Evening star., 1909-07-10


Highly dramatic testimony will develop
at the second inquiry into the death Of
Lieut.. James \. Sutton of the United
States Marine Corps. who was killed in
peculiar circumstances on the Naval
Academy reservation at Annapolis in
1907, according to the expectations of
those who have the investigation in
charge.
Nearly two years ago an inquiry was
held at Annapolis The court found that
Lieut.. Sutton had killed himself. On
Tuesday the second inquiry VIII begin
at Annapolis. and will probably last until
the end of next week.
The Navy Department was apparently
satisfied with the verdict in the first in
vestigation- and the matter became a
closed incident. But Lieut.. Suttons
mother was far from satisfied. She has
never believed that her boy killed him
self.
With determination and patience char
acteristic of mothers she set about hav-
ing a second inquiry held. AT last she
accomplished her purpose.
The Secretary of the Navy ordered the
case reopened. He appointed a board of
inquiry. which will convene at. Anna
polls on Tuesday.
Mrs. Sutton Has Case Reopened.
In the meantime Mrs. Sutton employed
legal counsel to defend the memory of
her son. She wants his name cleared She
wants to feel sure that the best efforts. of
capable attorneys outside the navy will
be put forward in her behalf.
Her, two principal attorneys arc Henry
l.. Davis and r. W. Van Dyke, These
two experts have gone steadily about
the accumulation of new evidence. They
have discovered facts that were not
brought out at the first trial.
Next week they viii produce every fact
they have in their possession which bears
upon the case. That some of the tcsti-
mony will be sensational is certain.
All those who were in the marty that
rode with Sutton from Carvei Hall to
the academy grounds on the night when
he met his death will be heard at the
trial, with one single exception. The
missing witness, whose Wherea bouts are
unknown and whose appearance is hardly
hoped for, is former Lieut.. Rocker of
the Marine Corps, who left the service
some. time ago.,
The others-Lieuts. Utley, Adams. Os-
terman. Willing and Bevan and Serst De
Hart-who were involved in the affair in
one way or another will be there Also
Owens, the chauffeur who drove the auto
mobile in which the party of officers from
Carvel Hall rode to the reservation, will
testify.
Shot Fired During Quarrel
1t was shown at the first inquiry, and
has not been denied that Sutton was shot
while engaged in an altercation With
Lieuts. Adams and Rocker. Versions of
the story as given by the several wit
nesses vary materially.
The main point. however. is that Sutton
was armed and that he and Adams were
no fllatt inst he nj
shot was fired. The witnesses practically
agreed at the first trial that it was from
Sutton's own revolver that the fatal shot
was fired.
Adams has always maintained that
after Sutton had fired shot at Rocker
Sutton turned the revolver on himself
and fired the shot that ended his life.
The causes that led up to the quarrel
have never been brought to light. The
principal theory is. however, that d
woman was at the bottom of it all.
Statement Of Mrs. Sutton's Counsel.
Henry E. Davis of counsel for Mrs.
Sutton had this to say this morning;
The conditions under which the first
investigation were held were such that
Mrs. Sutton did not feel that they con-
duced to a bringing to light Of the real
facts in the case. She was dissatisfied
and asked for another investi CATION.
y,
bring out the truth. What the results
will be. naturally, must be a matter OF
conjecture.
/. The inquiry will be thorough. The
Navy Department has gone about prepar-
ing for it in manner that leads us to
believe that the facts viii be got at.
An effort has been made TO get every
body knowing anything about tire affair
to appear at the inquiry and testify.
The witnesses will all be there, with
t., .a.f 1lynK
whose whereabouts are unknown at this
time
Winthrop Explains Course.
Assistant Secretary Winthrop has is
sued a statement in explanation of the
action of the Navy Department in di
recting a second investigation. 1t fol
lows:
Lieut. James y. Sutton, L. =. NJ G..
died us the result of Il wound in the
head caused by Il shot from ii pistol On
the night of October 12-13, 1907. AT An
napolis. Nd, while he was a student az
the Marine School of Application al
that place for newly appointed officers
OF the Marine Corps.
Capt. Charles j. Badger, l.. ;. N. the
superintendent of the Naval Academy
at that time, Immediately appointed
board of inquest for the purpose OF IN
Vestigating and reporting upon the cir
cumstances attending the death OF
Lieut.. sutton This board consisted OF
Commander j. A. Hoogerworff u. ). N.
president; Surg. F.. \. Cook. +. :. n,
and Maj. B. Fl. Fuller, L. s. NJ. G. mem
bers. and Second Lieut.. Edward s. VIII
ling, L. S. NJ. c.. recorder.
Finding of the Board.
THE board met October H. and after
an investigation reported the following as
its finding in the case:
The board having examined all the