Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-08
MISS HESLER ON The STAND
Fiancee of DR.. Robnett Testifies in
Court Martial Hearing.
TRIAL LASTS BUT FOUR HOURS
Young Woman Says DIR. COwles Was
Offensive and that she Asked
Defendant for Fro
lection.

BOSTON, Feb. 7.-Resentment of the at
tentions Of civilian to his fiancee, Miss
Dorothy Hesler Of Evanston, Ill, was the
basis of the defense of DR.. A. s. Robnett
at his court-martial trial today over the
episode at the naval dance at the Charles
ton Navy Yard on December II. DR.. Rob
nett's trial today which was on charges
OF conduct unbeeorntng gentleman and
profanity. lasted only four hours. Much Of
the interest had been robbed by the testi-
mony at the trial Of Paymaster George p
Aud last week on charges growing out of
the same incident. l1
The trial was slrnplIfied by the admission
by DIR. Robnett that he did use objection
able language when he called DIR. -E. 8.
Cowles, the elected civilian. to account for
his attitude toward Miss Hesler.
Then Miss HesIer took the witness stand
and flashing a diamond ring In the eyes
of the court declared thatAshe had. been
engaged to DIR. Robnett since November
and that Mr.. Cowles not only tried to meet
her. but wanted to send her flowers and
candy. Miss Hesler said that she appealed
to Dr. Robnett to save her from DR.. Cowles
and that the incident followed.
COwIes ReteIls story of Dance.
After the court had refused to dismiss
the charges on Major Leonards motion that
Or. 'Robnett had already been punished by
reprimand, Dr. Cowles was called as. the
first witness. ttq
DR. Cowles again went over some of the
incidents at the now famous dance OF De-
cember ii and said that when he was in
terviewed by Paymaster Aud and Dr. Rob
nett outside the hall and asked to with
draw he gained the impression that both
men were acting for the dance committee
Next day came the conversation of DR.
Cowles and DR.. Robnett over the telephone
in which. the latter demanded the return
OF Miss Hesler's picture.
! DR.. Cowles explained his effort to obtain
| an appointment with Miss Hesler at al
elevated station by saying that 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 Dr.: Cowles
why he did not offer the same explanation
at the Aud trial last week, the judge sd
vocate objected and the testimony was sus
pended for a time while arguments wer'
made on the question.
A letter from DIR. Robnett to DR.. Cowlei
was introduced in which the former stateS
that his sense of justice to DR.. Cowles
parents induced him to rctract his refer
ence over the telephone to DR.. Cowles
parentage.
I'm regard to personal matter" con
tinued the letter, II will accommodate yo'
at any time agreeable to both parties"
DR., Howard e. Ames Of the Naval hospi
tai, who was Dr. Cowles' host at tn
dance. said he asked Or. Robnett why h
used the telephone to speak In such Ian
guage to his guest. He said DR.. Robnet
replied, holding up his hand, that he ha
taken an oath not to say anything abou
the affair.
Mrs. Cowles, the last witness for tn
prosecution. said she heard the telephon
conversation with DR.. Robnett. She cor
roborated his statements as to DR.. Rob
nett's language. She also explained tn
elevated station incident with Miss Heslel
saying that she invited the young woma
to dine and told her husband that he ough
70 escort her from the station to thei
, house, as Miss Hesler did not know tn
way.
II Miss HeEIer's Testimony.
Miss Hesler took the stand for Dr. Rot
nett She announced that she had bee