The times., 1901-06-03
A PROMISE OF SURPRISES
Tae Ayers Case Testimony Well
Guarded by the Prosecution.
District Attorney Gould Expresses
Confidence in the Governments
Evidence - some of the Weak
Points in Mrs. Bonin.e's Confession.


Confidence in the Governments
Evidence some of the weak
Points in Mrs. Bonine's Confession
Notwithstanding the extreme reticence
maintained by all of those connected with
the District Attorneys Office regarding
every detail in connection with the prose-
et1tiou of Mrs Lola Ida Bonine in the
Kenmore murder case, il has leaked out
that the Government prosecutor is con
fident of holding Mrs. Bonine responsible
for the death of Ayers. District Attorney
Gould stated to Judge Barnard, at the time
of the hearing of Mrs. Bonines petition for
her release on bail pending her trial be-
fore the courts, that he did not deem II
advisable to state the Government case
at that time But in the few remarks ne
made ne foreshadowed what might be ex-
pected of his office and what they expect
ed to prove from the facts brought out at
the inquest.
AIthough it is known that the District
Attorney had In his possession at the time
considerable information regarding facts
connected with the tragedy he was
apparently so confident of the
strength of the evidence adduced at the
Coroner's s hearing that he made no refer
ence to anything that he might
have. The Government has been unable
to find that Mrs. Bonine and Ayers met
or had any conversation between the time
that Ayers ordered her out of his room,
as testified to by one of the servants IN
the house, and the fateful night on whlch
he met his death. There was every inGl-
cation that he was using every endeavor
10 avoid her, and it is believed that 1t was
partly on her account that he was leaving
the house. Under these circumstances IL
is considered improbable that he should
have gone to her room at that hour OF
the morning seeking reconciliation
Mr Gould, in his argument before Judge
Barnard. stated that it would be the right
of the jury that should eventually SIT on
the trial of Mrs. Bonine to accept such
portion of her statement as was corroe-
GRATED by other facts and circumstances,
or as they had other reason to believe,
and 70 discard the remainder. The undis-
puted fact is that Ayers met his death in
his own room, that according to her own
statement Mrs. Bonine was the only other
person present and that according TO the
statement of experts his injuries were OF
such nature as TO preclude the posi-
bilfty of his having inflicted them upon
himself.
The inevitable conclusion is that Ayers
must have been killed by a bullet fired
from a pistol in the hands Of Mrs. Bonine-
The exact circumstances attending the
firing of these shots may never be known,
but even accepting Mrs. Bonine's own
statement the District Attorney believes
that q conviction is sure to follow.
According to that statement when Ayers
wanted to enter her room in the small
hours OF the morning it was not upon
hat he
admission but because she feared that II
might awaken her two boys and cause
them to talk Why Mrs. Bonine should have
told Detective Sergeant Horne that after
agreeing to go TO Ayers room she dress
ed carefuIlS is one of the mysteries
OF the case Mrs. Bonine could hardly
have made a more damaging statement re-
garding herself, and such statement was
entirely uncalled for. In passing Judg-
. ment upon her the jury can only be guild
ed by their general experience of man
kind under similar circumstances, and
how the defence can convince them that
there was no significance attached to that
statement is not at present apparent
The District Attorney contends that, as
a good woman, Mrs. Bonine had no busi-
ness in d young mans room at O'Clock
in the morning, and having disregarded
the social custom that, without danger to
anyone. safeguards the honor of all good
women, she alone is to be blamed for the
consequences. The burglar who enters
a house in violation of the law and in ef-
fecting his escape sacrifices a human life
IS guilty Of murder although the taking
of life was probably not premeditated.
The fact that he was engaged in an un-
lawful act presumes that he was prepared
TO go to any extreme in case Of emergency.
Judging from the standard of morals in
vogue generally woman could have no
lawful purpose in a man S room at tnat
time of the morning, and her presence
there under the circumstances is pre-
sumptive evidence Of a violation of the
law. II Ayers met his death in his room
while Mrs. B0nine was unlawfully there,
even though he was the aggressor or the
shots were fired in the heat OF passion,
she will be held guilty, it is contended,
of murder.
But it is not the purpose of the Gov
ernment TO rest its case there, and they
have already amassed an amount of
evidence that ensures a long and inter
esting trial. with probably several sen
Sation2l surprises TO the public. These
surprises are being carefully safe
guarded, and every witness in the case
has been warned not to talk regarding
them to anyone not clothed with the
authority of the District Attorneys Office
er Of the Police Department Despite
these precautions there are little leaks
from time 10 time that give some idea OF
officials. but which, from their conhden-
tial nature and from the fact that their
publication might embarrass the District
Attorneys Office, cannot be given to the
public.
a time has been reached. the officials
believe, when publicity regarding what
they are doing in the case could serve
no good purpose and would only be fore
arming the defence. They assert that 81
far as they are concerned there viii b.
nothing further given to the public re
garding the case until the trial is com
menced.
Mrs Bonine spent a rather quiet da,
yesterday. She arose at her accustomed
hour and ate a hearty breakfast. Short
~ before II o'clock her husband, accom-
panied by her brother, u s. g. Henri
paid her q visit of about three-quarter
of an hour. Shortly after their arriYa
the attorneys for the defence also ar
rived al the Jail and remained in con
sultatiou with their client for consid
cradle time after the relatives had gone
After the departure of the attorney
Mrs. Bonlne requested that they be tele
phoned TO call again in the afternoon
but the jail officials were unable TO reacl
them by telephone.
The morning services at the jail did no
attract Mrs. Bonine's attention, but sh
seemed deeply impressed by the music o
the afternoon service, which was con
Quoted by Frank A Woodward, unde
the auspices OF the Epworth League o
Wesley Chapel The Rev. Luther b. WI