Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-11
MRS. BONNIE ON TRIAL.
Woman Accused of Murder of Census
Clerk Ayers.

Ciefk Ayers.
Washington, Nov lin a small and
desolate cell in the United States jail IN
Washington, whose clanking door closed
upon her last May, Mrs. Lola Ida Hem
ry Bonine. u slight, delicate woman of
S4 years. the mother of two manly boys,
now aged 16 and IA, and the wife of a
husband whose devotion knows no
bounds. awaits her trial on the charge
of murder.
This trial is to begin today. if jury
is secured by that time. but the taking
of evidence may not begin until week
from today, or even later. 1t has been
known to take much time to select a
jury satisfactory to both prosecution
and defense.
Probably not since the trial of Cult
eau has there been case of so much
interest to Washington and the govern
ment employees. Every government
clerk in the national capital has been on
the qui vive for every minute detail
since the first startling announcement
of the tragedy on the morning OF
Wednesday. May Is.
The particular reason for the interest
of the $4,000 department people is found
teriols crime of q night was young
and popular clerk in the census bureau,
James Seymour Ayres, 22 years old.
He was hail-fellow-well-met among
the men. and among the women-well,
he was bright and jolly, graceful in
movement and speech, of good helgnt
and form, with pleasant. regular iea-
lures, small hands and feet. and had the
smooth skin and peachy complexion OF
a girl.
The tragedy occurred in historic
house. the Kenmore, family hotel at
224 North Capitol street, which at that
time was popular and prosperous, but
since then has been vacated and is
now as boarded up and deserted as
any old abandoned farmhouse. 1t was
formerly the Hillman House and was
the property of George Washington at
the time of his death.
But the most striking feature OF the
crime, if crime there was. is the nerve
shown by Lolo Ida Henry Bonnie. 1t
lis doubtful If in the annals of tragedy
any other woman, or man either for
that matter, can be found who gave
an exhibition of equal GOODNESS and
self possession.
According to the womans story, which
rot even the most extended, thorough
and searching ross-examination was
able to break down, she entered Ayres
room about o'clock in the morning
was trapped by his springing the lock
en- the door the moment she was inside
and engaged in a hand-to-hand strug-
gle with him for the possession of re-
yolver which he had in his hand when
size entered. In the course of this strug-
gle the revolver was discharged three
times, Ayres being wounded each time
ore bullet piercing his heart and ending
his life.
Then, with blood on her hands and
dress, With the Blood pouring from
Ayres' wound and crimsoning his body
and the floor, Mrs. Bonine said she Went
to the window, raised the curtain, the
cord being covered with blood in doing
so. stepped to the fire-escape, leaving
Ayres with the death rattle in his throat
while the Pickering gas, turned doWr
low. heightened the horrors of the scene
calmly climbed down the f1re-escape te
the second story, entered window
there, went to her own room, washed
her hands and bloody skirt, retired te
bed. and, when the breakfast bell rang
went to the dining room.