Goldsboro semi-weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1909-19??, 1909-07-28
THE SUTTON CASE.
Still Investigating the Causes of His
Death.

Annapolis, Md, July 22.-The re-
markable variance in the testimony OF
some of the naval officers, who are
witnesses before the court of inquiry
which is investigating the circum-
stances surrounding the death OF
Lieut.. James N. Sutton, at the Naval
Academy two years ago, was empha-
sized at today's hearing by contra
dictory evidence as to the location OF
the bullet wound which caused the
young Oregonian's death.
This question has assumed impor-
,, tance in the face of other evidence
given, as it would appear that it
would have been a mach more diff
cult matter for Sutton to have shot
himself lying prone on the ground
with three men on top of him if the
bullet entered the top of his skull, as
Surgeon George Pickrell, in charge of
the Marine Hospital at that time, who
examined Sutton's BODY, testified i.
did
Col Charles A. Doyen command anS
of Marines at that time and who
holds TIE same post no. tt stified that
ne examined Sutton's body immedi-
ately after the shooting, felt the
wound in his head, and that it was
located on the right side. a little be-
hind and on a line with tie top of
the ear.
DIR Pickrel1 thought Sutton might
have inflicted the wound p3cil him
self, as he described it, hut he made
an un. cuvincing and awkward DEM
onstratian in court with tie revolver:
and a fee right arm. ~ get the weap-
Oil in position VIII; II wou 1 have
sent the bullet into his mead at the
point where he testified it entered
Sutton's head.
Considerable progress was made at
the hearing today and cf.ree more
witnesses were disposed o.. BESIDES
Surgeon Pickrei1 and Colonel Ioyen's
testimony, Mr.. Davis, counsel for SUIT
tons mother and sister, finished the
examination of Lieutenant Wiling,
who was also on the stand yesterday.
Willing made an obstinate and un-
satisfactory witness. The few dis
crepancies which Mr.. Davis drew
from him by reading the record OF his
description of the scene of the shoot
ing at the former inquiry were read
lily conceded by Lieutenant Willing
with the remark that he testified from
the best of his recollection on both
occasions.
Mr. Davis tried to find out from all
the witnesses what became of SUIT
toms two revolyers following the
shooting.
Colonel Doyen testified that he saw
them and ordered Lieutenant Willing
to take charge of them, but he did not
know what became of them until they
finally got into his hands at the in
quest. 1t was apparent no one of the
officers wanted to assume the respon-
sibility of having the weapons about
him Immediately after the shooting.
Sergt James de Hart, of the Ma
rine Corps, the last witness at today's
session, testified that some officer at
the scene of the shooting handed him
a revolver with the curt command to
take this" He admitted that on the
night in question he was slightly un-
der the influence of liquor" He was
positive, however, that he was not one
of the men sitting on Lieutenant SUIT
ton and trying to hold him down.
Lieutenant Bevan previously testi-
fed he was making his way to camp
by "a back entrance" when he met
Sutton prior to the shooting. De Hart
said that Sutton carried two revolvers
and that he, De Hart, did not stop to
talk with him long. The witness did
not know about the trouble Sutton
had had in camp, but thought some
thing was up when he saw the two
guns. Soon afterward De Hart heard
the shots and ran back to the scene OF
the shooting.
Mr.. Davis had not finished cross
examining De Hart when at four
o'clock court adjourned for the day.