Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-22
DRAGs, ALONG
Only -Four Witnesses Have Been Ex-
amined in Sutton Case.
LIEUTENANT WILLING on THE STAND
Man Who Was Officer Of Day Says
When He Reached Scene. Adams
Was Beating sutton-Mother Be-
iieves Son Was Beaten to Death.
(By Associated Press.l

\ 1.NsNAi Ol-iDs MI, July w iA~a'
the naval board OF inquiry which is in
vestigating the death of Lieutenant
James n. Sutton, OF Portland, Ore,
finished its third days session in the
naval academy auditorium today, only
four witnesses out Of the 10 so far
subpOeaned by the government had
been examined.
! II. w. Van Dyke. of Washington.
Of counsel for Sutton's mother, said
after court that outslue Of Mrs. Rose
| Sutton Parker, sister OF Lieutenant
| Sutton, there probably would be no
| Witnesses beyond those on the govern
ment list which includes q number OF
| witnesses subpoeaned at the request
| Of the Suttons. Both the direct and
cross examination of the four young
officers of the marine corps who were
present at the fight when, as they
have all testified. Sutton shot himself,
| has been lengthy and the hearing is
Likely to drag along for several days
yet.
Henry Il. Davis, chief counsel for
the Suttons, had net much more than
started his cross-examnation Of Lieu
tenant Edward S. Willing when the
hearing was adjourned for the day
Discrepancies in Minor Points.
In few minor points, Mr.. Davis
succeeded in showing discrepancies in
Lieutenant vikings testimony at this
and the former inquiry. In essentials
it differed little from that Of his
brother officers.
Willing. who was officer of the day
at the marine camp and was routed
cut by r-ieutenants Utterly and Bevan
when Sutton was running wild in
camp with two revolvers prior TO the
tragedy. as former witnesses testi-
fed, was the first man to say that
he reached the scene of the tragedy
in time to see Adams punching SUIT
ton. Lieutenant Bevans testified that
he saw no blows exchanged.
As Lieutenant Willing, on cross-ex-
animation 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 ether, 1t was too much for Mrs.
Parker. who sat directly opposite the
witness. She smiled incredulcusly at
Willing and turning to Mr. Van Dyke.
one of her counsel, said Indignantly:
Imagine wild man, as they describe
my brother TO have been, standing up
with revolver in each hand and TAX
ing punching like that IL is wholly
| Incredible"
Would Punching Have Killed Him7
Judge Advocate Leonard asked Will
ing today il he thought the punch
ing Sutton got would have killed him
or if the witness had any way of
knowing whether Sutton was dead be-
| fDTa the last Chnf
known that Mrs. Sutton impressed Nd
on Major Leonard her belief that her
son was beaten to death and after
| wards shot.
The witness answered the question
IN the negative and said there was
nc doubt in his mind that Sutton pull
ca the trigger Of the revolver when
he was shot.
Willing testified that he took the IS
caiiDre service <evclver from SUIT
tons right hand after the shooting.
but could not remember what became
CT II after that. IL was supposed to
nave got into the hands Of Sergeant
De Hart. who threw it away. He
VIII be witness. Willing. who stood
within two feet of Sutton's head. saw
no other revolver at the time. he said.
Lieutenant Bevan created a stir to-
day when he testified that six weeks
prior to the shooting. Sutton had ted
him that life in the marine corps had
no attractions for him and that some
day he would shoot himself. Lieuten
ant Willing will be called on cross
examination as the first witness tomor-
row.
insurance Story Denied.
] mere mas been current a report
that Lieutenant Sutton carried life
insurance To the amount OF 500. 600.
which could not be collected IL the dc.
cision Of the previous Investigating
board that he committed suicide is not
| upset Mrs Sutton and her daughter
today denied that the lieutenant was
50 heavily insured, saying that n. in
TACT ne had as much as $1,000 On his
| ne the family knew Dcfhin0 ~ II