The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-29
MRS. BONINE'S
CONFESSION.
Detective HOern Tells the Story
of Ayers Death
As the Accused Woman Told 1t
to Him.
10 MARKED' CHANGE.
Substantially the Same as That
Already Familiar.
Wrapper Worn on Night OF
Tragedy Put in Evidence.

Washington, Nov. 29.-When the trial
of Mrs Ida Lola Bonine, who is charged
with killing James Ayers, was resumed
today Deputy Coroner Glazebrook con-
tinued his testimony. He told further
of the bruises found on the bodies OF
Mrs. Bonine and Ayers, and was 1ol-
lowed by Detective Edward Horne 70
whom Mrs BOnine made her nrst ON
ciaI confession. He said he had hrst
met Mrs. Bonine on the morning tnat
Ayers body was found. He had then
asked her if she knew how Ayers hau
met his DEATH and she said she dld
not She told now she had been dressed
on the night of the killing, ana h5id
upon request handed over the skirt sle
had worn. Her manner was perfectly
cool.
On the Monday following the killing.
while the coroner's inquest was III
progress she had made her confession
to him. She had then, he said, told MIN
that at 2 o'clock on the morning OF
Wednesday, May 10, Ayers had knocked
on her door and that when she Went 10
the door he said he was sick and asked
her to give MIN some medicine lie
then, she had said. tried TO put ms
arm around her and had asked to be
allowed to go into her room to talk
over their former differences, prior TO
his leaving the hotel. which he was TO
do the next day. She had declined,
saying she did not want to awaken her
boys, and had then consented TO go to
his room, upon his making the plea that
there would not be time the next morn
ing for their conference before his leaV-
ing the house She had told him that
she had dressed herself completely, put
ting on clean linen, q wrapper and slip
pers, and had then followed Ayers to
his room. he having returned to his
apartment. When she turned the knob
of the door Ayers opened it from the
inside, and she found him standing
back of the door holding revolver in
~s-r1.k tod
run away. but had tripped and Ayers
caught her around the waist. She had
illustrated in d later interview with him
and District Attorney Gould her att1-
tude and that of Ayers when the shoot
ing occurred. saying that her back was
to Ayers, that his right hand in which
the revolver was held was thrown over
her shoulder and that she had caught
that hand with both of hers. She did
not know how the shots were fired, but
she felt blood gush over her shoulder.
When Ayers fell to the floor she fell
under him, and slipping out had gone
to her room, where she washed her
hands and her wrapper and went to
bed.
The wrapper was exhibited to the
witness and identified by him. 1t is a
brown cOlOred garment, trimmed with
green velvet.
On crOss-examinatio ton Detective Horne
said Mrs. Bonine said to him that she
hesitated to mention the tragedy be-
SdUSc sig LedIeQ lHdI IN DONG so Sno
might do injustice to the dead. After
Ayers fell she found she said, that her
own hands clasped the barrel and that
they were covered with blood. She had
not discovered the pistol in Ayers hand
until he had boited the door.
Edwin B. Hesse, stenogra pher at po-
lice headquarters, who reported the
statement of Mrs. Bonine as made to
the chief of police, was next called and
identified the transcript of his notes of
that statement. This witness was still
on the stand when the court took its
recess for luncheon.
When the court convened for the af-
ternoon session Stenographer Hess two
reports of statements made by Mrs
Bonine to the chief of police were
offered as evidence and accepted. the
defense making no objection.
District Attorney Gould read the
statements to the jury. The first was
made on May II. two days after the
tragedy, and in this Mrs Bonine ex-
pressed the opinion that man must
have done the killing. because she did
not suppose a woman capable of the
crime. She said then she knew of no
one who was Jealous of Ayers. she
herself did not feel annoyed, she said
upon seeing Ayers with other women
She said then that she had not known
that Ayers was preparing to leave the
hotel.