The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-22
The BONNIE TRIAL
PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCE BE-
GUN YESTERDAY.
NOTHING MATERIAL OFFERED.
THE GOVERNMENTS CONTENTION
OUTLINED.

Ayres' Room Through the Windcw
and That She Killed Him Because
He Repulsed Her AttentiOns-That
Ayres Had Retired and That She
Shot Him as He Arose and Came
Towards Her.
Washington, Nov. 21.--The trial of
Mrs Lola Ida BONNIE, 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 Assist
ant District Attorney Hugh T. Tag
CART, and after he had concluded a
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 re-
view of the circumstances connected
with the tragedy. Mr. Taggart stated
the theory of the prosecution to be that
Ayres was murdered by Mrs. BONNIE
and that she gained admission 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-atten-
ton to her. Mrs. Bonine apparently
was unmoved by his presentations.
Once or twice during thu address she
leaned over and spoke to her attor-
neys 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-
q nd ha ~, e.,
Ayres was a student of dentistry and
she had studied medicine.
AS a consequence she became a fire.
quent visitor to his room in the hotel
where they both lived, not only in the
day time, but at night as we'll, land"
he added, "the door was not always
open when she was there"
He told of the quarrels between
them, saying that Ayers ceased to
speak to her and that she complained
of his ingratitude.
We expect to show he said, that
while she made advances to him, Ayres
did not avail himself of the opportuni-
ty 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 a renewal of the for
mer familiar intercourse. AS an in
stance of his attitude towards Mrs.
BONNIE Mr.. Taggart said Ayres had re-
fused to accept a carnation from her
on the Monday before the killing. 1t
was therefore evident said the speak,
err, that while he was Indifferent there
was disposition on her part to mol
lily him.
1--WE will show continued Mr.. Tag
CART, that every act, step, proceeding
on the part of the prisoner was the act
of a guilty person"
Mr.. Taggart referred to Mrs. Bonine's
confession as being principally intend
ed 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.
The States Contention.
Outlining the governments position
Mr.. Taggart said it would be contend
ed that Ayres had retired when the
person who killed him entered the
room and tn at she came in through
tle minoow; 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 naturally he had put
his hands to his mouth. Then he grasp
ed the pistol, thus accounting for the
blood upon it.
Mr.. Taggart concluded after an hour
and fifteen minutes and Mr.. Douglass
announced that the defense would re-
serve it's presentation of the case. Sew
eral ladies left the room while Mr..
Taggart commented upon Mrs. Bo-
mines visit to Ayres' room, but their
places were Immediately taken by 9th
ers
Thomas Francis, the first witness in
the Was Than rallAd He is
draughtsman who had prepared dia-
gram of the fourth floor of the Ken
more Hotel, including Ayres' room. He
identified the drawing and gave de-
tails concerning the location and di-
mansions Of the room.
The first witness in the afternoon
session was Harry A. Wise, photog-
rapher, who had made photographs of
Ayres' room on the day after the trag-
edy occurred. The pictures taken by
him were presented 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
delayed until testimony should be TAX
EN- showing the conditions were the
same when the body was found and
when the picture was made. The pho
tographs were accepted by the court
for the purpose only of showing the
permanent physical condition of the
room when they were taken.
julius Hack, another photographer,
who had made photographs of the Ken
more Hotel and of Ayres room also
identified the pictures made by him
and they were admitted in evidence.
The Discovery of the Body.
The first witness who testified about
the events directly connected with the
death of Ayres was Daniel Wood
house, the negro waiter in the Ken
more Hotel, who discovered the body
of the young man. He said that at $3.50
on the morning of May Is, he was ask
ed by Miss Minas, who occupied a room
next to Ayre's to go to the latter's
room, she saying that on the night be-
fore she had heard strange noises In
the room. He first discovered the body
by looking through the keyhole and
afterward saw it through the tran
som. He also told of giving OF the
alarm and of the subsequent investi-
cation into the tragedy. He said that
Ayres' body lay upon the floor and was
doubled up.
Before Woodhouse had concluded the