Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-07-22
Officers Involved in Tragedy at
Annapolis All Agree Young
Marine Lieutenant Fired Fat
al Shot Into His Own Brain.
HAD THREATENED SELF
DESTRUCTION BEFORE
Witness Unable to Explain Why
Man With Gun in Each Hand
Allowed Himself To Be Pun
meIed,


IBy Morning journal SnecIni Leased Wir.I
Annapolis, Md, July Whom the
naval board of inquiry investigating
the death of Lieutenant James y SUIT
on Of Portland ore, finished its
'h'rd days session today only four
witnesses out of the ffloen sub
pocaned by the government had been
Examined II, ". VandyiSo of Wash
.neton. Of counsel for Sutton's moth
er said after court that outside OF
Mrs Rose sutton Parker, sister Of
Lieutenant sutton, there probably
would be no witnesses beyond those on
he government list
In FEW minor points Henry f.
Davis. ehi"f counsel for the Sutton's.
showed dis, rcpancies in Lieutenant
vikings testimony at this and the
former inquiry
Willings was the FIRST man To say
that he reached the scene Of tho traa-
edy In time to see Adams punching
sutton. Lieutenant novan, who ran
down to the place whore they HAD All
heard the first shots almost al the
same time rs Lieutenant Winings tcs-
tided that he saw no blows exehang-
ed
Ns Lieutenant Willings described
sutton on the cross-exnmination, rs
either standing or ON his knees with
Adams holding him hy the back of
the neck with one hand aud punch
Ing him with the other it was too
much for Mrs Parker. who sat direct
ly opposite the witnesses. She smiled
incredulousy and turning to Mr.
Nandyllc. one of her counsel, said.
Imagine a Wild man as they de-
scribe my brother TO have been
standing up with q revolver In each
hand and taking punching like
that II is wholly incrodible."
The judge advocate asked Willnes
il he thought the punching sutton got
would have killed him or " the Wit
sutton was dead before the last shot
WAS fred. It is known that Mrs. SUIT
ton has impressed upon Major Leon
ard her belief that her son was beat
en- to death ana afterwards shot The
witness answered these questions in
the negative He said he took a ser
vice revolver from Sutton's right hand
after the shooting. but could mot re-
member what became OF it after that
Lieutenant Bevan created stir in
court when he testified that six weeks
prior To the shooting sutton had told
him that lie In the marine corps had
40 attraction for him aud that some
lay he would shoot himself
There having been current report
hat Lieutenant sutton carried life
Insurance to the amount OF $40 600.
which could not be collected II the
locision Of the previous investigation
BOARD is not upset, Mrs sutton and
lor daughter denied that the ueuten-
mt was SO heavily Insured saying
hat H. in fact, he had as much as
5000 on his ifc the family knew
nothing of a.
Major Leonard asked Lieutenant
}ovan on rcsuming the hearing IT,
here was any interval between the
ime some one said: my God. he has
illcd Rocker" aud the time Sutton
hot himself, as testified to hy the
sitness Lieutenant Rovan said II was
My few seconds
Are YOU positive that Lieutenant
utton caused the revolver to be fired
I the time he was shot" inquired
laior Leonard.
Yes Lieutenant Bcvan answered,
Counsel for Sutton's mother be-
an his cross-oNnmination and took
he witness back 10 the happenings in
amp prior to the fight in which SUIT
on lost his life.
What did Sutton say when YOU
laced him under arrest in the
1mp?" asked Mr.. Davis.
- don't recall his exact words. hut
think he said Damn the arrest.
m going to get my mess Jacket and
nings and clear out ~ here forever"
he witness answered
Lieutenant Edward Wilinss. officer
r the day at the marine camp when
be- shooting occurred. was recalled.
lc rushed To the scene from the camp
hen he heard the shots. He testi-
ed he saw three men sitting on SUIT
IN ami as ho came up to Suttons
cad he heard Adams. presumably.
.ho was tho only man back of him.
lv, He's shot Roelker." or "Roel-
er Is killed" AZ there was a report
nj a fash by Sutton's head and the
itness turned his head Just in time
q ufInneH nm nuoa Cnlup..