New-York tribune., 1909-09-14
SUTTON GRAVE OPENED !
BODY EYHUMED AND IN
AUTOPSY PERFORMED.
Mother Says Result DisproUes Sui-
eide Theory-Reburied an Con-
secrated Ground.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, Sept. 13-The body of Lieuten-
ant James n. Sutton exhumed in Airing
ton Cemetery this afternoon and reburied, after
an autopsy requested by his mother. Mrs. James
n. Sutton, to prove that her was not sui
eide. but died as the result of a fight with his
comrades. The body reburied in conse-
Grated ground with Roman Catholic ceremonies
conducted by the Rev. A. ]. Olds. of st. Au-
gustine's Church. The service was performed
after a dispensation had been granted by Cardi-
nal Gibbons.
The mother. was present when the grave was
opened. She waited four hours while surgeons
examined her sons body in a stable near the
Lee mansion. Then she accompanied it back To
the grave and took part in the funeral service
She was Outwardly calm throughout the after
noon. She is willing to stake the entire case
on the results of to-days investigation. After
the autopsy DR. George Tully Vaughan, one OF
Washingtons best known surgeons made the
following statement:
We found the body in fairly good state OF
preservation. except for the skin, which Was Was
softened. except the chest and trunk we
found broken bones. There was Il con
fusion bruise over the right eye, in size about
two inches by one and One-half. The bullet
wound in the scalp was discovered about three
inches above the right ear. There was no sign
of burnt hair and there were two other niue
cuts. in connection with the bullet wound
of the scalp, the other about the middle OF the
scalp. These wounds may have been made In
the post -mOrtem examination or Dy some DluHl
instrument before death There was no spun
terinE of tho skull and no assures near the hole
The brain had been removed.
Dr. Vaughan said he would give his formal
opinion in a written statement to Mrs. Sutton.
DR. Raymond Spear, of the medical corps.
will make his report TO the Navy Department
Mrs. Sutton made the following statement
The exhumation of my sons body and the
second autopsy performed on it to-day convince
hat he mt ont Ia p-p
and that my boy did not die suicide. am
ready 10 decide the issue on the result Of to-
days examination.
Her attorney. Harry W. Van Dyke, said
The facts learned to-day complete our case.
ANY one who believes that sutton killed him
self is wrong. The bullet hole In the mans skull
is conclusive proof that the revolver must have
been al least five feet from his head when 1t
was discharged.
While the examination gave satisfaction TO
the attorneys and Mrs. Sutton. TO others it did
not appear convincing. Mrs. Sutton has believed
that her SONS arm broken In the hght with
the other officers and that he could not have
fired the shot She got this information IN an
anonymous letter. The arm was not broken
and the fingers of the right hand were intact.
Mrs. Sutton believed THAI her sons ribs had
been crushed. The surgeons found all the bones
intact.
The attorneys took n cast Of the skull on
handkerchief when Mrs. Sutton declined to keep
that part Of the body out OF the grave on this
evidence they will hinge the next suit which
Mrs. Sutton contemplates.
God has seen ht 10 answer my prayers and
has removed the stigma the enemies of my son
placed upon him." said Mrs. Sutton tonight.
The confusion on the forehead and the clean
ness of the gunshot wound convince me that my
son killed by those four officers. / have
talked to my son in my dreams. and he told me-
he received just the kind Of wounds the exam
ination to-day showed. and believe that II will
aid materially in next trial.
After the examination the body was redressed
and put back in a new coffin furnished by the
quartermasters department. and at O'Clock
the body of Lieutenant Sutton was consigned
TO It's grave for the second time. the cause or
his death much a mystery before The
grave is in the shadow Of the earthworks Of old
Fort Mcpherson and within two rods Of the
board headstone which marks the resting place
OF Lieutenant Thomas f. selfridge the first
American officer killed In experiments with
aerial engines of war.