The San Francisco call., 1910-02-08
ARMY DANCE ROW
REVEALS ROMANCE
Miss HesIer's Engagement to
DIR. R0bnett Confirmed at
Court Martial
Girl Is Witness in Behalf OF
Fiance Who Thrashed Her
Annoying Admirer

BOSTON, Feb. Resentment of the
attentions of a civilian to his hancee,
Miss Dorothy Hesler of Evanston, ILL.,,
was the basis of the defense of DR.. y.
S. Robnett at his court martial trial
today resulting from the episode at the
naval dance at the Charlestown navy
yard on December IL.
Doctor Robnett's trial today on a
charge of conduct unbecoming a gen
tleman and of profanity lasted only
four hours. Much of the testimony was
the same as that adduced at the trial
of Pavmaster George P. Aud last week
on charges growing out of the same
incident.
The trial was simplified by the ad-
mission by Doctor Robnett that ne dld
use Objectionable language when he
called DR. f. S. Cowles, the elected
civilian, to account for his attitude
toward Miss Hesler. Doctor cowles.
who was again on the stand, denied
that he attempted to make clandestine
appointments with the young woman
and in this he was substantiated by his
wife. She also supported him in regard
TO Robnetts words over the telephone,
which formed one of the charges.
GIRL ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT
Miss Hesler took the witness stand
and flashing a diamond ring in the
eyes of the court declared that she had
been engaged to Doctor Robnett since
November and that Doctor Cowles not
only tried to meet but wanted to send
her flowers and candy. Miss Hesler
said that she appealed to Doctor Rob-
nett to save her from Doctor Cowles
and that the incident followed.
After the court had refused to dis
miss the charges on Major Leonard's
motion that Doctor Robnett had already
been punished by reprimand, Doctor
Cowles was called as the first witness.
Doctor Cowles went over some Of the
incidents at the now famous dance of
December II and said that when he was
interviewed by Paymaster Auld and
Doctor Robnett outside the hall and
asked to withdraw he gained the i'm
preston that both men were acting for
the dance committee The next day
came the conversation that Doctor
Cowles and Robnett had over the tele-
phone in which the latter demanded
the return of Miss Hesler's picture.
EXPLANATION CAUSES ARGUMENT
Doctor Cowles explained his effort to
obtain an appointment with Miss Hes
Ter 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.
When Major Leonard asked Doctor
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
question Doctor Cowles stated that he
had told the incident last week as he
had remembered it at that time Today
he said he recalled additional details
He denied he ever aggravated Doctor
Robnett or that he ever accepted a
challenge for a fstic encounter Neither
did he call Doctor Robnett a cur"
Mrs. Cowles explained the elevated
station incident with Miss HesIer. saw
ing that she invited that young lady
TO dine and told her husband that he
ought to escort her from the station
to their house. as Miss Hesler did not
know the way.
DEFENDANT TAKES STAND
Doctor Robnett took the stand in his
own defense. He admitted that he
asked Doctor Cowles by telephone if
he had not received request from
Miss Hesler to return her picture. Doc
tor Cowles replied that he had but that
it was none of his business whether he
had returned it.
He denied that he used violent lam
guage to Doctor Cowles, but admitted
that he did use the epithet Doctor
Cowles had mentioned This was after
Doctor Cowles had called him cur
He did not threaten Doctor Cowles and
at the dance he promised Miss Hesler
that he would not say anything 70
Doctor Cowles
Tomorrow there will be arguments
and by Wednesday the finding OF the
court will be sent to Washington