The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-11
ADAMS TOLD OF
SUTTON'SDFATH
TO HIS SISTER
Mrs. Parker Testifies of Inter-
view With Accused Lieu
tenant at Annapolis
Defendant EnaCts Scene of Kill
ing in Pantomime Upon
Table in Court

sutton Parker, whose testimony mas
been looked forward 10 as of surpass-
ing interest in the investigation of the
death of her brother, James \. SUIT
ton Jr.. October 1S. 1907, was the center
Of attraction at the court Of inquiry
today. She demonstrated clearly that
her memory of her interview with
Lieutenant Adams shortly after her
brothers death was much better than
was Lieutenant Adams recollection on
the same points. In his testimony as to
what was said during this six hour in
terview. the words Il do not remember
frequently REQUIRED.
Mrs Parker was positive regarding
: what was said and done 1t was no
liable from her testimony that whether
or not Adams and Sutton were friends,
Adams and Mrs Parker parted most
amicably after a little dinner party
Arthur 4. Birney, counsel for Lieuten-
N; Adams. did not press Mrs. Parker
20 any extent on cross examination.
This feature was a distinct disa ppoint-
ment. Mrs Parker said she had ex-
3ected 10 be able to say a great many
things to Birney that her own counsel
could not bring out on direct examina-
tion.
Mrs. Parker said she started for An
polls on the day following her broth
.er's- death. previously making prelimi-
nary arrangements for his burial at
Arlington. because, suicide, he
could not be buried in the cemetery lot
Of the family in Portland, Ore, they
being members Of the Roman Catholic
church. She was advised by Colonel
Doyen. -commandant of marines. not to
look at her brothers body on account
OF the condition of the head, which.
she said. Colonel Doyen told her showed
= number Of wounds of various sorts.
Mrs. Parker told Of interviews in her
room at CarVel hall with several of
the young lieutenants- She asked that
Lieutenant Adams see her alone, be-
cause she believed he had information
which he probably would not give her
in the presence OF others. The inter
view began at and ended at 10
o'clock p. m.
She said she asked Adams to tell her
everything about her brothers death
and not spare her feelings. and that
Adams told her of Lieutenant Sutton's
unpopularity with brother officers.
She said Adams told her her brother
went for weapons. having said that he
man. and that he described the final
encounter. Mrs. Parker said Adams
told her he would not swear her
brother committed suicide; that he
knew that If Sutton had lived his own
life would have been in danger, that
sutton would get me-"
Adams, she said stated Lieutenant
Ttley hated Sutton and had declared
some one ought TO take it out of
him.
Adams told Mrs. Parker, she said.
that il Captain Mark said Sutton owed
money not 10 pay it, as Sutton owed
him nothing.
Adams had told her that every one
IN Annapolis believed he had killed
sutton. She disclaimed to him such
belief Mrs. Parker told Adams she
said. that all she wanted was to prove
her brother was not a suicide, as. were
he that, his mother would, by her faith
be compelled TO believe her sons soul
lost She told Adams If she could do
this the case would be dropped.
Mrs Sutton was recalled and identi-
fed two letters written by Lieutenant
sutton. one TO her and one to her
brother. They contained no hint that
he meditated suicide. but spoke of his
plans for the future
Mrs Sutton also identified a bill Of
lading written by her son, with the
prospect Of going around the world
states battleship fleet in 1907.
Charles II. Russell a laundryman
testified that October /, 1907, he re-
ceiVed from Lieutenant Adams a blood
stained shirt collar and cuffs
Colonel Doyen. cOmmandant of ma :
rines. Lieutenant Willings and Lieu
tenant Adams again took the stand.
Adams was mercilessly grilled by
Davis. counsel for Mrs Sutton. He
was made to lie on the big table about
which the court sits and pantomime
che firing Of the fatal shot.
In his demonstration he used an I'M
loaded service revolver, and as he IL
lustrated it the bullet must have en-
tered Sutton's head al a different point
and from a different direction than was
indicated by Surgeons Cook and Pick
rell.
Lieutenant Willing was recalled and
said the cartridges taken from Lieu
tenant SuttOn's revolvers were taken
apart by order Of the board of inquest
in order to decide from which revolver
the service weapon or his own. the
bullet that killed Lieutenant sutton
was fired.
Sergeant Saw Shooting
BOSTON, Aug. IO.-In an interview
attributed TO Sergeant Arthur Todd Of
the United States marine CORPS and
made public today. he said:
was corporal OF the guard on the night
Lieutenant Sutton shot and from the ulsce
where was standing light figure about
$50 feet away
I saw Lieutenant Adams and .Osterman and
on Trr 7nr Thpr rrpro