The Washington herald., 1909-07-20

Annapolis. Nd. July 19-Lying nat
upon the floor OF the court room with his
head almost touching the feet cf the
sister Of Lieut. James n. Sutton, into
the causes Of whose death a naval board
is holding second inquiry. Lieut.. Robert
Adams. the man who fought with Sutton
a few minutes before ne came TO his
death. to-day gave a vivid physical ilIrs-
tration TO accompany his verbal version
OF the affair
As the first witness before the court.
he described the events on the night OF
October u, 1907. which led up to the
death Of sutton. He told OF the auto
mobile ride from Carvel Hall 10 the
grounds Of the Marine Barracks. Of the
alteration that involved Sutton and
their companions. Laeuts Utley and
| Overman. in the row whicn finally cul-
minated in suttons death.
Although Lieut.. Adams testimony dif-
fered in some respects from the testimony
/ given at the investigation the day follow
ing the killing OF Sutton. the point in
his examination at which the counsel for
the SuttOns hope 10 bring out some tell
ing evidence. viii not be reached until
tomorrow.
Adams to Resume stand
Just as Attorney Henry Z. Davis. repre-
sfnting the Sutton family, had begun 70
hsk Lieut. Adams about an interview ne
= had with Mrs. Parker. the sister OF Lieut..
sutton. a few DAYS after the tragedy
the bell IN the tower OF the Academy
building struck eight bells, which Is 4
J o'clock, and the session OF the court
came 20 an end for the day. Lieut..
Adams. who was the only witness ex-
amined to-day, will resume the stand az
the opening OF the session at 10 o'clock
tomorrow.
The court was called 10 order ST 10
o'clock this morning by Commander John
Hood, Of the navy. presiding officer He
and his associates. Lieut.. II. II Jensen.
OF the navy. and Maj. Wendell c. Neville
OF the Marine Corps held a brief session
behind closed doors. when methods OF
procedure were decided upon.
When the doors were thrown open Mrs.
Sutton ard Mrs. Parker and their at
torneys. Henry z. Davis. Edmund ".
Ivan Dyke, and Henry W. Van Dyke; Mai.
Henry Leonard, OF the Marine Corps;
Lieut. Adams and his counsel. and Capt
Thomas A Brown. OF the Marine Corps.
and the newspaper correspondents were
admitted
SuttOn's Relatives Admitted.
Commander Hood announced at the
opening OF the afternoon session that
there was no objection or the part OF
the court OF the presence at any time
Of Mrs. Sutton. Mrs. Parker. or Lieut..
Adams. He then turned the conduct OF
the examination over to Maj. Leonard.
who called Lieut.. Adams as the first wit
ness.
During the two hours and half that
he was on the stand he answered the
questions put 70 him firmly and clearly.
but when his attention was called 10 diff
ferences in his testimony to-day and at
the original inquiry he repeatedly re-
minded his questiOners that the affair
had happened nearly two years ago and
suggested that IL was but natural that
his memory should fail him.
In his story, Adams said that be, Utley
Z and Overman together dined at Carvel
D.. IT,
the Naval Academy. Later he returned
to Carvel Hall with Lieuts. Overmsn.
Utley. Schirer, Potts. and Sumner. They
ordered a dozen bottles OF beer While
they were there Sutton came into the
room where they were sitting with q
bottle OF whisky and offered drinks 70
the crowd The offer was refused.
Drive Away in Auto.
/. shortly after z O'Clock they left Out
side was a public automobile which SUIT
ton had called Potts and his companion,
witnesses said. had gone ahead in an
other machine. so he and Utley got into
the machine with Sutton.
Entering the grounds a discussion arose
as TO whether they should take the ma
chine through the grounds. It being after
their liberty hour. Adams said he would
get out and walk.
You coward" witness declared SUIT
ton said. what do you want to walk
fory'
Don't talk to me that way" Adams
said he replied.
IF yoe say anything 10 me. I'll take
, you out and beat - out Of you is the
? reply attributed TO Sutton by the Wit
ness. The machine was stopped and he
hhA NhAt AnAAttN AAA us NNe-ts AAN NN-A@A@
left the machine also
Adams Defies sutton.
Adams said: ''YOu are the one that was
going to do somethiug; now go ahead"
Mr.. Uuey." said Adams who was
senior officer OF the party. ordered US
not TO fight. and said our trouble could
be settled before reveille the next morn
ing. He ordered me 70 my tent 7 start
, ed away.
''Utley began 10 quiet Sutton. Soon
= Sutton called Overman vile name.
They clinched. soon Overman got sut-
ton down. went back and pulled Over
man on. We then separated"
Adams said that as Sutton walked of
toward camp he declared ne would XIII
: all OF you before morning"
Continuing. Adams said that he rejoin-
ed Overman at the barracks. and that
: they decided In view Of Suttons alleged
E threat 10 arm themselves. They went 10
Continued on Page ,, Column 4.