Evening journal., 1897-12-09
TOLD BY TRAITOR.
David Weeks Confesses Muir
der of Farmer Nichols.
SAYS BONAI DID ALL THE SHOOTING.
The Sensational Climax TO connecticut
Murder Trial Is Heightened by the
witness Admitting Participation
In Several other Grimes.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. Dec 9-The
second day Of the trial of Charles A.
Bonai, who stands charged in the SUI
perior court with murder in the first
degree in the killing of George Marcus
Nichols OF Daniels Farms brought a
sensational climax to the proceedings.
Before spectators who jammed TO suf-
location the courtroom. and facing Bo-
mai, the accused man. David A. Weeks,
Bonais alleged accomplice. occupied
the seat in the witness box and made
a full and complete confession, not only
10 the crime Of robbery and murder in
the case of Farmer Nichols, but TO
crimes committed elsewhere in Connec-
ticut. in New York state and northeast
ern Pennsylvania
He told his story with wonderful ease
and nonchalance and answered all
questions. direct and cross examination,
without hesitation. openly ana frankly.
He rehearsed minutely the awful de-
tails OF the Daniels Farms crime tell
ing a story which colncided almost
identically with that told by Miss Mary
Nichols. sister Of the murdered farmer.
On the cross examination he confess
cd 70 other crimes, prominent among
which was the shooting OF Caroline
Booth. an aged woman, In BOtsford, on
April 10, a crime for which James A.
Tuttle with whom Mrs. Booth lived,
was arrested.
Weeks said that neither he nor Bonai
did the shooting in Mrs. Booths case,
but were concerned in it, adding that
the bullet which wounded Mrs. Booth
was one fired by Tuttle in the latters
effort 60 shoot Bonai and Weeks.
1--WE had planned for some time pre-
vious to July 10 TO rob Mr.. Nichols"
Weeks testified. "Bonai had learned
so he said, that Mr. Nichols possessed
considerable wealth. We went from our
house in Huntington 10 Daniels Farms
on Monday night, July 10, intending TO
rob Nichols. We found, however that
we were observed and concluded TO
abandon the attempt for that night.
1.-TWO nights after that, July p, we
again went to Daniels Farms and i'm
vestigated. The coast was clear, and
we decided to commit the crime. Ac-
cordingly we went into the barn of Mr..
Nichols. where we stayed until after
midnight, when we left to rob the
house.
1T was raining heavily, and every
thing was favorable. We first tried the
panes in a window. Bonai cut one out,
opened the sash and crawled in.
little later ne let me in through a door.
We had not been inside long before we
heard a noise up stairs, and we at once
went outside. Watching closely, we
saw Mr.. Nichols and Miss Nichols come
down stairs Mr.. Nichols lighted
lantern, came outdoors and after look-
Ing about returned to the house.
I'VE then went to the side door and
burst IL In. TO find Mr.. Nichols and
Miss Nichols in the middle of the room.
Bonai cried out as we rushed in, Hold
up your handsl Mr.. Nichols respond
ed by striking Bonai over the head
with his lantern, and Bonai Immediate.
ly fired two shots. Mr.. Nichols fell TO
the floor and Miss Nichols stopped.
but, recovering, ran up stairs, with
Bonai In close pursuit. A little later I
heard two more shots, and finally Bo-
mai came down stairs with Miss Nichols
I'VE demanded OF the woman money
and got some. Bonai. in response to
pleadings from Mr.. Nichols. secured
from a closet some brandy We then
occupied some time in searching the
house, and after getting something to
eat we left the house and walked back
90 Huntington, where we were let into
our house by Mrs. Bonai
ION our way back Bonai said: Tn
sorry we did this job. This is the first
one I ever killed. We threw our masks
into a brook and reached home at about
half past 4. All that day we remained
I'm the house.
THAT evening we went 70 Shelton. ."
he continued, "and from there 70 New
Haven. Later | went TO New York and
thence TO Brooklyn. where I was Joined
by Bonai on Sunday at the residence OF
my cousin. Then we went up the Hud-
son river. and on the way up by boat
Bonai threw Mr. Nichols watch into
the river. We wandered about until we
were captured"
Weeks insisted. that he was induced
20 tell his story by no promise OF lenien.
cy. He told II simply because he was
tired OF his way Of living" and wanted
20 clear the whole thing up