Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-11-20
ALL IN OPINIONS
Those Possessed by Men Who
Are Drawn on the List
of Veniremen.
COMES UP IN THE BONNIE CASE
Judge Gives n Liberal Ruling, and
Defense Challenges Both IluI-
ing and Juror.

Washington, Nov. 20.-The trial of
Mrs. Lola Ida BONNIE, on Indictment
for the murder of the young census
clerk, James Seymour Ayres, Jr, in
the latter's room at the Kenmore ho-
tel, in this city last May, began yester-
day before Justice Anderson in crimi-
nal court No. 1. The case was set for
10 a. m, but it was several minutes
afterward before either the judge or
the prisoner appeared in the court
room. At the first session the court
room, even though of limited capacity,
was by no means crowded. BONNIE and
and Mrs. MeaGham, husband and sis
ter of the accused. were early occu-
pants of the seats reserved for Mrs.
BOnine's especial friends. as were the
five attorneys engaged for the defense.
Defendant Makes Her Appearance.
At ten minutes past 10 Mrs. BONNIE
appeared in the court room, accom-
panied by the veteran guard, James w.
Springman. She walked in so quietly
that her entrance was scarcely noted,
and took a seat beside her husband,
just back of her counsel and in front
OF her sister. She smiled Us she greet
ed her sister, and the latter placed her
arms gently about her as she sank into
calling the names of witnesses and of
jurors were disposed of. Mrs. BONNIE
was asked to stand and plead to the in
dictment. She listened calmly to the
reading of the document and when it
was concluded, pleaded mot guilty" In
low but distinct tones.
Many Jurors Have Opinions.
After brief statement of the case
by Judge Anderson, the examination
of jurors was begun, and when the
court at 1880 adjourned for the day
the panel was exhausted. There were
twenty-siX members of the panel and
OF these fourteen were excused. leav-
ing twelve in the box. OF the four
teen jurors who We're excused, three
were relieved by the court on account Of
i'll health, seven upon challenge by the
defense, and four upon challenge by
the district attorney. All of the gov
ernment'S challenges were made be-
cause of statements on the part OF the
witnesses that they had conscientious
seruples against capital punishment.
Most of the challenges on behalf of the
prisoner were on account of statements
made by the jurors that they had
formed opinions in the case. In four
or five instances they stated that their
views could not be changed by new
testimony.
Contention Between Counsel.
The first contention between oppoS-
ing counsel arose in connection with
the calling of n Juror named Smith, a
colored man. and an undertaken. He
stated that he had formed an opinion
in the case. hSlt that it was not so firm
ly fixed that it could not be modified
by new testimony. Douglass, Of Mrs.
Bonine's counsel. challenged for
cause" District Attorney Gould an
tagonized the challenge, and Douglass
the court. pleading for lib
eral construction of the law, because
of the Importance of the case. The
challenge, however, was oyerruled.
Douglass noted an exception, the first
of the trial, and then persmptorily
the juror. who was excused.
The court adjourned early for the day.