The herald., 1894-06-06
ACCUSED OF MANSLAUGHTER,
General HewstOn Must Answer
the Charge.
Conflicting Accounts Of the Occur
renee.
Notwithstanding the Verdict the Core
Her's Jury Inoiinss to ths Belief
That tho Weund was
Accid entail.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 5.-Dr. Thomas. the
coroner. held an inquest today upon the
remains Of George Burton. the itiner-
ant musician killed on May 80. on Ac-
ton street. BY Gen. John Hswaton OF
California, who thrust the point OF an
umbrella into Burton's left eye. Girls
com Ricketts,, solicitor, represented Gen.
Hewston, who was present.
Benjamin Bowring. vsstry employee.
said: Az General Hewston passed, his
arm struck the harp carried by one OF
the musicians, which the general there
upen gave push, and Burton, who was
carrying tin whistle and otooi. said:
"Why did you push that harpP" To
this the general replied: at hit me on
the arm. Burton remarked: "You had
no business to do that" The general
there upon exclaimed: IT will poke this
in your eye." at the came time raising
his umbrella. Burton said: "Do it."
The general then thrust the end OF the
umbrella into BuFton's eye. withdrew it
and walked down the street.
The witness said he turned away his
head. a. he felt sick. Soon after he fol-
lowed the general and said to him: "You
shall not get away" Another man
shouted out. collar him."
Bowring added he then stopped the
general until the police arrived. Upon
cress-examinasion Bowring said that
Burton carried q camp stool, which he
folded up until 1t had the appearance OF
Q thick walking stick. The man carry
ing the harp was walking with Burton,
and the third musician was little way
ahead of his two companions. 1t had
been raining, and the generals um brella
was folded tightly. General Hewston,
the witness said, wore specs. The UNI
brella did not 60 above the level of the
shoulder. 1t was thrust forward. The
witness was quite sure the general said !:
"I'll poke this in your eys."
Solicitor Ricketts, remarked: THAT
is O different statement than the one
you made in the police court" Accord
ing to Bowring the incident occurred in
o minute and half. h&k b
James Bryan gave important evidence
for Mr.. Hswston, saying he was walking
near the scene when he (aw General
Hewston being iostled. The general,
he added, endeavored to extY{6at4 kfm-
self and Burton raieed the 1p sf01f in
his right hand as If about< M I'll Ike.
General Hewston. who had HttGB his
umbrella in order to avoid ths blow,
stuck the f6ruls in the mans left eye.
The witness also testified that he heard
q bystander remark after Burton had
been struck, THAT serves him right"
The umbrella and camp stool were pro-
duoed il court for the examination OF
the coroner'e jury.
General He~aton was then called to
the witness stand. He said he was by
occupation an auHlyJiUaI cucHisp nuu
that he had been in charge of the Ma
ton guard of California for IA years. He
dwslt in San Francisco and was now
staying with his friend, Mr.. Lorn A.
Lsthrop, the United States consul at
Bristol who had come from the latter
city in order to be of service to him.
On Wednesday evening the latter and
the general were walking in Grsy's Inn
road, turning into Acton street. Il saw
a man carrying harp on HE back, the
ends Of the instrument stretching out
beyoud his shoulders. We were both
walking rapidly, and the harp caught
my shoulder and lace. 1t did not hurt
me a bit, hut impuleively pushed tbs
instrument aside and walked on. | had
gone but few steps when the deceased
came up to me and asked why l had
pushed the harp. turned around and
faced him. The deceased said some
thing and menacingly raised camp
stool in HE right hand. l said, DON
strike me, SIR
The deceased replied, "I'll punch
your eyo," and laughed at me. l, no
intending any harm, threw up my nm
breila and felt it touch the man. thei
turned and walked away, not knowinl
that anything serious had occurred.
had not gone more than few yards be-
fore come men ran up and stepped me
saying, you've knocked that man
eve out" That was the frat intimatioI
which | had received that anything seri
GUS had happened. As some OF the mel
had run up apparently inclined to hol'
me, said. "Leave me alone, I'll wal
for policeman"
The coroner summed up lengthily AM
said that the question for the jury t.
determine was whether the death O
Burton was caused by misadventure O
by manslaughter.
The jury returned verdict holdin
General Hewston responsible for man
slaughter, and added rider saying tina
the Jury did not believe the woun
which caused Burton's death was in
ficted wilfully." 1t lie believed he wi
eventually be acquitted.
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