Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-16
WIDOW FIGURES IN A TRAGEDY.
Chauffeur Shot for Burglar Wore Her
Picture in Locket.

1lCLuIS Ill A<VShCt.
With the beginning of the second inquest
into the death of Reginald Stafford, chauf-
feur of Mrs. Mary H Sutton, the widow
OF Gen. Eben Sutton, the scandal which
has been brewing ever since the death of
the chauffeur it Is expected will break ana
one of the biggest sensations that part OF
the state has known In years Will develop
at North Andover, Mass.
Mrs Sutton IS worth several Millions
and the chauffeur was shot in the parlor
of her magnificent home June 10 by
Edward Ruby, butler in the house. Stat
ford was In his stockings at the time he
was killed, and it has never been explained
how he came to be in the house at the
time. Ruby asserted that he mistook the
chauffeur for a burglar. but facts came
to light which indicated that Stafford had
often been in the house late at night ana
that Mrs Suttons son-in-law had objected
to his presence
day and then adjourned until August IL
in order to enable the district attorney TO
have all the witnesses present. Most OF
them disappeared after the first inquest,
which was short and formal and resulted
In the butler being exonerated. Every eff
fort was made by the Judge who presided
at the inquest. to hush the scandal which
it was feared might develop, and witnesses
We're examined one at ID lliLS, WING iS-
porters were excluded entirely from the
room.
The action of the authorities stirred the
people of this section of the state to an
outburst of wrath. The mother and sister
of the slain man insisted that Stafford
was not mistaken for burglar. They said
that he wore Mrs. Sutton's picture In his
locket, and that he had told his friends he
expected to marry the widow. 1t was
| brought out also that Stafford had been
discharged by Mrs. Sutton's son-in-law a
month before the shooting, but that Mrs.
Sutton re:nstated him.
At the secret inquest Ruby testified that
he and another butler named Orlando were
sitting up talking at midnight. when they
heard noise downstairs. They went down
and saw the feet of man extending from
under the sofa. The man had taken of
his shoes and was in his stockings, and
Ruby said he took the man for burglar.
He fired two shots under the sofa, one OF
which killed the man. When the body was
dragged from under the sofa II was found
to be that of Stafford Orlando corrob-
GRATED the story told by Ruby, and when
the inquest was over Judge Frye compli-
mented Ruby on his loyalty to his en-
pioyer.
1t was apparent from the beginning OF
the inquest that the authorities were MAX
ing every effort to prevent all the facts
from coming to light. The relatives and
Stafford was not mistaken for a burg ar,
and that thorough investigation of the
| case should be made The ,locket which
the chauffeur carried, ana in which was
found the picture of Mrs. Sutton, was pro-
duced, and II was sad that the widow had
| shown marked attention to the chauffeur.
| 1t was apparent that the sentiment OF
| the community was against the hushing
| up OF the case. and finally District Attor-
ney w. Sc OFT Peters began an investigation
The facts which he learned caused him to
order second inquest and it Was begun
| Saturday.
The district attorney said that when al
| the testimony is produced the shooting
| may assume new light and that no effort
| will be made at the new Inquest to suppress
| anything The friends OF the murdered
man will testify as to their knowledge OF
I the case and It was said that explanations
| of how Stafford came to be In the house q,
! midnight viii be Forthcoming.