The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-23
DE HART AGAIN HAS
LAPSE OF MEMORY

ANNAPOLIS. July 23.-Surgeon George
PickreH was recalled to the stand for
few moments before the crOss-examina-
ton of Sergeant De Hart was resumed
early in the morning session today
.'Doctor, there has been some refer
ence to Lieutenant Sutton having a
parah1n nose. Did you see evidences Of
that when you examined him?'
No"
was there any distortion such as
might have been expected in a case Of
parahan?''
II noticed scarcely any"
DR.. Pickrell said in reply to questions
from Mr.. Davis. the Sutton family at
torney. that the night was exceedingly
dark. and it was difficult for him to
recognize any one when he first ar
rived at the place of the fight. He did
not remember the amount Of blood on
Sutton's shirt. He recalled seeing blood
on Sutton's head and face.
Captain Birney, of counsel for Adams,
asked If Sutton's teeth were knocked
out. The surgeon said they were not,
but the lips were bruised.
A peculiar thing about this naval in
curry is that each witness is each morn
ing given to read his own testimony
of the day before.
DR. Pickrell today approved the
stenographic report Of his testimony.
Lieutenant Bevans spent the morning
reading his. Lieutenant Adams spent
considerable time yesterday doing the
same thing. The records show that
similar practice was IN vogue at the
first inquest and that the witnesses
formally approved the transcripts then
that they have in part contradicted
De Hart Called Again.
Sergeant De Hart, who remembered
little about how he came into posses
sion Of the pistol supposed to be SUIT
tors after the fight and who knew
almost as little about the movements
and the identity Of the officers involved.
according to his direct testimony. be-
came entangled in still more lapses Of
memory as soon as the cross eXamina-
ton this morning was resumed.
''Gergeant De Hart" began Mr.. Davis,
"vou have said that when you met
Sutton he asked you 10 go down the
road and help him recover his coat,
WHY. then. did YOU leave Sutton and
later intercept him by crossing
I really can't tell" said De Hart.
He added that he remembered ebso-
luteIv nothing about the coat from the
time Of that remark; that he dldn [
know whether he and Sutton went al
ter It OF whether he had held II IN MS
bands or not.
Now, again. sergeant you have
sworn that YOU asked Sutton why he dlo
not put away his two guns ana nghl
with his fists. and he told you II had
gone too far, yet you profess 10 not re-
member a single word as to why you
asked him this or what caused his re-
Ply --s.,-.z p. nat
You recall nothing else about t3is
conversation or what brought II about.
No, sir, / don't
A dozen other Il don't knows FOL
lowed in rapid fire succession as Mr.
Davis tried TO get the witness to tel
OF his next movements and those 81
Sutton. He recalled that Sutton heard
some one coming and went anead. he
DID not know why Sutton left him 81
why he stood still
Heard Some Shots.
He did not remember anything about
the meeting Of those Sutton went Il
meet. He only recalled hearing some
shots.
do you mean TO tell me. sergeant
that when you came TO where SUIT
toms body lay you were unable 70 fl
IN your mind any officer In that grouI
and that you did not have curiosity
enough 70 find out how badly sutton
your companion OF a few moments
before, was hurt?'
THAT is right" he replied. after Z
moments hesitation.
There was many a look Of amaze
Tneut IN the court room as De HaT
reiterated his forgetfuiness and con