The San Francisco call., 1909-07-24
SUTTON HEARING is
NEARING THE END
Mother and Sister of the Dead
Lieutenant to Testify
Next Week
Chauffeurs Shed but Little New
Light on Annapolis
Tragedy


ANNAPOLIS. Nd. July 2s.-The navy
practically rested its case today in the
investigation OF the death of Lieuten-
ant James n Sutton of Portland. Ore.
who was adjudged suicide by the
naval board of inquicy, which sat fol-
lowing sutton's death two years ago.
After a short session, Commander
John Hood. president OF the court of
inquiry. adjourned the hearing until
Monday With the exception of Lieu
tenant Harold H. Ut1ey and Surgeon
c. F. Cook. recently attached to the
battleship North Carolina, and now en-
route from Europe. nearly all the re-
naming witnesses are considered TO
be witnesses for the interested par
ties outside of the service.
Mrs. Sutton and her daughter. Mrs.
Rose Sutton Parker. will both testify
next week
So far four of Suttons brother ofi-
GERS in the marine corps have testi-
fed that they were present at the
fight which started between Lieuten-
ant Adams and Sutton and each swore
he saw Sutton deliberately shoot him
self in a supposed fit Of remorse, aft
er some one had said he had killed
Lieutenant Rocker.
TWO CHAUFFEURs TESTIFY
Two chauffeurs. William l. Owens
and Edwin Griffith, testified TODAY.
Owens said he drove Sutton and a
party of officers from Carvel Hall ho-
tel TO the marine camp on the night
OF the shooting and witnessed an
alteration and interrupted a fist fight
between Sutton and Lieutenant Adams
as he left his passengers near the
parade grounds. adjacent to the camp.
He was told to beat it, he said. and
did not learn of the shooting until
next morning
Griffith. who had driven Lieutenant
Potts and another officer to the camp
just ahead of Owens. testified he met
the Sutton party on his way back He
did not see any fight, he said
Lieutenant Rocker. who is supposed
70 have been hit with a bullet from
Sutton's revolver. has not yet been
located although his testimony is con-
sidered most important
William l. Owens. the chauffeur. who
drove Lieutenant Sutton and his broth
er officers out to the camp on the night
OF the shooting, was called. He told
of taking Sutton. Lieutenant Adams
and two other officers in his automobile
from Carvel hall. toward the camp.
Lieutenant Adams sat on the seat with
him and Sutton and the other two
officers. whose names he did not know.
on the rear seat.
SEEMED TO BE FRIENDLY
This was about 1 o'clock. Sutton
and his two companions talked and
seemed to be friendly on the way out
Adams did not have anything TO say.
They went through the naval academy
ground and nothing happened until
they got across the cemetery bridge
on the dump" when some one told
him TO stop. Lieutenant Adams jumped
from his seat and threw off his collar
and coat and made a rush at Lieuten-
ant Sutton as the latter got out of
the automobile
The witness heard no argument which
might suggest trouble before that. The
other two officers grabbed Sutton. and
the witness heard Sutton say. Go away,
Adams, l don't want any trouble"
Owens was excused until Monday.
= Lieutenant Adams took the witness
stand at the opening of the afternoon
session to make some corrections in
his testimony in the record.
Edward Griffith. the chauffeur who
took Lieutenant Potts and another Of
Sutton's Iarty, testified. He partly cor
roborated Owens story. He did not see
or hear any fight
The chauffeurs are mere boys and ap-
peared somewhat frightened at the
solemnity of their surroundings. Grif-
fifth was excused and adjournment taken
until Monday morning