The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-06
LEWISTON TO BE.TRIED
THE CALIFORNIAN HELD AT LONDON
FOR MANSLAUGHTER.
Verdict of the Jury-Tbe
Generals Account of His Encounter
with the Street Musician.

LONDON, June 5.-Dr. George Danford
p. Thomas, the coroner for the central dis
trict Of the County of London, held an in
quest to-day in st. Pancreas up onthe
remains of George Burton, the itinerant
musician, who was killed on May 30 in
Acton street, Grays Inn road, by Gen. John
Hewstcn, of California, who thrust the
point of his umbrella into Burton's left
eye. Griscom Ricketts,, solicitor, repre-
sented General Hewston, who was present
at the inquiry. The coroner's jury to-day
returned a verdict holding General Hewston
guilty of manslaughter. and added a rider,
saying that the jury did not believe that
the wound which caused Burton's death
was inflicted willfuliy. 1t is believed from
the finding of the jury that Hewston will
eventually be acquitted.
James Bryan gave important evidence for
General Hewston. He said that he was
walking on the opposite side of the road
when he saw General Hewston being
hustled. The General, he added, tried to
extricate himself and Burton raised the
camp stool in his right hand as though
about to strike. General Hewston, who
had lifted his umbrella in order to avert
the blow, stuck the ferule in the mans
left eye. The witness also testified that
he had heard a bystander remark, after
Burton had been struck: THAT serves him
right" The umbrella and camp stool were
mere produced In court Tor the eXamina-
ton of the coronerS jury.
General Hewston was called to the wit
ness stand. He said that he was by occu-
patton an analytical chemist, and that he
had been In charge of the National Guard
OF California for fourteen years. He lived
in San Francisco. and was now staying
with his friend, Mr.. Lorin A. Lathrop, the
United States consul at Bristol, who had
come from the latter city in order to be
of service to him in his trouble. Describ-
ing the ARRAY, the General said: ION
Wednesday evening, May 80, / was walk
ing in Gray's Inn road. On turning into
Acton street 1 saw a man carrying a harp
on his back, the ends stretching out be-
yond his shoulders. We were both walking
rapidly and the harp caught my shoulder
and face. 1t did not hurt me a bit, but, i'm
pulsively, L pushed the instrument aside
and walked on. / had not gone more than
up to me and asked why l had pushed the
harp. l turned round and faced him. The
deceased said something and menacingly
raised a camp stool in his. right hand. /
repiied: I'll punch you in the eye and
hinged at me. /, not intending any harm,
threw up my umbrella and 1 felt 1t touch
the man. / then turned and walked on. not
Cured. / had not gone more than a few
yards before some men ran up and. stopped
me, saying: You've knocked that mans
eye out That was the first intimation which
l had received that anything serious had
happened. AS some of the men who had
run up appeared inclined to hold me-, I said:
Leave me alone; I'll wait for a police
man."
Burton's companions gave testimony SINH
lar to that given at the first examination.
The coroner summed up lengthily, and
said that the question for the jury TO de-
termine was whether the death OF Burton
was caused by a misadventure or by man.
slaughter. The jury returned a verdict as
stated above.