The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-22
BONNER MURDER TRIAL
The Defense Endcag0rs by Witnesses to
Prove an AIlhl in The Bell Boys.
A WITNESS QUEER NOTIONS OF DUTY
Warming - Charged Crim;na. Hcrorc
Making nn investigation Tc.ti-
manS OF u gsrry of Lady witnesses
aheir Evidence Hoes Nat S;o Far
Toward Proving the siioi,

Washington, y. G.. Jan al-tSpccial1
The evidence by the dcfeuse In the
ifonncr murder trial to-C,;;y has all
been On the line .! An en"g, to prove
IN alibi for the liel iirn:hrrs. Strong
effort has been made u prove. an alibi
for Criah Bell as to nj: conr.rriny with
the gang on the Thursday ui;.hi If tho
week prior to the week of the murder
Eighteen witnesses have hce,l ON thr
stand. One lady testified and rv.irv
one else that Uriah Bnil MAS at tho Hail
on the might in question. Cnlv ore ~.
two thought they Were pnsiiiv. ;h,v
saw him at all times TIA, ni:,h fr.,u
tn o'clock. AIR Wui:cn's cross-,X-
animation has been especially. yhn,n
Hugh Bell. brother i the dcrcndani,
was on the stand several hour: ma
his evidence was listened - with ,,ryat
attention. Both sides claim Of cnlrrsc
that The other has made no hrpuv,oy
Th2 defense think they have estallis H.
cd pretty good evidence ro. an nIilj
but the States counsel would d!...,lnim
Il. II was annucnccG ~ tho, defense M
the close Of the Session this ovc,,ir"
tina; the defendant t'riah lien VIII he
the first witness on the stand tu-,nar-
row.
1t is thought there will be a liyc,y
racket in character proving. The St,tc.
Will put on GG7d irt,lttgl ,yiI,,rt
II Is thought tina, the defense FOR ,hc
Bells will probably clos, lhcl. eyami,.
ton tomorrow.
Yesterday morning when tho cn,,,t
opened Tor the continuation of tho BON
ncH trial. there was not r.ucn of n
crowd in the courtroom, hut il was soon
ill!"d. The attorneys looked rested
Judge Hokc seemed fresh and was On
time for his work.
The prisoners were brought into court
AZ III" ringing, of the bell l.rautInv
and wife conVcrscd In low vhiS,,.rs soy
era minutes. while arrangements were
being made Ia proceed to the work Of
The day. lSrantiey looked sleepy ana an
most as tired as when he left tn.
cour;-room Saturday night lie noticed
II" one as the crowd gathered. hut bald
clos" attention to what his wife was
saying to him. Mrs. Ernntl,v looked
hhsEard and sick. Her face wa. flushed
and she looked like she might have
o.sfi crying. she WAS wrapped in a
black shawl ana wore thin black veil
biantley'S mOtherIrstcd her chin in
her left hand and araacd affcctfauatcIS.
al her SON across his wife's shoulders.
The Bell bows seemed freshcr than on
Saturday and watched the crowds gath.
cr. Mir. Moore. of counsel for the 1911
n"Es, shook hands with them when he
came into the bar.
When Judge liokr sa!d. call The
next witness for The State. MIR Warren.
OF counsel for the State. surprised all
~ u" cIur;-ro"m hy announcing that
the state would rest
Counsel for defendants asked for time
to consult, rs they were not expecting
this turn. and after consulting II few
minutes they returned 10 proceed \
number of ladies had been brought into
court ana wheE they stood up i'm their
seats and wcr" sworn They looked a
little emharra ssrd to kiss the soilcd III
Bile
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENDANTS.
The first witrrss for the defense was
Airs. Hugh Bell. wife of The Iicll hoys
brother: Mir Erckwith conducting cx-
animation She said the Rcll boys had
IL room at her home, in Aurora, ami
that they STAYED there mostly on Sat
urdaN nights. though they lived about
"a mile ana p. quarter from town.
The testimony was introduced to
PROVE IN nlini for the Rcll boys for The
nights Credlr'a ,ihcncc said they were
meeting him n; 2r&ntlcv% in the week
rrior Ia the week of HI. murder. ON
Wednesday. Thursday and Friday
niGhts Of that week the Young people
of Aurora were To have Il dance Ned
reE,l,tv nieht they were disappointcd
nf "a dance. 81" cid not attend The
dance. Thursday night Trinh Eoll
stayed ut her house. but she did not
know VIVA, time ho came in. Saw him
about o'clock. III came 10 her house
with SON" shoes in box. went up
stairs ava dressed ana returned, ana
sat on the lounge, put on slippers FOR
the dance and Eft.
Counsel for Iirantley asked her no
questions.
on cross examination for the Statc
N" examination was conducted by MIR
Rodman.
Her cross examination showed no dis
crepanci,s in her statements on her Ill
rect examination.
Mrs. Ida Thompson. wife OF =. n
Thompson. MAS next examined She at
tended th" dances referred to. one on
Wednesday night and ono on Thursday
night. but non" on Friday night. She
left home about O'Clock. wcnl directly
~ ,hn l,nl ,,-i.#.., 49, r,,eu ,,..,.. mold
and was amongst the first ladies there
Eriah I5cll was standing on the ulaf-
r"r,n 0utejde when she got ,hor"
Thought I'riah icil danced all the sets
that night.
The ball broke M about o'clock.
Iiriah Rell Went HON" with Miss Mari
Crawford. she saw him outside after
he returned whrn she vas going home
from Mr.. Smells. ana she told him h.
would better 80 home.
Are You Interested in this case"
asked counsel FOR the defendants
Yes. | am she answered. q! want
the guilty persons punished. but do
not believe the Iseil hogs are guilty"
She stated that she was related l,v
marriage Ia Mr.. Bonner, but not 10 the
Eel bows.
Eraniiey's council asked This witness
10 questions ana she was turned over 10
counsel fer the state.
MIR. Eohman asked, WHO was with
tiriah l1ell on the plat form nj th,. h,lI