Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
LETTERS MADE PUBLIC
DESPITE HER COUNSEL
Victim of Tragedy Wrote in Life Of
Dislike of Associates.
SPOKE OF THEM AS LOW CADS"
On Witness Stand Mrs. Sutton De-
clares Col. Doyen Told Her Of
Wounds in Sons Head.
Holds Her Own.

ANNAPOLIS. Md, August "a bitter
contest between counsel marked the ef-
fort of the Judge advocate, Maj. Leon
ard, this morning, in the Sutton in.
quiry. to make public those letters
written by Mrs. Sutton after her sons
death and containing accusations against
the officer defendants
The court granted the motion. Mrs.
Sutton's letters. against Mr.. Davis
protest, were read in full.
Attorney Davis, at the opening of the
| mornings session, opposed the motion
of Maj. Leonard that the letters of Mrs.
Sutton, admitted in evidence SATURDAY,,
be made public.
II can't understand he said. why
this matter of Mrs. Sutton's letters
should ever have been gone into OF why
II should now be pursued. If we con-
| cede that this mother has made accu-
sations. of murder, that those accusa-
| tions have been published, 1t is never
theless true that the public has heard
every word In the case. that 1t has read
the testimony of every essential witnest
and that 1t is now In possession of the
| facts that will allow it to form its own
opinion Of Lieut.. Suttons death.
| The admission of these letters at this
time can do nothing save satisfy a pru-
rient curiosity
Judge Advocates Attitude.
The Judge advocate sprung to his feet
with prompt rejoinder:
IF ] should hear talk on the streets, il
l should anywhere gather the slightest
hint Of an accusation against these off,
| GERS. should summon those making
| allegations against them and demand OF
| them, whoever they were. what were
| the grounds for their accusations.
| The court-and not only the court. but
the defendants here-and the public-are
entitled to know what the charge is
| that has been made against these officers
| They are entitled to know on what those
charges are based, whether on facts or
| only woman's dream.
This court has the duty of inves-
| tigating all the facts surrounding this
| young mans death. and every crime or
deed that has been committed in con-
nection with his DEATH
1t appeared in the reading of the records
OF Saturday that four letters had been
presented to Mrs Sutton for her identif-
cation and read in court. They were read
again In full.
Written as to Sons Friend.
The reading showed that Mrs. Sutton
| identified a number Of letters as having
been written by her. Four Of them
are to Harry NJ. SwartZ, paymaster's
Office. United States Marine Corps. Wash
| ington. d. c. The first asked Swartz If
he was friend OF her son to whom she
could write to with confidence as to his
sympathy.
second letter to Mr.. Schwartz gave a
version Of what occurred on the night of
| Lieut.. Sutton's death, and also detailed
numerous wounds on the face and head,
which, Mrs. Sutton wro,e, had been in
| ficted upon her son. She referred fire.
| quently to those who were with Lieut..
| Sutton when he was shot as wild
| beasts
| In this letter the name of Miss May
E. Stewart of Pi >tsburg was mentioned
Mrs. Sutton asked swartz to find out
| from Osterinan and the others who were
| In the automobile with Sutton on the
! fatal night wha. had actually happened
preceding the shooting.
Son Tells Fate in Vision.
A third letter to Swartz gave further
details Of what Mrs. Sutton had she
said. discovered and referred to those
| who were with her son when he died
low brutes.' She referred to letter
from her son In which he described his
fellow officers as low cads," and referred
In words OF bitter criticism to Lieuts.
Adams. Osterman and others.
This letter described the receipt of the
news by her at her home Of her sons
death. She said that she felt at that
time that her son was with her and
that he described to her the manner OF
his death, which, she wrote, he declared
was due to shot fired by Lieut. Adams
Mrs. Sutton wept quietly while her
own words as to her sons death were
being read.
After the reading of the letters the
reading Of the record Of Saturday showed
Mrs Sutton to have been asked many
questions as to evidence In her posses
sion to support her contentious. She re-
ferred to letters received by her from
Miss Stewart. Prof. Coleman and others
and to the record of the first investiga~
tion as sufficient evidence.
Mrs. Sutton Clever on Stand.
While the letters were being made pub
lie Mrs. Sutton wept quietly but without
concealment- But when the reading OF
the record was over and 1t came to the
|cross-examination. Mrs. Sutton pulled her
self together and presented herself dis
|concertingiy calm witness.
1t was no longer the agitated witness
of the unmeasured expressions OF grief
in the letters. It was a perfectly coll
iected. sharp woman. who met the law
yers' questions with an elderly woman's
wit at words. and In addition such knowi-
edge Of the case as perhaps the lawyers
themselves did not possess-knowiedge
gained by nearly two years spent In
thinking Of the topic. with almost IRA
tionai f1xity Of mind.
Mrs. Sutton has seldom, while attend
ing the hearings at Annapolis. spoken to