The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-06
CASE OF GENERAL HEwsToNE.
He is Held For Granddaughter In Lon

don.
London, June 5-Dr. George Danford
P. Thomas, coroner, held an inquest
today upon the remains of George Bur-
ton, the itinerant musician killed on
May 80 in Acton street, by General
John Hewstone, of California, who
thrust the point of his umbrella into
Burton's left eye. Griscom Ricketts,.
solicitor. represented General Hews-
tone, who was present. Mrs. Burton,
widow of the musician, did not wish
to see the body, but identified the cloth
ing as having belonged to her husband.
Mrs. Burton said she had been married
twenty-five years, and for four years
had been separated from her husband.
They had four children, the youngest
nine years. Burton made his wife an
allowance of from six to eight shillings
a week. He earned a living as a mu-
sician, playing outside saloons.
Benjamin Bowering, a vestry en-
ployee, said, as General Hewstone
passed. his arm struck the harp which
was carried by one of the musicians.
The general thereupon gave the in
strument a push, and Burton, who was
carrying a tin whistle and stool, said,
why did you push that harp?" To
this the general replied, 1T hit me on
the arm Burton remarked, You
had no business to do that" The gem
eral thereupon exclaimed, Il will poke
this in your eye at the same time
raising his umbrella. Burton said, DO
it, The general then thrust the end
of his umbrella into Burton's eye, with
drew it and walked down the street.
Witness said he turned away his
head as he left sick. Soon after he fo.-
lowed the general and said to him,
You shall not get away" Another
ering added he then stopped the gen
eral until the police arrived.
Upon DISCRIMINATION, Bowering
said Burton carried a campstool which
he folded up until it had the appear
ance of a, thick walking stick. The
man carrying the harp was walking
with Burton and a third musician was
a little way ahead of his two compan-
ions. 1t had been raining and the
ge~2rals umbrella was folded up
tightly. General Hewstone, witness
said, wore spectacles. The umbrella
did not go above the level of his Shout
ders 1t was thrust forward. Witness
was quite sure the general said, TIL
poke this in your eye"
Solicitor Ricketts, remarked, THAT is
different statement that you made
in the police court" According to
Bowering, the whole incident occurred
in a minute and a half.
The coroner's jury returned verdict
holding general Hewstone guilty of
manslaughter. and added rider say
ing the. jury did not believe the wound
which caused Burton's death was in
ficted willfully It is believed he will
eventually be acquitted.
James Bryan gave important evil
dence for Mr.. Hewstoae, saying he was
was walking near the scene when he
saw General Hewstone being jostled
The general he added, endeavored tc
extricate himself, and Burton raised
the camp stool in his right hand as if
about to strike, General Hewstone, who
had lifted his umbrella in order to avoid
the blow, struck the ferule in the mans
left eye.
This witness also testified that he
heard a bystander remark after Burton
had been struck, THAT serves him
right"
The umbrella and camp stool were
here produced in court for the benefit
of the coroner's jury.
General Hewstone was then called te
the. witness stand. He said that he was
by occupation an analytical chemist
and that he had been in charge of the
National Guard of California, for four
Il
and was staying now 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. "On Wednesday even
| ing" said the general, was walking
in Gray's Inn road. Turning into Ac-
ton street. l saw man carrying a harr
on his back, the ends of the Instrument
stretching out beyond his shoulders
Nv mid 4
the harp caught my shoulder and face
1t did not hurt me a bit, but I impul.
sively pushed the instrument aside anc
walked on. l had gone but a few steps
when the deceased came up to me and
asked me why l had pushed the harp
l turned around and faced him. De.
ceased said something and menacingly
raised camp stool in his right hand
said, Don't strike me, sir" The de.
ceased replied, III punch your eye
He then lunged at me. l, not intend.
| ing any harm, threw up my umbrella
and / felt it touch the man I Their
turned and walked away, not knowing
that anything serious had occurred.
had not gone more than a few yards
before some men ran up to me an6
stopped me, saying, You've knocked
that mans eye OUT
THAT was the first intination which
I had received that anything serious
had happened. AS some of the mer
that had run up appeared inclined tc
hold me, I said, Leave me alone. II
wait for a policeman
The coroner summed up lengthily
and said that the question for the jur5
to. determine was whether the death @.
Burton was caused by misadventure OIL
by manslaughter.
WILL SUCCEED HIMSELF.