Evening journal., 1897-12-10
HIS WIFE DOOMS HIM
Mrs. Bonai Swears Away Her
Husbands Life.
TELLS STORY OF NICHOLS MURDER.
Scene In the bridgeport Courtroom Even
More Sensational Than That Depicted
When Weeks Confessed TO the
Old Farmers Staying.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, Dec. 10.-Con-
necticut probably has never witnessed
a scene similar to the one presented
during the trial Of Charles Bonai,
charged with the murder of George
Marcus Nichols of Daniels Farms.
The peoples prosecutor, as If dissat-
sfed with the marvellous case made out
against the prisoner by Weeks con-
fession, through an unexpected medium
piled upevidence mountain high against
the accused, Bonai
Almost as coolly as if she were en-
gagged in ordinary conversation, the
wife Of the man who stands on the
threshold of death at the hands of the
law occupied the witness chair and
swore away the life Of the man whom
she had promised to love. honor and
cherish Unfalteringly she told hen
whole story, emitting and concealing
nothing, evidently exercising the most
careful precaution and eVincing a de-
sire that nothing should be concealed.
After a few unimportant witnesses
had been examined Mrs Bonai was
called and told a story which finds no
parallel in the criminal history Of Con-
necticut not flinching beneath the an
CRY glances Of her husband. Mrs. Bo.
mai said:
Il was at my home in Huntington on
the night of the murder Charley and
David (Weeks) went out early in the
evening and returned about 4 o'clock
the next morning. Their clothes were
wet and muddy and 1 took them both
up to my room. As we reached the
landing Charley said: We have been to
Trumbull. We have been to Mr.. Mich
OILS house, and we robbed him. We
forced in the door, and as we did IL
Nichols fired. I returned the shot and
struck him. Then Miss Nichols fired,
and I fired at her. She put out the
light, and Just then Nichols said, "Oh,
God, I'm shotl" Then we robbed the
place and came hcme.'
After l got them into my room
Charley and David divided the money.
1 do not know how much they had.
Both remained until Sunday. Charley
and I took David to Shelton, and he
| went on TO New Haven. Monday morn
ing I went with Charley to Stratford
on the way over he took his revolver
to pieces and threw the barrel into a
pond in Stratford and later took the
train for New York.
II next saw my husband on the sat
ufddy lollOWlng, Wnen ne came nome
at night and remained until Sunday
morning. IL was in August before
saw him again. when he appeared late
at night. He asked me how things We're
and 1 told him all right. He came again
In September and stayed all night. Dur
ing the night he was aroused by ar
imaginary noise and jumped out of bed
saying The jig is up. If they are Off
GERS / viii make it warm for some OF
them before they catch me- IT proved
to be a false alarm. That was the las
l saw of him until October on the nigh
of their arrest"
When asked why she told the story
Mrs Bonai said: Il made up my minC
that could not save my husband any
way, and decided 1 would do my bes
to save my brother So I told David L
throw himself on the mercy of th
court"
In Mr.. Lynch's cross examination o
the witness she described her courtshil
) with Bonai and detailed Bonais relig
; ious tendencies. describing his exegese
r Of the Bible and telling of his clair
? that he was studying for the ministry
: Mrs. Bonais story was not shaken !
e the least by the cross examination.