Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-22
INQUIRY INTO sUTToN's DEATH,
LIEUT.. BEvAN CREATES A STIR
Sutton Told Him He Would Some Day
Shoot Himself.

Annapolis, Md, July 21.-When the
naval board of inquiry, which is in
vestigating the death of Lieut.. James
N. Sutton of Portland, Oregon, finish
ed its third days session in the naval
academy auditorium today, only four
witnesses out OF the fifteen subpoe-
naed by the government had been ex-
amined Henry E. Davis, chief coun-
sci for the Suttons, had not much
more than started his cross exanina-
ton of Lieut.. Edward S. willing when
the hearing was adjourned for the
day. In a few minor points, Mr.. Da-
Wis succeeded in showing discrepan-
cies in Lieutenant Willing's testimony
in this and the former inquiry. Will
ing, who was officer of the day at
the marine camp and was routed out
by Lieutenants Utley and Bevan when
Sutton was running wild in camp
with two reyolvers prior to the trag-
edy as former witnesses had testi-
fed, was the first man to say that he
reached the scene of the tragedy in
time to see Adams punching Sutton.
Lieutenant Bevah who ran down. to
the place where they had all heard
the first shots, almost at the same
time as Lieutenapt Willing. testified
that he saw no blows exchanged AS
Lieutenant Willing on cross examina-
tion described Sutton, either standing
or .on his knee with Adams holding
him by the back of the neck with one
hand and punching him with the other.
was too much for Mrs. Parker. who
sat directly opposite the witness. She
smiled incredulously at Willing and
turning to Mr.. Van Dyke, one of her
counsel, said Indignantly:
"Imagine a wild man, as they de-
scribe my brother to have been, stand
ing up with revolver in each hand
and taking a punching like that. 1t is
wholly incredible"
If subdued sneers and incredulous
smiles would have disconnected the
witnesses, they would have been hope
lessly squelched by those frequently
directed at them by Mrs. Parker and
Mrs. Sutton. A long and earnest con-.
versation between Major Leonard and
Mrs. Sutton and her daughter at Car
vel hall last night bore fruit today
during Lieutenant Willings testimony,
when the judge advocate asked the
witness IL he thought the punching
Sutton got would have killed him or
If the witness had any way of know
ing Sutton was dead before the last
shot was fired. 1t was known that
MRS. Sutton impressed upon Major
Leonard her belief that her son was
beaten to death and afterwards shot.
The witness answered these questions
in the NEGATIVE and said there was
no doubt in his mind that Sutton
pulled the trigger of the revolver when
he was shot. Willing testified that
ne took the 3S-calibre service revol-
yer from Suttons right hand after
the shooting, but could not remember
what became of ii after that. II was
supposed to have got into the hands
of Sergeant De Hart, who threw it
away. He will be a Witness Willing,
who stood within two feet of Sutton's
head. saw no other revolver at the
time, he said.
Bevan created stir
when he testified that six weeks be-
fore the shooting Sutton hald told
him that life in the marine corps had
no attraction for him and that some
day he would shoot himself.
Lieutenant Willing will be recalled
on cross examination as the first WITT
ness tomorrow.
There having been current a report
that Lieutenant Sutton carried life
insurance to the amount of $4,000
which could not be collected IL the
decision of the previous investigating
board, that he committed suicide, is
not upset, Mrs. Sutton and her daugh-
ter today specifically denied that the
lieutenant was so heavily insured. say
ing, that IL I'm fact he had as much as
$4,000 on his life, the family knew
nothing Of 1t.