The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-01
Strange Occurrence That Re
Gently Happened in London.
DEATH FROM A POKE
WITH AN UMBRELLA.
Hewston Asserts That He Was First
Assaulted.
He Mainly Acted in SeIf-Defense-He
is One of the Best Known and
Most Highly Respected Citizens
Of Ca1ifornia-Bondsme Secured
Something of His Record.


London, May 31.-An American who
gave his name as General John Hews-
ton, charged with causing the death of
George Burton, an itinerant musician,
yesterday by thrusting the point of
his umbrella into his left eye, was re-
manded today for week.
General Hewston is about 70 years of
age and describes himself as a chemist.
He was charged with manslaughter,
causing the death of Burton. By direc-
ton of the United States consul general
he was defended by Solicitor Ricketts,.
Benjamin Bowling testified that at
4:45 p. m. yesterday he saw three street
musicians carrying harp, a tin whistle
and a camp stool across Action street,
Hewston was walking on the opposite
side of the street. AS the musicians
passed, the harp caught in his arm.
Hewston thereupon pushed the man
carrying the harp, who protested.
ARM and holding up his umbrella he
said: TIL poke your eye with this"
The mar carrying the camp stool re-
sponded, We'll, do it," The general
then thrust his umbrella into the
musicians eye and walked away. Wit
1lCoS olOppSo HILL SuOTlly afterwards
the police took the general into custody.
Upon cross-eXamination Ricketts,
asked Rowing whether the man carry
ing the stool had threatened the gen
eral with it, remarking, 81 will poke
your eye with this
Witness replied: 81 did not hear him
make such a remark He held up his
camp stool in a threatening manner and
the prisoner thrust his umbrella very
quickly, his arm almost brushing my
face"
How it Occurred.
David Petber, one of the musicians
who was in the company of Burton,
testified he was carrying harp and
Burton a tin whistle and a camp stool.
! General Hewston knocked against the
| harp and then turned and deliberately
thrust his umbrella into Burton's face
The witness heard no previous CONVEX
sation between Burton and the gen.
eraL Burton certainly did not use any
threatening words toward the general
nor did he threaten him with the camp
stool.
Sebastian George said at the time of
| the collision between General Hewston
and Burton, he was a little in advance
| OF his companions. He heard murmurs
and turning around saw the prisoner
strike Burton in the eye. Burton
screamed with pain and fell to the
pavement with blood pouring from his
I eye. Hewston walked off saying to a
man near him, eff you try to stop Ae
| l will serve you the same
George asserted Burton was carrying
the camp stool under his arm when he
| crossed the street.
Henry Atkinson, a surgeon attached
| to the Royal force hospital said the
point of the umbrella penetrated the
brain. Directly the eye was removed,
| Burton died.
Solicitor Ricketts,, in applying for
bail on behalf of Hewston, said nobody
regretted the unfortunate occurrence
more than the prisoner, who was well
know in the United States, and who
! for fourteen years had been in charge
of the national guard of California.
! General P. A. Collins, the United
States consul in London, and Hon. l..
A. Lathrop the United States consul
| at Bristol, were both willing to become
sureties for the appearance of Hewston.
The magistrate remanded Hewston for
a week and accepted bail to the amount
of $1,000.
General Hewston stated before leav-
ing the police court that he had an
! important witness who will show that
The acted in self-defense. The general
| is confident he will be acquitted, as the
autopsy. he says, clearly established
the fact that the wound must have
| been inflicted accidentally.
| A representa- tive from the Associated
Press called on General Hewston this
afternoon and found him the guest of L.
A. Lothrop, the United States consul
| at Bristol, at the latters temporary
residence at Kings Cross. Mr.. Lathrop
lhad fastened to London from Bristol
in order to assist his friend.
Defense Reserved.
Mr. Lathrop said the general had
| been in London for two weeks past for
the purpose of carrying out an extern
sive financial operation. and was al
ready preparing to return home. Ac
lcording to Mr.. Lathrop, the evidence
presented today was merely of a formal
mature and General Hewston reserves
his defense and can produce several
witnesses who will fully confirm his
| own statement that he acted in self
defense
Mr. Lathrop said: General Hews-
ton tells me the deceased held up
camp stool in his right hand before
him, threatening to strike. The gen
eral lifted up his umbrella with the
view of warding off the blow. Before
| he was aware of it, the furrule had
entered Burtons eye"
General Hewston depends greatly
| upon the result of the autopsy of tomor-
| row or Saturday which they are con-
! fident with the testimony of eye wit
nesses will eXonerate the general and
lead to his speedy liberation.
| General Hewston's wife, who is in
| San Francisco, has had full details of
the unfortunate occurrence cabled to
! her.
The United States consul-general in
this city. P. A. Collins. upon being noti-
| fed Of the arrest of General Hewston,
did all he could for him, going far be-
You'd any professional duty.
Mr.. Lathrop, referring to General
| Hewston's probity, said his reputation
was SO great that the gold bars which
he refined at his works were the only
bars accepted in the Bank of England
without re-assay. Mr.. Lathrop said
| General Hewston was warmly grateful
| for the treatment he had received at
| the hands of the police.
Requests for Protection.
| San Francisco, May 31.-W H. Dimond,
nlajor-general of the California national
| guard today sent a message to Score
tary of State Gresham, requesting official
action by the state department in behalf
of General John Hewston, ir., under ar
rest in London.
| A. D. Grimwood, vice-commander of the
| Veterans National Guard of California,
| also sent a similar message to the secre-
tary, urging him to use all proper and