New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-14
SUTTON CASE CLOSED
DAVIS ACCUSES ADAMS.
ADAMS,
Criticised by Judge 4duOcate-
Mother Leaues Courtroom.


Annapolis. Aug ls-The largest crowd that has
attended a session thus far present this morn
ing at the last day of the open sessions OF the
naval inquiry into the death OF Lieutenant James
y. Sutton. United States Marine Corps. The at
traction was the summing up by Henry NJ. Davis
counsel for Mrs Sutton. and A. +. Brney. coun-
sci for Lieutenant Adams. and possibly something
from Major Henry Leonard. judge advocate Mr..
Davis's argument did in fact, lead the judge ad-
vocate TO speak. although briefly. What he said
was not in the nature Of argument touching the
case.
The members OF the court were all IN blue I'M
dress uniform. which gave the scene a more formal
air than when. has been the case hitherto. they
wore white duck. Mrs. Sutton present at
the afternoon session. Il explained privately
that she had been so affected by the touching
references OF Mr. Davis her son that she did not
feel able 10 appear. Mrs. Rose Sutton Parker her
daughter was present throughout the proceeding.
however. and followed the arguments with the
closest attention. had her mother that OF Mr.
Davis in the morning
Inc court will sit in private tomorrow 10 discuss
The findings. which will. when reached be for
Nafoed TO The Navy Department at Washington
whence the announcement OF the result of the
inquiry VIII be made. The Judge advocate said
'hat he would request that this announcement. be
made at the earliest possible moment
MRS sutton said tonight that IL the findings OF
the present court declare. as did those OF the
former board OF inquest. that her son committed
suicide, she would carry tn. case stfu further
though IN just what way she was not prepared
10 say
FIRST BOARD ATTACKED
Mr. Davis criticised the composition OF The original
board Of inquest. OF which the recorder was Lieu
tenant r. ;. Willing. but for whose derelicton MIR
Davis said, Lieutenant Sutton might SIN be alive
The board OF inquest. lie said. acted with indecent
haste, with no notice 10 Lieutenant Sutton's family
placing upon him the brand of suicide thus deny
fnrr n Ffr-4uHF
falth, and consignng him 10 unconsecrated
grave; stripping his parents Of hope OF a reunion
with him hereafter and coudemning him. as they
were compelled 10 believe TO eternal punishment
Mr.. Davis declared that the fights that i'm
mediately preceded Suttons death were not sought
by Sutton but by the others who on the witness
stanc acknowledged bitter enmity against Sutton
he pointed 10 the marked difference in the testi-
mony OF Leutenants Adams. Utley Osterman and
others, and declared that sutton. after going 10
camp and arming himself for elf-protection re-
turned toward the scene OF the fight merely 20
recover his clothing
He ridiculed the idea that Sutton killed himself
because he thought he had killed Rocker saying
that the evidence showed there no appreciable
interval between the exclamation He has killed
Roelker," and the firing Of the fatal shot Mr.
Davis declared that parts Of Lieutenant Adams's
testimony were pure invention, and pointed
conflicts in the testimony OF other OF the young
heutenants and 10 Inconsistencies and contradc-
Lieutenant Adams he said had twice changed
his testimony 10 meet the exgencies OF the evil
dence with which he had been confronted Mr..
Davis declared that Adan.ss testimony that Sutton
changed the two pistols from hand to another
showed that Adams knew that the fatal bullet was
from the smaller weapon.
ACCUSES ADAMS AND DE HART
Adams. he insisted had to all intents and pur-
poses admitted his guilty relation to the death OF
Sutton. Sergeant De Hart, he charged com
mittes before this court the most fragrant perjury"
He said the mystery 20 the whereabouts and
possession OF the smaller weapon belonging 10
Sutton. between the time Of the fatal shot and its
coming into the possession of Colonel Doyen proved
its close connection with the crime, and he de-
clared that the unidentified hand that gave that
revolver 10 Sergeant DE Hart that night was
stained with blood. According 10 De Harris testi-
mOny only Lieutenant Adams or Lieutenant Will
ing could have handed him the revolver, the lawyer
said
There was Mr. Davis declared. a manifest con-
spiracy Of suppression and fasehood 10 help the
living and backen the dead; the only thing sought
10 be established ly witnesses involved the
suicide OF Sutton. which Mr.. Davis said the evil
dence wholly failed TO show.
'FRENZIED RAWLINGS OF A WOMAN"
After recess A. E. Birney. counsel for Lieutenant
Adams, addressed the court He compared the
honor Of officer the honor of a woman and
declared the young feutenants involved would be
relieved OF all responsibility for Sutton's death
He said the charges were based entirely on the
frantic rawlings Of woman"
Mrs Sutton Birney declared. had earned the
designation Of an accuser. He reviewed half a
dozen statements that have appeared in print as
20 what brought about Sutton's death and satd
these had been based on the contents OF letters
written by Mrs. Sutton. He denied the possit,It,,
OF. Lieutenant Sutton having been beaten 10 DEAN
and then shot 10 CONCEAL the crime which he sat5
Mr.. Davis had charged by imputation al least NJ
DAVIS interrupted 10 deny tbs. but Mr.. Birney in
sisted upon the accuracy Of hts statement
Tie attacked Mrs. Sutton and declared she Ia.
pursued ms client and his associates with Tnae,.