Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-14
FRANTIC RAWLINGS OF A WOMAN
attorney HIrney, Representing Lieu
tenant Adams, so Characterixes
Charges Against Officers Made BY
Mother OF Dead Lieutenant--Mr.
Davis Says Everything Negative.
CBy Associated P-ess.)

ANNAPOLIS, MD. Aug. 13.-At the
beginning Of the last day of the open
sessions of the court OF inquiry In
vestigating the death. October IL.
1907, OF Lieutenant James n. Sutton,
u. s. NJ. c., the attraction was the
summing up by Henry NJ. Davis. coun-
sci for Mrs. Sutton and A. Il. BIZ
ney, counsel for Lieutenant Adams.
Mr.. Davis argument led the Judge
advocate to speak briefly.
The court will sit tomorrow In pri-
,atc for the purpose of discussing the
findings, which will be forwarded TO
the navy department, at Washington.
whence the announcement of the fe-
suit of the inquiry will be made.
Mr. Davis in summing UP went back
to the coming of Lieutenant Sutton TO
Annapolis and alluded to him as
mothers Offering to her country's
service" and declared that everything
tended to negative the idea that Liu-
tenant Sutton contemplated suicide.
Mr.. Davis said the tragedy did not
follow a drunken brawl, that Sut-
tons alleged former cscapades shea
no light on the case and that these
and other matters should never have
been brought into the case. He point
ed to the marked difference In the
testimony OF Lieutenants Adams, Ut
ley, Osterman and others.
Frantic rawlings of a Woman"
A l.. Birncy. counsel for Lieutenant
Adams, compared the honor of an Of
ficer 10 the honor of a woman ana
declared the young lieutenants IN
volved would be relieved OF all re-
sponsibi,ity for Sutton's death. he
said the charges were based entirely
on the frantic rawlings of woman"
lie denied the possibility of Lieu
tenant Sutton having been beaten to
death and then shot TO conceal the
crime, which, he said. Mr.. Davis mad
charged by imputation AT least.
He attacked Mrs. Sutton and de-
clared sne has pursued his client and
his associates with malevCient hatred.
not with evidence of maternal sor-
row as inspiring her.
Calls Sutton Coward.
Branding Sutton as a rank coward,
Mr. Bifney strongly praised Lseufen-
ant Adams for his bravery, when as
he had testified, Lieutenant Sutton
fired upon him. lie fully justified
the treatment to which, according 10
his client and his brother officers.
Lieutenant Sutton was subjected and
said all variations in their testimony
as to what had occurred were fully
justified by the conditions and that II
they had agreed fully on all points
they would have been open to sus-
picion Of having ccnspired to prepare
a false account of the affair.
He said the only fair imputatioB OF
any criminality at any time during
the night Ct October 1874. 1907, must
rest upon Lieutenant Sutton himself
Major Leonard, the judge advocate,
said he came here with every good
wish for and willingness TO help Mrs.
sutton and Mrs. Parker TO bring ev-
cry evidence possible before the
court. They he'd not. as they should
have done. given him ali the evidence
IN their possession. but this. ns
blamed on their counsel
Will co Higher, 70 Necessary
MIS-. Sutton said tonight that u the
findings Of the court Of inquiry. de-
clares as did that Of the former board
Of inquest. that her son committed
suicide, she viii carry the case stu
further. though in Just what way sns
Is not now prepared 10 say.