Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-23
SUTTON SHOT SELF
STUDENTS Hello HIM
Marine Officer Swears That Dead
Student Freed Arm and Killed
Self, While He Was Held Down
by Students.

ANNAPOLIS. Md. July u.-Lieut Will
liam r. Bevan. OF the marine corps, re-
sumed his testimony today when the
court of inquiry continued the investiga-
ton into the death of former Lieut..
James y. Sutton. OF Portland. Ore. who
vas shot and instantly killed on the ma
Fine barracks grounds on the night OF
October Il. 1907.
! Henry K. Davis. counsel for the dead
lieutenant's mother. said he would sub
= iect Lieutenant Bevan 70 G lengthy cross
examination.
Bevan's graphic story yesterday of the
Incidents leading up TO Sutton's death.
varied In many essential points from the
testimony OF Lieutenants Adams and Os-
terman. ali Of whom were present and
testified they saw Sutton XIII himself. Ac-
cording 70 Bevan. there werc three men
either si<ung on or holding young SUIT
ton down when he freed an arm and shot
himself
sutton's mother. In view OF this part
OF Bevan's testimony. last night again ex-
pressed her belief that her son was beat
en- 20 death In the quarrel with the Off
GERS. and the bullet wound In his head
afterward inflicted
Mai. Henry Leonard. who Is conducting
the inquiry for the government. had
long conference last night at Carvel hall
with Mrs Sutton and her daughter, Mrs
Hugh Parker.
IL was said afterward that the confer
ence might lead 10 an unexpected turn
In the investigation. Nothing has been
heard here BY the naval authorities OF
Lieut.. Edward p. Rocker. the much
wanted witness. although II was reported
yesterday he had been found.
1t Is not thought likely that Miss Mar
garet Stewart. Of Pittsburg, the girl who
spent the evening with Lieutenant SUIT
ton. before his death. viii be called as
witness.
Major Leonard asked Lieutenant Bevan.
when court opened. IL he knew OF threats
against the lives Of any officers In camp
or attempts on Sutton's part to shoot
I'D camp.
Mr.. Davis objected to the question as
irrelevant
IF any officers should be subsequently,
charged with causing Sutton's death.
matd Major Leonard ANY testimony
which would tend 20 show motive would
be material. II such an oficer had
caused his death through a deep sense
OF fear and in an effort to protect his
own life, such testimony would be very
The court ruled that the question should
be allowed
TIRE witness said he did not recall ever
hearing Lieutenant Sutton threaten 10
take the life Of anyone in camp.
Referring 20 the incident In camp just
nwevfous to the shooting when Bevan,
a. cficer OF the guard. found sutton con-
fronting Lieutenant Rocker with two re-
voIvers pointed at Rockers feet. Major
Leonard asked the witness IL Sutton was
taking any action at that time TO pro-
tect himself from Rocker.
lieutenant Rocker was expostulating
with Lieutenant Sutton about putting his
(sutton'sl revOlvers away. but besides
that took no action replied the witness
Asked II there was any interval between
the time some one said my God. he
has killed Rocker" and the time Sutton
shot himself as testified to by the wit
ness. Lieutenant Bevan said IL was only
q few moments.
Are you positive that Lieutenant SUIT
ton caused the revolver TO be fired at the
time he was shotg'' inquired Major Leon
ard
yes. I know that no one present was
In contact with the revolver except Lieu
tenant Sutton" Lieutenant Bevan an
Ewered.
Arthur L Birney, Lieutenant Adams
counsel questioned the witness The lat
ter told Of a conversation with Sutton
about six weeks prior to his death, In
which Sutton said the life in the navy
did not attract him and that some day
he would shoot himself
ANNAPOLIS. Nd. July 22-Leut. s.
willing resumed the witness stand today
at the opening of the court Of inquiry
which is investigating the death Of Lieut..
James ~. Sutton, OF Oregon. Henry E.
Davis counsel for Sutton's mother, con-
tinued his crOss-examination of the wit
ness from the point where he had left on
yesterday.
reached the scene Of the tragedy in time
10 see Lfeutenants Adams and Sutton IN
\ nsticun prior to the shooting. Mr..
Davis took the witness over and over
the scene OF the fight between Adams and
Sutton. but could not materially shake
the officers story. Lieutenant willing Is
said 10 be related to the AstorS. of New
York
William I. Owens, the chauffeur who
drove Sutton's party from Carven hall to
the marine camp on the night OF the
shooting. and Edward Griffith. the chauf-
feur who took party Of officers to the
camp just ahead Of Owens car, were both
on hand today TO testify
Major Leonard. the Judge advocate. Is
sued an order not TO allow any witnesses
who had not been called. within 100 feet
Of the auditorium door where the court Ia
sitting.
RECORD Is READ
Mr. Davis today read from the records
OF the former inquiry. bringing out some
discrepancies in Lieutenant vikings tes-
timony. The witness said his present tes-
tfmony was correct.
The former testimony was given on
the day OF the shooting. and some of il
was reckless" was the Iieutenants expla-
nation.
Mr.. Davis handed a rusty .3S-csltLar
revolver TO the witness and asked him ii
he could identify II as the one he picked
UP on the edge OF the parade grounds
the night Sutton was shot. as he testi-
fed.
Willing broke the revolver. looked il
s0ver carefully. and said IL might be the
same one. The members or she board
also examined the revolver. Mr.. Birney.
Lieutenant Adams counsel questioned
Lieutenant Willing at the conclusion Of
Mr.. Davis cross-examination-
Commander Hood showed tho witness
the rules in the navy blue book. whi-h
Mpertained TO vikings duties as Officer
A6f the day at the time OF the shoot
Ing. and asked him II he did not know
he should have arrested anyone who was
unruly. Lieutenant Willing said he did
not recall whether or not he knew the