Evening journal., 1909-08-18
BOARD REPORT
In SUTTON CASE
BY United Press Leased Special Wire

By United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. Augs 1S.-The
statement of facts submitted by the
Army board of inquiry In theSutton
case which found that Sutton came 70
his death by his own hand points sig
nihcantly to Sutons own culpability IN
thecampus fight and the affroy which
resulted I'm his own death The board
makes it plain that II has attached
much importance to thefact that Sut-
ton was the initial aggressor.
The facts as the board finds them are
as follows:
"1-That "a quarrel took place i'm
which filthy language unbecoming an
officer and gentleman was used by
Second Lieutenant sutton, towards
Second Lieutenant Adams I'm the pres
ence OF their Senior. lieutenant Utly,
about 1 a. m. on Ocubber 10. 1907; that
Lieutenants Utley and Osterman inter-
vened and prevented a fight.
'2-That because of this interfer-
ence a fight took place Immediately
afterwards between Lieutnants Oster-
man and sutton. in which Lieutenant
sutton was the aggressor, calling Os-
terman a vile name. and striking Os-
terman a blow from behind.
"3-That Lieutenant Sutton was ther
ordered under arrest by his senior officer
Lieutenant Utley. failed TO obeY such or.
der ran away TO his lsuttonsi tent
threatening to shoot all presenU and
armed himself with two 3s-calibre re-
vovers-one a service Colt
"4-That Lieutenant Sutton having pos
sessed himself Of two revolvers, ran
amuck. threatening all who came In
sight, after first defying his senior officer
Lieutenant Uuey. and the officer OF the
guard. Lieutenant Bevan. who had also
ordered him under arrest.
"5-That Lleutenants Utley and Rool-
ker and Sergeant De Hart followed Sut-
ton from the camp after his breach OF
arrest. and came on him in the road lead
ing from the barracks to the naval acad-
emy grounds, near the scene OF the pre-
vious fight. and Lieutenant Uuey and
Sergeant De Hart tried to persuade him
CSutton) to disarm.
"G-That Lieutenant Sutton broke
away on hearing persons approach from
the direction Of the barracks and ran in
/ that direction and. while being chased bs
Lieutenants Utley and Rocker met
Lieutenant Adams and opened fire OF
him; in the general scrimmage that fol
lowed shot Rocker I'm the breast and
Adams In the head, and when finall,
ovorpowered and thrown to the groun,
by Adams was killed by a revolver shot
fro ma service Colt revolver held in hi,
own right hand. and fired by himself
without the Intervention Of any othoi
hand"
In the opinion Of the board not onll
Lieutenant Utley failed IN his duty a.
senior officer present during the variou
ARRAYS I'm not summoning the guard am
forcibly preventing Sutton from armini
himself, but Lieutenant Bevan. as Office
Of the guard. and Lieutenant willing, a
officer of the day. we're equally culpabl
in not disarming Sutton.
To Probe Case Further.
That Mrs. Sutton's fight to clear tn
} name of her son has just begun. wa
stated this afternoon by Attorne
i, Henry +. Davis. who represented he
in the inquiry.
"The judge advocates handling O
the case is fifty supplemented by tn
courts action. which makes tho in
quiry mere curtain-raiser TO the mai
performance" said Attorney Davis.
"Win you state what the main per
formance is to be?'
Il win not at this time, and ] hay
{ asked Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Sutto
. mot 20 give out any statements at ALL
4 said the attoriey. "All / can say
that we are not going 10 stop here, bu
/ cannot tell you just what we expec
70 do"
, However. the board decided I'm view
, tie youth and decided inexperience OF a
these lieutenants at that time and OF a
altogether unusual conditions OF eNcit
] ment. threats and danger during Il
4 afore mentioned fray, Il IS recommend
5 that no further proceedings be taken"
+. Commander Hood. in his minority repo
takes occasion to comment on the IA
that these officers showed dep'orab
lack OF knowledge Of their duties and o.
legations as officers holding commission
in the marine corps; and tho testimor
, concerning the whole deplorabio ana
: indicates state Of discipline then eNis
ing In the marine school Of applicatio
discreditabie to the service and argu
strongly against the practice Of commi
sioning, and putting into positions OF 7
sponsibility,. young men without prop
I previous training"
5 Death Of Mrs. culIom.