Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-23
Remarkable Variance in Testimony
Of Witnesses 10 Sutton Inquiry.
As 10 LOCATION or THE WOUND
Surgeon Says Ball Entered Top OF
Lieutenant's Head, Commandan'
Says IL Was on side-Willins onsti-
nate on the Stand.
fRy Associated Press.l


ANNAPOLIS, MD, July 22.-The
remarkable variance in the testimony
OF some OF the naval officers who are
witnesses before the court OF inquiry
which Is investigating the circum-
stances surrounding the death OF Lieu-
tenant James n. Sutton at the naVai
academy two years ago, was empna-
sized at today's hearing by contradic-
tory evidence as to the location vi
nhe ballet wound which caused the
young Oregonion's death. This ques-
ton has assumed Importance In the
face of other evidence given, as u
would appear that it would have Deeh
much more difficult matter for sui
ton to have shot himself, lying prone
upon the ground with three men on
top of him IL the bullet entered the
top of his head, as it did according TO
Surgeon George Pickerell. in charge OF
the marine hospital at that time, VINO
examined Sutton's body.
Colonel Charles A. Doyen, COM
mandant OF marines at that time ana
who holds the same post now. te"u-
fed that he examined Suttons body
Immediately after the shooting, ielt
the wound in his head. and that III
was located on the right side, little
behind and on line with the top OF
the ear.
DR.. Pickerell thought Sutton might
have inflicted the wound upon himself,
as he described it, but he made an
unconuincing and awkward demonsira-
ton in court with the revolver and
free right arm, to get the weapon IN
a position which would have sent the
bullet into his head at the point where
he testified 1t entered Sutton's head.
Considerable progress was made at
the hearing today and three more VIII
nesses were disposed of. Besides Sur
geon Pickerel's and Colonel Doyens
testimony, Mr.. Davis, counsel for SUIT
toms mother and sister, finished the
examination of Lieutenant willing.
who was also on the stand yesterday.
Willing Obstinate on Stand.
Willing made an obstinate and I'M
satisfactory witness. The few dis
crepancies which Mr. Davis drew from
him by reading the record OF his des-
cription of the scene of the shooting
at the former inquiry were readily
conceded by Lieutenant Willing, with
the remark that he testified from the
best of his recollection on both occa-
sions.
Mr.. Davis tried to find out from all
the witnesses today what became OF
Sutton's two revolvers following the
shooting. Colonel Doyen testified that
he seized them and ordered Lieutenant
Willing. to take charge of them, out
he did not know what became of them
until they finally got into his hands al
the inquest.
It was apparent no one of the OH
GERS wanted to assume the respons'-
biIity OF having the weapons aDout
him Immediately after the shooting.
Another Discrepancy.
Sergeant James De Hart, of the Dia-
rine corps, the last witness at today
session testified that some officer at
the scene of the shooting handed him
a revolver with the curt command 10
Take this" He admitted that on the
night in question he was slightly un'
der the influence of liquor He was
positive. however, that ms was not one
of the men sitting on Lieutenant SUIT
ton and trying to hold him down Lieu
tenant Bevan previously testified re
was. He was making his way 20 camp
BY "a back entrance" wher he met
Sutton prior to the shooting.
DE Hart said that Srtton carried two
revolvers and that he, tDe Harp, did
not stop to talk with ham long. The
witness did not know about the trouble
Sutton had had in camp, but thought
something was up when he saw the
two guns Soon afterward De Hart
heard the shots and ran hack to the
scene OF the shooting.
Mr.. Davis had not finished cross
examining De Hart when AT O'Clock
court adjourned for the day