Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-12
JUDGE ADVOCATE RETIRES;
JUSTIFlES HIS COURSE
Death Self-Infiicted by Accident May
Be Verdict.
THIS WOULD SATISFY FAMILY
Courts Martial of Officers Involved
for Various Offenses May Fol-
low Exoneration of Muir
der Charge.
special From Star Correspondent.

Orecfaf Frun Il Staf Correspondent.
ANNAPOLIS. Md. August 12.-With a
final demonstration by Lieut.. Robert En-
met Adams that Lieut.. Sutton could
have shot himself from the position he is
preceding the firing OF the fatal shot, the
taking of testimony by the court of in
quiry came To an end this morning
Adjournment was taken until 10 O'Clock
tomorrow morning when the attorneys
will begin their sumnling-up 1t IS ant'ci-
rated that the court viii be able to take
a final adjournment tomorrow afternoon
or. at latest. some time during the fore
noon of Saturday
The attorneys for Mrs. Sutton brought
their production OF evidence to an end
with DIR. L. NJ. Schaffer of Washington,
formerly deputy coroner of the District
who gave expert testimony to the effect
that Sutton could not have inflicted upon
himself his death wound in the manner
described.
Dr.. Schaffer gave demonstration yes
terday afternoon and again this morning
with skull and pair of knitting
needles, two pieces of wax, an alcohol
lamp and revolver. Lieut.. Adams gave
an opposite demonstration.
Officers Sit on Adams Body.
This time Adams lay on the floor Of the
courtroom in the position Sutton Is sup
posed to have occupied. Lieut. Utley sat
on his body at the waist. Sergt. De Hart
sat across his legs and Lieut.. Ostermann
kneeled on his shoulders.
When they were all in position Lieut..
Adams jerked from under his chest his
right hand. containing a service revolver,
swung the muZzic on his head and pulled
the trigger several times.
THAT will do said Commander Hood
president of the court, who stood within
two feet of Adams head.
DO you think IL possible for Lieut.
Sutton TO have inflicted upon himself
such a wound he is described by Sur
geon Cook as having died from?" Mr.
Davis asked DR.. Schaffer.
Il do net was the final answer of
the Washington expert as he packed up
his skulls aud other paraphernalia and
departed
Thus the expert witness and the phys
ical demonstration We're, at the last. in
conflict That the court was satisfied
with Lieut.. Adams demonstration, how
ever. was clearly apparent.
Few Incidents in Last Days.
Until the dramatic portrayal of Sutton 5
Sea seant today the closing days of the
inquiry had been without incident
" hat everybody expected would be SEN
sationa. testimony yesterday fell fiat when
Setg gt. Archie Todd got on the stand and
sad he had never told anybody he saw
Sutton die, and absolutely denied news
paper interviews with him on that score.
He said he talked TO a reporter but did
not tel him the things the reporter wrote
This mornings eNamina ion of DIR.
Schaeffcr resulted in nothing material
until lie gave lbs final answer to Mr..
DAVIS question.
Maj. Leonard announced that the gov
ernmcnt lad done all III its power to
bring before the court every person who
knew or was supposed 10 know anything
OF the case. He had failed to produce
Lieu. Rocker. he SAID, because the
earth had apparently swallowed him up.
liz addition 10 IN Maj. Leonard told
tne court that unless something the coun-
sci said in their summing up d smanded
an answer from him he would have moth
ing further to say. The government
would rest > case OF inquiry upon the
tcsumon$ already before the court.
lie cCus dered that conclusive and leav-
ing no room for doubt as 10 how Sutton
died in the minds ot unbiased persons.
lie ASKED the court to excuse him from
further duties N the inquiry, saying he
shed To have the court arrive at its
decision unaided or unlnfiucnced by the
judge advocate The court granted his
request.
Self-Slain by Accident.
That the defendant parties 10 the in
quir: are thoroughly satisfied with the
situation is apparent. They feel that nc
evidence whatever tending to show tha,
anybody but Sutton did the shooting has
been laid before the court. While they
are sure. most of them, that Sutton la.
tended to kill himself, they frankly admi,
the test mony shows reasonable doab,
OF such intent an his part.
Whether Sutton killed himself intcn-
t.oaaily or while attempting to shoe one
of tile ms holding him down, or to shoot
Adams standing behind him. cannot b.
determined unless one could he sure OF
. reading the thoughts of Sutton the frac-
tiou OF second before he pulled the trig-
ger.
with other things II has been showr
that Sutton was the only one of the young
officers who was in possession of fire.
arms that night Bevan, tho officer OF tn:
guard. and Willin2, the officer OF tae day
wore swords, but carried no revolvers
Su ton running amuck. He haC
threatened 10 kill Ctiey, Adams and Os
iermanu When ordered under arrest by
Bavan he cursed the officer of the guarC
and refused 10 obey, starting off toward
the dark parade ground,
lie came upon Adams and fired upor
him. Adams oVerpoWercd him and threw
him to the ground. str king him as lie die
-. Revan ordered Adams away anG