Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-17
Dr.. Vaughan's Report on the
Sutton Autopsy.
DEALS WITH FACTS ONLY
Attorney Davis Satisfied With the
Surgeons Statement.
PRIVATE REPORT PROBABLE
Comment on Description Given of
Wound at Back of Dead
Soldiers Head.

The report Of DR.. George Tully Vaughan
upon the results Of the autopsy he per-
formed on the body of Lieut.. James n.
Sutton, jr, at Arlington last Monday was
made public today. Henry E. Davis. at
torney for Mrs. Rosa B. Sutton, the
mother of the dead marine officer. gave
out DR.. Vaughan's report. accompanied oy
a brief statement, to the effect that he
was entirely satisfied with the surgeons
findings of fact.
The report has to do with facts only and
in it no opinion is expressed by Dr.
Vaughan as to the probable distance the
revolver was held from Sutton's head
when the shot that killed him was fired.
If DR.. Vaughan drew any conclusion from
the appearance Of the bullet wound in
sutton's head as to the distance from
which the bullet was fired, he expressed
his opinion in a private report. which Mr.
Davis is saving for presentation before
whatever tribunal he takes the case to-.
It is understood that Mr.. Davis has such
a private report from DR.. Vaughan.
The most significant feature of the
Vaughan report is the surgeons descrip-
ton of a scalp wound at the back OF
Sutton's head After describing this
wound he states it was probably made
by "some blunt instrument" At the re-
cent inquiry at Annapolis Mr. Davis PAID
a great deal Of attention to this point
and asked many questions about the
scalp wound referred to. The impression
made upon the court by the answers TO
the attorneys questions was that TINS
wound had been made by the surgeons
who performed the original autopsy. Dr..
Vaughan's conclusions are quite to the
contrary.
Condition Of the Body.
In his report after discussing the con-
dition of the body, DR.. Vaughn says, with
regard to the bullet wound:
THE scalp was covered with thick dark
brown hair which was shorter in some
places, especially about the bullet wound
as if clipped by scissors. The bullet
wound in the scalp was three lnches
above the top of the right ear and a frac-
ton of an inch-one-sixteenth, perhaps
in front of a line drawn across the top
of the head uniting the tips Of the ears:
The edges of this wound were black ana
a few particles resembling powder grains
were picked from them. There were no
indications of powder burns outside the
edges of the wound, but the hair seems
to have been clipped In this region.
Leading from the bullet hole In the
scalp backward and upward toward the
median line of the head was Wounu
with dark-colored edges and extending
through the entire thickness Of the scalp.
Blunt instrument Probably Used.
lit looked as if it might have been
done with a blunt instrument ABOUT
the center Of the line drawn across the
Scalp was another cut about three-quar-
ters of an inch long not extending
through the scalp. The stitches were cut
and the skull was exposed by turning
the flaps of the scalp to the front ana
to the back This disclosed the opening
in the skull made by the bullet, oval
in shape with clean-cut edges. three
eighths of an inch in diameter, and with.
out any cracks, assures or splinters OF
external or internal table of skull.
THE opening was through the r1gnt
narietal bone. At the lower anterior
margin of the opening, the surface OF the
bone was dark in color for space OF
about one-eighth Of an inch, and ABOVE
corresponding to the wound IN the scalp
wound in the scalp several similar dark
spots were seen.
1.-The plaster of Paris was removed
from the skull and examination was
made for the point where the bullet
might have struck inside the skull. No de-
preston, fracture or discoloration indicat-
ing such a point was discovered, but
small fragment Of lead was found In a
groove in the left side of the occlp1tal
bone, just above the groove for the later
al sinus.
Mr.. Davis Has No Comment.
in giving out DR.. Vaughan's report. Mr..
Davis said he had no comment to make
except that he is entirely satisfied with
DR.. Vaughans clear and specific report"
Mr.. Davis said he had nothing to say at
this time concerning his future course.
Il feel" said Mr.. Davis. that I should
not dismiss the case from my attention
for the present without expressing, in
behalf of Mrs. Sutton and her counsel,
our cordial recognition of the courtesy of
both the War and Navy departments in
relation to the exhumation of Lieut.. SUIT
toms remains. and particularly of the
courtesy, tactfulness and consideration OF
Mai Zalinski, DIR. Spear and Mr.. Rhodes.
for the last named of whom, In particular.
1 cannot, speaking for myself. use words
Of too high praise and appreciation
In the absence Of Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy Winthrop it is probable that
the report Of DR.. Raymond Spear, who
represented the Navy Department at the
autopsy, will not be made public at
present. DR.. Spear Is reported to have
arrived at conclusions entirely different
from those OF DR.. Vaughan.
KILLS A BULL ELEPHANT.