Evening journal., 1897-12-15
BOlSlAii'S TURN NOW.
BE Takes a Leaf From Mar
tin Thorn's Notebook.
SAYS WEEKS WAS THE MURDERER.
The Accused Slayer Dramatically Tells
the story OF His Life. and Says That
ais Mother-in-law DIssuaded
Him From Honesty.

oAhA AhohA noncohJs
BRIDGEPORT. Conn, Dec. 15.-The
second week OF the trial OF Charles A.
Bonai, who stands charged with MUIR
der I'm the first degree In the alleged
killing Of George Marcus Nichols, the
Trumbull farmer, in July last. opened
with Bonais opportunity to make per-
sonal nght for his life.
For upward OF three hours he de-
tailed the chief acts in his 3S years OF
life, making no effort to conceal nor try
ing TO pailiate his crimes. The impress
sion he created was varied, but there
was no mlstaking the expressions OF
sympathy Of many of the women In the
courtroom as he told OF his repeated at
tempts to lead an honest life and how
the mother Of his wife begged him to
return TO the work at which he could
make money more easily.
It was but a few minutes after high
noon when State Attorney Fessenden,
taking hin seat informed the witness
then in hand that he was excused and
in tone to bo heard throughout the
courtroom called out, The state rests"
All eyes were turned on James 7.
Lynch chief counsel for the accused.
The attorney without hesitation spoke
out. Charles Bonai take the stand"
The prisoner arose and modestly
made his way to the witness box,
where, after being duly sworn. he seat
ed himself and awaited the next move
Of his lawyer.
IN response TO questions by his lawyer
the accused told his story. More often,
however he ran away from his ques-
tioner and seemed to be absorbed with
his own recital. proceeding with great
.ho "a ~ lo ar,1o slru n
bic life. He spoke in clear and distinct
tones and was an ideal witness for him
self and traotable. as rule, in the
hands Of his attorneys. Once or twice
during his story he evinced some feel
ing Reaching point in which he found
It necehsary to say that he had wished
TO live an honest life there was Just a
suBpiqon OF tears to be detected, and
the rhpid winldng OF his eyes caused
EVERYONE 10 believe that he was on the
verge, OF tears
He always recovered himself, howev-
er. and after being on the stand an
hour pfevious to the noon recess had
Z become Accustomed 10 his environment
ane was we'll within himself. SO nil
uksly did he enter into the details OF
career that he did not reach the
~ OF the Nichols tragedy, and when
IAl Ittl1htlnbItu lnt HIAohHtl at0Ah
NY { the,stand to continue the fight for
otnelife
Y fslpon ne court reassembling he,
goous further ado. commenced to
X oi rse the scenes and incidents con-
NneSe1H with the murder. Up 70 the
time OF the actual committing OF the
crime both mems stories agreed. His
story OF how the robbery was planned;
how they watched the house, lying in
walt In the barn; their first entrance in
70 the dwelling, all coincided with the
story previously told by Weeks. But
the contradictory point was reached
when he came to tell about the shoot
ing, Of which he accuses Weeks As
told by the prisoner both men held in
their right hands as caliber revolvers
as they forced open the door, which
opened more easily than they antlci-
pated.
I'VE landed In the middle OF the
fioor," he testified, "and as we did so
Mr. Nichols exclaimed, Get out OF
herel' We told him TO hold up his hands.
20 which he responded by Unexpectedly
hitting me over the head with his
lantern. This dazed me. and dropped
my revolver Then Weeks fired two
shots and Nichols fell to the floor.
Miss Nichols ran up stairs one flight
and down another, and followed her.
"Whlle I was up stairs l heard two
more shots fred / caught Miss Nichols
In the hall and grabbed her by the arm
and demanded some money. She told
me where there was some up stairs,
but could not find II. and on coming
down again and insisting upon getting
some, she led me TO her room up stairs
where she took from it's hiding place
the money she had saved I then asked
her II there was any money I'm her
brothers. room, and. pulling open some
drawers in a small stand in his room
she gave me his money.
There were a number OF papers
stocks, mortgages and the like scatter
ed about that we did not touch. David
Weeks came up stairs while l was
riding Mr.. Nichols room. and we botf
returned down stairs together. l ther
gave Mr.. Nichols some brandy. as he
requested. though Weeks had given hin
some previously"
Witness then told Of partalSing OF re-
freshments. as has been narrated by
Weeks and Miss Nichols but denied
that he said TO Miss Nichols. referring
20 her wounded brother. that III
couldn't die any younger"
He said Miss Nichols asked them {,
call a doctor or notify a neighbor, whicl
they both agreed to do. His story o
their arrival home their admittancein
20 the house and dividing the plunde
in his wife's room was similar TO tn
story already told.