The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-18
OF F ICE RS
EXONERAT | D
Navy Court of Inquiry
Holds Sutton Respon.
sibIe for His Death

washington, ID. u, August 10
Lieutenant Sutton is directly and
aolely responeible for his own death,
which was self-inflicted. either inten-
tionally OF In an effort TO shoot one OF
the persons restraining him, and his
death was not caused by any other in-
jury whatever"
This is the verdict of the navy court
OF inquiry which for some weeks has
had under investigation the cause OF
the death at Annapolis naval academy
In October. 1907, OF Second lieuten-
ant James y. Sutton, of the U. 5. ma
rine corps, which verdict has been ap-
proved by the judge advocate general
OF the navy and by Beekman Winth-
rop. assistant and acting secretary OF
the navy The court also finds: SThat
Lieut. Utley failed i'll his duty as SEN
Tor officer present. under article 266,
u. S. navy regulations, 1909, in permit
ting Lieut. Sutton TO run away and
arm himself. instead OF calling on
those present for assistance and fol-
lowing Lieut., Sutton, preventing him
from armlng himself, by force. if
necessary, and turning him over TO the
custody oil the officer of the day.
THAT Lieut. Beyan. officer of the
guard, failed in his duty as officer Of
guard. in not disarming Lieut.
Sutton by force, while In front OF his
,---,on - tent,
That Lieut. Willing. the officer OF
tho lay failed in his duty as offlcer
of the day in not Immediately assist
r,o IN nelplng 10 disarm
Lieut. Sutton when he arrived on the
scene before the fatal shot was fired,
That the charges of w!lful murder
and conspiracy to conceal 1t, made by
the complainant. Mrs. Sutton. mother
OF Lieut.. Sutton. are purely imaginary
and unsupported by even shadow Of
evidence. truth or reason.
The court recommends, however.
that. In view of the youth and decided
inexperience of Lieutenants Utley.
Willing and Bevan at The time and of
the altogether unusual conditions OF
excitement, threats and danger during
the aforementioned fray. that no fur
ther proceedings be taken"
The report is signed by ]. Hood.
commander U. S. ~, president of the
board and Henry LEONARD. major U.
S. Marine corps, Judge advocate
llNOb thlHO hiIo q ilJli7
or1ty report, in which he says he con.
ours In the majority report. and In ad-
dltion. he Is of the opinion that Lieu
tenants Utley, Adams, Osterman, Will
Ing and Bevan showed deplorable
lack of knowledge of their duties and
as officers holding commits
SionS in the marine corps; and the
testimony concerning the whole de-
plorable affair indicates a state exist
ing in the marine school OF applioa-
lion discredItable TO the service, and
argues strongly against the practice of
and putting into posi-
tons OF responsibility Young mon with
out proper previous training
He is also of the opinion that Lieu
tenants Willing, Beyan and Utley
should have been brought TO trial at
the time for neglect of duty Lieuten-
ants Adams and Osterman should. have
received milder punishmentS for en-
saging in brawl unbecoming officers
md gentlemen, and he concurs in the
recommendation that no further pro
,eedings be taken at this time only be-
cause Of their youth and i1experlence
1t that time. and because OF their be-
ng. in a sense, the victims of a sys-
.em for which they themselves are