The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-23

Of memory regarding some others, Of
equal Importance, Sergeant De Hart be
came virtually a courtroom enigma
within a few minutes after he had taken
the stand late yesterday afternoon
The sergeant, too. seemed rather re-
lieved when the hour of adjournment
came and and Attorney Henry E. Davis
was temporarily matted in a relentless
proving Of the young officers testi-
monial discrepancies.
Within that time. however, he had
gone on record in the following essen
tiaIs that are going 10 have a bearing
on the case:
Two other officers had testified that
De Hart was sitting upon the body of
Sutton when he is said to have taken
his life. De Hart absolutely denied
Lieutenant willing said that De Hart
told him about throwing away pistol
which some one had mysteriously given
him. De Hart said he didn't mention
the pistol to Willing, but to Lieutenant
Utley.
Lieutenant Willing said that he and
De Hart had gone to look for the miss
ing pistol on the parade ground and had
found it.
De Hart said he started to look for
the pistol the next morning and that
Utley told him he needn't mind about
hunting for it,, that It had been found.
De Harris Memory Fails Him.
Prior to this. although De Hart had
a clear memory on certain points. on
/ others he had qualified as a worthy
peer of Lieutenant Adams, who was
| noted during the first day of the hear
ing for his mOnOtonous repetition Of;
Il don't remember"
Briefly told, the sergeant's' story, told
| with an evident effort to appear sincere
and willing. but considerable hesitanCy
| st times, was as follows,
LAS I returned from town that night
| the corporal of the guard told me there
was some trouble in the camp. Going
/ on down the road past the commanding
officers house, / met Lieutenant SUIT
/ ton, who had two pistols. He halted
me and I told him who / was and
/ passed. He had on a white shirt and
! blue trousers. 1 don't remember seeing
/ any revolver belts. Sutton went on
I down the main road and l turned to-
ward College creek. Afterward 1 cut
| across the gully and met Sutton again
| He asked me to go with him and get
| some clothes he had left on the grounds.
| Il asked Sutton why he didn't put his
! revOlveTs away and use his fists be
said: 1t has gone too far for THAR
l. l.
| prOfessed inability to remember what
| conversation had caused such a remark.
Heard Several Shots.
Then Sutton heard some one coming
and went on ahead. Soon after heard
! shots; don't remember how many. Yes
| there was more than one or two. No,
| not as many as eight.
| Il went up and saw Lieutenant Ctley
/ and some other officers. Sutton was
/ lying on the ground. About this time
/ Utley, ! think it was, told rue 10 GO
/ on away; that I had ne business there
| Il went off a little piece and then ]
/ came back"
"Why?" the witness was asked at this
/ point.
Curiosity, I guess he responded.
! When I came back some one handed
/ me revolver. From that night, or the
/ next morning, until this day 7 have
/ never been able to remember who II
| was handed me that revolver On my
/ way TO the hospital l got to thinking
| that I had no business with the revolver
| and / threw 1t away from me on tbs
/ parade grounds. The next morning
/ asked Lieutenant Utley about 70 and he
told me not TO mind. Or something OF
that kind After / walked up the am.
/ bulance teamster I went on TO the bar
racks as ordered. I went back and told
Lieutenant Utley about the revolver
I afterWard.'
Couldn't Find Revolver.
Sergeant De Fart. are you sure tina
1t a=nt Mr.. Viking you told about III,
revolver" asked Mr.. Davis on tn,
cross-examinatior.
1T was not Wiling" was the answer
did you find the revolver the mex
morning.
NO. I couldn't hni il. I haven
seen it to this day"
Altogether fifteen minutes must hav,
been consumed by the Judge advocate
and Mr. Davis in their endeavOrs to ge
De Hart 10 recall who gave him tina
revolver. They were met with a chOTu
of 7 just can't remembers"
Equally as fruitless were the effort