Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-12
could not have been fired without great
difficulty by Sutton's own hand.

could not have been fired without great
difficulty by Sutton's own hand.
The expert was cross-questioned by
Mr.. Birney, who desired him to lie on
his face on the long table used by the
court OF inquiry and try to pull the trig-
ger of service revolver pointed at his
head in the same manner as he had done
on the day before with a smaller arm
The physician climbed upon the table
and placed himself on his face, with his
nose among the papers: He took the
| then in his left hand. and tried in vain
| to pull the stiff trigger in the awkward
position that 1t was necessary for him to
assume.
Gould the pistol be held and discharged
in the necessary direction at some dis
lance from the head?'' asked Mr.. Birney.
Not Possible, Asserts Expert.
Mr. Birney was apparently trying to
lead up to a confirmation of what Lieut.
Adams demonstrated yesterday before the
court, namely. that a powerful young
man, holding the revolver foot off from
his head. but at a rather different angle,
could pull the trigger at will.
The expert, however. would not let him.
self be drawn. and insisted on the impos-
sibility Of firing the pistol only at the
angle In question.
Or schaffer." proceeded Mr.. Birney,
what would you say was the angle of in
cident of the bullet?"
The physician went to his handbag
again and returned to the witness stand
with two pencil sketches. One showed the
skull that he had used in demonstrating
from front view. The other showed the
same skull In profile.
In each drawing the witness had marked
the course of the bullet with a ruled line.
Its lateral angle to the horizontal, he in
formed the court. was about 60 degrees
and its frontal something like so degrees,
or almost right angle.
Odd Detection Not Likely.
What explanation can you give. doc
tor. for scalp wound one and one-fourth
inches long which was over the point
Of entrance Of the bullet in the skull?
Does it not indicate that the bullet might
have entered the skull at a different
angle from that at which it approached?"
II have never In my experience seen
bullet change its course in this par
ucular way. I believe it scarcely posi-
ble."
Mr.. Birney in extended cross-question-
ing attempted in vain to break down
DR.. Schafer's testimony as to the i'm
probability of the wounds having been
self inflicted with suicidal intent.
The dialogue OF the testimony was to
the last degree technical. For the mo-
ment human interest dropped out of the
case. Mrs. Sutton, the mother of the dead
lieutenant, was perhaps the only person
In the court, outside the lawyers, who
followed the testimony in it's every de-
tail.
Before the withdrawal Of DR.. Shaffer
Mr.. Davis asked Lieut. Adams to repeat
the enactment of the shooting of Sutton
under the experts eye. Adams again lay
on the court room floor on his breast and
pulled the trigger of a navy revolver,
holding it to his head. DR.. Shaffer did
Ai,lfy I,nt Il
ed in firing the pistol at the exact angle
specified by the expert. Utley, Osterman
and De Hart sat on Adams body as he
attempted the feat.
Rocker Not to Be Found.
MAY 1t please the court said Maj.
Leonard, 1.-THE Judge advocate wishes to
say in view of the possibility of future
misunderstanding, that the department
has realized the Importance of the testi-
mony Of Mr.. Rocker and has made every
effort to find him. without being able u
locate him.
Mr.. Birney asked that Rockers state
ment at the first inquest be read in
court, i'll Rockers absence. Mr.. Davis
opposed the motion on the ground that
Rocker did not testify under OATH
The court ruled accordingly to keep
Rockers story out.
Maj. Leonard then, finding that no
further witnesses were to be called by
either the Suttons or the defendants
addressed the court as follows:
The United States has in this case
no argument to submit In spite of The
astonishing allegations that the United
States has sought to cover up the trial
of criminals. we have done everything
that could possibly be done to clear up
the case.
Officers have been brought from the
plains of North China and from Smyrna
to testify. Every paper and writing
that might give clue to the case has
been collected and submitted.
Judge Advocate Has No More to
Say.
The department has no argument to
make. There is found to be no con-
dition of facts that the department de-
sires to prove. Unless counsel shall
bring new light on the case the depart
ment will submit no argument
The court of inquiry then adjourned
until tomorrow morning.
Must Leave Light Plugs Alone.