A Soul on Trial: A Marine Corps Mystery at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

Goodreads Ratings before 5/26 are for the 2007 academic edition. THE 2007 HARDCOVER IS OUT OF PRINT. THERE IS NO 2026 ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD EDITION.

SECRETS, SPIRITS, SCANDAL AND A NATION WATCHING

When Marine Corps Lieutenant James N. Sutton died in a brawl in 1907, his mother, his sister and his ghost all challenged the Navy’s suicide verdict. By 1909, Rosa Sutton’s crusade to save her son’s soul from the stigma of a mortal sin had become a national sensation. Marine combat hero Judge Advocate Henry Leonard would prove the perfect foil for Mrs. Sutton. But soon newspapers across America weighed in on “one of the most remarkable inquiries of its kind” in the history of the Navy; millions of citizens now had a stake in Rosa’s cause. What really happened to “Jimmie” Sutton? To many people, that became less important than his mother’s right to know. A ghost story, murder mystery and courtroom drama, readers will enjoy playing detective as they follow the multiple threads that lead to the elusive truth. This story is a testament to the power of our First Amendment rights and more timely now than ever before.

As H. Michael Gelfand wrote in the Journal of American History, A Soul on Trial explores “one of the most remarkable cases of a civilian challenging the power of the U.S. military in American history… [and it is] a testament to the power that one ordinary individual can wield when determined to seek justice.” Plus, “. . . it is narrative history at its finest.”

For much more including reviews, pictures, blog posts see the author's website search Robin R Cutler