The Washington times., 1909-08-07

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identified the handwriting as her own.
Letters In Mourning.
The letters were incIosed in envAlopes
of mourning. They teened. in turn. with
bitter denunciation of those whQrs the
mother believed responsible foT her
sons death and entreaties that tie Ge-
parment reopen the case and afford
her an opportunity to show that Sutton
had not killed himself: that the family
name still was clear Of this stigma.
The mother who has worked two years
to obtain this rehearing has always
been frank in her expressions concern
ing the responsibility for Jimmie SUIT
toms death. The letters read TODAY are
said to have been equally so. To whom
they were addressed was dIvuleed bv
no one, under the courts order. but
suffice it IS TO say they were influential
in the battle betr|een the mother and
the Nav Department and that the lat
ter finally acceeded TO her request.
It was rumored after court adjourned
that one OF them was to Colonel Doyen,
commander Of the Annapolis station at
the time Sutton was killed in the cam
pus fight OF October b. 1907. Colonel
DOyen, 1t is known, originally assisted
Mrs. Rose Sutton Parker, sister OF the
dead lieutenant, when she came to bury
her brother and 10 conduct her own
investigation of how he died
Correspondence between the guttons
and Colonel Doyen is said to haze been
turned over to the department
Letter To Newberry.
Again, it was reported that enc Of the
letters was to Secretary NewbeTry. who
a. coli
open the case, and, according TO the
mother. informed her that "the navy
has no time to prove that there are
assassins and murderers in It's service. 50
Only the defendant officers, Lieuten-
ants Adams. Osterman, Bevan. willing
and Utley, and Sergeant De Hart; to-
gether with Adams counsel Mrs. SUIT
ton. Mrs. Parker and their counsel,
the members of the court and the Of
fetal. stenographer were allowed IN the
court room this morning.
The closed session today was in way
a concession to Mrs. Sutton and her at
torneys. Henry E. Davis and Mr.. Van
Dyke. In one Of the most scathing, and
at the same time appealing orations
ever heard IN a court Toou, Mr.. Davis
yesterday plead that the letters of a
mother written IN hour OF her grief
and figuratively speaking. over the gap
ing grave of her SON should not be
spread before the curious gaze of a
morbid public. He objected to them be-
ing read at ALL
Mrs. Sutton mad just taken the witness
stand, and against her own wishes had
taken chair that turned her back to-
ward the navy widows in tie room,
who, as is well known, have shown by
their attitude that not all of them are
IN sympathy with the reopening Of the
sutton case or the mothers fight in be-
half Of her dead
Mother Sheds Tears.
The mother had said that she would
never let a hostile one see her shed a
tear. that her grief. now of two years
duration, would be assuaged in the
secrecy OF her own room. Despite this,
however. she gave way at last as Mr.
Davis plead that q mothers letters and
mothers innermost beliefs should be
held involate before a court that has
declared that il IS prosecuting no one,
but Is merely an investigating body
Continuing and this Is the statement
that aroused the ire of the Judge advO-
cate, and incidentally that of CAPTAIN
Blrney, VINO said that he would have
demanded the intrOductiOns OF the let
ters II Major Leonard had not, Mr.
Davis said.
These letters cannot enIighten the
question before the court. I hesitate 10
believe what I am sure some within the
SOUND OF my voice believe that this
tnlng does not sound in good faith If
II be that the object OF any one is to
gratlfy curiosity that will be bad
enough; If it be TO strip this woman
OF sympathy, il is worse
AS reluctant as ] am TO sav4t. nv
Intelligence is not equal TO apprebend-
ing this move as having for its object
the calculation of the matter we have
been inquiring into"
It Is said that Mr.. Davis held - the
same opinion behind the closed Ioors
I today that his words are to stay In the
record as uttered.
May Last Week.
The unexpected developments of yes
terday and today will add to the length
Of the hearing, and IL seems now. with
Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Sutton still TO
! tell the story Of how they worked I'D
evidence that caused them to believe
that the first verdict of suicide was q
travesty, that the court cannot adjourn
before the end of the coming week
There is still talk Of dark-horse wit
nesses who may be called by either
side in the hope of clearing up The
manifold mysteries that still surround
just how Lieutenant Sutton died
DINO Ant NRTNEH