The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-01
The DEFENSE BEGINS
GOVERNMENT CLOSES IN MRS. Bo-
MINES TRIAL.
LACK OF MOTIVE CLAIMED.
WILL HOLD THAT AYREs WAS
KILLED IN STRUGGLE.

HIS interview With Mrs. BOnfne
md Her Lack of sympnthy--Au
the Furniture From Ayres' Room
Exhibited, Including the Blood
stnined Carpet-Chemist Schaeffer
TestiGes That lie Found No Blood
on Mrs. Bonine's Wrapper.
Washington. Nov 30.--The govern
ment day closed its case in the trial
of Mrs. Lola Ida Bonlne for the killing
of James $. Ayres. Jr., and Attorney
Keene of counsel for the defense, made
a preliminary statement in behalf Of
Mrs. Bonine. 1t was made evident from
Mr.. Keene's statement that the effort
VIII be to show lack of motive for the
crime on the part of Mrs. Bonine and
to support her plea that Ayres was
killed in struggle after he had tried
to intimidate her with revolver The
principal witness on the stand to-day
was Prof. Schaeffer, a chemist. who
made microscopical examination of
the wrapper worn by Mrs Bonine on
the night of the tragedy and who said
that he found no traces of blood upon
It, He also said that he saw no blood
on the slippers which she had worn on
that occasion. Another witness to-day
was Ayres' father. who told of an in
terview he had had with Mrs Bonine
three or four days after the killing. He
outlined his efforts to arouse her sym
pathy, but said that she did not re-
sIond.
The court room to-day presented
somewhat the appearance of a Junk
shop from the fact that a number OF
the belongings of Ayres' room in the
Kenmore Hotel were exhibited. These
included the blood stained carpet.
which covered the floor Ayres two
trunks and section from the inner
part of the wall of the room, belonging
under the window, showing blood upon
plaster and washboard. The wrapper
worn by Mrs. Bonine on the night Of
the tragedy also was shown. Lieut..
james e Moore of the police force
was the first witness. He identified this
miscellaneous assortment Of chatteIs'
p. Edward M. Schaeffer, the chem
Isl VINO made search for blood on
Mrs Bonine's wrapper and analyzed
| lne blood on other articles in Ayres'
room testified that he had examined
the wrapper with great care and had
ralled to find any indication whatever
of blood.
II did not find a spot as big as a
pinhead," he said. He also said that the
TIPS under the arms are now larger
lndn When he first saw the garment
District Attorney Gould asked:
III case OF struggle between a
large person and small one in which
tne larger had been so wounded that
pIooa poured over the smaller persons
snouloer slol e ana the two had fallen to the
moor together would IL have been nos
sipie TO cleanse the garment from the
olood that would have gotten on it?p
~ would have been possible To do
50 py the use of chemicals and by boil
ihg In vat" replied the witness. "Bv
this process all traces of blood can be
removed" NN'- Oe
Would ordinary wasbtr.- .o,. =.
out?' 'aAe Il
81 think not"
II the garment had been recently
fact?" 'ne
Il could had it not been washed.
Dr. Schaeffar was subjected to
rlgld cross examination, Mr.. Fulton.
one OF the attorneys for the defense,
using Tor the purpose of illustration
young man. and later Mrs. Meach-
EN-, Mrs. Bonine's sister. DR.. Schaeffer
said that II was not possible for two
persons falling as Mrs Bonine saws
she and Ayres fell. without the woman
getting blood upon a wrapper worn
by her at the time.
When DR.. Schaeffer was excused
James S. Ayres, father of the victim
was called to the stand. He told Of
coming to Washington the day after
the tragedy. Mr.. Ayres said he had
sought out Mrs. Bonine, 'and" he
said, Il told her about my boy. who
had oeen murdered" He then went
on to say that he told her how his
son had lost his mother when he was
only years old and how near and
dear he was to him because of the
care he had given him.
Il tried" he said, ito be as sympa-
thetic as / could. because I had II in
my mind that Mrs Bonine was the de-
stroyer of my sons life, and I wanted
to find the guilty one. really opened
up my heart to her, telling her how
when he had left me in Detroit he had
thrown his arms about me and kissed
me on the lips as q daughter might
have done. told her had admonished
him TO protect his reputation, saying to
him that i knew he was going to a
tough place"
In response to a question from Mr..
Gould. Mr.. Ayres said that Mrs. Bo-
nine had made no response while he
was talking, but that when he con-
cluded she said something which he
would never forget. What this some
thing was, Mr.. Ayres' statement did
not reveal. and no question was asked
to bring It out.
She showed no sympathy.
IT thought that Mrs. Boniue. being
a wife and MOTHER" he said, would
manifest some sympathy with me In
my distress but she manifested no
emotion whatever and interrupted me
only once. Then she looked up and
smiled in what thought was a deceit
ful manner and recited a quotation
from Browning"
In response TO another question from
Mr.. Gould, Mr., Ayres said that at this
interview Mrs. Bonine's manner was
calm, seif-contained aud none-com-
initial.
Il thought" he said. that she was
the nervtest woman ever saw She
manifested no emotion and expressed
no sympathy"
Mr.. Douglass announced. when Mr..
Ayros had concluded tnat out OF respect
Of the defense for the feelings OF the
father Of young Ayres they would ask
no questions OF him on croas-examina-
ton. he also said that for the same
reason he had not Interrupted Mr.
Ayres IN making his statement. not
kcontinued on Hxth paxa1