The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-26
MRS. BONINE'S TRIAL
THE STATEMENT OF THE CASE FOR
THE GOVERNMENT.
SEVERAL WITNESSES EXAMINED
Theory OF the Prosecution
Case OF Premeditated
cess to h Room Obtained
tho yy,paov-The Shooting Through
Resentment ut Cessation OF Atten.
tfons by the Deceesed-seaee"eas
From the Defense Reserved


From the Defense Reserved
ashington. November s1.-The trial
OF Mrs. Lola Ida Bonine. on the charge
nj killing James Seymour Ayres, Jr-,
was fairly launched today. The preiim-
mary presentation Of h case on De-
half of the government was made py
Assistant District Attorney Hugh L
Taggart. and after he had concluded
a number OF witnesses We're heard MI
Taggart's statement consumed oniy
about an hour and fifteen minutes and
consisted for the most part OF a review
Of the circumstances connected with
the tragedy. He stated the theory OF
the prosecution to be that Ayres was
murdered by Ms. Bonnie AID tsat she
gained admission to his room in the
Kenmore hotel through the
reaching that by means OF the nre es-
cape. He attempted TO show that she
was piqued by his non-attention to her.
Mrs. BONNIE apparently was unmoVed
by his representations. Once or twice
during the address she leaned over ana
spoke to her attorneys. The witnesses
OF the day did not throw any new light
Upon the killing.
In his address Mr.. Taggart contend
ed that there was a tie between ms
prisoner n the dead man In the fact
that Ayre3 was a student of dentistry
and she lac studied medicine. AS a
consequence she became a frequent Wis
itor of his room in the hotel where they
both lived, not only in the day time,
but at night as well. and" he added.
''th door was not always open when
she was there"
He told of the quarrels between them,
saying hat Ayres ceased to speak to
her and that she complained of his in
I'VE expect to show" he
said. that while she made advances
to him.. Ayres did not avail himself Of
the opportunity thus afforded beyond
dancing with her again" He a
danced with her on the night before
the tragedy. but had shown that he was
averse to a renewal of the former IA
miliar intercourse.
AS an instance Of his attitude toward
Mrs. BONNIE Mr.. Taggart said that
Ayres had refused to accept a carna-
ton from her o. the Monday before the
killing. 1t was. therefore. evident, that
while he was Indifferent there was a
disposition on her part to mollify him.
we will show" continued Mr.. Tag
CART, that every act. step and pro-
ceeding on the part OF the prisoner
was lie act vi d guilty person. de
referred to Mrs. Bonine's confession as
being principally intended to exonerate
herself. He thought the facts indicat-
ed that the shooting did not take place
as Mrs. BONNIE had stated: that Ayres
had not gone to her room at all. as she
claimed.
Outlining the governments position.
Mr. Taggart said it would be contend
ed that Ayres had retired when the
person who killed him entered the room
ana That came in through the WIN
DOW: that he arose n started toward
her; tina she hot him: the first wound
being the fatal one in the breast. Nat
uraily his mouth had filled with blood
and as naturally he had put his hands
10 ms mouth. Then he had grasped the
pistol, thus accounting for the blood
upon it.
When Mr.. Taggart had concluded Mr.
Douglas that the defense
reserved Its presentation of thu case.
several ladies left the room while Mr..
Iaggart commented upon Mrs. Ronine's
visit to Ayres room, but their places
We're Immediately taken by others.
lnomas Francis, the first witness In
the case, was then called. He is a
oraughtsman who had a
diagram OF the fourth floor Of the Ken
more hotel, including Ayres' room. He
identified the drawing and gave details
concerning the location and mensi
Of the room.
The first witness in the afternoon ses-
sion was H. A. Wise, a photograrter.
VINO made photographs of Ayres
room on the day after the tragedy oc-
Cured. The pictures taken by him
were presented and identified by the
witness.
Mr.. Douglass objected to their ac-
ceptance as evidence, on the ground
mat they did not represent the exact
condition Of the room when Ayres'
BODY was discovered. He thought their
presentation should b. DELAYED until
testimony should be taken showing
whether h conditions were the same
when the body was found and when the
picture was made. The photographs
were accepted by the court for the pur-
pose only Of showing the
condition of the room when
they were taken.
julius Hack, another PHOTOGRAPHER.
made photographs of the Kenmore
hotel, and Of Ayres' room, also Identified
the pictures as by him and hey were
in evidence.
The first witness who testified about
the events directly connected with the
death OF Ayres was Daniel woodhouse.
the colored waiter in the Kenmore ho-
who described the body Of the young
10 coid fIot - Don