The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-20
ADAMS ON STAND
Young Officer Who Fought With
Lieutenant Sutton
At the Time of His Death Under
Examination.
HE FOUGHT OSTERMAN
And Later Fired ON Adams, the
Witness Says.
He Declares the Dead Man Used
Two RevOlYers.
HE FOUGHT OSTERMAN


Annapolis. Md, July 2O.@The sec
ond days session of the naval court
| which is sitting to investigate the
causes for the death of Lieutenant
James N. Sutton, U. s. NJ. c., of Port
land, Ore, who either shot himself
| or was shot during a quarrel with
brother officers on the night of Octo-
/ Der 12, 1907, opened today with Lieu
| tenant Robert Z. Adams, L. S. NJ 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 Roel-
ker, another officer of marines who
was concerned in the brawI.
Henry e. Davis, counsel for SUIT
toms mother in the hearing. con-
tinued his examination of Adams.
Adams was allowed counsel by spec
ial permit of the navy department.
The other young officers of marines
who were with Sutton on the night
he met his death, including Lieu
tenants Bevin and Osterman, are
they are called to testify. 1t is ex-
pected they will follow Lieutenant
Adams on the witness stand today.
Osterman had a fight with Sutton an
hour before Adams met him and he
began blazing away at Adams with
two revOlvers, according to Adams
testimony.
Adams fell into a number of dis
crepancies in his testimony on cross
examination which his counsel,
Arthur E. Birney, former United
States district attorney at Washing
ton, will endeavor to clear up after
Mr.. Davis gets through with the cross
examination.
Mrs. Sutton's lawyer began to ques-
tion Adams today about a interview
he had with Sutton's sister, Mrs
Hugh A. Parker, shortly after young
Sutton's death. Mrs. Parker, who is
mother. had wanted to question all
the young officers. who were supposed
to know something about her
brothers death. She had asked
tell the truth about the matter, ac-
cording to the testimony.
Not Sure About the Gun.
Mr.. Davis went over the scene of the
shooting again with Lieutenant Adams
and dwelt on the detailo of distances
9Ld time. IN an effort to place tn ex-
act spot where and the time at when
Sutton was shot.
The witness could only remember ap-
these details. He said he
lid not remember of Sutton taking 1t
off anytime previous to the first alter
cation between him and Sutton when
hey both stripped to the waist pre-
1
The lawyer read excerpts from Lieu |
enant Adams testimony at the first
INQUIRY and pointed out some of the
discrepancies.
testimony seemed to vary, that his an
;wers at the present inquiry were the
correct ores.
I want you to state again if you
Jaw Lieutenant Sutton kill himself "
.1r. Davis asked.
''As | have said, saw Sutton draw I
revolver from under him in his right
Il I'D like this. illustrating the mo-
ion) turn his head to the right and
ire. I saw the flash jump about six
lches," the lieutenant replied
Mr. Davis pressed the question as
O whether Sutton fired the fatal shot
With the large service revolver or the
mall one.
1T wasn't very light" said the. lieu
enant, but it was my idea that he
hot himself with a small! revolver"
Mr.. Davis called the witness atten-
ion to his testimony of yesterday in
,hich ne said quite positively that it I
fas the small weapon.
L have told you half a dozen times s
his morning that did not positively I
lentify the gun said the witness. 1T :
idn't seem as if it was as large as
he serYice gun" {
He Went to China. b
The witness said he was assigned to
he gunboat Allen. which cruised up
nd down the coast of China shortly
fter the Sutton affair.
Was Lieutenant OSterman with
ou?'' asked Mr.. Davis.
He was not" replied Adams.
The witness said he had not seen
sherman for some time until he met
i'm at the present inquiry.
Mr.. Davis referred to a reported
Interview with Adams in New :
york paper of July z, in which Ad-
ms was quoted as saying that the
20 -Tr ~, I
murder charge against two men who
rere innocent" and asked the wit {
ess if he said anything like that. ;
Major Leonard, the judge advocate 7
bjected to this line of questioning I
n the ground that it was not peFtin-
Mt to the issue.
This witness knows what he is s
harged WITH said Major Leonard. ;
He knows there are no charges
gainst' him as far as the department ;
concerned )
Mr.. Davis argued that if besides !
btaining counsel Adams had made :
statement that he considered him :
elf accused of murder, it had a di- :
ect bearing on his credibi1ity as a | +
-itness-
Commander Hood. presiding. ruled
hat Adams did not have to answer
he question
Interview With Mrs. Parker +
Mr. Davis questioned the witness G
regard TO his interview with Mrs. ! {
.arker, Sutton's sister, soon after !
utton's death. i
Did Mrs. Parker ask you at that $
me to make a statement of the 7
ruth of this whole affair ?" asked Mr.. ]
,avis. The witness said he believed I
he did.
Did you make such a statement ~
NO SIR replied Adams.
Assuming that you did make a l
Eatement. did not Mrs. Parker ar