The Irish standard., 1909-08-21
SUTTON. slew SELF:
"ElTHEE:R COMMITTED SUICIDE OR
:. ACCIDENTALLY TOOK OWN
LIFE" IS COURTS VERDICT. :.
B!VALs... ARE ExoNERATED
inquiry Body Decides That Lieutenant
y; =. was. 10 Blame for Own. Death.
:, Findings t.nnounoed at Washing
ten Nhitewash Colleagues.

Washington, Aug. 19--"Lieut. SUIT
ton is directly and sosey responsible
for his own death, which was selfin.
hicted either Intentionally or In an
effort ia shoot. one OF the persons re-
straining him. and his death was not
caused by any other injury whatever y
THIS is the verdict of the navy court
Of inquiry which for some weeks has
HAD under Investigation the cause OF
the death at'Annapolis Naval academy
in October, 1907, of. Second Lieutenant
James N. Sutton of the United States
marine corps. which verdict has been
approved. by the judge advocate gen
aral of the army and by Beekmau
Winthrop, assistant and acting secre'
tary Of the navy.
- Says Utley Failed at Duty.
80 The court also finds:s That Lieut.
,Utley< failed in his duty At senior Of
Z hcer present, under article 266,, United
States navy regulations, 1909. in per
uniting Lieut.. Sutton to run away and
arm himself instead of calling on
those present for assistance and fol.
lowing Lieut.. Sutton, preventing his
arming himself, by force If necessary
and turning him over: to the custody
Of the officer Of the day.
That Lieut. Bevan., officer OF the
guard, failed in his duty as officer OF
the guard In not disarming Lieut..
Sutton by force, while in front of his
,Csutton's) tent 5''''i
- That Lieut.. Willing, the officer OF
: the day, failed in his duty as officer
Of the day In not immediately assist.
ing by force in helping to, disarm
Lieut.. Sutton, when he arrived on the
ecene before the fatal shot was fired.
Diocount Mrs. sutton's story.
That the charges of wilful murder
and conspiracy to conceal 1t, made by
; tho complainant Mrs. Sutton, mother
of kient.r Sutton, are purely Imaginary
land unsupported by even shadow Of
;eyidence, r,tEuth, or reason. =,
The court. recommends. however,
that In view Of the youth and decided
ihexperience Of 'Lieuts. Utley, Willing
ahd Bevan at the time, and Of the al
toBether' unhshal conditions of excite.
ment, threats and danger during the
aforementioned fray, that no further
proceedings be taken.
The report is signed by.J. Hood
commander United States navy, presi
dent or the board, and Henry Leonard
major, United States marine corps
Judge advocate. ~
Commander Hood also filed q mi
/ norityarepoN In which he says that
he concurs in the majority report and
IN addition be is Of, the opinion that
Lieuts. Utley, Adams, Osterman, Will
Ing and Bevan showed a deplornble
lack of knowledge of their duties and
! obligations as officers holding com
missions in the marine corps.
Indicates State Of Discipline.
He says the testimony concerning
=, the whole deplorable affair indicates
a state of discipline then existing In
the marine school Of application, dis
credftable to the service, and argues
strongly against the practice of com
missioning and putting into positions
Of responsibility young men without
proper previous training: He is also
OF the opinion that Lieuts. Willing
Bevan and Utley should have beer
brought to trial at the time for neg
lect OF duty. and Lieuts. Adams and
FISHERMAN should have received nilde,
phnishments for engaging in Draw
'nbecoming officers and gentlemen
ana he concurs in the recommends
zion that no further proceedings bt
taken at this time, only because O,
their yNlth. and: inexpericnce at tina,
time.
r. ; w. ~ -, ~.
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