The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-11
ARGUING THE
BONNIE CASE.
Mr.. Taggart Opens for the
Government.
PRAYERS OF COUNSEL SUBMITTED.
Their Discussion Occupies the En-
tire Morning Session and Part
of the Afternoon-To Go to
the Jury Tomorrow.

Mr.. Taggart will be followed by Messrs
Fulton and Douglass for the defence, and
United States Attorney Gould will close
for the prosecution.
Mr.. TaGgart's Address.
Mr. Taggart in opening mis- argument
said that in a general way it might be
said If it were not for the defendants
statement-appearing in evidenee-there
would be no question Of her gull II the
statement was out Of the case and the
jury had the facts alone 20 consider 1t
would be sufficient to satisfy the jury of
her guilt
At present, he said. he would ask the
jury to consider only the facts
Mr.. Taggart then reviewed the case
from the discovery Of AyTes* body, in his
room at the Kenmore, on The morning OF
May 10, up TO the time the Government
and defence closed their testimony.
Mr. Taggart commented on Ayres' man
ner the night he retired to sleep for the
last time ia his life He said nothing in
the evidence proved that the dead nan
had swerved from his usual habits one
ioJa on the night in question
Declares Ayres Was Sober.
Mr. Taggart declared Ayres was sober
On this occasion, as had been proven by
the testimony Of all the Witnesses.
There was no infammatory liquor in
his stomach TO encourage IustfUl mo-
tives," he said. and the doctors found
none when they performed The autopsy"
Mrs Bonnie. he said, was IN 4yEes' room
at . o'clock IN the morning
What would you naturally think Of
woman he asked, who had been tf.-
innocent cause Of a mans death under
such circumstance? What would such q
woman do? Would there rot have been an
outery from an innocent woman2 Yes
But wfat did Mrs Bonine ia the follow
ing morning. She pretended. to be in ig-
norsnce OF the whole affair.
Mr. Taggart said all her su=zeauent ac-
lions were those Of 4 guilty oman, not
an innocent one
Mrs. Bonine,s statLaen4
He took up Mrs. Boniues statement
Just after dinner on the day Of the
killing she speaks to a friend about the
killing How far did she go? She told
| this gentleman JGardiner} she was n the
| room when Ayres was shot. and that the
/ latter had attempted to assault her
Later she approached her friend again
/ on the subject. and. gentlemen OF the
| jury / want you right here 70 consider
one Of the most important features in tn;
| case.
she said TO this gentleman: I cam
/ wash it out Shall I destroy it?'
The gentleman says she did not Stat;
/ what the 2Uticle was. he thought it W.:
an article Of clothing
Wash out what? Destroy what2 The
wrapper that has figured so IL the trial.
| If the defence has established anything
| in view Of her statement, il IS that she
never could have worn the wrapper OF
the night in question
Arguments on the Prayers.
The arguments on the prayers OF tn,
defence and Government. which were
submitted 10 the court this morning, oc.
cupied the entire morning session ant
part Of the afternoor.
At the conclusion OF the argument
Judge Anderson said he would reserve
his decision on the ninth prayer submit.
ted by the defence, as he desired more
| time in which to consider it. The othel
prayers of the defence and also of tn,
Government, he said, he would incorpor
ate in his charge to the jury practically
as they were written.
Badinage of Counsel.
During the argument on the Govern.
ment's prayers, opposing counsel engagee
in good-natured badiEage ove., the valu,
Of expert testimony
Mr.. Douglass had referreyE to the ad
mission OF expert testimony in the ceIe
brated Funk case, when the District At
torney read from some authorities whfcl
| declared in many instances the eviderc,
of experts should carry no more weigh
| ss.an that of laymen or ordinary persons
my friend, the District Attorney re
| marked Mr. Douglass, has accomplished
a most acrobatie feat in his. estimation O
expert testimony. When he Nas present.
ing the Governments case, expert testi
mony was to him as pate de foie gras tt
a gourmet, but now it is steueh in hi:
nostrils-''
Both Judge Anderson and. Mr.. Goult
smiled at Mr.. Douglass comparison, am
Mr.. Gould said:
Counsel has made that remark many
many times during this trial, and if h,
keeps it up long enough he may believ,
himself"
Before I get through I may infuenc,
your mind my way. Although I have lit
tie hopes, you are past redemption ant
Mr. Douglass face assumed q grief
stricken appearance.
you'll never do It in thousan,
years" refuted Mr. Gould. ending thi
coIIoquy, which came as a relief ate
the legal discussion.
To the Jury Tomorrev.
The case will probably go to th
jury tomorrow afternoon. Two lawyer
on each side viii present extendet
arguments. the District Attorney clos
ing for the Government. Nineteen day
were consumed in the examination Of wit
nesses, about seventy having been on tn
stand. and in the opinion OF expert crimi
nal lawyers. the mystery IN so far as ne'
Hight has been thrown on It by the testi
mony is as impenetrabIe as ever.
| For a time the Government SCENE