Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-27
The Bonine Trial.

The Bonine Trial.
Washington, Nov. 27.-"Fhus far the
prosecution has made out no case what
ever against our Client" said Attorney
d Iuglsss, representing Mrs. Bonnie, at
the close OF yesterdays proceedings.
Il is quite broadly minated that MIR.
Douglas will novel; the government,
at the conclusion of its case, shall have
brought no stronger proof Of the muir
der Of James Seymour Ayres than is
now expected--tbst Justice Anderson
lake the case from the jury aod dismiss
the defendant. Mr.. Douglass would
not say whether such motion being
made and denied that he would put
Mrs. Bonnie on the stand. "If 60 into
the Defense" he said. sit will take our
side about ten days to present all our
testimony" II there should be no 10.
terruption tomorrow on account OF
Thanksgiving 1t Ia quite likely that
the prosecution will rest it's case about
Saturday evening. 1fthere should be 8
recess, said Judge Anderson today, 1t
will be In the morning, In order to give
those who wish to attend religious SER
vices the opportunity to do so. Two OF
the governments witnesses were turn
ed to important advantage by the de-
Tense yesterday. The testimony OF
George B. Gardner, did Mrs. BONNIE
much good, for 1t showed that her
secretiveness on the days following the
finding of Ayers's body was prompted
oy the advice Of the witness, whom she
knew as an attorney and former judge.
Ayres was young and vain enough 10
boast OF any coDquests he may have
made among the fair sex, yet Burns, bis
ultimate friend and confdant, declared
on the stand that he did not believe
that there was at any time anything
improper 10 the relations existing be-
tween Ayres and Mrs. Bonnie. This
part of bis testimony seemed to atfeci
the husband OF the accused deeply. he
has chung to his wife throughous her
trails, when ell sorts of scandalous
charges were rife, and this assurance
from one who might be presumed TO
speak for Ayers gave him the greatest
satisfaction that has come to him since
that dark day In May.
Johnston J. Hooper, John A. Taft al d
Michael Keane were the first witnesses
called this morning. All three occupied
rooms 10 the Kenmore on the morning
OF May 10, and were present the night
they visited the saloon. Most OF the
party drank beer, and one remarked
that 1t was beer crowd. All three
testified that Ayres was Derfec city sober.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook was the
next witness called. He said the body
was almost unacceptable by the rea-
son OF the great amount of blood on the
face and the different parts OF the body,
which was clad only by q undershirt.
He stated he found three gun shot
wounds, one in the chest; one In the
left lung and one in the left thigh. Moth
ing OF importance throwing any light
on the killing was elected from this
witness. During the testimony and the
exhibit OF the bloody uDdershirt worn
by Ayres at the time of his death, Mrs.
Bonine displayed no emotion, but drop
ped her eyes from the CHASTITY exhibit,
and the habitusl sweet smile left her
face only for moment. The action
seemed to indicate natural feminine
revolt rather than any shock or alarm.
Eliza Gardner, negrees employed as
chambermsid at the Kenmore, testified
that she had taken care of Ayres' room
and had never seen pistol there. She
also n sd the care OF Mrs. Bonine's room
She had often seen Mrs. Bonnie 90 to
Ayres' room in his absence, for the book
but had never seen her remain there.
Emma Brown, another negro domes-
tic of the Kenmore testified that she had
seen Ayres and Mrs. BONNIE in the for
mers room at 10 o'clock Sunday morn
ing In May last. Ayres was dressed in
mis- trousers and undershirt. The door
was open. Their actions were per.
fectly natural.
Mary Grayson, another Kenmore
chambermsid, had seen Ayres and Mrs.
Bonnie together in the formers room.
Ayrey had told Mrs. Bonnie to take
mallet out OF his room and 60 oct her
self and not come there any more.
At the afternoon session Deputy
Coroner Glszebrook testified concern
ing experiments he had made-wiIh the
pistol which killed Ayree-on severa
pieces OF cloth similar to the that OF
which Ayres's uDdershirt was made.
This was intented to show the distance
OF the pistol from the body when fred.
In order to show the positions of the
wounds In Ayres's body Court Crier
Jovca antered the court Oartiellv dis
robed, and DR.. Glazebrook pasted
black court plaster over each spot
where q bullet had struck. During
this exhibit Mrs. Bonnie turned her
head and engaged In consultation with
her counsel. 1t was perhaps the most
dramatic scene Of the trial, but she
never moved o muscle.
DR.. Glszsbrook then demonstrated
the course OF the bullets In the body of
Ayres. All the time Mrs. Bonnie re-
used to let her eyes rest on Crler