Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-08-18
TOday's Telegraphic News
Declares Sutton Killed Himself.

Declares Sutton Killed Himself.
Washington, Aug. 1S.-The Navy
Department today handed down Its de-
cision 10 the Sutton case. The depart
ment decides that Sutton was killed By
revolver shot from service Colt re-
volver, held in his own right hand, and
fred by himself with ut the intervention
OF any other hand.
The statement OF facts submitted by
the board points Significantly to Suttoo's
own culFabiliy in the campus fight and
the STRAY which resulted in his OVID
death. The board makes 1t plain that
it has attached much Importance to the
fact that Sutton was the initial sggres-
Sor.
The facts as the board finds them are
as follows:
81. That 8 quarrel took place in
which filthy language, unbecomiDg on
officer and q gentleman, was used by
Second Lieut.. Sutton, towards Second
Lieut.. Adams 10 the presence of theil
senior, Lieut. Utley, about ! q. N, on
Oct 10, 1897; that Lieuts Utley and
Ostermsn interVened and prevented q
fight.
%. That because OF this interference
fight took place imme diately after
wards between Lieuls. Ostermau and
Sutton, in which Lieut.. Sutton was the
sggresser, calling Oslermau a vile anne,
aud striking 0slermsn blow from be-
hind.
90 That Lieut.. Sattoa was then or
dered under arrest by his senior officer,
Lhu. Utey; failed to obey such order,
ran away to bis IS iton') tent, threat.
eninz to shoot all present, and armed
himself with two SO caliber revolVers,
one \ service Colt.
"a TIA Lieut. : lttoD. having pos
sesscd himself OF two reVolvers, ran
smuck, threatening all who came In
sieht after fret deiying his senior Off
Ger, Lieut.. UtIey, and the officer of the
guard, Lieut.. B,van, WHO had also Of
dered him under arrest.
"5. II q, Lituts. Ullty and Rocker
and Sergeant DeHart followed Lieut..
Snlto from the camp after his breach
of arrest and came on him in the road
leading ron he "a racks to the Naval
Academy g'osod', GEAR the scene OF
the previous fight, and Lieut.. Utley
and S rgesnl DeHsrl tried to persuade
him Sutton TO dissrm.
"6 That Lieut.. Sutton broke away
On hearing persons approach from the
direction OF The barracks, and ran 10
at direction and, while being chased
by Lieuts. Utey and Rocker, met
Lieut.. Adams and opened FIRE on him;
10 The general scr mmage that followed,
shot Rocker ia the breast and Adams
in the hand, and when 6nally over
p Iwered and thrown to the ground by
Adams, wSs killed by reVOIvera shot,
from a service Colt revolver, held in bis
own right hand, and fred by himself,
| without the intervention Of any other
hand"
In the opinion Of the board, not only
Lieut. Utley failed in his duty as senior
officer present during the various affrays
10 not summoniDg the guard and for
csbly preventing Sutton from arming
himself, but Lieut. Bevan, as officer of
the guard, and Lieut.. Willing, as officer
of the day, were equally culpable in not
dissrming Sutton.
However, the board decides "in view
of the youth and decided inexperience
of sll these leutenauts at that time, aud
OF the altogether unusual conditions OF
excitement, threats ard danger during
the afore mentioned fray, II is recon-
mended that 10 further proceedings be
| taken"
Commander Hood, in his minority re-
port takes occasion TO comment on the
| fact that these officers "sbowed de-
plorable lack Of knowledge Of their
duties and obligations as officers holding
commissions in the Marine Corps; and
the testimony concerning the whole de-
plorsble affair indicates a state of dis
cipine then existing in the Marine
School of Application, discreditable to
the service, aud argues strongly against
the practice of commissioning and pat
ling into positions OF responsibility
young men without proper previous
| lrainiug