The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-20
Il Don't Remember, His
Answer to Statements
Alleged.
MRS. ROSE PARKER
WILL TAKE STAND
Lieutenant Ostennan, Participation
in the Fight, Called to
Testify.
By THEODORE H. TILLER.

ANNAPOLIS, Nd, July 20
While the sister of the man with
whom he and his brother officers
fought AMI who was later declared
to have killed himseIs sat in utter
amazement across the table, Lieut..
Robert E. Adams today, before a
second naval investigating board, de-
family denied that he had ever de-
Scribed to that sister how Lieut..
James N. Sutton had been unmerci-
fully beaten on the Naval Academy
campus one night nearly two years
ago.
WILL TAKE STAND.
In consequence of this sweeping
denial. Mrs. Rose Sutton Parker.
she Who came to Annapolis and
constituted herself a court Of in
quiry into the manner of her broth
er's death just after his funeral, is
to take the stand and tell the pres
ent beard about the damaging ad-
missions that she says Adams. and
perhaps other officers, made TO her.
Adams is the only one Of the officers
participating in the fight wh9 has en-
gagged counsel, and who, therefore. oc-
cupies the center of the stage With Mrs
Parker and Mrs. James N Sutton, 81.
He was plainly angered during the
entire OTdeal that he was forced 10
undergo this morning by Attorney
Henry E. Davis, who represents AIRS.
Sutton. His face was flushed, his
manner defiant, his eyes seldom met the
steady brown ones OF the woman who
sat opposite. and VINO seemed more and
more amazed at Adams as ne denied
every statement that she claims he
made to her when she summoned him
before her little court two years ago.
Battle of Eyes.
The battle Of eyes between Lieutenant
Adams and the attractive Mrs Parker.
for as yet the latter has not told her
story IN words. was decidedly the
dramatic feature of the morning. In that
most persistent, for Adams avoided her
gaze when he could conveniently do so.
at such times glaring rather indignant
ly at counsel and always coming back
with that Il don't remember. He
absolutely repudiated every word that
Mrs. Parker is expected to declare he
uttered. His only admission was that
he Informed Mrs. Parker she must 90
to the records.
Mrs. Parker, while this oft repeated
denial was going on, seemed unable TO
Lieutenant Adams She
wore a look of surprise. Her mother,
however, smiled at times, particularly
when Lieutenant Adams would grow.
vehement in his regulations
of her daughters contentious.
Adams. angry at frs, became cooler
as the examination proceeded. and it
looked like a case of wearing dOwl
counsel with constant assertions that
he didn't remember anything about
which they wanted to know.
Finally Excused.
Finally he was excused and Lieuten-
ant Osterm5n was called His intro
ductory testimony followed. with sew
eraI more or less important discrep-
ancies, the story told yesterday by
Adams which was 10 the effect that
sutton shot himself after the difficulty
was over.
"AH 1 know about this thing is shat
l was told that Mrs. Parker wanted
to see the officers connected with the
night on the campus that night" said
Adams, warning Davis that his ques-
Z
stood THAI she would see the others in
groups, but she insisted that / should
come alone. went alone and met her.
I told her 7Othirg about the case. We
did talk little about how her brother
was liked and disliked. Now that's all
1 can tell"
II Don't Remember"
Il don't remember" was the reitera-
ton Adams made time and time again
as Attorney Davis, with Mrs. Parker's
memoranda before him. tried 10 get
him 10 admit that he had described to
the dead Heutenant's sister how un-
mercifuIly Sutton had been beaten by
himself and the other officers.
Il tell you 1 did not tell Mrs. Parker
anything except TO go to the records"
said Adams at last hotly.
What's the use of you asking me all
these little details when I have told
you 1 made no admission at all?''
Unfortunately. lieutenant 1 have to
ask them and you to answer" said At
torney Davis. and the grueling exami-
nation proceeded.
Even the attorneys grew tired of the
denials after awhile, however, and after
more than five hours on the stand
Adams was allowed d temporary res
pite. and Lieutenant Osterman, also a
in the fight OF October 13,
1907, was called shortly before the noon
recess.