The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-08-07
MRS. SUTTON'S LETTERS
CONTAIN SERIOUS CHARGES

Annapolis, Aug 6-The Teappear-
ance on the witness stand today of
Mrs. James y. Sutton, mother of Lieu
tenant Sutton of Portland. Ore, whose
death is being Investigated by the ma
val board of inquiry here, was the sig
nal for heated controversy between
the lawyers, which ended In A pro-
longed conference and brought the
days proceedings to an abrupt end
ing.
Judge Advocate Leonard. before pro-
ceeding with Mrs. Suttons examina-
ton, offered for identification, and to
be read in evidence, several letters
which he said Mrs. Sutton had written.
containing serious charges against the
officers OF the marine corps who ap-
peared as defendants,
The United States has been put TO
a large expense in bringing witnesses
here from all parts of the world" said
Major Leonard, "and II becomes my
painful duty to offer these letters in
evidence in order TO eniighten the
court as fully as possible on all mat
tiers pertaining to this inquiry"
Henry r Davis. counsel for Mrs.
Sutton, objected on the ground that
Mrs. Sutton was not present and that
the letters In question were irrele-
want to the inquiry and of a personal
and incompetent nature as evidence.
1T is inconceivable that the judge
advocate should attempt TO force Mrs.
sutton into such position before this
board OF Inquiry said Mr, Davis.
These letters are not offered to as
Slst this court In finding out how Lieu
tenant Sutton met his death. That
these letters. containing perhaps the
eXtravagant statements OF a mother
with a stricken heart over the death
of her son, should be read before a
curious world Is indeed unique and
cruel"
Major Leonard declared Mr. Davis
had misconstrued the judge advocates
position and asked that the lawyers
remarks implying bad faith on his part
be stricken from the record.
Il would have MI Davis remember"
he said, that the hallowed grave of
a dead son Is no more sacred than the
reputation of living officer, and there
are many such regulations at stake"
The judge advocate said the court
has the right to inquire upon what
MIS- Dullpll Ilduc INT SldlN-
ments in the letters.
Mr.. Birney, counsel for Lieutenant
Adams, protested that Mrs. Sutton
had consistently tried to avoid her
true position. and urged that the let
ters be read At this period Com
mander Hood, president of the board.
ordered court closed and went into
conference with his associates and the
Judge advocate Later Commander
Hood announced that the letters would
be read in closed court tomorrow to
the interested parties and their coun-
sell
Following the completion of Lieu
tenant Utley's examination at
the morning session Surgeon T, E.
Cook was a witness. He testified that
he performed the autopsy on Sutton's
body and declared from the nature Of
the bullet wound 1t would have been
difficult for him to shoot himself hold
ing the revolver in the ordinary man
ner. He added, however, that It was
his belief Sutton committed suicide
You testified that you woke up
Colonel Royen that night and told him
Sutton had committed suicide. didn't
animation OF Lieutenant Utley,
THAT is right" said the witness
What you meant was that YOU had
seen Sutton shoot himself. either in
tenuonally or accidentally, wasn't it2"
asked Mr. Davis.
Yes, SIR. not necessarily one or
the other. That was my understanding
of suicide" replied Lieutenant Utley.