Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25
EYE-WITNESSES AGREE
HE FIRED FATAL SHOT
Civilian Only One to Suggest Adams
Started Quarrel,
MRS. PARKER TO TAKE STAND
Will Tell of What She Learned
From Officers Who Witnessed
the Tragedy at Annapolis
Last October
Special From stan Correspondent

Special From a Stan Correspondent.
ANNAPOLIS. Md, July o4.-Since the
close of the sessions of the court OF in
quiry into the death of Lieut.. James y
Sutton yesterday afternoon. when "A recess
was taken until Monday morning at IL
o'clock. the attention of those interested
in the case has turned to the witnesses o.
the Suttons, who will testify next week.
With two exceptions, witnesses heard
so far are those whose testimony was ex
pected to be valuable in supporting the
suicide theory which was accepted by the
first court of inquest. sitting the day
night nearly two years ago
While there is officially neither prosecu-
tion nor defense involved in the present
inquiry. the situation has developed to a
point where the whole Marine Corps is on
trial. and the Suttons appear as COM
plainants.
The only indication that somebody could
be considered in the light of a defendant
was a letter to Lieut.. Robert L. Adams
from the Secretary of the Navy before
the inquiry began, notifying him that he
would be allowed to engage counsel.
When Capt. Brown. his military coun-
sci. read this letter to the court on the
opening day he said he did SO merely 10
inform the court that, while nothing to
that effect had been announced officially.
the letter of the Secretary Indicated that
somewhere and at some time some charge
had been made against Adams to the
naval authorities.
Counsel Aids Principals.
And from the outset Lieut. Adams has
been considered an interested party in the
proceedings. So also have been Mrs. SUIT
ton and Mrs. Barker. the mother and sis
ter. respectively, of the dead man.
Although it was announced at the open
ing of the proceedings that all three
would be witnesses in the inquiry, permis-
sion was asked by their counsel and
granted by the court for them to attend
the proceedings.
Adams was called as the first witness
Since the conclusion of his testimony le
has sat every day at the big table in the
auditorium of the academic building, con
stantly comforting with his counsel. Mrs
Sutton and Mrs. Parker. although they
have not yet been summoned to the wit
ness chair. have likewise been in the
courtroom all the time.
Suicide Theory Supported.
\ dispassionate review Of the testimony
that has been presented SO far must re-
suit in the conclusion that the prepon
derance OF it is in favor of the theory
that Sutton came to his death by shot
fired from revolver held in his own
hand This does not necessarily mean
that the evidence shows that he intended
to commit suicide.
OF the eyewitnesses to the firing of
that shot but two have testified-that
is TO say. there are but two who have
said on the stand that they SAW the
revolver when it went off. Three others
who were on the scene either at the time
the shot was fired or directly after it
have been on the stand.
The two men who told the court they
were looking directly at Sutton when the
last shot was fired are Leuts. Adams and
William T. Bevan. Lieut.. Edward >
Willing said he was present when il
occurred, but at the moment the shot
fired he was looking al the pros
trate form of former Lieut.. Rocker. who.
according to Adams testimony. was shot
by Sutton while he and Adams were
struggling.
Sergt James Dc Hart supposed sJ-iave
been present, has denied fatty that he
was. Lieut.. Osterman was approaching
the scene of Suttor's death when the
final shot rang out, but did not see II
fired.
Discrepancy in Testimony.
nf da,,,
shows one startling discrepancy. Adams
says that after he had thrown Sutton
to the ground and while he was holding
him there somebody came from behind
and. reaching over him. caught hold Of
Sutton Then he got UP. He does not
remember how he got up.
The next thing he does remember is
that Sutton, lying alone on the ground.
face downward, suddenly jerked his righ
arm from under him and fired a revolver
Then he became limp.
Bevan testified that he came up and
found two men holding Sutton down
They were Lieut.. Etley and Sergt. d.
Hart. Adams was standing by. trying IT,
hit Sutton. He ordered Adams back anu
Adams obeyed.
Bevan then caught hold of Sutlon's
shoulders no that he could not use his
revolver. But suddenly Sutton jerked his
right arm out and shot.
that Immediately led up to the actual
shooting is badly at variance. 1t was
in the morning. The night was dark.
Sutton was seen by Bevan holding
two revolvers at Rockers feet at the
camp. This was after the fight be-
tween Osterman and Sutton at the end
of the automobile ride from Carvel
Hall
Revan as officer of the guard, or
dered Sutton under arrest. Sutton laugh
ed at him and told him he cared moth
ing about arrest. He left Bevan and
started toward the parade ground. where
his fight with Osterinan had occurred.
De Hart on the Scene.
On the way he was met by De Hart.
according to De Harts testimony. Sub
sequently. so DE Hart says. Sutton.
upon hearing some one approaching.
went on ahead and vanished in the
darkness. That was the last seen Of
Sutton before his final fight with