The Washington herald., 1909-08-11

ION Parker, sister OF the dead marine Of
icer, took the stand to-day and told her
story 70 the naval board Of inquiry.
Those who looked for sensationalism.
for Mysteries. or for vituperation were
doomed to disappointment Mrs. Parker.
a calm young woman with black hair
and eyes, and a complexion almost panid.
had a story to tell. and she told It in a
calm, dignined. and STRAIGHTFORWARD man
Iner- At times she showed deep emotion.
At others she smiled, and at others she
turned coolly upon NJ. Blrney, counsel
for Lieut.. Adams. and calmly informed
him that she would not answer his oues-
ton.
she made It plain that the matter OF
greatest moment 10 herself and her
mother was the clearing OF the stigma
! Of suicide from young Sutton's memory
in order that he might be buried in con
secrated ground At no time did Mrs
Parker give evidence OF any rancor
against the young officers who are named
as defendants in the suit
/ Lieut.. Adams n Witness.
/ Mrs. Parker was not the only strtlxins
witness on the stand TO-DAY. once NOR
was Lieut.. Adams called upon 20 enac.
the scenes that Immediately preceded
Suttoa's death
/ He stripped Off his white blouse and
stretched himself across the big table
{ at Attorney Davis request and showed
/ just how. in his opinion. sutton die5.
/ and there was a sergeant major of
marines. Charles Louis Hubert. who
/ proved to be the most competent wit
! ness yet called.
The days proceedings opened with the
i recall Of Surgeon Cook, who performed
/ the autopsy on Sutton Dr. Cook said
+ he fouad no abnormal thickness in SUI
I tons skull. and answered further cues
/ lloIs or minor Importance. Lieut.. T-tlev
made a few corrections in his testimony
4 and then Mrs. Sutton was recalled.
( She was handed a letter by Mr. Davis
\ and asked If she recognized the hand
writing. Mrs. sutton took one look AZ
I il and said, almost inaudIbly: 1T is
/ Jimmie's (neaning her dead SOM.
/ As the judge advocate read the letter
aloud, II having been offered as evidence
/ by Mr.. Davis, Mrs. Sutton broke down
I completely. With her head resting in
/ her hands she sobbed silently throughout
/ the reading of the letter
Written shortly Before Death.
/ The letter was written by Sutton 10 his
mother shortly before his death. Il told
/ Of his JOY at having been ordered aboard
/ one Of the battle ships that was to make
I the tour around the world. Il was a. let
/ ter full OF brightness and flial devotion,
and In IL were contained mention Of the
/ presents Sutton was going 10 send his
I mother from foreign ports There was
/ another family letter, 70. one written by
+ Sutton 10 his younger brother, Don Sut-
ton. IN which he laid down rules as 70
/ honor and duty which he wished his
young brother TO follow.
( These letters and a bill of lading. drawn
/ by Sutton. were introduced by Mr.. Davis
/ 20 show that at a time Just prior TO his
death Lieut. SuttOn's mind was IN
I healthy bright condition. q condition Ear
/ from morbid OF indicating suicidal con-
/ temptation All that was asked OF Mrs,
! sutton was that she identify the hand
/ writing Of the letters and the bin oi
4 lading.
Laundryman TestiheE.
/ Mrs. Sutton was followed on the stand
( by Charles II. Russell. laundryman OF
Annapolis Russell testified that on Oc-
tober "A. 1870. he received from Lieut..
/ Adams shirt. collar and a pair Of de-
tached cuffs TO be washed All the gar
ments were blood smeared. The shirt
/ was bloody on the right side. and one OF
! the cuffs was smeared with blood. accord
! ing 20 RusScTs testimony.
( Then Mrs. Parker took the stand. She
spoke IN q low tone OF voice. Only once
did she lose her self control That was
when Attorney Davis drew from a suit
case and presented 70 her for identifca-
ton the muddy garments her brother
had worn on the night he came 20 his
death. Mrs Parker turned her head
away and her teeth sank into her llps
as she strove TO master her emotion.
In a few seconds she recovered her
self and went on with her testimony.
She Is the wife. she said OF First Lieut..
hugh a. Parker, now on duty at Fort
Smelling, Ajinn, She was at Portland.
Oreg, visiting her parents when they re-
ceivcd word OF her brothers death. She
Immediately took a train for the East.
I and arrived IN Annapolis the SUNDAY
after her brother died.
''HCw did YOU come 70 call Adams 70
give YOU the interview at Carvel Hallg'
asked Henry +. Davis. counsel for the
Suttcns.
Noticed Something Queer.
I noticed" said Mrs Parker, some
thing queer about Adams at the time
+ OF the funeral. lie was right across
+ the coffin from me. and he looked at me
with a very queer air. 7 did not then
7 have any idea that he might have beaten
+ or killed my brother. Bat I made up
my mind that he must know more about
/ the case than he had told"
+ did Adams say shat Sutton used words
/ to him that he would not stand?"
/ Yes"
Did Adams tel OF calling your brother
I a coward, and Utley then coming up and
saving NOW, he must fght?' "
yes"
I Then what did he tell your
Adams told then how my broIher
struck Cs,erman ana they started 20
! Continued en- PSEo 8, Cesaza 4