The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-26
THE AYRES KILLING
WITNESSES TOLD THEIR STORY
YESTERDAY.
PRISONER LISTENS UNMovED.
PROSECUTIONS EVIDENCE NONE
TOO STRONG.

NUM- er Oh Empty cartridges anu
other circumstances Baker
Heard Shots and Saw Woman
Climb Down Fire Escape-Women
Witnesses Threw Little Light ON
TraEedy-Mrs. Bonnie Exhibited
No Emotion or Excitement on the
Day After the Murder.
Washington, Nov. 25.-The trial of
Mrs. Lola 1. Bonine, for the murder
of James S. Ayres at the Kenmore Ho-
tel, last May, began in real earnest to-
day. The preliminary details as to the
finding of the body, the location of the
furniture, blood stains, etc, were all
in with the conclusion of the testimony
of j. F. Drew, the capitol policeman
who was on the stand when the court
adjourned last Friday. Baker, the man
who saw Mrs. Bonine descend the fire
escape, Hopkins, who roomed over
Ayres and raised the first cutlery, Miss
Woolums, who roomed under Ayres,
and Miss Lawless and Miss Minas
who roomed on either side of him, tes-
titled to-day. The two latter were re-
garded as star witnesses. but they
testified to no facts not developed at
the inquest.
Drew testified that there was room
enough behind the door of Ayres' room
for a man to have been there while the
door was opened to admit another per-
son, a contention which the prosecu-
ton deny, and also that there We're
empty cartridges in the slop jar in
Ayres' room before the pistol with
which the shooting was done was emp.
tied by officer Brady after the trag
edy. This would tend ito establish the
theory of the defense that the pistol
belonged to Ayres. Mrs. Bonine
throughout the trial to- day, when wit
nesses described the cries, groans and
throat gurgling of the dying man, re-
manned absolutely unmoved.
j. Frank Drew, the Capitol police
man, resumed his testimony. He swore
that he had several times seen the de-
PENDANT come out of Ayres' room. The
last occasion was about a week before
the tragedy. 1t was about 9 O'Clock at
night On cross examination he tes-
titled that there was space enough be-
hind the door for a person to have
stood there while the door was opened
to admit another person, also that
there were empty cartridge shells in
the slop jar upon his first visit to the
room, which was before Officer Brady
broke the pistol and took TIE shells out.
He testified that he had seen Mrs. Bo-
nine come out of the rooms of others
in the hotel, among them those of sew
eral single men, and her demeanor was
in no wise different from that when he
saw her emerge from Ayres' room.
Saw Mrs. BONNIE Descend.
Thomas NJ. Baker. an employe of the
fish commission, who resided in the
building adjoining the Kenmore, was
then called and testified that on the
night of the tragedy he was awakened
by the reports of pistol shots. He
jumped out of the bed, went to the
window and heard a voice from above
inquiring what was wrong below. He
replied that he had heard pistol shots.
Then, while standing at his window he
saw a figure on the fire escape Just
outside of Ayres' window. The figure
walked the length of the fire escape in
his direction, and then descended two
fights to the floor of the veranda
where it disappeared into a window.
1t was the figure of a small woman,
clad in dark tightftting clothing. The
woman wore no hat and as he did not
hear the fall of her footsteps he Judg-
ed she was in her stocking feet. He
described the menner of her descent,
which he said was very deliberate and
without emotion. He did not know the
defendant at the time of. the tragedy.
but saw her about l o'clock the af-
ternoon of that day. She was at that
time being questioned by Detective
Horne. She was smiling and ne heard
her say she knew about the cause of
Ayres' death.
r. T. Hopkins, a clerk in the War
Department. heard three loud reports
and looking out saw something which
looked like a skull lying on the Gre
escape just outside the window of
Ayres' room.
Emma A. Lawless, who occupied the
room adjoining that in which the trag-
edy occurred. showed considerable
nervousness as she took the stand. She
was slightly aroused during the night
of the tragedy, but was not awakened.
She formed no ideas as to what aroused
her or what time it was.
After the recess Miss Mary e. Minas.
a clerk in the census office, who occu-
pied the room next to Ayres, took the
stand. She testified that she was
friend of Ayres.
trict attorney.
"Of Mrs. Bonnie up to that time"
replied the witness.
Continuing, Miss Minas testified that
late on the evening of the tragedy she
met Mrs. Bonnie and remarked that
she was up late.
Yes, am looking for Maurice (Mrs.
Bonnie's son). replied Mrs. Bonnie.
Mrs. Bonnie went TO Miss Minas' room.
and after few minutes left Miss
Mnas then retired That was about II
o'clock Miss Minas then described
what she knew Of the tragedy. She
had been Weakened by three pistol
shots, followed by cries for help and a
gurgling sound; then a fail and then all
quiet.
Was Badly Frightened.
Il was paralyzed with fright" she
testified. Il rushed 10 the door and
piled several chairs against x % pro-
tect myself ] then sank into a rock
ing chair. ! think must have fainted
After some time 1 went 10 the window
and looked out. All was as stili as
death. walked the floor, suffering in
tense agony. ! made up my mind that
would walt until daylight and then
booked out IN the hall. When n got
light ! opened fhe dor and looked Out,
but there was nothing outside ~ oc-
casl0n the disturbance / had heard.
concluded thar "a had al been . night
marc"
Then. shs said. che busisd herself IN
her room Until breakfast time. when
che Weni down stairs. There she met
NJ ifoukinH who told her Whnf a.
had heard. and fhe became satisfied n
vaf nof all a dream She then sent
the tnv laFT t4n fs faII Mr Nuan a "a.