Evening star., 1909-07-19
COURT MARTIAL OPENS
WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mrs. Sutton and Her Daughter Al.
lowed to Be Present 1t All TimeA
SUBPOENA FOR FRANK FOGG
Washington Nan Wanted to Tell OF
Letter-Roelker Also summon
ed Before Inquiry.

quiry. which is to take testimony regard
Ing the death Of Lieut. James N. Sutton Of
the Marine Corps. who was mysteriously
shot on the ground. Of the marine bar
vened this morning.
II was found that the tiny court-mar-
tial room at the httle two-story admin
istratior building was too restricted even
to hold the principals. Commander John
Hood. commandant OF the navy yard and
presiding officer of the court OF inquiry.
ordered that court be transferred TO the
assembly rooms In the auditorium build
Ing.
Courtroom Fills Up.
The first TO arrive In tho courtroom at
10 o'clock this morning were the three
onicers constituting the court OF inquiry.
Commander Hood and Lieut. H. NJ Jen-
son OF the navy and Wendell o. Neville
OF the Marine Corps They and the other
naval officers present were dressed in tho
white service uniform in order at the
academy during the hot weather.
Lieuts. Robert E. Adams and E. A.
Osterman, in the blue and red stripes OF
the marine service. appeared next, with
Capt. Arthur r. Brney representing them
as counsel. Iieuts. Adams and Osterman
were both present at the shooting OF Sui
ton. and are expected to give sonle~of tho
most important testimony in the investi-
CATION.
Mrs. James N. Sutton. the mother of the
slain lieutenant. arrived with her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Rose Sutton Parker. and the
Sutton counsel, Henry +. Davis and
Henry w. Van Dyke. Mrs. Sutton wore a
confident and placid look
She was dressed in black silk suit, and
wore black veil. She settled herself
back In the chair allotted to her at the
long table Of the court without a word.
and famed herself with q small black
fan. The daughter. Mrs. Parker, was
only a little less seif-possessed.
Adjournment to Afternoon.
After swearing in the members OF the
court of inquiry by the Judge advocate
and his reading Of the instructions for
the trial from Washington, the court adj
At the opening OF the afternoon session
Commander Hood ruled that there would
be no objection TO the presence In the
courtroom at all times OF Mrs. Sutton.
Mrs. Parker and Lieut.. Adams.
Adams Takes Witness Stand
Lieut.. Adams was then called to the
stand, not as one accused. but az an or
dinary witness. He was cautioned by
Commander Hood 10 testify only AS TO
facts within his knowledge
The direct examination was conducted
by Mai. Leonard. His first question was
to Adams action on the night of October
IL. 1907.
Adams testified that he, Utley and Os-
terman dined together at Carvel Hall. and
afterward attended dance at the Naval
Academy. Later he returned to Carvel
Hall with Lieuts. Osterman, Etley.
Schirer, Potts and Sumner
They ordered dozen bottles OF beer
and sandwiches. While they were there
Sutton came into the room where they
were sitting with a bottle OF whisky and
offered drinks TO the crowd. The offer
was refused.
Shortly after II o'clock they left. Out
side was public automobile. which Sut-
ton had called. Potts and his compan-
ions. witness said, had gone ahead in an
other machine, so he and Ctley got into
the machine with Sutton.
Resented Being Called Coward.
Entering the grounds, discussion arose
as to whether they should take the ma
chine through the grounds, IL being after
their liberty hour. AGams said he would
get out and walk.
You d. old-footed coward" witness
declared Sutton said. What do you want
to walk for?"
Don't talk to me that way" witness
said he replied.
'Tf you say anything TO me I'll take you
out and beat - out of you." Is the
reply attributed 10 Sutton by the witness.
The machine was stopped, said Adams.
and he got out, taking or his cape. As
they stood on the ground Sutton also
having left the machine. Sutton asked
1t.
Adams said:
'You are the one that was going to do
something. Now go ahead
MIR. Ctley." said Adams. who was
senior Oncer OF the party, oruered US
not to fight and said our trouble could
be settled before reveille. the next morn
ing. He ordered me to my tent.
started away.
"Utley began trying to quiet sutton.
Soon sutton called Osterman a vile name.
Osterman struck him. They
then clinched.
soon Osterman got Sutton down. /
went back and pulled Osterman or We
then separated
illustrates Sutton's Death.
Later, when Adams came to the story
Of Sutton's death he illustrated his fight
with Sutton.
Stretched out on the floor Of the
courtroom, with his head within few
inches Of Mrs. Parker's feet and right
Under her steady gaze, he showed the