The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-28
JARS SUTTON FOES
Marine Corps Private Tells
How Fight Was Forced.
WAS WARNED TO KEEP QUIET
Navy Witnesses Exhausted and
Now Slain officers Mother and
Daughter Will Take
the Stand.
WAS WARNED TO KEEP QUIET

Annapolis, Mr., July 27.-As there
are no other navy witnesses ON hand
1t is expected that Mrs. Sutton and her
daughter will testify ut today's session
of the board Of inquiry at the Naval
academy which is investigating the
circumstances surrounding the death
of Lieutenant James n. Sutton of the
marine corps, who was mysteriously
shot two years ago.
Surprise was afforded by the testi-
mony given by Charles w. Kennedy,
now private in the marine corps at
Norfolk, Va, and Surgeon A. d. McCor-
mick of the navy.
| Kennedy dropped into the situation
like a bolt from clear sky and told
a frank, straightforward story of some
of the incidents prior to the shooting
which had not been mentioned by any
of the young officers who have already
testified.
Though an eyewitness to the earlier
encounter between Sutton and Lieu
tenant Adams on the night the former
was shot. Kennedy's name has not
been mentioned by the witnesses con-
cerned in the affair.
His testimony supported the conten-
ton of Sutton's mother and sister that
Sutton did not seek the fights with
Adams and the other officers. In at
tacking his credibility Major Leonard,
the judge advocate. went into the pri
Yates record and showed he had been
disciplined on several occasions in the
service.
Kennedy said he had been reluctant
to mention his part in the affair be-
cause Lieutenants Utley and Adams.
his superiors, had both admonished
him on the morning following the
shooting to keep quiet"
On his way to relieve sentry at l
o'clock on the morning of the shoot
ing he had come upon Sutton. Adams,
Osterman and Utley in an angry argu-
ment, the witness said. Adams was
in his shirt sleeves ready for Il fight
and Sutton had accoSted him O[cnne-
dy) and asked him to hold his blouse
cape and cap.
"All right. Adams: if you want tC
fight I'll fight YOU" he heard Sutton
say. the witness testified.
They fought hard for Il few min
utes, and Suttons face was bloody
when Lieutenant Utley interfered an(
stopped the fight, saying the guart
S would he out if they did not stop. 4
a second time he saw Adams and Sut
Il ton come together as he was gOns
: away to his post, Kennedy said.
Q Half an hour later Kennedy hear(
$ the shots from his post at the nava
V hospital and soon after Adams ap
a peared at the hospital and volunteered
the information to Kennedy that Sut
ton had shot himself and that Adam
had had his finger shot off. Utley als'
told him at that time that Sutton hat
!, killed himself, the witness said.
Next morning both cautioned hin
not to say anything about the affair
:, While at early drill on the following
morning, the witness said, he say
: Lieutenant Utley go to the edge Of tn
= parade grounds and pick up SO cal
% ber Colt service revolver, which Utle
- carried into the barracks with hin
The incident had been observed b
- other privates in the company, the Wi
ness said.
- Kennedy's testimony was not shake
y by the cross examination of Adams
counsel, Mr.. Birney, nor by that c
Major Leonard.
DR.. Mccormick was present at tn
autopsy held on Sutton's body and e!
amined the bullet wound, he testifie,
as He located the wound back of an
slightly above the right ear, while d
10 Pickrell testified it was near the to
n of the head. DR.. Mccormick thus CO
70 roborates Commander Doyen.
s. Several former witnesses were r
ic called and questioned by Mr.. Davi
10 Mrs. Sutton's counsel, as to wheth'
any Of them had handed a revolver
re- Sergeant De Hart on the night of Il
w shooting, as De Hart testified. Th'
II. all denied it,
q. To substantiate Kennedy's testimor
I'd Lawyers Davis and Van Dyke, Mr.
at Sutton, Mrs. Parker and several new
o. papermen went to the parade grounC
and took the various positions fro
which the witness said he saw al
heard the fights Lawyer Davis sa
nv afterward that their case would re
20 principally on the testimony Of Kenn
:, dy and Mrs Parker