Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1909 — NEW TESTIMONY IN SUTTON CASE [ARTICLE]

NEW TESTIMONY IN SUTTON CASE

Witness Asserts He Was Told to Keep Quiet SAW OFFICER FIND PISTOL Private of Marine Corps States He Came Upcn the Party When Adams Was In Shirt Sleeves and Prepared For a Fight and That ths Man It Is Claimed Committed Cvicir’e Asked Soldier to Hold Coat and Cape. Annapolis, Md., July 27.—The session of the board of inquiry investigating the death of Lieutenant James N. Sutton of the marine corps, who was mysteriously shot two years ago, afforded some surprise in the testimony given by Charles W. Kennedy, now a private in the marine crops, at Norfolk, Va. Kennedy said he had been‘reluctant to mention his part in the affair because Lieutenants Utley and Adams, his superiors, had admonished him on the morning following the shooting “to keep quiet.’’ On his way to relieve a sentry on the morning of the shootJng he had come upon Sutton, Adams, Utley and Lieutenant Osterman. Adams was in bis shirt sleeves ready for a fight Sutton had accosted him (Kennedy) and asked him to hold his blouse, cap and cape. “All right, Adams, if you want to fight. I’ll fight you,” he heard Sutton say, the witness testified. While he was out to attend early drill on the following morning, the wit ness said, he saw Lieutenant Utley go to the edge of the parade grounds and pick up a .38 caliber Colt service revolver, which Utley carried into the barracks with him.