The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-21
RELATIONS BETT1 LEN DEFENI -NTS
WIFE Z } DECEASED
Testimony of Captain Bartlett of the
United States Steamship Marion
Concerning a Conversation Had
With Robinson as to Why He Per-
sisted in Forcing His Attentions
Upon Mrs. Hetherington When He
Knew Her Husband yYas Away.
Special to the RECoRp-USroS.

by the steamer Empress Of Japan brings
details of the defense submitted in the
TRIAL OF Lieutenant Hetherington, u. S.
N, for the killing Of GoeYer Robinson,
before the United states Consular Court
in Yokohama. The case had not been
concluded at the date of the steamers
sailing. On March 31st Mr.. Tison, for
the accused, made a presentation of the
facts and produced numerous witnesses.
He said he had found great trouble in
procuring material witnesses, as most of
the persons he wished to produce We're
travellers, and could not be brought be-
fore the court. Mr.. Tison said he would
produce testimony to show the relations
between Cover Robinson and Mrs.
Hetherington, the formers dishonorable
conduct, and the justification which
Lieutenant Hetherington had in taking
stringent measures 10 protect the honor
OF his family, and also that the feelings of
accused were so wrought upon by the
conduct Of deceased that the act was I'M
premeditated.
Evidence was then introduced to show
that notes had passed from Mrs. Hether-
lngton to Robinson in November last:
That they were carried by regular mes
sengers of the Grand Hotel, where Mrs.
HeJnerington stopped, and that there
was no secrecy about them. Hethering-
ton returned from cruise in December.
and owing to what he had learned of
Robinson's conduct toward his wife in
his absence he went to Mrs. Bartlett, the
wife OF Commander Bartlett of the
United States steamship Marion, and
asked her to take charge of his child as
he considered that his wife was not a
rnpr hot
The accused later in the day told Mrs.
Bartlett that he had agreed to live with
his wife the same as ever. on account of
his child. At a ball on January 23d
Robinson took UP Mrs. Hetherington's
dance card and wrote on it, and shortly
atterward left the ballroom alone. 1t
was also shown that he entered the hotel
by back door that night and went to
Mrs. Hetherington's room.
The evidence OF Captain Bartlett
showed that Hetherington made con-
hdent of him, and that on the same day
That he asked Mrs. Bartlett to take charge
OF his child, he told Bartlett that he
wanted to horsewhip Robinson. Bartlett
told him that he would not allow such
scandal, and Hetherington agreed that if
Robinson left Yokohama he would be
satisfied, but that if he did not 90 he
would have to take the consequences.
Bartlett went to see Robinson, and asked
him TO leave Yokohama. The interview
was an animated one. Robinson said he
was going to leave on January 9th, and
had made arrangements to sell out on
Mrs. Hetherington's account, and had
even refused to attend the ball because
Mrs. Hetherington was to be there.
Captain Bartlett gave the following &C.
count of the ensuing conversation: Il
asked Robinson to explain his attentions
to and his prosecutions of a married
woman, and why he followed her when
he knew that MIR. Hetherington was
away. | said: Robinson, Hetherington
wrote you early in December in an hon
orable and gentlemanly way. You wrote
a letter III answer, also in an honorable
and gentlemanly manner, in which you
said you would give him no more cause
for anxiety, and yet, after giving your
word of honor as gentleman that you
would leave Mrs. Hetherington alone,
no sooner was her husbands ship out OF
harbor than you go to the Grand Hotel
ITO this Robinson replied: But she
wrote me a letter that morning, asking
me to come and see her. She is always
setting her cap at me. Every day she
persecutes me. She has followed me.
trying to get me to pay her attention.
said: Would it not have been easy for
YOU to have sent some of those notes to
the husband, and things could have been
settled ut once? You blame this woman
YOU, a man who knows that woman can
never be blamed since the days of Eve.'
For the first time, lost my temper.
/ called him ID coward to try to Fl X
the blame on the woman. 1t was very
trying, and l continued: On you,
d-n you; you scoundrel and villain, if
I had been in Mr.. Hetherington's place
would have put bullet through you at
sight
"Robiuson turned to me and said: 81
believe Lieutenant Hetherington is iusti.
fed in his conduct. l deserve shoot
ing; / deserve anything. 1 have been
expecting Lieutenant Hetherington to
shoot me- / said l would not allow any
shooting here, and continued, nor win
l allow any horsewhipping if you behave
yourself, but If you misDehaVe again,
then | will be present and see you horse
whipped / said it was my belief now
that instead of the woman setting her
cap at him, he had deliberately laid siege
to her from the first day she landed.
Robinson promised not to attend any
ball or dinner to which Mrs. Hethering-
ton was invited, and if by chance he
should meet her TO feign illness and
leave, but at that time l learned that
Robinson had made arrangements to fol-
low Mrs. Hetherington, should her hus-
band take her away with him. Robin
son had softened in his manner during
the conversation, and he said he deserved
to be shot and expected it,"
Captain Bartlett's evidence further
showed that Robinson had expected that
Hetherington, accompanied by Bartlett,
was going to horsewhip him, and that his
friends assembled to protect him. They
afterward persuaded him to go to Kobe,
but he returned.
Though Robinson had promised never
again to meet Mrs. Hetherington, on New
Years Eve, while driving past the Grand
Hotel, he looked up at the window in
which Mrs. Hetherington was, and
smiled and kept smiling until his car
riage was out of sight. Lieutenant
Hetherington was in a passion over this.
and was going to horsewhip Robinson
that evening, but friends persuaded him
not to do so.
Robinson was shown TO have proposed
a scheme of flight to Denver, and to have
sent the note to Mrs. Hetherington's
room by a friend. He told the bearer
that the note asked Mrs. Hetherington
not to send any more letters to him.
The evidence for the defense showed
many acts on the part of Robinson tend
ing TO compromise Mrs. Hetherington,
and that he had spoken sneeringly of her
to his friends, and said she was forcing
her attentions on him. He also showed
her letters TO his friends. Ii was also
shown that during this time Robinson
continued sending letters to Mrs. Hether-
ington, which she refused to accept from
the messengers.
Other witnesses testified TO the accused
being IN greatly excited condition for