The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-21
SUTTON WAS
NOT MURDERED
Court Of Inquiry Says Charge:
Are UnfOGnded.
OFFICER ALONE RESPONSIBLE

Court Declares Charge Of wlIfui Muir.
der Made by Mrs. Sutton Is Purely
Imaginary and Unfounded-Reeom
mends That No Further Proceed.
In0s Be Taken at This Time.
Washington. Aug. 19.-The navy de.
partment made public the finding in
the Sutton case. The court OF INQUIRY
which Investigated the case found that
Lieutenant Sutton was responsible for
his own death. which was self-innic
ted. either Intentionally or IN an ef-
fort to shoot one OF the persons re-
straining him The court further de
clares that his death was caused by
no injury. as was alleged during the
trial
In the opinion the report says also
THAT the charge Of wilful murder and
conspiracy to conceal IT, made by the
complainant Mrs Sutton. mother of
Lieutenant Srtton. is purely imagin-
AIRY and unsupported by even n shadow
Of evidence truth or reason"
Tho court recommends that there be
-AN tANNINA ifAfN ffrNAAkN luETH Is a
minority report of the court signed bv
Commando J. Hood. Of the navy
president OF the court. He says that
Lieutenants Utiey Adams. Osterman.
Willing and Bcvan should have boen
court-mauialed at the time. and that
Laeutenants Adams and Osterman
should have been punished in some
mild form
Commander Hood. however. concurs
in the recommendation that no further
proceedings against the officers in
volved be taken at this time. only
he says. because OF their youth and
ineNperience at that time and because
OF their being in a sense. victims OF
system OF which they themselves
We're not responsible"
Captain r. II. Campbell Judge al.
vocate general Of the navy. submitted
the result OF the courts deliberations
10 Acting Secretary OF the Navy Win
throp. Captain Campbell recommend.
ed that the findings. opinions and rec
concentrations OF the court be approv.
ed. and that the opinions expressed
by Commander Hood likewise be
given departmental support In acting
on the case Mr. Winthrop saws.
The above recommendation OF the
Judge advocate general are approved.
by its concurrence IN the opinion
OF the court and that expressed in the
minority report the department indi.
Gates its disapproval OF the lax state
OF discipline shown by the evidence
to have existed at the marine school
Of application prior TO- and at the
time of the death Of Lieutenant Sut-
ton
The result OF this laxity has
brought serious discredit. not only on
the officers directly responsible fer the
efficiency OF the institution. but un-
fortunately on the Marine Corps as
whole"
Counsel for the Suttons intimated.
after the courts decision had become
definitely known. that they we're far
from satisfied with the verdict. and
that they probably would take the is
sues involved to congress. with view
of having a full hearing OF the case
by committee OF that body
An ! can say" said Mrs Sutton
when informed of the findings OF the
court. lis thet there is still no question
in my mind that my son did not com
NIT suicide. and the decision by the
court of inquiry has by no means
halted me In my determination to
Vindicaie him"
Judge Advocate Leonard issued a
statement in which he upheld the Jus
tice Of the findings OF the court of in
qulry. He declared that the inquiry
had been conducted with great thor
oughness
Acting Secretary Winthrop said that
he had dissolved the court OF inquiry
and had given directions that copies
OF the findings of the court and its
conclusions together with his obser-
vations thereon be sent to Henry F.
Davis. the attorney for Mrs Sutton.
and TO Arthur A Birney. Lieutenant
Adams attorney.