Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-12
FIRED FR0M SERVICE
Rsslksr Han Who Was Mixed Up
IN sglton's Death Retired.
SEVERAL CHANGES AGAINST HIN
rrIca For Conduct unbeeomina a
Gentleman and for Ir,oxIoa.ion---
siad seen Student at Annapolis,
But Resigned.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. H.
Socond Lieutenant Edward Porter
Rocker, United States Marine Corps,
OF this city, son OF Rear Admiral
Rocker (rotired, has been found
guilty by general cour.-martial on
+ several counts Involving charges Of
INVESTIGATION and conduct unbecoming
an ofllcer and gentleman and has
Z been sentenced to dismissal. Tho
Eentence was approved today by both
= Secretary Metcalf aud the President,
and his dismissal Will date from yes
ferday. Rocker is stationed Mt tho
Naval Academy and was mixed up In
the events leading to the death by
a shooting of Second Lieutenant james
N. Sutton, United States Marine
Corps, Mt Annapolis several wecks
Z ago.
Tho death of Lieutenant Sr''c'
was pronounced suicide. While
Lieutenant Roelkor, who was With
Sutton at the time of the suicide. was
not brought to trial IN connection with
the tragedy, his being dismissed from
tho service can DO traced directly to
that event. The Investigation of SUIT
tons death developed that sutton and
!, Rocker md Second Lieutenant Rob-
ert e. Adams, who had attended
ball ut tho academy. all became I'M
derfhe lnfuencepf liquor aftorwlrds.
Z It 10 alleged, and this was supposed
to have led to quarrel between the
4 three officers rs they were returning
TO their camp In an automobile carly
IN tho morning. The report of tho
4 Investigation, rs made to tho Navy
Department, showed that Sutton. in
ettemnt'ng to make use Of pistol
4 was thrown to tho ground and In tho
struggle Roelker was shot through
the arm Sutton. seeing his friend
PROSTATE, thought he had killed him
and suddenly turned the gun upon
himself and shot himself In the head
~ The Sutton tragedy and his connec-
ton with 1t Is said to have preyed
Z upon Rockers mind rs tho two had
bern close friends.
He took to drinking heavily. II Is
ALLEGED, and was disciplined for In
toyication. Finally, charges were pre-
ferred against him on orders Of Sup
( erjntendent Badger tho principal
counts citing MIN for lntoxicatlon dur
Ing signal dr!Il and while student
Mt the Marine School of Application.
Ito tfini consumed considerable time
end the board carefully deIlberated
upon the evidence before reaching Its
\ bindings ALI the papers IN the case
reached the department Saturday and
went before Secretary Metcalf yes
garday.
Roeiker was appointed by the Pres.
iaent as midshipman to the Naval
Academy July z, 1904. and. resigned
from the academy March 1o, 1906, he
lore n"'nTN'no h's second year. Had
he remained at tho academy he WON
have been member OF the present
dFst class. He was appointed by the
President from c'v' life as n second
lieutenant in the Marine Corps Mare,
~ last and on Ap.il IS he was sent
aleng with Meutenants Sutton, Adams
and several other prospective officers
IN the Marine Corps for course In
the Marine School as necessary
step to having his appointment con-
hsyred. Owing TO the shortage OF |
Officers In the Marine Corps several
y sta0ers OF this class are being ruah-