The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-22

the witness had had much experience
with service revolvers.
Some little" was the reply.
DO you know what the effect of
shot would be at short ranger asked
Major Leonard.
Mr. Davis objected to the question,
but was overruled.
Il don't remember of having ever
shot a service revolver at an object
less than 10 feet away" said the wit
ness. AT that distance there would
be no burns or smoke marks. At two
feet, I think there would be marks"
At this point recess was taken.
When the session was resumed the
examination of Lieutenant Bevan was
continued.
Major Leonard wanted to know how
Lieutenant Rocker could have reached
the scene of the encounter in time to get
wounded after his alteration with SUIT
ton in camp.
Did Not Meet Rocker
Lieutenant Bevan testified he did not
meet Rocker on the way. He said he
might have crossed a ravine, but the last
time the witness saw him he was going
away from the ravine.
Commander Hood presiding, took the
witness in hand.
why did you let Sutton leave camp
with the revolvers?' asked the member
of the board
Il thought Sutton was partly crazy and
always had thought So" replied Lieuten-
ant Bevan.
4 thought he was bluffing with his
revolvers, as he had done before, and il
might be better place out of camp for
him."
Lieutenant Bevan was then excused
! Major Leonard asked that counsel to
| the parties of the inquiry submit to him
list of any witnesses whom they might
| want to call.
u request this so that the United States
may not be at any unnecessary expense
In waiting the arrival of such witnesses, y
said the judge advocate.
/ Lieut.. Edward A. Willing, U. 8. NJ. c.,
who was officer of the day at the marine
camp when the shooting occurred, was
called.
Are you sure Sutton shot himself ?''
asked Major Leonard after Willing had
detailed what he had seen.
There isn't the slightest doubt in my
mind that he did" replied Willing.
"He's Killed Himself"
Willing afterward leaned over and took
the revolver out of Sutton's hand he
said Willing thought he heard some one
say: He's killed himself" (meaning
Sutton, but he could not remember who
said it,
The witness said he saw Adams in less
than minute after the shooting. Ad-
ans had nothing in his hands-no re-
volver. He did not think Adams had
I time to throw one away if he had one.
! Willing only saw the one revolver in SUIT
toms hands. He heard some one say
they had already taken one away from
Sutton.
Questioned by Commander Hood, Will
ing said he had seen Sutton have two
revolvers prior to the time and one was
! a Smith & Wesson. He said he got
there in time to see Adams punching
| Sutton. Sutton was either on his face
or his knees at the time
DO you think the punching Sutton
was getting was such as would kill an
ordinary vigorous MANI" asked Major
Leonard.
NO I should think not" replied the
| witness
Had you any way OF knowing if SUIT
ton was dead before the revolver was
fired which you think killed him?''
| NO, but I don't believe he was"
From this line of questions II was
evident the Judge advocate had In mind
| Mrs Sutton's assertion that she believed
her son was beaten to death before he
was shot. Lawyer Birney Adams' conn
sell questioned the witness before Mr.
DAVIS began the cross-examinatfon
whlch was still in progress when at /
CLOCK the hearing was adjourned for
the day io'