The Case Against Colonel Sutton is a 1961 novel by Bruce Cameron that offers a fictional look at an investigation into gays in the military during the 1950s and 1960s.
The story centers on Colonel Sutton, a “strikingly handsome” career officer who becomes the subject of a secret military investigation into his personal life. The investigation is led by an Army investigator named Adams, whose own personal issues and prejudices color his view of the Colonel.Â
Sutton, who also paints and is considered “too good looking for a soldier” by some, is unable to confront his accusers or access the testimony against him because no specific charge has been made. The novel primarily consists of the conflict between Sutton and the investigator.Â
Ultimately, Adams’ spurious charges are exposed, but not before Sutton becomes convinced that his career will be permanently stained regardless of the outcome. He resigns from the Army to pursue painting and begins a relationship with Adams’ secretary, one of the few people who supported him during the ordeal.
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