The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-21
SUTTON MUST HAVE
KILLED HIMSELF.
Suicide Theory Is Borne Out
BY testimony of Officers
BEVAN'S WORDS WEIGHTY
Description Of Death Of Young Sutton
Differs from Previous Testimony
But Is More Directly Evident
of Fact of Suicide.

Annapolis. Md, July 2O-The proceedings
at today's session of the court of inquiry
which is Investigating the death of Lieut..
James Sutton, U. s. NJ c., at Port
land, Ore, took a sensational turn when
First Lieut.. william F. Bevan of the
United States marine corps, now attached
to the battleship New Jersey, took the
witness stand near the adjournment of
court and related his part in the trag-
edy in the early morning OF October L.
1907, when young Sutton met his death.
Lieutenant Bevan was officer of the
guard in the marine camp on that night
and one of the first men to reach the
scene of Sutton's death.
Like Lieutenant Adams, he testified that
Sutton deliberately shot himself but be-
yond that cardinal fact his description
of Sutton's alleged suicide varied in i'm
portant detail from the story told by
Adams, the man who said he had par
ticipated in life and death struggle with
the young Oregon lieutenant just prior
to his alleged self-destruction.
The most glaring disagreement with
that he and two other officers were on
top of Sutton trying to hold him down to
prevent him from using his revolver when
Sutton freed an arm from under him and
fired bullet into his own brain after
some one remarked that he (Sutton) had
killed Lieutenant Rocker. Adams testified
that he had risen from the lieutenant's
body and that Sutton lay exhausted and
alone on the ground when he saw him
raise his right hand and fire the shot that
ended his life. Bevan's testimony also
revealed that a situation bordering on a
wild west rampage had existed in the ma
rine camp just prior to the shooting,
when Sutton had been trying TO make
Lieutenant Rocker dance by leveling two
revolvers at his feet and afterward rushed
from the camp, disregarding his arrest
by the officer of the guard, and shouting
that ne would quit the marines for good
and all.
Bevan Was On Duty.
The fact that Lieutenant Bevan was
on duty and had not been afforded an OPP
portunity to join in the '1arks' of his
brother officers is bound to attach weight
to his version of the affair.
He made good impression on the wit
ness stand and gave his testimony without
the least compunction or nervousness.
Major Leonard, the judge advocate, had
not finished his direct examination of
Beyan when court adjourned for the day.
The trio of young officers, Adams, Os-
terman and Bevan, who were all in at the
death, so to speak, occupied the time
of the court today.
Lawyer Davis, Mrs. Sutton's counsel
completed mis- cross-examination of Lieu
tenant Adams in quick order after court
opened.
Osterman, as a member of Sutton's au-
tomobile party on the night OF October u,
corroborated Lieutenant Adams story ex-
cept to add that he believed Sutton was
intoxicated that night.
Starting with the hop at the academy
and meeting with Sutton later, about mid
night, at Carvel Hall hotel. Osterman
told substantially the same story of the
incidents of the night as told by Lieu
tenant Adams.
In answer to questions by Major Leon
ard, Osterman said the reason he and
his friends refused to take a drink with
Sutton at Carvel Hall was because SUIT
ton was not wanted in the party.
He was unpopular with his class
mates,' the witness said
Then, too, we had been drinking beer
s.
ky" the witness added.
Osterman told of an incident about a.
month prior to Sutton's death when SUIT
ton Shot up the camp"
Inquiry Not Brief.
Major Leonard said at the adjournment
of court that he did not expect the in
quiry to be concluded this week
Major Leonard brought for the first
time TO-DAY evidence showinO ha Spacn
of time between the firing of the five
shots Lieutenant Osterman showed that
the first three were fired in rapid sue
cession, with a perceptible interval be-
tween the fourth and fifth shots. The wit
ness said he could not say what Sutton's
physical condition was after the fight
with him.
Lawyer Davis referred to Miss Davis
of Pittsburg, the young woman with
whom Sutton is said to have spent the
evening prior to the shooting
When you went to Carvel Hall did you
see Lieutenant Sutton and a young
lady" asked Mr.. Davis,
Il did, answered Osterman.
Osterman insisted that no argument took
place in the automobile on the way to
camp until Lieutenant Utley suggested
that they better get out and walk to
camp Then Lieutenant Sutton said he
would not get out, no matter what the
others did, and turned to Adams and
called him coward.
Adams Jumped out, and loosening
his coat, said that If Sutton was going
to do any beating he better do It right
now" said the witness.
Lieutenant Osternran said he knocked
Sutton down at least three times In the
fist fight they had on the way to the
camp and the last time Sutton got up he
started UP the road and disappeared in
the darkness. Osterman, Adams and Ut
ley remained there for few minutes,
discussing the possibility OF Sutton carry
ing out his threat to shoot them ALL and
then went to the guard house to get
some guns. Soon after Adams started
down the road Osterman and Utley heard
tho ehnta md ran To the rcar,a nf IL.