The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-07-27

Mother and Sister Of Sutton. Who
Claim Verdict Of Suicide or Aeei
dental Death Could Not Be Based on
Real Facts. viii Testify Next
Week.
Annapolis Nd. July 24-The navy
practically rested its case I'm the in
vestigation OF the circumstances sur.
rounding the death OF Lieutenant
James n Sutton. OF Portland. ore
who was adjudged d suicide by the
naval board OF inquiry. which sat fol
lowing Sutton's death two years ago
After a short session. Commander
John Hood. L. :. y. president OF the
court of inquiry. adjourned the hear
ing until Monday. With the exception
Of Lieutenant Harold H. Utlev and
Surgeon ?. G. Cook. recently attached
to the bsttleship North Carolina. and
now on the way to this country from
Europe. nearly all the remaining wit
nesses are considered TO be witnesses
for the interested parties outside OF
the service.
The Suttons. mother and daughter
have cOntended from the start that
neither verdict Of suicide nor even
one OF accidental death. could be
based on the real facts. and that some
outside agency is responsible for SUIT
tons death. which. they declare. re
suited from a mysterious bullet wound
in his head. inflicted during a brawl
with officers OF his rps Mrs Sutton
and her daughter. Mrs. Rose Sutton
Parker. will both testify at the hear
ings next week So far four OF Sut
tons brother officers in the marine
corps have testified that they were
present at the fight which started De.
tween Lieutenant Adams and sutton
and each one OF them swore they saw
Sutton deliberately shoot himself in a
supposed NJ OF remorse after some on.
had said that he. Sutton. had killed
Lieutenant Roclker Their descrip
tion Of the incidents Just prior To the
shooting have varied in many re-
spects, but they all agree positively as
TO the alleged suicide
BY far the most important testimony
to support the contention that Sutton
was the victim OF an attack BY fellow
officers was given by William I. Ow
ems a chaffeur. who drove Lieutenant
Sutton and his brother officers out &c
camp on the night OF the shooting
Owens told OF taking Sutton. Lieu
tenant Adams and two other officers
In his automobile. on the morning Of
October II. 1907. from Carvel Hall
toward the camp.
This was about O'Clock. Sutton and
his two companions talked and seem.
ed to be friendly on the way out Ad.
ans did not have anything to say
They went through the naval acad.
envy grounds. and nothing happened
until they got across the cemetery
bridge on the dump. when some one
told him to stop Lieutenant Adams
jumped from his seat, threw on his
collar and then made a rush al Lieu
tenant Sutton as the latter got out OF
the car. The witness heard no argu
ment which might suggest trouble he
fore that
The other two officers grabbed Sut
ton. and the witness hard Sutton say:
0b away RAanAS. I uou want any
trouble" Then some one told him &c
beat it,"
Why didn't you go them" asked
Major Leonard.
Forced Sutton to Fight
81 wanted to stay and see the fight
II there was to be one" said the wit.
ness. Owens said he saw Adams make
another rush at sutton and heard
Sutton say. If he wants TO fight !
will fight him"
Then one OF the officers called ''or
derly." Owens was sure they didn't
say sentry or patrol" He told the
sentry on the bridge about the trou
Bile and the sentry said: III they give
Sutton a fair fight he will whip them
all" owens said he did not hear OF
the shooting until next morning He
did not think any OF the officers had
been drinking or that his car made
enough noise to drown the lowest
voice