Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
Bevans and 0sterman
Confirm Adams Story

ANNAPOLIS. July 2i.-The color that
flashed In and out OF the witness chair
in the Sutton inquiry yesterday were
blue, red stripe; white, blue, red stripe.
1t was In this order that the court
brought forward the three witnesses ex-
amined. the last of whom was the most
important and convincing.
Lieut.. Adams. one OF the principal ac-
tors in the midnight fight under the trees
of the marine barracks that resulted in
the death by shooting Of Lieutenant OF
Marines Jimmie" Sutton on the night Of
October II. 49,, was heckled for sixty
eight minutes.
His blue. red striped uniform gave
place to the immaculate white garb of
Lieut.. Edward A. Osterman. who came
from China to testify. and whose narra-
tive and examination consumed liza min
utes.
Lieut.. w. r. Bevans. in blue. red
was the last witness on the stand, being
there for twenty-eigf. minutes. winding
up the 900 minutes Of the courts ses-
sion.
Adams Story Unshaken.
The minute cross-examination OF
Lieut.. Adams and Lieut.. Ozterman
failed to shake the essential points re-
yardins their version OF the manner In
which Sutton met his death. Tho brief
testimony OF Lieut.. Bevaa2. who was
officer of tie guard on the night OF the
tragedy and who was On friendly terms
with sutton, showed conclusively that
Lieut.. Adams aid not. At least. fire the
shot, but that Lieut.. Sutton did go.
first court of inquiry. or by accident or
In an effort to shoot one Of his fellow
officers. as remains to be seen.
AS the white clad figure Of the stall
wart. blond Osterman retired from the
witness chair In the big auditorium. Pic
turesquely picked out In the varied uni.
forms OF the officers OF the regular line
Of the sea service-those OF the marine
who are both soldiers and sailors. too,
and the white frocks of the hatless navy
women. including some very attractive
navy w'dows"-the blue uniformed fig-
ure of the clear-cut and curly haired Be-
vans slid into it.
With the refreshing disregard for legal
coed ngs of the court of inquiry. but
drives straight at facts, the one-armed
Leonard. major OF the line Of sea police.
and judge advocate, led Bevans swift ,ly
through the night Of the tragedy, and
elected this vital description of the exact
manner in which the bullet was fred. who
fired it and circumstances under which 1t
was fired
Bevans' Dramatic Story.
Ma Leonard-Were you at Carvel Hall
on the night of October IL, 1907?
NO, sir: l was officer OF the guard
at marine camp and barracks SAID Lieut.
Bevans. Re. s. Willing was the officer of
the day.
lat 10 am. the corporal OF the guard
reported at my office that there was q
fight near the entrance to the barrack
grounds. ordered him to report the fact
to the officer OF the day. and say that 1
was on my way to the scene.
On the way / met Lieut. Utley. He
was greatly excited and GREATNESS. He
told me that Lieut. Sutton was miscon-
Quoting himself.
I'VE started to go to the place together
AS we went through the company street
OF the camp we passed the tent OF Lieut..
Sutton.
Il saw him there. standing just at the
entrance. He had revolver in each
hand. Rocker was standing near, try
ing to get he weapons away from SUIT
ton. sutton had the weapons pointed
at the feet OF Rocker.
IT ordered sutton under arrest. He
made some reply to indicate his ifsre-
| gard FOR the order. ! think he said
| Damn arres = and started to run to-
ward the road where the fight had &C.
| Cured.
He called back, saying he was going