The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-22
No FURY LIKE A
WOMAN SCORh[D'
The Prosecutions Theory in
the Bonine Case.
THAT CuE XfilEn ANOCc
THAT she KILLED AYRES
Because He Would Not Respond to
Her Advances.
Mr.. TAGsARr PRESENTS THIS 7HEosY
Mrs. Bonine Hears Him Unm.ved. A Few Wit.
nessas Testify. Counsel fur Mrs. Bonine
Rtssrv the Presentation If
the Dsfense.
(By the Associated Press. ]

(By the Associated Press
Washington, Nov. 21.-Tne trial of Mrs.
Bonine on the charge of killing James
Seymour Ayres, Jr., was fairly launched
to-day. The preliminary presentation of
the case on behalf of the Government
was made by Assistant District Attorney
Hugh T. Taggart, and after he had con-
cluded number of witnesses were heard
Mr.. Taggart's statement consumed only
about an hour and fifteen minutes and
consisted for the most part of the review
of the circumstances connected with the
tragedy
Mr.. Taggart stated the theory of the
prosecution to be that Ayres was murder
ed by Mrs. Bonine and that she gained ad-
mission to his room, in the Kenmore Hotel
through the window. reaching that by
means of the fire escape. He attempted
to show that she was piqued by his non
attention to her.
Mrs Bonine apparently was unmoved by
his representations. Once or twice dur
ing the address she leaned over and spoke
to her attorneys.
The witnesses of the day did not throw
any new light upon the killing.
In his address Mr. Taggart contended
that there was a tie between the pris-
oner and the dead man in the fact that
Ayres was student of dentistry and she
had studied medicine. AS a consequence
she became frequent visitor to his
room in the hotel where they both lived,
not only in the day time but at night as
we'll. And he added, ''the door was not
always open when she was there
He told of the uuarrels between them.
saying that Ayres ceased to speak to her
and that she complained of his ingrati-
tude I'VE expect to show, he said, "that
while she made advances to him, Ayres
did not avail himself of the opportunity
thus afforded beyond dancing with her
again" He had danced with her on the
night before the tragedy, but had shown
that he was averse to renewal of the
former familiar intercourse.
As an instance of his attitude toward
Mrs. Bonine Mr. Taggart said that Ayres
had refused to accept a carnation from
her on the Monday before the killing. II
was therefore evident, said the speaker
that while he was indifferent there was a
disposition on her part to mollify him.
We will show continued Mr Taggart.
that every act, step and proceeding ON
the part of the prisoner was the act of
guilty person.
Mr.. Taggart referred to Mrs Bonine's
confession as being principally intended to
exonerate herself He thought the facts
indicated that the shooting did not take
place as Mrs. Bonine had stated that
Ayres had not gone to her room at all.
as she claimed
Outlining the Governments position.
Mr.. Taggart said it would be contended
that Ayres had retired when the person
Who killed him entered the room and
that she came in through the window;
that he arose and started toward her;
that she shot him. the first wound being
the fatal one in the breast. Naturally his
mouth had filled with blood and as nat
urally he had put his hands to his mouth.
fhen he had grasped the PISTOL thus ac-
counting for the blood upon it.
When Mr.. Taggart had concluded, Mr.
Douglass announced that the defense
would reserve it's presentation of the
case Several ladies left the room while
ar Iasgart commented upon Mrs Bon
Ire S visit to Ayres room, but their places
were Immediately taken bv others
Thomas Francis, the first witness in
the case was then called. He is
draughtsman who had prepared diagram
of the fourth floor of the Kenmore tIotn,
including Ayres' ROOM He identified tbe
drawing and gave details concerning the
location and dimensions of the room.
The first witness in the afternoon SOS.
sion was Harry A. Wise, a nhotogranher
who had made photographs of Ayres' room,
ON the day after the tragedy occurred.
The pictures taken by him were present
ed and identified by the witness Mr.
Douglass objected to their acceptance as
evidence. on the ground that they did not
represent the exact condition of the room
when Ayres' body was discovered. He
thought their presentation should be de-
layed until testimony should be taken
showing whether the conditions were tbe
same when the body was found and when
the picture was made. The photographs
were accepted by the court for the pur
pose only of showing the permanent phvs
ical condition of the room when they were
taken.
Julius Hack, another photographer. who
had made photographs of the Kenmore
Hotel and Ayres' room also idehtiied tha
pictures made by him and they were ad |
mtted in evidence.
The first witness who testified about tbe |
events directly connected with the death
OF Ayres was Daniel Woodhouse, the col i
ored waiter in the Kenmore Hotel. who
discovered the body of Ayres. He said
that at $50 on the morning of May 10Th |