The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-20
ADAMS IS ANGRY
 ON STAND TODAY
Snaps Out Answers and Says He Made No Ad-
 mission to Mrs. Parker
UNDER HOT CROSS FIRE

Annapolis, Md, July 20-Heatedly and with flushed face, Lieutenant Rob- ert E. Adams today denied before the court of inquiry, Investigating the death of Lieutenant James N. Sutton, that he had ever made any admissions to Mrs. Rose Sutton Parker, the dead officers sister, involving himself in the tragedy. 'T don't remember" or 'it is not true," are answers given time and again when Attorney Da- wis, cour sel for the Sutton family with Mrs. Parker's memorandum of the alleged interview before him, sought to get him to admit that he had described to her how unmerciful- lv Sutton had been beaten by himself and other officers during the fight that preceded the young mans death.
 'I tell you I did not tell Mrs: Park CT anything except to go into the rec ords,'' said Adams. Finally, in evil dent anger he said, What's the use of telling me all these little details when have told you that I made no admissions at all?'
 The memorandum which Davis held declared that among other things. Adams had told Mrs. Parker that he hated Sutton and had ground his head in the dirt during the fight. Adams say that when Mrs. Parker came to Annapolis on her detective mission he was warned to be on guard that she looked like a shrewd woman. Every body laughed heartily and smile ap- peared for the first time on the faces of Mrs. Sutton and Mrs Parker.
 Did Mrs. Parker ask you at the outset to tell her the truth?'' ques- tioned Attorney Davis. ''Yes," be- lieve she did," answered Adams. "Then you referred her to the records % "Yes,'' Then you went ahead and made a statement, did you not, and -" Adams, his face redder than it had been at any time during the hear ing, jerked out, ~I did notr' before Davis could finish the question. Did you say to her that Sutton used abu- sive language to you on that night? P" he was asked, q don't remember"
 ''what do you mean by T don't re- member Do you deny?" ''I just mean T don't remember, that's all I am say ing" sssY ous did not tell her that when Sutton and Osterman were fighting, 'I don't remember" Don't you re- member Mrs. Parker asking you if you did not feel badly about her brother being dead?" "No." You did jured and that you did not know what you were doing and did not care; that somebody had to pull you off his pros trate body; that you were beating him and had your hand under his throat. You did not tell her that?' 'I don't remember" said Adams growing more and more impatient.
 The small inquiry room was crowd ed with some three score men and women and listened breathlessly dur were low murmurs of surprise and more than one admiring eye was on Mrs. Parker who sat with an amused smile as Adams attempted to nulli- fly her statements.
 "And you don't remember telling Mrs. Parker that you would not have stopped beating Sutton if someone hadn't pulled you away" continued Davis. Adams again stated he had no recollection of such a statement. After more than five hours on the stand, Adams was allowed a tempo rary respite and Lieutenant Oster- man, wiao was also a participant in the fight of October 13, 1907, was call ed shortly before the noon recess and gave his version of the tragedy.
 Osterman said that Adams stopped the automobile and that Sutton want ed to fight. Adams had depicted Sut- que with Sutton,'' said the witness, "and he called me a foul name and struck me on the head. We scuff1ed until Utley stopped me-"
 left the barracks Adams went to the scene of the trouble and he (Oster- man) went to the camp" I heard some shots,'' he said, land ran to- ward the place I saw Rocker lying on one side of the road and Sutton or the other. Someone said, Sutton shot Rocker and then shot himself | went over to where Rocker was lying and helped him up and went to the hospital"
 During his examination by Major Leonard, Osterman said he once saw Sutton trying to make some officers dance by firing a revolver at their feet Sutton was unpopular with the hn hut -oi6 1n h <1