The Washington times., 1909-07-28

out this promise. and ] believe that !
possess those requisites
Came Through Letter
The decision by which the inquiry
board converted itself, without a mo-
ments warning to any one, into a trial
board came through the introduction
into evidence of a letter written by Mrs.
Sutton to the Secretary of the Navy.
February g. 1893. IN this she said that
she was convinced that her son was
not a suicide. but had been killed by
some officer with him at the time Of
the midnight campus fight.
The thing that made US so indignant,
that amazed rs and that outraged MS.
said Attorney Davis. was chat this let
ter was in possession OF the board at
the time the inquiry began. II was
agreed at that time that Mrs Sutton
was not an acc User. and that Lieutenant
Adams, the on ly man with counsel at
that time. was not an accused. Dur
ing the course of the inquiry 1 have re
peatedly brought to the attention or
the court our declaration tnat we were
pointing an accusing finger at no one
Explains It All.
Now comes the judge advocate. and
regards this letter Of Mrs. Sutt0ns as
being IN the present tense in order that
the second precept converting the court
of inquiry may be taken advantage of.
This precept reads that if, at any time
during the course OF the trial, it should
appear that one Of those Interested be-
comes accused ne shall have the right
of counsel
"They so behind this precept and dig
up a letter that antedated it. bringing
It 10 the fore in order that the present
tense construction may seem 10 justify
the boards unprecedented decision vir-
tually making it a self-constituted
court-martiaL
1T is an outrage and a scandal will
follow if the ruling Of the board is al
lowed 10 stand"
Mrs. Sutton and her daughter, Mrs.
Rose Sutton Parker, who have been in
this night 10 clear Jimmie Sutton
name for nearly TWO years. returned
from Annapolis last night Immediately
following the sudden adjournment.
Their surprise and indignation at the
turn or affairs know no bounds. Equally
surpriseswere the young officers. Lieu
tenants sherman, BeVan, Willing, and
Sergeant De Hart. who were impress
siyely called before the court and in
formed that they might now regard
themselves as defendant parties TO the
inquiry and that Mrs. Sutton. sitting
ready TO testify on the witness stand
opposite thems was an aCcuSer.
No Opportunity.
Mrs. Sutton never had an opportunity
10 testify. as adjournment came amid
the verbal battle of opposing counsel,
accompanied by occasional Interrupt
tons from the judge advocate that
the board was not exceeding its pre-
negatives. Major Leonard, who will
ask that the court reconvene when
Lieutenant Utley arrives. holds TO this
same view today
II was at first suggested that the
Inquiry proceed and that A. A. Birngy
and Capt. Thomas Brown, who are
representing Lieutenant Adams. be des-
ignated TO care also for the absent Of
nCeT's interests Former Lieutenant
Rocker who IS missing and whose
whereabouts are unknown, is the sew
enth officer whom the board decreed
is now a defendant
That the inquiry did not proceed was
IN part due to Mr.. Davis threat to
withdraw that very moment on the
ground that Utley. II a CO-defendaut,
had the right 10 be present or could
vacate the entire proceedings on his
arrival