The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-20
TELLS HOW SUTTON
GOT DEATH WOUND
Lieut.. Adams Testifes There Was
Flash of Pistol as Sutton Raised
Arm-Supports Suicide Theory.

ANNAPOLIS, Md, July ly.-Wneh
called 10 the stand As the hrst WIZ
ness in the Sutton inquiry this after
noon, Lieut.. Adams told OF the meet
ing in Carvell hall on the night Q:
z Oct. IS, 1907. Sutton. Osterman, utley
and himself, ne said. rode. back TO the
acad, my in Sutton's machine.
"All OF US were out after hours,
said Adams "Utley suggested that
we get out and walk to avoid detec'
ton. suggested the same. Sutton
then called me id coward. !
told hiro he should not talk that way
He repeated his statement,
I'VE Jumped out OF the automoblls
and Logan 10 pull on my coat. SUI
ton said What are you going TO do!
| said: You are the man that's doiEs
the talking. uusy said: We'll hSi'
this out In tie morning. Then "s
started towards the camp. The otnci
officers were trying 20 quiet sutton
Then sutton cursed Osterman nnd
struck him. Osterman struck back.
Sutton reeied He had before said ne
would kill me. The fight between
Osterman and Sutton continued.
Osterman had him down and l pulled
Osterman of.
Il suggested, continued Adams,
THAT we get rifles and revolvers TO
defend ourselves but we found they
were locked up in camp We thea
started for the officer OF the day. I'm
route we were stopped by Lent. -
. ley He said; You go down where
the fight was and see If you can tnL
any clothes tnere?'."
why did Utley give such an or.
der?" asked Major Leonard.
II don't know" said Adams. 81
started down the path, and saw some
thing white. II moved and then rose
II was Sutton. He said You are that
id Adams. Where are you going|
told him to get the clothes. He said:
Like h you are J am going To xii!
YOU He then shot at me three times
| grappled with him and as we swung
around saw Rocker. | threw Sutton
To his face on the ground. He fell
with his right arm under nim, and the
left arm up. was trying TO keep him
from using his pistol. Somebody
jumped on his left arm. | don't know
who. | was trying to keep him from
shooting. The next thing | remember.
ed. was standing back OF him.
Then | looked around" he con.
tinued, land saw Lieut.. Rocker lying
on the ground apparently dead. My
God, / said. He's killed Rocker As
! said that l saw Sutton still lying
fiat, rise his right arm and turn his
Z head. There was the flash of Il pistol.
the flame jumped three or four inch
es. No one was on Sutton at the time
he was shot. | became dazed then
and hardly knew what happened.
Because the navy department be-
Leves that the testimony gathered by
. woman. unaided, with every circum.
stance against her, throws more light
on the case than did the secret hear
ing before the board of inquiry, a court
Of inquiry today began sittings at the
naval academy, TO determine the ex-
I act manner I'm which Lieut.. James n.
Sutton met his death on the GROUNDS
OF that institution on the night or Oct
IL, 1907.
The story that Mrs. Rose Sutton
Parker, sister of the dead officer. drag
ged from unwilling witnesses in a re.
markable inquiry she conducted, is the
most important part of the case.
When she and her mother entered
the courtroom today, Mrs. Parker car
ried with her a bundle OF papers, COM
prising all she knows about the cir
cumstances of her brothers death. and
from this report, questions will be
put that may clear up the mystery.
Both women before the court conven.
ed, declared hopefully that the stigma
of suicide would be removed from the
dead officers name.
The court is not bound by the rules
of evidence that ordinarily prevail IN
civil tribunals.
The government has expressed ITS
desire 10 get avery fact that miglt
help 10 determine the manner u
young Sution's death and the RESPONSE
b,lit.' therefor. SuttoD's friends also
have -rsel tbat every bit of evidence
that can lave possible bearing OF
many points ln the evidence given ~
Jartic RS n ;he fight that Drsced.
ci tic shooting OF Lieu Sutton and
{ WHICH Sele accepted by the beard,
about which ,ne young mans notner
aud sis,er say more is 20 be learned.
Why d.d cotton and his brotGei o.
fccrs quarrel Tat night? The story
tcid By tns Jii:ccr3 is that row stat
Ell in a discussion where the aItom D
E!ip, which Rad been taken from Car.
:si Nah, should be Stopped The
Edltons declare this was too trivial a
thing 10 sta,5 2 quarrel and Mrs. Park.
er points 10 come letters she has.
which were written 10 her brother, in
which a possible duel is mentioned
Then, 100. W !. Ownes, the chauffeur
VINO drove ne party To the barracks
an5 who overheard the quarrel IN the
raachine, but who was not called a.
tho former hearing, Will testify.