Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-26
The Ronine Trial.

Washington, Nov. 26.-rhe testl.
mony In the case OF Mrs. Bonine, ohaTg.
ed with the murder OF James Seymour
Ayres at the Kenmore Hotel on the
morning OF the 18th OF May, thus far
has brought out none OF the requisites
upon which q conviction could be
based. But for Mrs. Bonine's previous
confessions that Ayres met death at her
hands in the course of the struggle for
the possession OF the revolver with
which she says be threatened her, there
would be nothing 10 the testimony ad-
duoed to connect her more than CASUAL
ly with the case. All the testimony
pertains to the finding OF the body and
to the fight of woman In black from
| Ayres's room down the fire escape. The
condition of the body and the room has
been infinitely described, but there Is
nothing to show who committed the
crime and why 1t was committed. Eli
| forts to connect Mrs. Bonine's name
| with that of Ayres 10 q manner showing
| illicit relations has not been successful ,
nor has the government made very
strenuous efforts go to do. Fourteen wit
nesses for the government have been
heard. District Attorney Gould's list oil
witnesses comprised Go but he has cut Il
down to below fifty and is prepared to
do more to expedite the case. Attor'
ney Douglass for the defense Is not pre-
pared to state how many witnesses be
will put on.
Wm. Schosn berger, one Of today's
witnesses, said he saw empty shells In
the slop jar in Ayres's room, from
which the defense deduces that Ayres
mad emptied his revolver on that night
and then reloaded it before Mrs. b.
nine's visit to his room. Witness saw
several empty shells also on the trunk
/ Witness is Master OF the Morgue OF the
District of Columbia and he described
the condition of the body and the au
topsy, He declared that when he en-
tered the room the outer shirt was viii
the trousers and drawers on one OF the
chairs.
George B. Gardner, an assistant at
torney for the Interior department
who lived ct the Kenmore with his
wife and two children at the time OF The
tragedy, testified that Mrs. Bonint
came to his room between 6 and
| o'clock on the evening following th'
death of Ayres, and told him him she
kpew more about the matter than haC
been given to the public. She said sh'
was present at the shooting and wanted
witnesses advice, and told substantially
the story about going to his room al
was printed ct the time. Witness con
rinued: "She asked me whether sh'
should destroy q certain something
some Of her clothing l presumed, al
though che didn't name 1t, and tolt
her hastily to destroy nothing. Sh'
had not then decided whether or not Il
give her statement to the public"
The next witness was James Burns,
who works 10 the Government Priotint
Office, and who roomed on the 4th foo
of the Kenmore, opposite Mrs. Bonnie
room, on the 10Th of May. He was {
close friend of Ayres and went bom'
| with him on the night OF the tragedy
"When / left him be was perfectly 90
ber," said witness. He said he did no
even see sixsbot revolver In Ayres'
room. Witnes' said Ayres and Mr.
Bonnie were very friendly. She hat
taught Ayres to dance, but that afte
March they didn't speak, because, a
Mrs. Bonnie had told him for drinking
On oroes-examination Burns admitted
that be had said that he knew nothing
OF any improper relations betweeT
Ayres aud Mrs. Bonnie; didn't believ'
In fact that such existed.