The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-09
wEEKSS TALE OF MURDER.
HE DEsoRIBEs NOW HE AND BoNAI
KILLED FARMER NICHOLS.

complice OF Charles A. Bonai in the murder OF
George Marcus Nichols, the aged farmer, took
the witness stand this morning at Donai's trial
and made his confession q matter OF record. He
was firm and steady rs no testified and told the
story OF tho murder with indifference. Bonai
sat uDmoved through it all. He watched his
companion hxedly, taking his eyes from him
only when he had q suggestion to make to his
counsel. His face did not exhibit anger; indeed,
II was often wreathcd in smiles.
Tho trial has attracted great crowds, and
Sheriff Hawley receives letters from all over
the county asking for passes to the courtroom.
Judge Elmer, who 10 presiding at the trial, Is
very particular, and every person In tho court
Eoom must be seated before the trial opens, and
taken. A largo number Of women wero in at
tendance to-day, having arrived at the Court
House carly and secured front seats.
The story of Weeks was a revelation to nearly
all present. He told OF crime after crime in
which tho two men had been engaged. He OK
planned some things which have been mysteries
heretofore. Much OF his story would not have
been brought out but for Bonai, who suggested
questions to his attorneys during the cross-ex-
animation. He was with Weeks in all his crimes
and wanted to place the witness in tho worst
possible light. 1t has been maintained that
Weeks was led astray by Bonai. His own story
SHeAat9 AAAA ~ pAAS 80 80 III R"t hOA
During tho examination Bonai suggested crime
after crime in which the pair were implicated.
and all were admitted by tho witness. Ono Of
eheso was the burglary at tho home of John
Beach Nichols at Nichols. Another was tho
connection of tho pair with the shooting of Mrs.
John Booth at Botsford. Bonai and Weeks, it
seems, were the desperate tramps who figured
- that affair.
III weeks's story is believed by the jury thero
- A. lA A. A. n
accused man guilty Of murder in tho first de-
gree. Weeks denies that he has received q
promise of leniency for turning states evil
dence, but Bonai does not believe him.. He
poes not believe that the story of Weeks should
Nave any moro weight with the Jury than his
bwn. He will claim that Weeks was always
anxious to shoot people and shot George
Nichols before he tBonai) could prevent him. He
viii claim that he did not intend to do murder.
Mary Frances Nichols, the sister of the muir
hered man. related the story Of the murder in q
manner that surprised the officials of the
State. 1t was expected she would falter in her
Recital and break down; but she did not till
@ear the end. She told tho story which has al
ready been printed in detail Of how two masked
men broke into the farmhouse. shot her
brother and herself, ransacked tho house for
Valuables and ate. drank and made merry in
tho presence Of tho dying old man and his
wounded sister.
Following the testimony of Miss Nichols came
the expected sensation as Weeks was brought
into court, and placed on the witness stand.
courtroom By sheTiff Hawiey overy head was a.
turned toward him. Bonai partially arose in
his seat and then settled back with both eyes on
the witness. Weeks stared at him in return.
sesa ss'f by saying ms' that s0RB onSi % SSn'i lis Second md
cousin. and had married his sister Margaret
., sW e shs sS Sou %'; q No Rsn sio So r. s.a atsst s Ct ses
AsstSSr e,'s s,r Ess'send'n.
TINT aN niEh &C. on and toll us about your visit there
"Weffi. along. in July. Charles and :! talked
We intended to rob the house on Tuesday. July
66es::t' tic to wait until Wsdnesday night 'WayS sis.
,ssd he ,,s Ssrn as Os s,tss Nichols farm and To-
About !. o'clock on Wednesday night We
started for the house. Charley told me to guard
the q. 1 Tstsr g Se ls. ns wsn @it tRt sw th sot ss.lse e. oid Sla
T ,Sst hu we a and tor, he IL. sSs ,o Ts could ~ tb not n sst in
S1ReDg Se got n inside he opened so 81 the 81 back sas doom Tana and
let mo IN; We were about to go upstairs when
1a a:ara H goa S VI. %ar ~ Get your gun and como
downstairs. There is some one in tho house
tho road to a shed. Il was raining very hard at
fl osN time Inc.n we 2, saw Mr. M Nichols anolsd come . NEE out and
j tsGa. af aS Vent mt iS ss5e the h house ss5r AGAIN e l ana se l iePt
The shed. Whom we got to the house Mr.; Nichols
C Sna % out sis 81 tho w eefia an into Int G she Dining neG SOo nna w 1Hss
We burst open the door. I had a 32.oaiibro re-
yolver and Charley had a 49,, When we broke
n the door neither of uS had any intention of
"Whsn wo Jumped into the room Charley
d4srn and struck Charley, on the head; Charley
ffFEs m swe shots Mta: S Nid, ! heard IN, Mr.; Nic iSs say;
tried to get out of the front door. heard Char.
10y e mar out th to her Ha Dtf ol5 III M,s AND S,t then L heard heard
into the room where we were and sit down.
and Charley, said that we had come to, rob
the money and she said It was upstairs. She
paid she would 60 up and get it; Charley went
him o drink Of water. He wanted some brandy
q and S, told W Wb %hs %fs It S Yes, l e g0S it d Sna gaze sys,I It
she took some of the brandy. Charley got some
more older from tho cellar and then woleft. -.
and let us IN. We divided the money S,nsSt XII got Se
$136 and Bonoi got the same. The money vas
There were also two ten-dollar gold pieces and
1.-THE next day 1 went to Brooklyn, and later
pet Charley there. We spent a day with Char:
ley's cousin. Then we went to New York and
esWspaper and ndpI read Where my brotSe rI John
bad been arrested. There we boarded q bum
S SSSsi wh sGe landed sS 10 us B as pssaski and ! trE gt ~ s %y
DSs1' ~ ~ ~ $3.50 vs. .SS
John out OF his scrape. Since then we have
been travelling about the country" -,
was asked.
"Yes, Charley had n gold watch. He carried
IL for about "a week and then threw it into the
Hndson River"
no wore that nightT'
He burned them in the stove at home"
How about his pistol T.
"Het told me that he smashed 1t up and threw
IN a small pond near Stratford. 1t was a 49,
c~alibre."
ibid you fire any of tho shots on that night ."
Il did not fire a shot. Bonai told me on tho
way homo he was sorry he had to shoot. for 1t
was the first time he had TO use his gum"
On cross-examination Weeks showed himself
10 be very shrewo.
(which OF you picked out the Nichols house
for your purposesf' he was asked by Bonai's
counsel.
Bonai said he had been canvassing about
there and thought 1t to DO a good place. was
the reply.
Die not your mother say that the Nichols
house was a good place and that she wished you
would go out and mako a raise"
No, sir. She never said any such thing" =
Did your brother John ever work for John