The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-23
Inquiry Into SuttOns Death Is
Full Of Contradictions
WHERE BULLET ENTERED
Opinion Seems To Differ Greatly AS
To the Manner in Which Sutton
Came To His Death on
the Academy Grounds.

Annapolis, Nd, July 22-The remarkable
variance In the testimony of some of the
naval officers, who are witnesses before
the court of inquiry which is investigat-
ing the circumstances surrounding the
death of Lieut.. James N. Sutton, at the
Naval Academy two years ago, was em-
phasized at todays hearing by contradic-
tory evidence as to the location of the
bullet wound which caused the young
Oregonan's death.
This question has assumed Importance
in the face of other evidence given, as 1t
would appear that 1t would have been a
much more difficult matter for Sutton to
have shot himself, lying prone on the
ground with three men on top of him, if
the bullet entered the top of his skull, as
Surgeon George Pickrell, in charge OF the
marine hospital at that time, who ex-
amined Suttons body, testified it did
Col Charles A. Doyen, commandant OF
marines at that time and who holds the
same post now, testified that he examined
Suttons body Immediately after the shoot
ing, felt the wound in his head and that
1t was located on the right side little
behind and on line with the top of the
ear.
SeIf-lnfIicted Wound.
DIR. Pickrell thought Sutton might have
inflicted the wound upon himself, as he
described 1t, but he made an unconvinc-
ing and awkward demonstration In court
with the revolver and free right arm
TO get the weapon In position which
would have sent the bullet into his head,
as he testified 1t had entered Sutton s
head
Considerable progress was made at the
hearing today and three more witnesses
were disposed of. Besides Surgeon Pick
rel's and Colonel Doyen's testimony MIR.
Davis, counsel for Sutton's mother and
sister, finished the cross examination of
Lieutenant Willing. who was also on the
stand yesterday. Willing made an obsti-
nate and unsatisfactory witness. The few
discrepancies which Mr.. Davis drew from
him by reading the record of his descrip-
ton of the scene of the shooting at the
former inquiry was conceded by Willing
when he said that he had testified on
both occasions to the best of his recol-
lection.
Davis tried to find out from all the
witnesses what became of Sutton's two
revolvers following the shooting.
Colonel Doyen testified that he saw
them and ordered Lieutenant Willing
TO take charge of them, but he did not
know what became of them until they
finally got into his hands at the in
quest.
Responsibility Dodged.
1t was apparent that no one of the
officers wanted to assume the respon-
sibility of having the weapons upon
his person immedla tely after the shoot
ing.
Sergeant James De Hart of the ma
rine corps, the witness at today's ses
sion, testified that some officers at the
scene of the shooting handed him Il
revolver with the curt command to
take this"
He admitted that on the night in
question he was slightly under the in
fiuence of liquor. He was positive
however that he was not one of the
men sitting on Lieutenant sutton and
trying to hold him down. Lieutenant
Bevan had previously testified he was.
He was making way to camp by "a
back entrance" when he met sutton
prior to the shooting. De Hart said
that Sutton carried two revolyers and
that he De Hart, did not stop to talk
with him long The witness did not
know about the trouble Sutton had had
in camp, but thought something was
up when he saw the guns. Soon aft
erward De Hart heard the firing.
Mr.. Davis had not quite finish ed the
cross examination of De Hart when, al
AIS p. M, the inquiry was adjourned
until tomorrow.