Evening star., 1901-12-07
Lengthy Arguments Made in the
BONNIE Case Today.
MANY QUESTIONS FOR THE JURY
Height the Pistol Was Held Sub
ject of Much Discussion.
L y d R ADV S z NJ E n Z


tournment Of Criminal Court this after
noon the third week of the Bonine murder
trial was ended The indications are pro-
pitious for the trial lasting throughout the
coming week. The examination of expert
witnesses has dragged along wearly for
several days. due to frequent objections and
the arguments of counsel as to the rele-
vancy compete ency of certain testimony
sought to be adduced. Every point of impor-
tarce has been thoroughly contested by the
attorneys on both sides. Just before the ad-
journment of court on Saturday afternoon
Of last week Attorney Keene addressed the
jury, stating the points that the defense in
tended to prove. The defendants counsel
are united in the belief that they have thus
far been successful in showing that Mrs
Bonine could have had no motive for kill
ing James Seymour Ayres. jr. other than
to protect herself when, according to her
confession she was assaulted on entering
mis- room They are confident they have
brought out the fact substantiated by sew
eral Witnesses that the defendants physi-
cal condition was such that she could have
hitd no Interior motive in entering the room
of the deceased
Two expert witnesses have testified that
by the surest tests known to science, blood
was found the wrapper that admitted
by both sides. Mrs Bonine wore on the
. night of the tragedy
Throughout the trial. which has attracted
Attorney Gould and his assistant Mr. Tag
CART. nave looked after the interest of the
government with recognized ability and
fairness Mr.. Douglass, the senior counsel
Tor the defense, with his assistants Messrs
keene, Fulton and Leckie, have made a
strong fight to save the life of their client
ana nave been equally fair and able in the
conduct of their side of the case The fact
that Mrs BOnine is the first woman to be
tried for murder in the District of Column
Dia since the trial of Mrs. Surratt for COM
pilclty IN the death of President Lincoln
has made the case one of more than ordi-
nary local interest
Even greater interest will be taken in the
arguments to the jury. Mr.. Taggart will
ment- He Will be followed by Mr. FuIton
and Mr.. Douglass for the defense, and Dis
trlct Attorney Gould will close for the gov
ernment.
1mDOrtant Point.
There We're some empty seats at the fore
noon session. and there was a noticeable
absence of women, who have been much in
evidence during the past few days For
mer Coroner Carr was again called to the
stand to finish his examination The most
important feature of the day was the argu-
mcnt OF counsel following the objection of
District Attorney Gould to a hypothetical
question interrogated by Mr.. Douglass.
justice Anderson recognized that an i'm
portant law point was to be decided and
that the arguments would take up con-
siderable time. Out of consideration for the
jurors he ordered them taken to their roop,
Pehuihg the arguments and decision of the
legal points in dispute. Colonel Dan Rams
Uell' SerSeant-at-armS of the United States
senate, was an interested spectator. occu
pying a scat on the bench beside Justice
Anderson Mrs Bonine gave more than
ordinary attention to the argument of Mr.
Douslass She was clad in the same brown
waist, navy blue jacket and skirt that she
trial. '1e
yesterday afternoon. when the court room
NaS crowded in the main with women. a
"elI-uFesSed woman accOsted one of the
Justices of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict OF Columbia In the corridor of the city
nan. and, not knowing with whom She
was conYers1ng, asked:
VIII You kindly tell me where the roono
Is In which Mrs. Bonine is being tried?,
VIII not. the justice responded FIRMLY
nu l VIII further say that the place for
you Is AT nome with your family, if you
have one
More Expert Testimony
When the proceedings were resumed this
morning Attorney Douglass stated that he
desired to withdraw for the time being the
question that was under consideration YES
terday al the hour Of adjournment and TO
proceed with the examination of Dr. W. P
arr along dlHerent lines. The witness was
asked II he had made any measurements of
MIS- Bonine, and he replied that he had
Her height was five feet one and one-fourth
inches with her shoes on and four feet
e.eEtn ana three-fourths inches in her
stocking feet DIR. Carr recited the results
OF large number of other measurements
Of the defendant which he had made.
FROM the description of the hip wound
received by Ayres, as recited by Dr. Glaze
brook can you tell the length of the leg
from the entrance to the wound to the bof
lom OF the FOOT" Attorney Douglass asked
the witness
United States Attorney Gould objected nm
the ground that the question involved
matter of calculation, and that any mem
Der or the jury was as competent IN make
the calculation as was the witness
Attorney Douglass argued that the uues-
tion was one of anatomy, and was clearly
and purely within the scope of expert tes-
tinOny.
IF the answer to the question is ma
terial, remarked the court, docs not its
relevancy go to the distance between the
floor and the point entered by the bullet :?
If that is so. you must know the position
OF the leg when the shot was fired and
then TO assume it was in an upright posi-
tion Is 10 assume that the body was in an
upright position at the time
The court had previously ruled that 1t
IS not Tor experts to go into the matter
OF the posture of the person firing the
shot and the posture of the person receiv-
ing the same.
Replying to an inquiry of the court. DR..
arr declared that being given only the
wound he could tell with approximate ac-
curacy the distance OF wound from the
bottom of the foot.
After lengthy argument. the question was
admitted DIR. Carr gave as his opinion
that the distance from the point of en-
trance OF the wound in Ayres' left hip to
the bottom OF the foot was 3S1s inches
Another Argument.
Doctor Attorney Douglass next asked
in your opinion. what difference, If any,
would there be in the height or direction of
the wound. assuming that the party receiv-
ing the wound IS either walking or run
ning?"
An objection was entered by Mr. Gould
and the court, after suggesting that the
issue be fully argued. permitted the jury to
retire from the room until disposition should
be made OF the question.
In support of his contention, Attorney
Douglass spoke for an hour. first dissecting
what he claimed to be the government S
theory OF the case, and later quoting a
large number OF authorities.
Mr. Gould, in replying. remarked that he
would make plain the manner in which the