The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-19
SUTTON FAMILY
is DISSATISFIED

Portland, Ore, aug. lS.-James N.
Sutton. father of Lieutenant James n.
sutton, when asked foY on opinion
on the verdict OF the naval court OF
Inquiry into the death of his son, stated
;hat the result was not unexpected and
that he believed the verdict to be
'whitewSsh." Mr. Sutton added;
Il realized when we entered uopn
our efforts TO secure a reh hearing into
the delIh OF my sen that we were up
against stone wall [ believe. how
ever, that three important facts nave
been brought out by the investigation:
Firstly. that they were unable to prove
my son suicide, secondly. that the
investigation proved TO DE q farce,
and. thirdly that the affairs in the
marine corEs at Annapolis. as con-
Quoted, are In a deploreble condition
and should be investigated
Mr.. Sutton intimated that steps prob
ably would be taken toward securing
congressional investigation
Wide Latitude Allowed
In the beginning of Its report the
court says: After due consideration
of the testimony. In the taking of
which the widest latitude was allowed
TO all parties concerned, with the OBJ
ject of bringing out every possible
| bit OF testimony or fact that might in
any way bear on the subject matter
under inquiry, and after carefully
watching all the evidence. which, as
might be expected. as the lapse Of
time and in view OF the excitement
under which the principal witnesses
were laboTing al the time of the oc-
currcnce OF the matter under inquiry,
is peculiarly mixed and contradictory
In details, the court finds certain facts
standing out clearly, distinctly aud be-
yond dispute or cavil and does so re-
port Accordingly. at $50 p. m, the
judge advocate was called before the
court and directed 10 record, VIZ:
facts:
Il That a quarrel took place in
which filthy language. unbecoming an
officer and gentleman, was used by
Second Lieutenant Sutton towards
Second Lieutenant Adams. in the pres
ence of their senior. Lieutenant Utley
about / a. M October 13. 1907; that
Lieutenants Utley and Osterman in
terYened and prevented fight
Result Of Quarrel.
fight took place Immediately after
wards between LIeutenants Osterman
and Sutton. In which Lieutenant Sut,
ton was the aggressor, calling Oster-
man a vile name and striking Oster-
man a blow from behind
IS That Lieutenant Sutton was
then ordered under arrest by his
senior officer, Lieutenant Utley, failed
to obey such order, ran away to his
(Sutton's) tent. threatening TO shoot
all present. and armed himself with
two .3S caliber revolyer5. one a Smith
& Wesson commercial and one a serv-
Ice Colt.
II That Lieutenant Sutton, having
possessed himself of two revolvers.
ran amuck. threatening all who came
In sight, after first defying his senior
officer, Lieutenant Utley. and the Of
ficer of the guard. Lieutenant Beyan.
who had also ordered him under ar
rest,
Sutton Killed Himself.
IS That LieutenantS Utley and
Rocker and Sergeant De Hart fol
lowed Lieutenant Sutton from the
! camp after his breach of arrest and
came on him In the road leading in
the barracks to the naval academy
grounds, near the scene OF the pre-
vious fight and Lieutenant Utley and
Sergeant De Hart tried to persuade
him (Suttonl to diSarm.
&c. That Lieutenant Sutton broke
away on hearing persons approaching
from the direction Of the barracks and
ran in that direction. and while being
chased by Lieutenants Utley and Roel-
ker met Lieutenant Adams and opened
fire on him; In the general scrimmage
that followed shot Rocker in the
breast and Adams in the hand and
when finally oyerpowered and thrown
to the ground by Adams was Killed by
revolver shot from a service Colt
revolver, held In his own right hand
and fired by himself without the in
teryention Of any other hand"