Sunday morning globe., 1901-12-01
THE BONNIE TRIAL
The Government Makes Out very
Weak Case.
A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY
A Foregono COnOIusIOn-The Prosecution Rests
Yesterday andt Defense Opens An AnalI-
sis Of Tho Case and The Theories Advanced
Wndoatlon Of The Woman Demanded by H9r
Counsel and Relatives

Before another issue Of The Sunday
Globe Mrs Lola Ida Bonine Will be a
free woman, completely vindicated not
only Of the charge OF numbering James
Seymour Ayres, but also Of the equally
to a virtuOus womdn-henious inn
putation OF having dishonored her
loyal and loving husband. This Is the
prediction of The Globe after a dis
passionate analysis of the testimony
taken under oath in this celebrated
case. The Bonine trial is but another
of illustrations daily occurring Of the
difference between gossip and testi-
mony under oath If gossip could
hang and dishonor Mrs. Bonine she
would have been dead and dishonored
months ago But as Truth crushed
to earth will rise again" so slanderous
lies and prurient minded emanatlons
have faded before the light turned on
this no longer mysterious case. Nester-
day witnessed the beginning Of the end
when the government through its able
and conscientious representatives,
Gould and Taggart practically gave up
the fight and acknowledged themselves
routed, horse, foot and dragons by the
brilliant counsel for the defense.
Every unpreudiced person who has
followed the testimony Of the govern
ment anticipated this break down or
route. It was weak and wholly mad
eQuate to fasten a charge Of even mis-
demeanor The government has per-
formed, however a service for Mrs.
Bonine which neither her counsel nor
her friends could have accomplished,
viz, IL has afforded her the opportunity
she desired to vindicate her character
and forever set at rest the tongues Of
slanderous enemies and gossips alike.
She will leave the dock not only ac-
quilted Of the murder Of the unfor-
tunateyoung Census clerk, but rehabili-
tated i'm womanly honor and matronly
chastity.
The ordeal through which Mrs. Bo-
nine has passed would break down or
at least affect the strongest man, No
wonder that she begins 20 show signs
of the collapse which will almost in
evitably follow the close Of the trial.
The tension has been awful and mo-
body but one who has had the expert
ence can realize what this much per
secuted lady has been through. The
Globe does not accuse the government
of any part Of the persecution, on the
contrary IL must, in justice to Messrs.
Gould and Taggart. state that they did
their duty not only like accomplished
LAWYERS. but much better still like
Christian gentlemen. Never has case
been conducted more fairly, openly and
honestly by the prosecution in a capt.
tai charge. The persecution Of Mrs.
Bonine has come from other quarters
but the end Of her trouble is in sight,
and the birth OF a new happiness in the
restoration Of her husband and chill
dren is at hand. II was while i'm the
courtroom and noting the change Of
her features the last few days Of her
trial, during the past week that we be-
came profoundly impressed with the
sorrow suffering and terrible humila-
tion to which, not only herself. her
husband brothers, sister and children
were subjected. but also the father,
brother and relatives OF the Inflated
James Seymour Ayres. What a fright
ful nightmare it must all be to these
immediate relatives and friends when
even the stranger and callous prOfes-
sional newspaper man, lawyer and
spectator are affected by the drama Of
a young and promising life sacrificed, a
father bowed down In sorrow and
brother mourning for the companion
Of his childhood. and the proud hope OF
his manhood Truly is there a fellow.
ship Of grief between the accused and
the accusers.
Either the close atmosphere OF the
court room or the monotony Of the
proceedings or probably both made us
drowsy and we struggled desperately
against an inclination to doze. At
fitfnl intervals we would lose con-
seriousness for the traction Of a second
and arouse ourself in some alarm that
we we're probably noticed. IL must
have been during one of these infntes-
imal fractions OF time when conscious
ness to outward things had left u.s.
in fact while we dOzed, that our name
was called by Judge Anderson, and we
stepped forward to Ine bench.
"You will now sir, address the Jury
in behalf OF Mrs Bonine by the re-
quest OF her counsel"
It appeared the most natural thing
in the world TO us, and we simply
beamed, as waving our right hand at
the judge, we began:
MAY 1t please the Court and you
gentlemen Of the jury
This woman shot and killed Ayres
I do not deny 1t, neither do contend
against the governments theory Of
how she shot him. Human life Is
a sacred thing. so Is the domestic hon
OF a husband. a wife and Of children
The man, who either on invitation,
or on his own initiative debauches
the wife and mother Of family risks
his life to crafty his lusts. ID Ayres
do so2 II there Is criminal connec-
ton In this case and II the woman
killed him for spurning her after she