Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-08
ANOTHER NAVAL
SCANDAL AIRED
SURGEON ROBNETT ON TRIAL
BY COURT MARTIAL
QUARREL OVER TELEPHONE DUE
TO SOCIETY HOP
Sensational Incidents at Dance in.
Charlestown ReViewed-Repri-
mand Not Allowed to Give
Immunity to Accused
IAssociated Pressl


BOSTON, Feb. THE second of the
"womens court-martials" was opened
at the Charlestown navy yard today
when Passed Assistant Surgeon A. H.
Robnett was put on trial for his alleged
participation in the expulsion or Dr.
Edward S. Cowles of Boston from
dance at the navy yard on the night OF
December 1.
Resentment of the attentions Of a
civilian to his fancee, Miss Dorothy
Hesler was the basis OF the defense OF
DIR. Robnett.
DIR. Robnett's trial on a charge OF
conduct unbecoming a gentleman, and
of profanity, lasted only four hours:
Much of the interest has been ropDed
by the testimony at the trial of Pay
master George p. Auld on charges
growing out of the same incident.
The trial was simplitied by the admis-
sion by Dr. Robnett that he did use
Objectionable language when he called
DR.. E. S. Cowles, the elected civilian,
to account for his attitude toward Miss
Hesler. DR.. Cowles denied that he at
tempted to make clandestine appoint
nents with the young woman, and in
this he was substantiated by his wife.
She also supported him in regard to
Robnett's words over the telephone,
which formed one of the charges. Then
Miss Hesler took the witness stand,
of the court, declared that she had
been engaged to Dr. Robnett since
November and that DR.. Cowles not
only tried to meet her, but wanted to
send her flowers and candy. Miss Hes
les says she appealed to JRobnett to
save her from Cowles, and the incl
dent followed. Tomorrow there will be
arguments and by Wednesday the find
ings Of the court will be sent to Wash
ington.
A verdict in the case of George P.
Aud, who was tried last week, has
been forwarded to the navy department
for review.
There were two charges against Rob
nett; the first, that he "did aid and
abet Paymaster Aud in the expulsion
of DR.. -Cowles from the navy yard
dance December l last, Cowles being
properly invited guest, and the action
being unauthorized and unwarranted:
and second, that he subsequently used
insulting language to DR.. Cowles over
the telephone"
Like Paymaster Aud, Surgeon Rob
nett received a reprimand from the sec
retary of the navy following the first
complaint of Dr. Cowles. DR.. Cowles'
wife then pressed the charges to the
officials in washington, and the court
martial of the two officers was ordered.
Fiancee Witness
Included in the list of witnesses for
the defense we're Miss Dorothy Hesler
of Evanston, ILL.,. who is engaged to
be married to tEH young surgeon, and
Paymaster AN< Much of the same
evidence presented at the trial OF Aud
was expected to be used in the pro
ceedings against Robnett, and 1t Is
thought that the case will be completed
within two days.
After the court had refused to dis
miss the charges on Major Leonard s
motion that DR.. Robnett had already
been punished by reprimand Dr.
CowIes was called as the first witness.
He again went over some of the Incl
dents at the now famous dance of De-
cember 1. and said that when he was
interviewed by Paymaster Aud and
DR.. Robnett outside the hall and asked
to withdraw he gained the impression
that both men were acting for the
dance committee.
The next Day came the conversation
that DR.. Cowles and Robnett had over
the telephone, in which the latter de-
manded the return of Miss Heslers s
picture.
DIR. Cowles explained his effort to OBJ
tain an appointment with Miss Hesler
at an elevated station by saying the
young woman had been invited to dine
at the Cowles' house, and Mrs. Cowles
suggested that the doctor meet her on
her way from Maiden.
Problem Argued
When Major Leonard asked DR..
Cowles why he did not offer the same
explanation at the Auld trial last week
the Judge advocate objected, and the
testimony was suspended while argu-
ments were made on the question.
After the court had allowed the ques-
ton, DR.. Cowles stated he had told the
incident last week as he remembered
it at the time. Now he recalled addi-
tional details.
He denied he ever aggravated DR..
Robnett or that he ever accepted
challenge for fistic encounter Neith-
er did he call DR.. Robnett cur"
A letter from DR.. Robnett to DR..
Cowles was introduced in which the
former stated that his sense of justice
to DIR. Cowles' parents induced him to
retract his utterance over the phone as
to DR.. Cowles' parentage.
I'm regard to q personal matter,
continued the latter, "I will accommo-
date you at any time agreeable to both
parties"
Dr. Howard E. Ames of the naval
hospital, who was Dr. Cowles' host at
the dance, said he asked Dr. Robnett
why he used the telephone to speak in
such language to his guest.
He said DR.. Robnett replied, holding
up his hand, that he had taken an oath
not to say anything about the affair.