The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-27
TRIAL OF MRS. B0NINE.
Begun in Washington tuesday
Jury Panel Exhausted.

Jury Panel Exhausted.
Washington, Nov. l9.-The trial of
Mrs. Lola Bonine on Indictment for
the murder of the young census clerk,
James Seymour Ayres, Jr., in the lat
ter's room at the Kenmore hotel last
May was begun today before Justice
Anderson in criminal court No. l.
The case was set for 10 O'Clock, but it
was several minutes afterwards before
either the Judge or the prisoner ap-
peared in the court room. At the first
session the court loom, even though
of limited capacity, was by no means
crowded. Mr.. Bonine and Mrs.
Meacham, husband and sister of the
accused, were early occupants of the
seats reserved for Mrs. Bonine's es-
pecial friends, as we're the five attor-
neys engaged for the defense. At 10
minutes past 10 Mrs. Bonine appeared
in the court room, accompanied by
the veteran guard. James W. Spring
man. She walked in so quietly that
her entrance was scarcely noted, and
took seat beside her husband Just
back Of her counsel and in front of her
sister She smiled as she greeted
her sister and the latter placed her
arms gently around her as she sank
into her seat.
After the preliminaries of calling
the names of witnesses and of jurors
were disposed of, Mrs. Bonine was
asked to stand and plead to the indict-
menG. She listened calmly to the
reading of the document and when it
was concluded pleaded mot guilty"
in low but distinct tones.
After a brief statement of the case
by Judge Anderson the examination
of Jurors was begun, and when the
court at 12.50 adjourned for the day
the panel was exhausted. There were
26 members Of the panel and of these
Il were excused, leaving II in the
box. OF the Il Jurors who were ex-
cused three were relieved by the court
on account of i'll health, seven upon
challenges by the defense and four
upon challenges by the district attor-
ney. All of the governments chal-
lenges were made because of state
ments on the part Of the witnesses
that they had conscientious scruples
against capital punishment. Most
Of the challenges on behalf of the
prisoner we're on account of statements
by the jurors that they had formed
opinions in the case. In four or Eve
Instances they stated that their views
could not be changed by new. testi-
mony.
Mrs. Bonine was as calm as any of
the spectators during the proceedings.
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, respectively Is and
13 years of age, were in the court
room. After adjournment she took
dinner with her friends in the pri-
soner's room in the court house, be-
ing closely attended all the time by
herg uard. She was then returned to
jail.
The trial will be resumed tomorrow
Washington, Nov. pa few
minutes of 3 O'Clock today the jury
was completed which is to try Mrs.
Ida Bonine on the charge of having
murdered James Seymour Ayers, Jr.,
the young census clerk. The court
then adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow when a presentation of the
case on behalf of the government will
be made by the district attorney.
Mr.. Douglass, representing Mrs.
Bonine, said after the court adjourned
today that he would reserve his open
no until after all the witnesses for
the prosecution had been heard. It is
expected, therefore, that the taking
of testimony will begin during the
forenoon session tomorrow.
The entire time of the court today
was given up to the completion of the
jury and it was after O'Clock before
a single additional acceptable juror
had been secured. All told, 80 names
were presented during the day and out
of the number only three accepted.
nine of those left in the jury box yes
terday being retained. The proceed
ing consisted of round of questions
intended to develop the mental atti-
tude OF the would-be iurymen on the
question of capital punishment. cir
cumstantial evidence and prejudice for
or against the defendant.
During the day Judge Anderson
directed that the names of two Of the
men called for jury duty be taken per
manently from the jury box because
he said, the men evidently were unfit
for jury duty. One of these was
white man, who said that he had
reached a conclusion as to the merits
Of the case and the other a negro who
appeared very ignorant on all ques-
tions. Quite a number of the men
called expressed themselves as opposed
to capital punishment. Probably a
half dozen stated that they were OPP
posed to the execution of woman.
The defense used only II arbitrary
challenges, leaving nine of the number
allotted to them unused.