The Washington herald., 1910-02-08

Boston, Feb. dorothy Hesler flashed
a dazzling diamond solitaire into the eyes
Of the members Of the naval court-martial
this afternoon to confirm the statement
she made on the witness stand that she
had been engaged 70 be married 10 Past
Assistant Surgeon Ansey II. Robnett
L. S N. since last November.
DR.. Robnett was being tried on charges
of conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman in accompanying Paymaster
Aud when the latter accosted Dr. Edward
S Cowles at the dance in the armory
on December Il and requested him TO
leave, and that the day after he had
called up DR.. COwles on the telephone,
threatened to beat him, and used profane
and obscene language.
Miss Hesler declared that she had ap-
pealed to DR.. Robnett 10 be her champion
because DR.. CowIes had circulated re-
ports that she had given him her photo
graph, and because he had asked her to
meet him alone, promising her candy and
flowers.
DR.. Cowles told of the alleged threats
made and language used by DIT. Robnett
over the telephone. Mrs. COwles cor
roborated him. DR.. Robnett admitted he
had called Cowles a bad name, and Pay
master Aud asserted that his friend
Robnett had not been concerned in the
mix-up between himself and Cowles at
the dance.
Arguments Heard To-day.
The case was completed at 3.S0 this
afternoon. and arguments will be heard
tomorrow.
Mai. Leonard. for. the accused. asked
that the first charge be stricken out, as
there was nothing in the specification 10
bear out the charges. This motion being
overruled, counsel for Robnett then
moved a plea in bar of the entire charges
on the ground that punishment already
had been administered by. means of a
letter from Secretary Of the Navy Meyer
and that an officer could not and should
not be twice punished for the same Of
tense. It was the same plea made in
bNl+eAAA VI <ALA4Nig anu AiiN NDH4 oelAlA DFNl
rule it,
Secretary Meyers letter was read. It
said that the evidence submitted on the
charges preferred by Medical Director
Ames showed that DR.. Robnett's acts
were reprehensible and unworthy Of a
commissioned officer Of the United States
navy. II further said that a cOurt-maruaI
would have been seriously considered. "
but for the injury to the service stand
which seems to have been changed after
Mrs. Cowles' visit TO Washington.
Tells of the Trouble.
Dr. Cowles related how the events
which led up to the trouble at the dance
started, and then Of being called on the
telephone the day following the dance, by
Dr. Robnett.
Mrs. COwles answered the call" he
said, "and then said to me DR.. Robnett
was on the telephone and wanted to
speak to me. He asked if I had picture
Of Miss Hesler. I told him that I did
not care 10 discuss the matter with him
I could not see that it was any Of his af-
fair. He said that if I did not return it
by the first mail he and a friend Of his
would come over 10 my house after me.
] told him that he knew where I lived"
The witness repeated the words Dr.
RObnett is alleged to have used with
considerable vigor and 10 have applied 10
Cowles as characterization Of him.
They were the basis for the charge OF
using profane and obscene language.
After COwles had told of his taking
1Ticc LIacTayfc rfcttrvo r-,y, h.. 49,
house, witness was asked:
Are you in the habit Of taking things
when you are in other peoples houses? %
No, sir; certainly not. 1t was a trivial
matter, and only intended as a joke, any
way. I intended 10 return the photo
graph but forgot all about It until I got
hot. Then 1 put it on Mrs Cowles
bureau"
Cowles denied having ever suggested
that he and DR.. Robnett settle the mat
ter with fist fight
Or. Howard E. Ames said that he per
sonally Teprimanded RObnett for his tele-
phone conversation with Cowles on De-
cember y. He called Robnett to task
for using az official telephone for an in
sulting message. Robnett refused to give
him an explanation. He then told Rob
nett of the complaint he had made to
the cOmmandant He also informed d.
Robnett that he had violated the usage.
Of the navy and the laws Of the State.
Bears Excellent Reputation.
On cross-examinatiOn, DR. Ames admit
ted that DR.. Robnett's character and rem
utation were excellent
Miss Hesler was the first witness for
the defense A letter which she had
writer 10 Mrs Cowles asking for the
return OF her photograph was placed in
evidence by Maj. Leonard counsel for
the defense.
What was the occasion for writing
this letter 10 Mrs Cowles?"
Il heard that Mr. Cowles was circulat-
ing reports that had given him my
photograph"
did you ever confide 10 DR.. Robnett