Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-22
Relatives of Mrs. NJ. |. SUIT
ton, Contesting viii, Ask
Thorough Probe.
ROVER DIGS IN FILES
FOR MEDICAL REPORTS
Verdict That Pneumonia Caused
Death of S9-Year-old Recluse
Fails to Lull Suspicious.

Examination OF the body of Mrs Mary
L. S. Sutton, 89-year-old recluse, who
died at her home at 632 Randolph street
more than a year ago, will be asked by
relatives conteSting the will dispoS1ng OF
her estate. said to be worth 100000,
United States Attorney Leo A. Rover
was informed today. The body Is buried
at Greenwich, Conn.
Describing the circumstances sur
rounding the aged widows death as
very mysterious" John A.. Ross, a spe-
cial investigator, who said he was en-
ployed by those contesting the will,
called on MIR. Rover yesterday and re-
quested that thorough inquiry be
made
After hearing Ross account of Mrs.
Sutton's death, Rover sent for records
on file at the morgue. These, he said,
included report by Deputy Coroner
Joseph A. Rogers, who performed an
autopsy on Mrs. Sutton's body following
her death, on August %, $780, This
report, Rover added. gave bronchial
pneumonia as the cause of Mrs. SUIT
toms death.
win Confer With Rogers.
Nevertheless. the District attorney de-
cared he would confer with Dr.. Rogers
as soon as the latter returns to Wash
ington The deputy coroner, who has
been out Of the city since the latter part
Of last week, is expected to return to-
morrow
In the meantime. Rover suggested
that Ross ask authorities in Greenwich,
Conn, TO issue an order for elimination
OF her body
Since Mrs. Sutton was buried in
Greenwich. Rover pointed out, any steps
toward exhuming the body would have
to crigIr ate with officials of that city.
~
Ross announced a request for exhuma-
ton Of the body would be fled with
Greenwich authorities within the next
few days.
Mrs. Sutton. according TO Ross. died
after a hrief illness. A colored ply
stefan. he said. declared death was due
to bronchial pneumonia and colored
undertaken prepared her body for snip
ment to Greenwich.
Body Held at Station.
Residents Of the neighborhood in
When Mrs Eutton lived asked police
to Investigate her death. however, and
hs- body was held up at Union Sta
ton. Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt con-
sidered the circumstances surrounding
her death sufficiently suspicious to
warrant an autopsy. After DR.. Rogers
pronounced Mrs. Suttons death due
- D-OlLA4idi A3ON-F1As AASA
bc6y wss released.
A slcrt time later, Ross related, a
viii executed by her on May IS, 1880,
was fled for probate in the Superior
Court Fairfax County. Conn.
The document, Ross explained. be-
oueathed 81 .0oo and one-third of the
residue OF Mrs Sutton's estate to her
niece, Mrs. Matilda Johnson Of Norris
vile, NJ j.
The bulk CT the estate, Ross said,
was divided among employees and
friends of Mrs. Sutton.
Niece and Nephew Ignored.
Another niece and nephew. Mrs.
Carolyn Durham and Charles M.
Price. both Of Trenton, NJ j., were ig-
nored in the will. They employed Ross
to Investigate their aunt's death.
After his talk with Ross, Rover eX-
planned any action to BE- taken by him
would depend on the result Of his con-
ference with DR.. Rogers. Such action.
he added, would begin with an order
that an inquest be held, with neighbors
who asked the police to hold up the
sutton body at Union Station sum-
n1oned as witnesses.