The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-29
THE MAIN WITNESSES FOR THE PROSE-
GUTi0a ON THE STAND.
NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS MADE
Those fl Adjoining Rooms lear Pistol
Shots, Groans, a Fall and Then ST.
lence-A Woman Seen Coming From
Ayers Roo by the Fire Escape 500
After the Shooting-Mrs. Bonine's
Calmness After the Murder

of Mrs. Lola Ida BONNIE for the murder
of james Seymour Ayres at h Ken
more hotel last May, began in real
earnest today. The preliminary details
as to the finding Of the body. with the
location Of the furniture. blood stains,
ETC., were all in at tn conclusion of the
testimony of j. F. Drew, the capitol
policeman who was on the stan when
the court adjourned last Friday.
Baker the man who saw Mrs. BONNIE
descend the fire escape; Hopkins, who
roomed over Ayres and raised the first
outcry: Miss Woolums, who roomed
unde Ayres. and Miss Lawless and
Miss Minas who roomed on either side
of him. testified today. The two latter
were regarded as star witnesses but
they testified to no facts not develop
ed at the inquest.
Mrs. BONNIE throughout the trial to-
dav when witnesses described the cries.
groans and throat curling Of the dying
man remained absolutely unmoved.
J. Frank Drew, the capitol policeman,
who was on the stand last Friday when
the court adjourned, resumed his tes-
timony. He swore that he had sever
Oh illlS SSSu Tie oSISllOdhl SoIiiC III
of Ayres room. The last occasion was
about a week before the tragedy. 1t
was at night. about 9 o'clock.
On cross examination he testified that
there was space enough behind the door
for a person to have stood there while
the door was opened to admit another
person.: also that there were, empty
cartridge shells in the slop-jar upon
his first visit to the room. which was
before officer Brady broke the pistol
and took the shells out. He testified
that he a seen Mrs. BONNIE come out
of the room of others in the hotel.
among then those of several single men,
and her demeanor was in no wise diff
ferent from that when he saw her
emerge from Ayres' room.
Thomas M. Baker, an employee of
the fish commission who resided in the
building adjoining the Kenmore was
then called and testified that on the
night of the tragedy he was awakened
by the reports of pistol shots. He
jumped out of bed. went to the window
and heard a voice from above inQuir-
ing what was wrong below. He replied
that he had heard pistol shots. Then.
while standing at his window, he saw
d figure on the fire escape just outside
of Ayres' window. The figure walked
the length of the fire escape in his d.
rection and then descended two flights
to the floor of the veranda where it dis
appeared into a window. 1t was the
figure of a small woman, clad in dark
tight fitting clothing. The woman
wore no hat and as he did not hear the
fall of her footsteps he judges she was
in her STOCKING feet. He described the
manner of her descent which he said
was very deliberate AND without emo
ton. He did not know the defendant
at the time of the tragedy, but saw
her about l o'clock the afternoon Of
L that 6av She was af that firo hoino
questioned by detective Horne. She
was smiling n he heard her say she
knew nothing about the cause of Ayres'
death.
Robert P. Hopkins, a clerk in the
war department. heard three loud re-
ports and looking out saw something
which looked like a skull lying ON the
fire escape just outside the window Of
AyreS' room.
Emma A. Lawless, who occupied the
room adjoining that in which the trag-
edy occurred. showed considerable ner-
vousnesS as she took the stand. She
said she was slightly aroused during
the night of the tragedy but was not
awakened. She formed no idea as to
what aroused her or what time it was.
After the recess Miss Mary E. Minas,
a clerk in the census office who occupi-
ed the room next to Ayres. took the
stand. She testified that she was a
friend Of Ayres.
"And of Mrs. BONNIE ?" asked the dis
trIct attorney.
of Mrs. Bonine I'D to that time
replied the witness.
Continuing, Miss Minas testified that
late on the evening of the tragedy she
met Mrs. BOnine and remarked that she
was I'D late.
Yes. l am looking for Maurice"
(Mrs. Bonine's SOM replied Mrs. BONNIE.
Mrs. Bonine went to Miss Minas' room
and after a few moments, left. Mrs.
Minas then retired. That was about
II o'clock.
Miss Minas then described what she
knew of the tragedy. She had been
Weakened by three pistol shots. followed
by cries for help and a gurgling sound
h a fall n then quiet.
Il was paralyzed with fright" she
testified. Il rushed TO the door and
piled several chairs against i, 20 pro.
tec myself. I then sank into a rock.
ing chair. I mir I must have tainted
After sometime 1 went to the window
and looked out. All was as still as
death. I walked the floor. suffering in.
tense agony. 1 made UP my min tina
I would wait until daylight n ther
loog out in the hall. When 1t got light
] opened the door and looked out, blu
there was nothing outside 10 occasion
the disturbance 1 had heard. L con,
Guided that it had all been a nigh.
mare"
Then, h said, she busted herself il
her room until breakfast time. wheI
she went down stairs. There she me
Mr.. Hopkins, who told her what he ha
heard, n she became satisfied it wa.
not all a dream. Sh, then sent tn,
boy Dan up TO call Mr.. Ayres-
!. After the discovery Of the body. Mis-
Minas said, she was very much un
strung, and blamed herself for not hav
ing cried out. She wept at her plac.
at the table in the dining room and ties
I titled that Mrs. BONNIE came over an,
= sat behind her and comforted her. Sh
? testified that Mrs. Bonine was yer
y composed; that she ordered her break
fast n inquired about all the detail
of what Miss MinaS had heard. Mr.
Bonine remarked: What a pity
was you did not cry out when 20
heard the groans."
[ Miss Minas testified thai after tn
inquest or Sunday, Mrs. Bonine cam
e to her with the paper containing tn
( account of Miss MinaS' testimony [
her hand int expressed regret that sh
had told what Mrs. Bonine had sal