The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-19
MRS. BONNIE AT
BAR OF JUSTICE.
Pleads mot Guilty " To
Charge Of Murder.
TRIAL OF TIE AYRES Case BEGINS.

Weeps Pathetic Scenes in the
Court Chamber The Moth
er Meets Her Two Sons.
In the d:ngy little chamber which forms
one of the wings Of the ancient city
Hall" Of Washington. and which is OIL
cially known as Criminal Court No. l.
Lola Ida Henry Bonine was this morn
ing arraigned for the murder OF James
Seymour Ayres On the morning of May
i last, al the Kenmore Hotel.
A fraH little woman. bravcly striving
to force back the tears which weued from
her eyes. stood alone before the bar as
the clerk Of the court droned out the ter
ri6le Indictment:
Whereas one Lola Ida Henry Ronine
did, with a pistol charged with gunpow-
der, and with Ieadon bullets. feIoniously
and with malice aforethought. assault,
strike. and murder one James Seymour
Ayres. To which. does the defendant
plead guilty or not guiIty?~ the clerk
asked.
~ Am Not Guilty.
The tears were mastered. The CULVER
ms mouth grew firm.
Yam not guilty" was the reply.
The court chamber was packed TO the
doors. Mr. Bonine. the husband Of the
woman on trial. passed through the
jury room and slowly, almost painfully.
made his way to little group u chairs
placed directly behind the tables reserved
Tor the attorneys. His face was drawn,
haggard and yellow. and his hair, black
brief year. ago, was streaked with grey.
Immediately following her husband
came Mrs, Ncacham, Mrs. Boaine's sister.
She appeared nervous. but spoke cheer
fully TO Mr. Bonine. Mrs. Meacham is a
pleasant-faeed little woman. closely re-
sembling her sister. The AFFLICTED ones
conversed. in lew tone for a few mo-
meEts.
Entrance of the Prisoner.
At last there came a stir from the stair
way leading to the vaults below and Dep
MY Marshal Springmann appeared with
Mrs. BoniRe. She was neatly and taste
fully attired IN a blue skirt and jacket.
With a dark drab waist. She wore q black
hat. trimmed with lace and feathers. Her
face was covered with q jhin black veil
She made her way rapidly to the side Of
her loyal husband and seated herself, Civ
ing him one glance, the look Of true wom-
suly affection for the man to whom she
had plighted her troth. The pleasure Of
the meeting beamed from her face, and
those who stared could not realize that
the grim authority Of the law had charged
this woman with the mos, heinous Of all
crimes.
Directly behind Mr. and Mrs. Bonine sat
Mrs. Meacham. Deputy Marshal Spring
man stationed himself TO the left Of the
prisoner, but with thoughtful courtesy
moved away Tar enough TO leave he hus-
hand and wife to themselves.
The Fountain OF Tears Breaks.
But few words passed between the
two when great tears coursed down the
little woman's cheeks and she bowed
her head in genuine sorrow
The husband looked crushed and de-
jected. and remained throughout the day
with stopped shoulders and downcast
eyes. once during a luu in the proceed
ings, he again engaged in earnest CONVEX
sation with his wife and she seemed the
better for what he said. She raised her
veil and looked earnestly at those around
her.
The Mother GreetS Her Boys.
The saddest scene Of the day came
about when the indictment having been
read and the plea made. a court usher
entered with two little boys. who ap-
peared sadly out Of place amid such sur
roundinEs. They we're Chesleigh. aged
thirteen. and Maurice. aged fifteen. Mrs.
Bonine's sons. The bitterness Of having
her boys witness her trial Tor murder
seemed to De overcome by the pleasure Of
having them by her side and as they en-
tered she called them to her. Both sat
by their father. however. and manifested
the deepest interest in the proceedings.
Both are bright and Intelligent looking.
and both wear large glasses, which make
them look older than they really are.
From time 10 time the mother turned
90 the boys with a confident smile. but
they were all too deeply cugrossed I'm the
challenging Of the Jurors to see that q
heart was hungering for even gIanc1
from them. II was q sad Iltle drama
and the pity Of those who Witnessed II
went out 20 the mother far more than ia
the children. They could not understand
The realization was all too bitter foi
her
scenes in the Court Room.
Justice Anderson. stern and srolid. with
beads Of perspiration exudiug from his
bald head. eyinced the keencst interest in
the proceedings He held a wooden pen
holder IN his hand and with il absent
mludedly beat the surface Of his desk al
mcst ineessantly. Below the justice SAT
Frank ". Smith the CLERK Of the court.
nervously pushing a big yellow pencil