The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-27
AT LAST IN THE TOLLS
BONAI AND VEEKS, SLAYERS OF
MARCUS NICHOLS, CAPTURED.


dezvous Near the Scene of the Crime
Fugitives Completely Surprised-At-
tempted to Draw Revolvers Upon the
Ohicers-Big Reward for Their Capture.
Huntington, Conn, Oct. 2G.-After a
period of watching and searching ex-
tending over nearly three months the
Bridgeport police tonight succeeded in
locating and capturing Charles A. Bo-
mai and David A. Weeks, the two al
legged murderers of Farmer George
Marcus Nichols, at his home at Dan
iels Farms, in the little town of Trum-
bull, last July. The capture was ef-
fected by Superintendent of Police Bir-
mingham of Bridgeport and Detectives
Arnold, Cronan and Officer keenan, of
the police of that city.
The two men were surprised at the
house of Mrs. Bassett, the mother of
Weeks, located in that portion of this
town known as Isinglass district. The
house had been under surveillance for
weeks, and to-day the much wanted
pair arrived there.
Word was Immediately sent to the
Bridgeport police and the officers nam
ed above hastened to the hiding place
Of the much sought after fugitives.
The house was surrounded; every av-
enue Of escape cut off, and a descent
was made upon the place. Bonai and
Weeks were taken completely by sur
prise, and, always desperate, attempt
ed to draw revolvers. They were speed
lily overpowered and in a short time
were captives. The officers then pre-
pared to take their prisoners to the
county Jail In Bridgeport.
The capture was made at $3.50 to-
night, and within thirty minutes after
the officers arrived upon the scene. So
quietly was it all done that the two
men and the occupants of their house
of refuge had not even an inkling of
the situation.
1t is stated that the two men have
wandered far and wide over this coun-
try and also in Canada. One report
has it that they crossed the Atlantic,
but this is hardly to be credited. 1t
is firmly believed that Huntington has
furnished a rendezvous for the desper-
ate men almost from the very date of
the tragedy.
Residents of this village had recent
ly begun to tell stories warranting
the belief that the two men were in
hiding within the confines Of the town
and that their capture was possible.
There was no hesitancy on the part of
the Huntington residents fatty to as
sert that Bonai and Weeks had been
in this section at frequent intervals
since the perpetration of the deed,
A story secured by two representa-
tives of the Associated Press furnishes
an interesting feature of the case. If
their informant told the truth it is pos
sible that the two alleged muir
derers have been in hiding in neighbor-
ing woods for some time, fully armed
and determined to the last degree.
1t Is further stated that the men have
been fed by their friends; that they
have been supplied with the daily pa
pers, and that they have frequently
met their friends and relatives.
The rendezvous of Bonia and Weeks
is locatedin a patch of woods in what is
known as the Booth Hill district. This
section is about three miles from Hunt
intgon Center, and possibly a mile from
Isinglass, where is located the home of
Bonai's wife In these woods is to be
found shanty, the owner and occu-
pant of which is Alfred Berry a wood
chopper, about forty years of age, lie
lives there with his wife
This shanty is only reached after
travelling over a cart path used for
hauling out wood. For some time
it is stated, the two much wanted men
have been in the habit Of visiting the
Perry shanty. Frequently Mrs. Bona
has been seen walking down the road
in the evening, carrying baskets. evil
IDENTIFY well laden. She has been seen
to return empty handed.
A dispatch from Bridgeport this
morning says:
Superintendent Of Police Birmingham
and the other officers who assisted in
the capture of Bonai and Weeks, ar
rived here with their prisoners about
| 30 this morning. The details Of the
arrest as told by Superintendent Bir-
mingham were very simple. The men
were seen to enter Mrs. Bassett's house
at a o'clock this morning by Detectives
Keenan, and Cronan, who have been
constantly watching the place. Know
ing that the superintendent would go
out there during the day, as has been
his custom every day for the past five
weeks the detectives were thoroughly
alert so that the men would not leave
the house unnoticed.
When Superintendent Birmingham
and Detective Arnold arrived and
learned of the presence of the two
men details were arranged to surround
the house At the signal from the su-
perintendent Detectives Arnold and
Cronan rushed up stairs to a room
where a light had been noticed burn
ing, and as the officers flashed their
lanterns Bonai was seen in bed. Mrs
Bonai was also in the room, but on the
arrival of the officers Immediately fled.
Bonai jumped for revolver, but was
covered by Detective Arnold, and he at
once threw up his hands and said he
surrendered. In the meantime Weeks
who was sleeping on a sofa in room
below, had been arrested by Superln-
tendent Birmingham.
pnpai SavS that he has been in the