The times., 1901-05-19


knew Ayers. At first / occupied room
on the sixth floor of the hotel. but some
time ago / moved down on the fourth
floor, to room q. adjoining that in which
Ayers met DEATH stated the witness
About 1880 o'clock Tuesday night l
went to my room, leaving a number of
persons, including Ayers, in the parlors
of the hotel I did not again see Ayers"
Miss Minas told of the positions of her
bed and that of Ayers. as she said she
understood it to be. After reading awhile
Miss Minas went to bed. She testified
that she retired shortly before midnight,
and Immediately after Mrs Bonine had
stopped in her room for a few moments
to chat.
THE sound of pistol shots first awaken
ed me; then l heard groans, calls for
help. and then all was still again" Miss
Minas told the jury. 4 was in a stupor
l did not know what to do; | thought of
burglars; l cried; / barricaded my door;
sat down on my bed. and then l cried
again. Finally in the extremity of my
fright, l walked the floor of my room, and
tried to think, but it was useless; those
groans came back in fancy; l was haunt
ed by an invisible terror. the fear of what
1 scarcely knew. l felt instinctively that
a man had been killed; that his body was
lying in the hallway outside my door. yet
1 could not move in his defence, or warn
others. OF the electric button in my room,
l did not think at all.
'Gossips had it that there was a mis-
understanding between Ayers and Mrs.
Ronine about the time of the Inaugural
Bah. L know nothing more about the
matter. Mrs. Bonine mentioned casually
that Ayers HO Longer danced with her;
Z fnsHT
trouble, or its precise nature, l do not
know. l have seen Mrs. Bonine go to the
room Of Ayers, but not very recently.
4 do not recall seeing Mrs. Bonine go
there since the date Of the Inaugural Ball,
however. nor can | state exactly at what
time of the day or night l have seen her
go there at all. Mrs. Bonine is my friend,
as was Mr.. Ayers while he was living.
Miss Minas. how was Mrs. BUnine
dressed on the evening prior to the trag-
edy? How was she attired when she came
to your room at II O'Clock, supposedly af-
ter leaving the dancing hall, To go to her
room?" asked District Attorney Gould.
4 really cannot say how Mrs. Bonine
was dressed in the dancing hall. She
wore black and brown wrapper when
she was in my room late in the evening,
was the reply of the witness.
Now, Miss Minas, YOU know the ma
ture of this enquiry said District At
torney Gould.
Il do" replied the witness.
Then tell the jury whether there are
any facts in your possession in regard to
this mystery, this murder" continued the
District Attorney.
= believe there is none; in fact, there
is nothing l can say more said the wit
ness
I was as though in a dreadful night
mare; / had a vision Of blood; l be-
lieved a man had been killed at my very
door. yet / could do nothing. / tried to
sleep, and could not; l fancied myself
mistaken a hundred times, only to be re-
called to the realization of the horrible
mystery Of it all
DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER.
Daylight came at last and looked. out
of my door into the hail, expecting to see
a corpse. None was there l looked
again; then I locked my door again. and
went TO the window 1t was about 5
o'clock in the morning. Very few people
We're on the streets; everything was silent
Eight O'Clock came. 1t was breakfast
hour. mustered up courage, and opened
my door and went downstairs On the
way I met Dan. the negro waiter. I said
to him. Dan. won't you go and call Mr..
Ayers. he should be awakened.
Miss Miuas stated that Dan was inclined
to doubt the advisability Of calling Ayers,
because the latter had left no word at the
office to that effect. Shortly afterward,
however. Dan went upstairs, witness be-
lieved, and through the keyhOle discovered
that all was not well.
The murder was then brought to light,
said witness.
a Japanese fan found beneath the body
Of Ayers on the morning of the murder
was shown TO Miss Minas, but she could
not identify it. She said she had seen
several among the women about the hotel.
The witness. was then excused, and the
inquest was adjourned until Monday
at 10 o'clock.
Daniel Morgan Wo0dkouse, colored. a
waiter employed at the Kenmore, who
was the first person 10 see the body of
Ayers. by looking through the keyhOle
Wednesday morning, was the first wit
ness called yesterday at the inquest.
WoCdhouse testified that about $50
clock Miss Mary Minas met him in the
office Of the hotel, and asked him If he
would not go to the room of Ayers and
see If he was up.
Going to the room as requested and
not receiving any response, Wood
house Says, he looked through the key
hole, and saw the body lying on the
floor with blood upon It. Going down
stairs, he told Miss Minas Of his discovery
Of the house. In company with Warfield,
the witness and Philip Dade and Mr..
Drudc. took a ladder TO the fourth floor of
the bIilding. and looking through the
body, as heretofore described.
FINDING THE BODY.
The second witness was Policeman Wal
ter S, Brady, who told the jury that he
went to the Kenmore Hotel shortly after
o'clock Wednesday morning. because
boy said Mr.. Warfield the proprietor,
wanted to see him. Witness explained the
finding Of the body of Ayers Mr. War
field accompanied me to the room, which
was locked. and the door had to be forced
open, said Policeman Brady.
The witness said the bed in Ayers room
1ad grgrrFffa nd lGegyfEaF ha int
-ior OF the room 10 the jury. using pho
-ograph to illustrate. There was trunk
near the window that had been taken
way when the photograph was made. on
[ lay a shotgun and pistol. The witness
said he picked up the latter and looked at
I carefully, taking particular pains 10 put
[ back in the position in which he found
L. There was blood on the trunk, con-
.inued Policeman Brady There was
also a great al OF blood on the pistol.
on the barrel and chambers.
but only little blood was TO be observed
on the handle
District Attorney Gould questioned Po-
iceman Brady as to the condition Of the
bed which the witness stated showed
that il had been occupied. The pillow
was indented and the covers had been
thrown aside. as though person had
Jumped from the bed. He Identified a
piece Of cardboard, order Of Dancing" "
Is having been found near the body. That
ard had the names Of J. Y. Virgins and
!. 5. Ayers. jr., and DR. Nelson on it, The
'oOm was In disorder, as though there had
3een a struggle. There was a dim light
n the apartment when the witness first
Entered The gas jet had been turned
Town. and the witness did not think the
occupant could have been reading. He
Identified another picture OF the room and
y reply to question said there was no
)OrtieTes on the door leading 10 Miss MI
las room.
DESCRIBING THE WOUNDS.
"a.
more Hotel. was next sworn. He stated
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