The Washington times., 1909-09-14
MRS. SUTTON READY
TO CONTINUE FIGHT
Mother Says Autopsy
Strengthens Case-Will
Appeal to Congress.
MAY CARRY CASE
TO CIVIL COURTS
DR.. Vaughan Finds Clean Cut Bull
let Wound, Considered Valu-
able Evidence.

~fafaA ANdQtAlN mas Deen the cause 81
two naval Investigations. has strength
ened her cause. Mrs. James \. Sutton
IS preparing today to continue the fight
70 prove through the courts Of Con
gress that her son did not die a suicide
Lieutenant Sutton's body now lies in
consecrsted ground In Arlington Gene
terry, following it's elimination yester-
day afternoon This fact, and one other
especially. Mrs. Sutton said today. she
points TO as belated victories The 9th
er development Of a day of dramatic
incidents IS the disclosure through the
autopsy that the bullet wound in SUIT
toms scalp is clean cut and in his formal
report. It is understood. that DR.. George
Tully Vaughan. chief surgeon for the
mother in yesterdays proceedings. will
advance the expert opinion that a clean
cut wound could not have been inflicted
by revolver held at a distance OF three
or four inches in Sutton's own hand.
The large bruise found upon the fore
head, to the mind OF Mrs Sutton and
her attorneys, also substantiates their
theory that Sutton was numerically
beaten in the fight with his fellow-offl-
GERS.
Forming Future Plans.
Attorney Henry z. Davis. chief coun-
sci for the Sutton interests, was not
prepared today to announce his already
formulated plans for the carrying on
OF the case.
An appeal TO the Maryland civil courts
and TO Congress is within the range Of
the near probabilities.
Despite the fact that it was deter
mined by the autopsy that Lieutenant
Sutton's arm was not broken. as some
one had suggested to Mrs Sutton in an
anonymous letter. the attorneys for the
mother. while opposing the autopsy
proposition at first. are today glad
that II was held. The revelation as TO
the character Of the bullet wound. they
hol0. is a most important one.
DR.. Vaughan made q preliminary
ststenent reEar riding the autopsy Sur
geor Raymond Spear. representing the
Navy Department. would make no COM
nient pending the fling OF his formal
option with the Navy Department
DR.. vsughan's Findings.
In his comments DR.. Vaughan told Of
finding no ribs or bones broken. but
said that a large confusion had been
found ovsr the right eve and q smaller
one on the left side of the chin. The
scalp bullet wound. ne declared. was
apparent 70 all who witnessed the au-
topsy. WIS perfectly clean cut. and the
hair showed no signs OF powder marks
We are glad now that the autopsy
has been held. said Attorney II. W
Vandylke. Davis assistant IN this case,
VINO, with his brother. r. w Van DYKE
STAYED throughout the trying experience
IN the autopsy room
''7The disclosure as TO the nature Of
the bullet wound viii make a most
valuable bit or evidence, as will those
2 rrrffr Nu-nrH
parent on the forehead.
The fact that the arm was rot found
broken Is Of relatively minor Importance,
as we had no direc- evidence that gr1cb
q condition existed. It was a suggestion
contained in a letter 10 Mrs. Sutton that
caused her to want to ease her mind on
that score"
Performing Of Autopsy.
DIT. Raymond Spear. DR.. George Tuliy
Vaughan and his assistant. DR.. II. z.
Gayner. performed the autopsy. The
only other witness Of the autopsy. proper
was H. d. Rhodes. inspector OF ma
tlonai cemeteries. who was delegated by
the War Department 70 assume charge
Of the arrangements at Arlington yes
terday afternoon, ard the Messrs. Van
Dyke. The mother Of the dead officer.
several personal friends, Attorney Henry
+. Davis, and Representatives OF the press
made q cursOry examination through
the glass panel OF Sutton's features be-
fore the Casket was opened Father
Olds, who afterwcrd gave the body con-
secrated burial. did not visit the au-
topsy roofn' but remained at the grave
throughout.
detail Of soldiers kept away the
curious, and the gates of the cemetery
were closed during the day under or
ders from the department.
j am exceedingly grateful for the
ment. said Mrs Sutton this morning.
everything was done 10 make the eX-
perienee as little trying a. possible. and
the officials connected with the exhuma-
ton had perfected every necessary de-
tail
Major v. G. zalinski. Major Magoon,
superintendent of the cemetery. and Mr.
Rhodes were the officials who actively
supervised the arrangements.
trying afternoon for the mother
and for some Of the others concerned
was that brought 10 a close when the
FIRST clod OF earth fell upon the new
casket in which Lieutenant Sutton's
body had been placed following the
autopsy. Then, for the second time the
composure q Mrs. sutton gave way to
motberly grief and although she had
just seen the fuldllment of her desire
OF two years-cOnsecrated burial for her
son-she left the scene IN tears
On the whole. she bore the somewhat
tragic. and admittedly dramatic. events
Of the afternoon with remarkable for
titude. There were those who feared
a breakdown when Mrs. sutton looked
upon the face Of her son, the state Of
preservation OF whose body was then
unknown. Restoratives were suggested
in event the shock should prove TOO
great.
Il can stand it." replied the mother
the firm lines Of her mouth denoting
determination. 7 have 10 stand IT, j
want 20 sec for myself"
Body Is Raised.
II required but a few moments TO
disinter the body. The \mother, to
gether WITH her two woman friends.
sat in a nearby carriage While the we'll
preserved cedar box containing the
casket was raised and caK1ed 10 a
waiting ambulance. Then the Journey
back 10 the improvised autopsy room.
in the rear Of the old Lee mansion.
was begun, the little funeral cortege
moving slowly over the cinder uAths
Of Arlington Cemetery. iust as a sim
liar one had done twenty-three months
ago. when Sutton. branded then a sui
eide. had been buried with no thought
OF those present that the body would
ever he raised 70 earth again
A silent, solemn little group Of attor-
neys, principals and newspaper men
stood without the little room while the
CEDAR case was opened. Within Law a
black coffin. draped In the flag under /