Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-28
Judge Barnard Declines to Release
Mrs, Bonine on Bail.
DEFENDANT REMANDED TO PRISON
Court Holds Application to Be Not
Called for by Emergency.
OTHER POINTS IN THE CASE

HENRY BONNIE, nelu DE a coroner 5 jury lOi
the action of the grand jury in connection
with the killing of James Seymour Ayres,
jr.. that she be admitted to bail pending
further proceedings in the case. Mrs. Bo-
nine was remanded to Jail. The court held
that the application was uncalled for by
any emergency. and as the inquiry in the
case was proceeding in proper judicial
manner he was of the opinion that bail
should not be accepted. In response to an
inquiry of counsel Justice Barnard remark
ed that the action of the court was with
out prejudice to the filing of a similar APP
plication at any future time 1t was fur
Their explained by Justice Barnard that
even though it might he shown in erelimi-
nary hearing that the case was more ia
Vorable to the prisoner than to the gov
eminent the action stated should be taken.
The hearing began about 3:13 O'Clock.
Mrs Bonine had then been at the city hall
longer than an hour. Although every ef-
fort had been exerted to maintain secrecy
regarding her presence and the fact that
hearing was to be held. the information
leaked out and the room of Criminal Court
No. l was crowded. the attendance being
made up for the most part of attorneys.
newspaper representatives., court attaches
and some weli-known club men,
Mrs. Bonine's Arrival.
AS Mrs. BONNIE entered the room, accom-
panied by her husband, Deputy Marshal
Spriugmau and employe Of the District
Jail. who appeared in place of Warden Har-
rs. the respondent to the writ of habeas
corpus. she was the target for all eyes
The prisoner was stylishly attired, wearing
a suit of brown material and a hat gener-
OuSly supplied with vari-cOlOred flowers.
Her face wore a somewhat haggard look,
but she walked with quick, springy step
While the proceedings were on Mrs. BONNIE
kept her eyes downcast. The refusal of
her anvil ig.gti IN a
Appearances had no disappointing effect as
far she was concerned When she left
the building to enter Il carriage for the re-
turn trip to the Jail there a rush on
thu part of hundreds of curious persons to
obtain glimpse Of her. The ordeal was Il
TRYING one for any woman.
Attorneys Charles A Douglass and Greed
Fulton. Of counsel for Mrs Bonnie, repre-
s. nted her yesterday in court. The appli-
cation for bail was opposed by United
States Attorney Gould At his side sat As
siStant United States Attorney TagSart-
Mr.. Fulton read to the court the petition,
the verdict of the coroner's inquest. the
commitment signed by the coroner and the
testimony of Detective Horne. Very briefly
Mr.. Fulton remarked to Justice Barnard
that the verdict of the cOronerS jury did
Not hold Mrs BONNIE for the killing of
Ayres. but set forth that the latter met
his death in fatal struggle with the pris-
oner. Mr.. Fulton suggested that the case
was proper one for bail.
In reply United States Attorney Goula
strenuOusly opposed the granting of the ap-
plication. and IN doing sovery briefly review
ed the facts in the case. The prosecuting
officer took pains to explain that there
listed good and sufficient reasons why any
extended inquiry into the facts and testi-
mony Of the case should not be attempted
in disposing of the motion for bail After
saying that a cUrOners jury was usually
nftr sod M men moi ll9rr mod in no Ia wv
ard not expected TO conduct a proceeding
- make It's returns with close observance
of legal forms. he recited that the morn
ing Of the tragedy the prisoner was in
Ayres' room. where she should not prop
erly have been at the time. She escaped
from the room not as an innocent person
should have Done. according to Mr.. Could
Medical testimony was TO the effect that
ths wounds received by Ayres could not
have been self-inficted. 1t was not neces-
sary for the court or a jury to accept any
portion of the prisoners statement which
might be considered unreasonable. In con-
Clusion Mr.. Gould pointed out that there
was evidence that a crime had been COM
mitted. and from her own statement Mrs.
to commit it.
Argument of MI. Douglass.
Mr.. Douglass closed the argument. He
also reviewed the principal facts In the
case and argued to show that all the testi-
mpny that had been presented tended to
support the statement of Mrs. BONNIE He
called attention to the fact that under the
Statute bail may be admitted upon all ar
rests in criminal cases where the punish
ment may be death but the court shall ex-
ercise discretion. having regard to the ma
ture and circumstances of the offenSe and
of the evidence and to the usages of law
The question at issue. according to MI
Douglass, in asking for release on bail was
what would be the probable result of a
nj 10 no
appear There was nothing he insisted to
gainsay Mrs Bonine's statements as to the
manner In which Ayres met his death The
wounds, according 10 Mr.. Douglass could
reasonably have been inflicted during a
struggle such as that described by the
prisoner.
Without hesitation Justice Barnard pro-
ceeded to dispose of the motion. He took
occasion 10 say that action on the petition
should not prejudice the final disposition
OF the case 1t had been conducted so far
NJ the orderly and proper method of GRIM
NAL procedure. and as the prisoners health
was not endangered by confinement In Jail,
anu there was no other emergency appar-
emit the application would have to be de-
MED.
Miss Minas Again Questioned
Miss Mary Minas. who occupied a room
at the Kenmore Hotel, next to the one In
which Ayres met his death, was summoned
to the office OF United States Attorney
Gould today Miss Minas was closeted
WITH Mr.. Gould for an hour and a half and
again was closely questioned in reference
10 her knowledge of what transpired the
night of the tragedy.
80 far as can be learned Miss Mfnas
merely reiterates what she has said here
tcfore, and made known absolutely nothing
new In the way of information bearing on
what occurred. The superstition is that
Miss Mtnas succeeded in convincing Mr.
Gould that she has all along told the truth
regarding her connection with and knowl-
edge OF the affair.
Surprised and Disappointed.
Justice Barnard's decision was a surprise
and disappointment 10 Mrs Bonine and
her friends. who had felt reasonably GER
tain that bond would be fixed and fur
nished and that the prisoner would be re-
leased. II is admitted by the detectives
and others who were present during the
hearing that Mrs Bonine's conduct failed
10 aisclose her real feelings in the matter
IL Is pointed out, however, that when ref
erence was made to the fact THAT there
Were but two persons in the room at the
time OF the killing Mrs Bonine showed de
clded signs of nervousness She was re-
turned 10 jail shortly after the hearing
dol