The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-01
A FATAL UMBRELLA THRUST
General HewstOn Kills an Tin
Grant Harpist.
And Is Charged With Numbering the
Unfortunate.
The Californian Claims That He Can
Prove That tho Deed Was AccI-
dentsi-He IL Rsleased ON
Bail.
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, May 3l.-An American, who
gave the name of Gen. John Hewston,
charged with eau sing the death of
George Burton. an itinerant musician,
Yesterday, by thrustipg the point of an
umbrella into his left eye, was examined
today and permitted to give bail.
General Hewston, about SO years of
age, describes himself as a chemist. He
wac charged with granddaughter in caus-
inc the death of Burton. By direction
OF tae United States consul-general he
" defended by Solicitor Ricketts,.
snjamin Bowling testified that at AS
pa yesterday he saw three street mu-
Sloane carrying harp. tin whistle and
o camp stool across Acton street, Gray's
Inn road. Hewston was walking on
the musicians passed, the harp
caught his arm. Hswston there
upon pushed the man carrying
the harp, who protested. Hewston
replied: "You hit my srm," and hold
ing up an umbrella said: '.I'll poke
your eye with this" The man carry
ing the camp stool responded: swell,
do it," The general then thrust the
umbrella into the musicians eye and
! walked away. The witness stepped
away.
Shortly afterward the police took the
general into custody.
Upon cross-examination Ricketts,
asked Bowling whether the man carrying
the stool had not threatened the gen.
era with il, remsrking, 81 will poke
your eyes with this" Witness replied:
II did not hear him make such re-
mark. He held up the camp stool in a
threatening manner and the prisoner
thrust the umbrella very quickly. his
arm almost brushing my face"
David Petber, one of the musicians
who was in the company OF Burton, tes-
tilted he was carrying harp and Burton
tin whistle and camp stool. General
Hewston knocked against the harp and
then turned and deliberately thrust his
umbrella into BurtoE's face. The wit
ness heard no previous conversation be-
tween Burton and the general. 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 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 pave
ment with blood pouring from his eye.
Heweton walked off. saying. If You
try to stop me, l will serve you the
same" This remark was made to man
near by. George asserted that Burton
was carrying the camp stool under his
arm when he crossed the street.
Henry Atkinson, surgeon attached
to the Royal Free hospital. said the point
70 the umbrella penetrated the brain.
Directly after the eye was removed Bur-
ton died.
Attorney Ricketts,, in applying for bail
on behalf of Hewston, said nobody re-
GREETED the unfortunate occurrence more
than the prisoner. who was well known
in the United States. and who for IA
years had been in charge of the National
guard OF California.
Gen. P. A. Collins, the United States
consul in London, and Hon. L. A. Lath-
rop. the United States consul ct Bristol,
were both willing to become sureties for
the appearance OF Hewston. The mag
istrats rsmanded Hawston for week,
ana accepted bail to the amount of
$1,000.
General Hewston stated before leav-
ing the police court that he had an i'm
portant witness who will show that he
acted in self-deiense. The general ia
confident he will be acquitted, as the
autopsy, be says, clearly established the
fact that the wound must have been in
hictsd accident tally.
The reporter of the Associated Press
called upon General Hewston this aft
ernoon and found him the guest OF Lorn
A. Lathrop, the United States consul 81
Bristol, at the latter's temporary reel.
dence at Kings Oroes. Mr.. LathroI
had hastened to London from Bristol il
order to assist his friend.
Mr.. Lathrop said the general had beer
to London Tor two weeks past for the
purpose of carrying out an extensive
financial operation and was already pre-
pairing to return home. According to
Mr. Lsthrop the evidence presented to.
day was merely of formal nature, 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 a camp
stool in his right hand before him.
threatening to strike. The general lifted
his umbrella with the view Of warding
off the blow. Before he was aware OF
it the ferrnle bad entered Burton eye"
General Hewston's wife, who 10 in
San Francisco, has had full details OF the
unfortunate occurrence csbled to her.
The United States consul general In
this city, p. A. Collins, upon being noti-
fed OF the arrest OF General Hewston,
did ell he could for him, going tar be-
yond any professional duty.
Mr.. Lathrop, referring to General
Hewston's probity, said his reputation
was 80 great the gold bars which he re-
fined at his works were the only bars ac-
cepted in the Bank OF England without
re.assay, He also said General Heweton
was warmly grateful for the treatment
he had received at the hands of the po-
lice.
SAN Francisco, May 3l.-W. FL. Di-
mond, major general OF the California
National guard, today sent message to
Secretary of State Gresham requesting
official action by the state department in
| behalf OF General John Hewston, jr.,
under arrest in London. A. d. Grim
wood. vice. commander Veterans Ma
tionai guard Of California, also sent q
similar message to the secretary urging
him to use all proper and necessary
steps for the protection and defense of
General Hewston, who is an ex-com-
mander of the Veterans' National guard.
as we'll az an OK. brigadisr general OF the
California National guard. General
Hewston is endorsed by General Dimond
and Commander Grimwood az being q
worthy American citizen.