The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-08-12
SUTTON LETTERS
ARE MADE PUBLIC
MISSIVES TELL OF QUARRELS BE-
TWEEN DEAD LIEUTENANT AND
FELLOW OFFICERS.
WOMAN'S NAME IS MENTIONED.
Mother of Victim of Shooting Pleaded
with Paymasters Employe to Probe
Details of Shooting.
GIVES HER VERSION OF SHOOTING.

ANNAPOLIS. Md. Aug. 9.-At the
recouyening of the court of inquiry into
the death of Lieut.. James y. Sutton OF
the United States marine corps, who
was declared Il suicide by an earlier
board Of inquiry, the Judge advocate,
Maj. Henry Leonard. moved today that
the letters read at the closed session OF
the court on Saturday, when Mrs. Sut-
ton, the mother Of the dead lieutenant
was on the stand, he made public. This
motion was criticised by Henry +. pa
Wis, counsel for Mrs Sutton. and sup
ported 10y \. f. Birncy counsel for
Lieur. Adams.
Mrs. Sutton had bitterly criticised her
examination ANA the reading Of these
letters on Saturday. but Mr.. Davis de-
clarrd that the public reading Of the
letters at this time would be merely
catering to prurient curiosity
Public Entitled to Know.
Mai. Leonard declared the public is
entitled to know the contents Of the let
tiers. The court ruled that the motion
Of the judge advocate be acccded to, and
the record of Saturdays session was
read.
The reading showed that Mrs. Sutton
identified number Of letters ns having
been written by her. The first Of these
was to Harry VI. Schwartz, paymastor's
Office, t. :. marine corps, Washington,
-. C., and asked whether he was a
friend of her son, 10 whom she could
write with confidence as to hs sym
pathy. a second letter to Mr.. Schwartz
gave version Of what occurred on the
night Of Lieut.. Sutton's death, and also
detailed numerous wounds on tn" face
aud head which Mrs. Sutton alleged
were inflicted upon her son. Those who
were with Lieut.. Sutton when he was
shot were referred to frequently by her
as wild beasts"
Wonan's Name Mentioned
Ina this letter the name Of Miss May
+. Stewart of pittsburg was mentioned
Mrs. Sutton asked Schwartz to find out
from OStorman and the others who were
in the automobile with Sutton on the
fatal night what had actually happened
preceding The shooting. \ third letter to
schwartz gave further details of what
Mrs. Sutton said she had discovered
hose who were with her son when he
was killed were spoken Of in this letter
IS low brutes.' She referred to let
ter from her son in which he described
his fellow officers as low cads,' and
mentioned in words of bitter criticism.
Lieuts. Adams, Osterman and others.
Lieut. Adams Accused
This letter described how the news of
her sons death was received by her al
her home aud said that She felt AT that
time that her son was with her and than
lac described To her the manner of his
death, which he declared was due to
Shot fired by Lieut.. Adams. Mrs. Sut-
ton wcpt quietly while her own words as
to her sons death were being read
After the reading of the letters, the
reading Of the record of Saturday
showed Mrs. Sutton to have been asked
many questions rs to evidence in her pos
session 10 support her contentious She
referred To letters received by her from
Miss Stewart. Prof Coleman and others,
aud To the record of the first inyestiga-
ZION as sufficient evidence.
The reading of the record concluded,
Mrs. Sutton was rrOss-cNamined by Mr..
Birnoy Her information relative 10 the
wounds sh" believed to have been suffer
"l lay hen son was received, she said
from the testimony Ht the first nyc>tiga-
tIou.