The Washington herald., 1909-08-17
FINDING PREPARED
BY SUTTON COURT
Suicide by Accident Thought
to BE the Verdict.
OFFICERS SWORN TO SECRECY
Judge Advocate Leonard VIII To-
day Present Report to the Navy
Case and Make Public Finding.
COurt-martinI Not Likely.

Mai Harry Leonard. United states Ma
rine Corps judge advocate of the Sutton
court Of inquiry, arrived in Washington
last evening from Annapolis with the
findings OF the court and the record of
the proceedings These he viii deliver u
the Acting Secretary of the Navy to-day.
The Navy Department will review the
case. and probably within a week or ten
day will make public the findings Of tho
court Of inquiry and the action OF the
department thereon
or course. there is no way Of knowing
exactly what the Sutton court has found.
as the officers are bound to secrecy. but
there is reason 10 believe that the verdict
will be that Lieut.. Sutton came 10 his
death by his own hand, and by accident
/ It is considered that the court has fur
Their decided that he shot himself while
trying TO shoot another. Such Is the be-
lief Of the high ranking officers Of the
service, who. with the reputation Of their
corps at stake, have followed the case
with close interest who have served on
courts Of all sorts, and who ought 10
know just about what decision would be
reached by brother officers.
Enumeration Expected.
1t was learned yesterday that unless
the Secretary Of the Navy so directs there
Will be no courts-martial OF the young
officers who were involved in the Sutton
case. This understanding is definite IN
service circles, and has been reached IN
the full belief that the young men
charged with responsibility for the death
ha Il raIr A
In the course Of the inquiry which has
| been IN progress at Annapolis for sew
/ eral weeks, there has been considerable
evidence 20 show that some Of the young
officers involved were guilty OF breaches
I Of the regulations governing the corps
/ Lieut. Willing. for example, as officer OF
/ the day, told Lieut. Bevan. officer OF the
guard TO let Lieut.. Adams 90 ahead and
/ beat Lieut. SuttOn's - head of, and
/ that Il would do him good
! Evidence Of this and other punishable
] offenses appeared in the course OF the
/ hearing. But two years have gone by.
| none of the violations Of regulations was.
/ in the opinion of marine headquarters. so
| very serious and headquarters are not in
] clined 70 proceed further in the matter.
/ All Of the officers involved. with the ex-
/ ceptiOn Of Sutton. Utley, and Rocker
/ who had been in the Naval Academy. had
never been subjected 10 military disci-
/ pine and did not fully realize the mill
/ tary seriousness Of what they were doing.
| Lieut.. Adams. who attacked Sutton, when
the latter had revolvers in hand threat
/ ening 70 shoot every one IN sight. might
/ be held 70 account for that action. but
would never be found guilty in a evil
/ court. and marine headquarters does rot.
/ in view OF this fact. feel like irose-
( cutting him.
Discipline Was Slack.
! That discipline at Annapolis at the time
was slack Is realized by marine officers
/ here 1t is believed rot unlikely that the
court Of inquirywin comment on this fact.
and marine officers here, and particularly
| Gen. Elliott. commandment OF the corps,
/ rope that the court OF inquiry VIII take
| this action
The Sutton case viii not die with the
/ decision OF the Navy Department The
/ young officers accused Of murder feel
4 that they have been subjected 10 most
unjust treatment. and II is not at all
! improbable that they VIII proceed in the
courts against Mrs Sutton.
/ The Marine Corps authorities would not
! object to such a course. IL is understood
/ also that the Suttons viii not be salts
! fed nor through If the finding is against
! them. They want a verdict of murder.
/ and if they do not get It, according 10
/ rumor only. they viii Try 10 get Con-
/ ETessiOnal investigation.