The Washington herald., 1909-08-10

Annapolis. Aug. s-Nrrs. Rosa B. Sut-
ton. who worked for more than a year
to bring about a second inquiry into the
death OF her son. Lieut. James n Sut-
ton, jr., took the stand here to-day, and
declared emphadcally that she was con-
WINGED that her son had not killed him
self. but had died as the result OF a
conspircy among his brother officers TO
give him a good beating the first chance
they got"
The examination Of Mrs. Sutton came
after the reading in public Of the letters
she wrote IN the spring OF 1905 70 man
named Harry n Swartz. who, It was
brought out to-day. is a corporal OF ma
rines doing clerical duty at the Office OF
the paymaster general OF marines. in
Washington. These are the letters that
were read behind closed doors in the
court room on saturday.
Letters Made Public.
They became public to-day upon motion
o. the Judge advocate BIrs. Sutton her
self had no objection 20 their being read
in open court. but her principal attorney.
Henry E. Davis. fnteTposed an objection
TO Maj. Leonard's motion on the ground
that the reading OF the letters could do
no good. and that they had no real bear
Ing on the point at issue-the manner In
which Lieut.. Sutton came to hfs death.
On the stand Mrs. Sutton was perfectly
] - aE -. srs.Hr
Attorney Arthur A Birney. representing
Lieut.. Adams. questioned her as to the
authority for many OF the statements
contained IN her letters, Mrs Sutton an
swered with calmness always and with
decided spirit IN a number OF Instances.
/ sue reiterated. her opinion. expressed IN
/ her letters. that Lieuts. Utley, Adams.
and Osterman had framed up'' ths fight
with her son. She called them "cads, q"
( ours" and wild beasts" told OF her
/ son appearing 70 her IN dream after he
was dead and laying the blame for his
death upon Adams, and stated most en-
/ phaucally that she considered the evi-
/ dence before the first court OF inquiry
as sufficient 20 bring her TO the conclu-
/ sion that her son was murdered. She
! also declared that her sons effects had
! been tampered with BY Capt Mark and
Lieut.. Utley.
Mrs. Sutton was treated gently BY ths
| counsel They asked her what questions
I their duty compelled them 20 ask her.
/ AS they called upon her for proofs OF
/ her statements she invariably referred to
the evidence OF the first INQUIRY Beyond
that she would not 60
Letter from Miss Stewart.
Occasionally she would refer TO letters
/ she had received One OF these was from
Miss Mary Stewart. OF Pittsburg. with
whom Sutton spent the evening at Car
vel Hall.
Miss Stewart had written her Mrs. Sut-
ton said. that while Miss Stewart and
Sutton were talking Ostermen had
/ come over and sat with them. After a
/ bit, Adams came TO the back door OF the
I big lounging room and called Osterman
out. This. Mrs. Sutton told TIE ,ourt, she
( considered evidence Of q conspiracy.
1 AS to her writings about her sons fore
! head being crushed and his face generally
! battered UP. Mrs. Sutton said. IN answer
| 20 questions. that she had judged that
/ from the evidence before the first court
But have you any proof that your son
was that badly beatenY Mr.. Birnsy
asked.
I think the testimony proves that"
was Mrs. Sutton's reply.
( "HSve you any evidence to show that
any officer knew Of a conspiracy against
your son and failed 20 report it7' Maj.
Leonard asked her.
NO. sir; I Just judged It." said Mrs.
Sutton
Calls AssafInnts Criminals.
Asked who she meant when she spoke
OF criminals In her letters 10 swartz,
Mrs. Sutton said that she meant the men
who were with her son on the night he
died and the United States government.
/ The efforts Of the different counsel
threw some light on the identity OF
/ Swartz. the man 10 whom the letters were
written. Mrs Sutton said that she found
among her sons papers e letter from
Swartz. and wrote to him. thinking he
was a close friend Of her son. Her first
letter was diplomatic. but SwartE, she
/ says, answered Il promptly. and expressed
| great friendship for her son and sym
pathy with her. Then she unbrdened
/ her heart TO him.
] She had never seen him until she went
! 20 Washington 10 take up the fight for
I TIE SeCOhl inquiry. linen ne met ner a.
/ the train. He was the man who guided
her to her sons grave at the National
/ Cemetery at Arlington.
Owens Affidavit Read.
At the afternoon session the Judge ad-
vOcate read from an sfldavit made by
owens. the chauffeur. and sent to Mrs
Sutton.
It contained Owens story as brought
( out I'm court, but had been mentioned
I BY Mrs. Sutton as one OF the bits OF
evidence upon which she based her
charges The judge advocate also read
q letter from Col. Charles A. Doyen, COM
mandant OF the marine barracks here. to
I Mrs Sutton in reply 10 her request for
information concerning her sons death.
The letter was written shortly after Sut-
ton died.
IN the letter Col. Doyen assured Mrs
! sutton that he had done all IN his power
70 set al the truth and was firmly con-
WINGED that her son committed suicide
"Only the testimony OF Lieuts. willing
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