The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-20
Lieutenant Adams Testifes Of
Tragedy SeiOrs the Court
Of Inquiry
SUTTON FOUGHT BROTHER
OFFICERS WITHOUT CAUSE
Death of Sutton Occurred in the Dark
and According to Testimony of
Adams the Young Officer
Killed Himself.

Annapolis July 19-The opening ses-
sion here today of the court of inquiry
which is conducting an Investigation
into the death of James N. Sutton of
the marine corps was replete with dras-
tic situations.
The court assembled in the big audi
torium of the academy building. The
very largeness of the hall added TO the
atmosphere of solemnity.
Lieut.. r. E. Adams Sutton's former
classmate at the academy and one of
the principal actors in the midnight
drama. occupied the witness stand dur
ing the entire session and told a
graphic story on the incidents leading
up to Suttons death. Under the Sc
we're cross -exa animation of Henry E.
Davis, counsel for Mrs. Sutton, the
young officer sat facing Sutton's moth
er and sister during his examination.
His brother officers, Lieutenant Be-
ven and Lieutenant Osterman, hanked
by Adams lawyers, sat farther down
the inquiry table.
Maj. Henry Leonard. United States
marine corps. the Judge advocate, and
the three members of the board COM
pleted the impressive sitting in their
white service uniforms
At one point in his testimony Lieu
tenant Adams and an orderly enacted
| the struggle with Sutton in the court
| room. The witness chair was removed
! and they both lay prone upon the fioor
!
Adams Testimony.
Lieutenant Adams said he attended
! the dance at the academy on that night
and afterwards went to Carve1 hall
with Lieutenants Osterman and Utley.
There they met Sutton and later on
started In Owens automobile from Car
vel hall with Sutton to the marine
camp.
bridge" said the witness, land going over
the bridge the machine was making con-
siderable noise and as we were out after
hours. IL o'clock being the limit. Lieu
tenant Utley suggested stop the ma
chine and walk. SO as not to be caught.
l reached over and touched the chauffeur
and told him to stop. Sutton called me-
a id fool and said he would lick hell
out of me. | unfastened my collar and
jumped out. Sutton and the others got
out and as we were preparing to fight the
senior officer stepped in and ordered US
to stop and said we could fight 1t out next
morning. We started for the barracks
and got under an electric light when Sut-
ton and Osterman mixed 1t up and struck
each other several times before they could
be separated. l stood from 10 to rs feet
away during that time.
From there we went by the old road to
the barracks to report to the officer of
the day, leaving Sutton behind. He re-
fused to go with US. | told Osterman on
the way over If | had known. as | heard
then, that Sutton shot up the camp two
weeks before we would have gotten
rifle to protect ourselves. On the way
over an officer helped us up. 1t proved
tc be Utley and he ordered US back to the
scene of the fight to see II we could find
any clothes.
Il started down the path and had gone
80 or 40 PAGES when l something
white. 1t seemed to arise and a voice
said. That's that d-d Adams. L m going
to kill you He fired. l at him. He
fired again. We grappled. He fired a third
time and hit me in the finger. As we
wheeled around l Rocker In a posi-
tion to assist me. / threw Sutton around
and got on his back, trying to keep him
from shooting. At that time someone
jumped Suttons left hand. l don't
know who 1t was. There was a shot and
cried. My God, has he shot Rocker As
/ stood up there was a flash and l looked
toward Sutton to see him PROSTATE and
evidently dead"
At this point Lieutenant Adams illus
trated his struggle with Sutton, with an
orderly his assistant. He said there
was no argument In the automobile. SUIT
ton did not appear to him to have been
drinking.
Adams said, however, he had heard that
Sutton had threatened to shoot him.
Struggle on Ground.
when Sutton was on the ground"
said Lieutenant Adams, IT pushed his
face to the earth with all my strength
to keep him from seeing who 1t was.
He struggled for 20 seconds and then
seemed to weaken
Did Mr.. Sutton smill of hquor?' asked
the Judge advocate.
Il was too excited to notice that" re-
piled the Witness
Did any one try to separate your
asked Major Leonard.
mo: not that l remember the wit
ness answered
Did you hit Sutton at that timer
Yes; I hit him when 1 first grappled
with him." said Adams.
Lieutenant Adams told of previous
quarrel with Sutton over the payment
of 81 80 which he, Adams. owed Sutton.
did you pay him that money!" asked
Major Leonard.
mo, sir; did not pay him. the wit
ness replied.
Did you have any other unpleasant
experiences with Mr. Sutton?" asked
Major Leonard.
mo. SIR" replied Adams.
Questioned by his own counsel. Arthur
r. Bierney. Lieutenant Adams said that
Lieutenant Utley dismissed the chauf-
~ nj for tho In -
night of the tragedy.
At the former hearing the Testimony