Evening journal., 1897-12-16
BONAI GIVES Way
Caught In Trap When Put
Under Cross Examination.
FORCED TO ADMIT THAT HE LIED.
The Alleged Slayer Attacks His Wife We
hemently, Alleging That She Wrote
Many Letters TO Him Urging
Him TO Crime.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Dec 16.-The
Hon. Samuel Fessenden, as state attor-
ney in the Nichols murder trial, cross
examined Charles Bonai and succeeded
in confusing him to such an extent that
on one occasion the man, who was do
ing his best to testify his way to life,
had to halt consider and surrender
practically unconditionally and admit
that he lied on the direct examination.
The cross examination was pro-
nounced to be one of the ablest ever
heard in a Fairfield county court. Not
a detail of the mans career, apparent
ly, and not the slightest incident in
connection with the murder of Nichols
was forgotten. Mr.. Fessenden began
his cross examination quietly, but
warmed TO his work rapidly and dis
charged at Bonai a wonderful volley of
questions. which surprised him and
finally riddled him. Bonai at first main
tained his nonchalance and bore out
temporarily the reputation which he
had made for himself as a remarkable
witness.
During the forenoon a short recess
was taken. and when 1t was concluded
Mr. Fessenden again went at the pris-
oner unrelentingly and for an hour and
e half bombarded Bonai with searching
questions. Recalling the tragedy and
its aftermath step by step, Mr.. Fessen-
den reached that point of Bonai's direct
testimony where the prisoner told Of
his conversation with Mrs BOnai at
Mrs. Bassett's house, in Huntington,
after the nights work. Here it was
that Bonai was caught, and he meeldy
undertook to extricate himself from the
cleverly set trap.
The feature Of the afternoon session
was the dramatic manner in which the
prisoner deserted his wife. For an hour
he told Of his wife's alleged nefarious-
ness, and In nowise did he spare her.
The most interesting incident Of the
afternoon, however, was the bringing
out of a letter written by Bonai to his
wife in November from the jail. Bonal
admitted that he wrote the letter in the
hope that it would reach the public and
said he wrote it for the purpose Of keep
ing up the farce.
In the letter he concocted all sorts OF
schemes to secure sympathy In case the
letter was published. He told of his
love for her. asked her forgiveness foI
the trouble he had caused her and asked
her not to go on the stand, adding that
! conviction was sure even II she did mol
testify. He explained to Mr.. Fessender
that he only referred to the case Of rob
berry and not to the murder when he
said conviction was certain.
Bonai said his wife wrote him dozens
Of letters before their marriage, inwhicl
she told him if he did not make more
money they could not get married an'
advising him TO go back to the old lif
and steal He said the first letter II
which his wife advised him TO enter (
life Of crime was in September 1896
while in Catskill. N. Y. In that lette
she hinted that if u was not more sue
cessfui in my business enterprises
would have to go 'poaching' 10 get mon
ey enough if 1 intended to get mar
ried."
He added that the people in the neigh
borhood thought his wife a Christian
woman. and he would not have show
up her true character had she rename
true to him, but now that he foun
out she was not he felt it his duty I
tell the truth about her.