 address
the bench during the session OF the court
Lowder then asked permission, as an
individual upon whose character some
reflection had been made, TO mako an
exclamation. This was granted. Lowder said
he had informed Blad and other friends OF The
deceas ed Robinson. who had requested him to
act as associate COUNSEL that they, as private
individuals could not retain him to appear De
fore the court without q retainer from the
British minister. He refused TO appear. llson
insisted that the British minister wasa private
Marty and the court ruled that no assistance
could be furnished the prosecution A demurrer
10 the indictment was then presented 0!
Ti.on. and the court adjourned 70 March Is