The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-23

Ger Were Rivals for the Hand OF the
Same Girl.
Annapolis, Md, July 22.-Was Lieut..
James N. Sutton killed by a fellow
officer who was Sutton's rival for the
love of girl. or did the young officer
end his own life?
That is the alternative question that
the court OF inquiry is trying to deter
mine. The war department has taken
the question up again after Lieutenant
Sutton, who was killed the night of
October IL, 1907, had once been de-
clared a suicide. That the question
has been reopened Is due to the devo-
ton and determination of Lieutenant
Sutton's sister, Mrs. Hugh A. Parker,
who declares her brother was muir
dered.
Shot In the Back Of tho Head.
The theory of Mrs. Parker is that
her brother and another army man
were rivals for the affections of the
same girl, Miss Mary E. Stewart of
Pittsburg, Pa, and that Sutton was
killed in brawl that followed dance
given by the naval cadets. Sutton
was shot in the back of the head. His
sister contends that 1t would have
been impossible for him to have held
the revolver in position to have in
ficted such wound on himself.
Robert E. Adams was again on the
stand. Lieutenant Adams, although
only witness, has asked and been
granted permission to be represented
by counsel. He testified that Sutton
killed himself after having fired his
revolver and, as he supposed, killed
Lieutenant Rocker, who also was con-
cerned in the brawl.
Talked With His Sister.
Adams fell into a number of dis
crepancies in his testimony on cross
examination, which his counsel, Ar
thur e. Birney, ex-United States dis
trict attorney at Washington, will en-
deavor to clear up after Mr.. Davis gets
through with the cross-examination.
Mrs. Sutton's lawyer began to ques-
ton Adams today about an interview
he had with Sutton's sister, Mrs. Hugh
A, Parker, shortly after young Sutton's
death. Mrs. Parker, who is attending
the hearing with her mother had want
ed to question all the young officers
who were supposed to know something
about her brothers death. She had
asked Adams to grant her talk alone
and tell the truth about the matter,
according to the testimony
Mr.. Davis went over the scene of
the shooting again with Lieutenant
Adams and dwelt on the details of dis
tances and time, in an effort to place
the exact spot where and the time at
which Sutton was shot.
The witness could only remember
approximately these details. He said
he was sure Sutton wore an overcoat
and did not remember OF Sutton TAX
ing 1t off any time previous to the
hrst alteration between him and SUIT
ton when they both stripped to the
waist preparatory to fighting.
Explains the Discrepancies.
The lawyer read excerpts from Lieu
tenant Adams testimony at the first
inquiry and pointed out some discrep.
ancies. The witness insisted, how
ever the testimony seemed to vary.
that his answers at the present in
CURRY were the correct ones.
II want you to state again IL Won
saw Lieutenant Sutton kill himself?"
Mr.. Davis asked.
las / have said, saw Sutton draw
a revolver from under him in his right
hand like this illustrating the motion).
turn his head to the right and fire.
saw the flash jump about six inches"
the lieutenant replied.
Mr.. Davis pressed the question as
TO whether Sutton fired the fatal shot
with the large service revolver or with
the small one.
1T wasn't very light" said the iieu-
tenant, but it was my idea that he
shot himself with small revolver"
Mr.. Davis called the witness atten.
ton to his testimony of yesterday In
winch he said quite positively that IL
was the small weapon.
Il have told you half a dozen times
this morning that / did not positively
| 'iJ bho gun, Sdlu the witness.
1T didn't seem as If it was as large as
the service gun"
Ihe witness said he was assigned tn
the gunboat Allen, which cruised up
and down the coast of China shortly
after the Sutton affair.
Was Lieutenant osterman with
your" asked Mr. Davis.
He was not" replied Adams.
The witness said he had not seen
osterman for some time until he met
him at the present inquiry.
Mr.. Davis referred to a reported in.
teryiew with Adams in a New York
paper OF July T. in which Adams was
quoted as saying that the Suttons
were trying to trump up a murder
charge against two who were inno-
cent" and asked the witness II he
said anything like that.
One Question Ruled Out.