Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-27

A duplicate almost of the famous Sickles-
Keys tragedy is the Hetherington- Robinson
affair which occurred in Japan in 1891 The
analogy is carried out in the fact that both
husbands forgave their SHINING wives, but
II ends in the forgiveness, for whereas
General Sickles wife remained true to her
death after her one great sin and the killing
of her paramour, Hetherington's wife after
ten years has divorced him and is about to
marry another
Bessie Hewes, recently divorced from her
husband, Commander James II. HetherinR-
ton of the United States Navy is about to
remarry and this time, so the rumor has it,
the bridegroom is TO be a Pacific Coast
millionaire. The statement that she was
recently discussing this report with friends
in Chicago has recalled to the minds Of the
American public the story of the tragedy
that marked her life in the orient when she
went to Japan to join her husband who had
been ordered TO that station with his vessel,
the Marion. II is almost exactly ten years
since the naval officer shot and killed on the
streets Of Yokohama George Cover Robin
son, who, according TO the testimony of the
slayer, had led the young wife to betray her
husband and dishouor her child herself
and family in her mad infatuation for the
slain.
Lieutenant Hetherington won as his bride
pretty girl just out Of Vassar. He met
her in 1895 at Cape May Point N. J., while
his ship was stationed in those waters.
Then Bessie Hewes was seventeen and her
vivacity and beauty won HIM. They were
married on December 10, 1880
A - A. -. 4 l. tF 4
Hetherington went to Japan where her hus-
band had been ordered on duty.
Bessie Hewes Hetherington was welcomed
in Japan as a lovely woman who would OF.
nament the American colony. Among the
titled ladies of the empire she found one
notable alumna of her alma mater, the
Countess Oyams, whose husband, General
Oyama was then the mikado's minister of
war and was afterward the commander in
chief of the Japanese army in its successful
campaign against China She took up her
residence at the Grand Hotel on the Bund,
in Yokohama, where she would be able to
sit on the wide veranda and see her hus-
bands ship at anchor as soon as il finished
its tedious voyage across the Pacific.
The Marion did not arrive for nearly a
month after Mrs. Hetherington's arrival
in the passenger steamer China Of the Pa
cihc Mail line. During that time she in
fused a great deal of life in the naval colo.y
of the Asiatic station She met Robinson
and they were seen much together. Il be-
came apparent TO the close observer that
again she was al heart the light-hearted
girl A native nurse was engaged TO look
after the wants of her little daughter
No party or ball in Yokohama OF Toxic
was complete without the winsOme wife of
the American naval officer who had not yet
arrived and the gallants of the colony We'd
with one another to heap attentions on her
OF all the gay butterfly life Of the land Of
chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms this
blithe girl, now a wife, seemed quite the
gayest. She was to be seen in the smartest
dogcart at the races of the Yokohama Jockey
Club. AT the garden parties of the legation
folk in Toxic she was the conspicuous bit
of color which made the high light Of the
assemblage No little mother Of that land
of little mothers. from the petal-strewn
banks of the Sumidsgawa clear across to the
flower stands of Uyeno, seemed lighter of
heart or gayer of spirit
Robinson was a product of the east half
English, half Italian and wholly cosm opoli-
tan. He was termed in the colony direc.
tory banker
a
affected the terai hat and low collar style OF
dress common to Japan and India. and was
quite the Beau Brummel of Yokohama
He fitted perfectly into this picture OF
voluptuous life. In a geisha gown and
samurai's kimono the pair would have
made picture for a fan. AT his hilltop
bungalo the tifhn parties were as sprightly
and sparkling as those at the height Of the
Newport season. Robinson's presence was
like champagne to the fair girl wife.
The husband arrived on the MAJ ion on
November 2, 1891. For twenty.nine days
crossing the Pacific he had paced the deck,
counting the minutes until he should see
his wife and baby
Had he found her transformed he could
not have been more disappointed, accord
ing to his testimony at The trial He told
how he left his ship as soon as she dropped |
anchor and hurried to her room.
She came in with the native nurse and
the baby f" he said. Il noticed a decided |
change in her at once. She was not the |
same woman My life has been unhappy |
since that date"
HetheriugtOn regarded the change as a /
miracle, lHe did not at FIRST see the influence
that Robinson had gained, Then followed .
the discovery Of love letters. And then
Hetherington, after his wife had confessed /
all, met Robinson on the street and killed
him
AS the bullet struck him and he realized
that he had been mortally wounded Robin
son exclaimed: 1T serves me right. de-
serve to die" and expired with these for
his last words.
The United States consular court, ia which
Lieutenant Hetherington was tried, ac-
quilted him. with the declaration of the
presiding judge after the whole story had
been told that it was mot conceivable how
he could have restrained himself from doing
he did when he suddenly met the de-
stroyer Of his life upon the street" Rob
inson's will, il was found provided that the
bulk Of his wealth be given to Mrs. Hether-
ington. This she refused to accept, and,
contrary to the expectations Of the friends