The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-19


Importance of the case The chal-
lenge, however, was overruled. Mr.
Douglass noted an exception, the first
of the trial, and then peremptorily
challenged the juror, who was excused
1t is expected there will be other chal-
lenges when the court convenes to-
morrow.
Mrs. Bonine was apparently as calm
as any of the spectators during the pro-
ceedings. She spoke frequently with her
husband and sister, and only once or
twice with her attorneys. During a
part of the day her two boys, respect
lively Is and 13 years of age, We're in
the court room.
After adjournment she took dinner
with her friends in the prisoners room
in the court house, being closely at
tended all the time by her guard. She
was then returned to Jail
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Mrs. Lola Ida Henry Bonine. whose
trial for the murder of James Seymour
Ayres, jr., began in Washington today,
at one time lived in Colony, Anderson
county, Kansas. She was born in Macon,
Mo, about 80 years ago. Her father was
prominent for several years in Missouri
politics The family moved to Hamilton,
Mo-, and afterwards to Richmond, where
she met her husband and married him.
He was then in the drug business. Some
time afterwards Mr. BOnine sold his
drug store and they moved to Kansas.
They only lived in Kansas a year or
two when Mr.. Bonine engaged to travel
that they moved about considerably and
Mr.. Bonine was gone from home much
of the time.
At length they settled in Washington
and Mr.. BOnine secured rooms for his
wife and two boys at the Kenmore hotel.
1t was here that she met Ayers, for
whose murder she is now on trial
Mrs. Bonine's story, as she told it to
the Washington authorities a few days
after the shooting, is that she and Ayers
had had falling out some time before
the tragedy, which occurred on the night
of May 10 last. Up to the time of the
trouble they had been good friends.
Ayers was % and she was 81. On the
morning before the tragedy they had
made up" Mrs. Bonine claims that
about O'Clock in the morning following
Ayers had knocked on the door of her
room and told her he was going to have
chill and asked if she could not give
him some medicine. When she came
back with the medicine Ayers threw his
arm about her shoulder and asked her
to come to his room and talk over their
differences. Mrs. Ayers says she con-
Sented to do as soon as she dressed.
When she got to Ayers room she claims
he admitted her and then bolted the
door, He was holding revolver in his
hand and said: 4 guess you will listen
to me now" Mrs. Bonine says she tried
to get away but Ayers caught her. In
the struggle that enSued the revolver
was discharged several times and Ayers
fell There were three wounds in his
body, one in the left leg, another in the
left arm, and a third penetrating the
heart and producing death. When Ayers
was shot his body fell forward and the
blood spurted on Mrs. BOnine'S clothing.
She left the room by a window and went
down a fire escape to the parlor. enter
ing the house and returning to her room,
where she washed her bloody clothing
Ayers dead body was not discovered
until about o'clock the next morning.
1t was at first thought to be a case of
suicide, but outside parties reported to
the police that they saw a woman de-
scend the fire escape and enter the
building during the night. The case baf-
fled the officers for several days until
Mrs. Bonine told her story to a detec-
tive and asked for advice. He advised
her to tell all she knew about it. She
then made her confession and the grand
| jury indicted her for Ayers murder.
1t is the theory of the police that Mrs
Bonine went to Ayers room and delib-
erately shot him to death-the crime of
a woman scorned-and this is what the
prosecution will attempt to prove.
Mrs Bonine's husband apparently be-
1ieves in her innocence and has return
ed to Washington to assist in her de-
tense. Her chief counsel is Charles
Douglas, attorney noted for his
shrewdness in criminal trials. He will
be assisted by c. NJ Fulton and c. E.
! Keen. The latter is chief of the de-
and is interested in the case because
of his old friendship with Mrs. Bonine
and her family.
The murdered man was a clerk in the
census bureau. and was the of d
Michigan Republican of considerable
standing politically. His home was at
Port Austin, Mich.