The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-21
Z 'lsE = E. = s 81 - 80 q
ADAMS AGAIN
PUT ON STAND
ss-Examined IN SUIT
ton Probe.
REFUSED 10 TALK 10 SISTER
Would Not See Mrs. Parker
Alone.
Attor.eys for Desd Boys Mother At
tempt to Pick Flaws In Evi-
se.es q Marine Corps Of
neer Ceneerning Fight.
REFUSED 10 TALK 10 SISTER

Annapolis. Nd, July 2o.--The second
days session of the naval court OF In
quiry, which 10 sitting to investigate
the cause OF the death Of Lieut.. James
". Sutton. u. 8. NJ. c.. Of Portland,
Ore, who either shot himself or was
shot by an unidentified person In
quarrel with brother officers on the
night OF October IL. 1907. opened to-
day with Lieut. Robert E. Adams, U.
@. M. c., still on the witness stand.
Adams was the Officer who fought
with Sutton and testified yesterday that
Sutton killed himself when he thought
he had shot Lieutenant Rocker. an
other officer of marines, who was con-
cerned In the brawl.
Henry r.. Davis, counsel for SUIT
toms mother in the present hearing,
continued his examination of Adams.
Adams was allowed counsel at this
inquiry by special permit OF the Navy
Department The other young omcers
of marines who were with Sutton on
the night of his death, including Lieu
tenants Bevin~ and Osterman, are barred
from the court room until they are
called to testify. 1t 10 expected they
will follow Lieutenant Adams on the
stand. Osterman had q fight with SUIT
ton an hour before Adams met him and
he began blazing away at Adams with
two revolvers. according to Adams
testimony.
Pick Flaws in story.
Adams fell into number OF discrep-
ancies In his testimony on cross exam
ination which counsel. Arthur p. Bir-
ney, former United States District At
torney at Washington, endeavored to
clear UP today. Mrs. Sutton's lawyer
began to question Adams today about
an interview he had with Sutton's sis
ter. Mrs. Hugh A. Parker, shortly at
ter young Sutton's death. Mrs. Par
ker. who lie attending the hearings
with her mother. had waited to ques-
tion all the young officers who were
supposed TO know something about
her brothers death. She had asked
Adams to grant Der talk alone and
tell the truth about the matter, ac-
cording to the testimony.
Mr.. Davis went over the scene Of the
shooting again with Lieutenant Adams
and dwelt on the details Of instances
and time in an effort to place the ex-
act spot where and the time when SUIT
ton was shot. The witness could only
remember approximately about these
details.
Il want you TO state II you saw Lieu
tenant Sutton kill himself" Mr.. Davis
said.
"As have said. saw Sutton draw
a reov1ver from under him in his right
-
tion) turn his head to the right. and
fire. I saw the fash jump about six
fnches," the lieutenant replied.
Used Small Revolver.
Mr.. Davis pressed the question as to
whether Sutton fired the fatal shot
VITA the large revolver or the small
cit wasn't very light around there"
said Lieutenant Adams. nbut II was my
idea that he shot himself with the
small revolver"
Mr.. Davis called the witness atten-
tion to his testimony of yesterday In
which he said quite positively that IL
was the small weapon.
ct have told you a half dozen times
that I did not positively identity the
gun" said she witness.
Mr.. Dawn referred to a reported In
terview with Adams In New York
paper of July II, in which Adams was
quoted as saying the Suttons we're try
ing to trump up a murder charge
against two who were innocent and
asked the witness II he said anything
like that.
Major Leonard, the Judge advocate.
objected to this line of questioning on
the ground that 1t was not pertinent
10 issue and Commander Hood. presid-
ing. sustained him.
Mr.. Davis questioned the witness in
regard to his interview with Mrs. Par
ker, Sutton's sister. soon after SUIT
tons death.
Sister Sought truth.
"Did Mrs. Parker ask you at that
time to make statement of the truth
Of this whole affair."" asked Mr.. Da-
Wis.
The witness said he believed she did.
'"Did you make such q statement"
mo, SIR" replied Adams.
"I have told you before that told
Mrs. Parker to look UP the records of
the testimony of the first hearing IL
she wanted to find out anything. and
Furthermore, Mrs. Parker was willing
10 talk with the other officers in twos
or threes or In lunches, but she wanted
to see me alone"
The statements Mr.. Davis credited
the witness with gave a somewhat diff
ferent version of the tragedy than that
which Adams has given on the witness
stand.
Lieutenant Adams was excused and
Lieutenant n. Osterman called.
Where were you and what were
you doing from s p. m. to 2 a. m.
on Oct. 1913, 1907" was the FIRST
question Major Leonard asked the wit
ness.
Starting with the hop at the acad-
envy and meeting with Sutton later,
about midnight at Cavel Hall Hotel,