The sun., 1901-11-22
TRIAL or MRS. BONNIE
The Case Against Her Opened by the
4 .-.. Prosecution. y.
HUGH TAGGART'S ADDRESS.
Assistant District Attorney Contends
That the Killing of Census
Clerk Ayrcs Was FcIoni-
aus ana Malicious.

Washington, Nov. 2l.-The trial of
Mrs. Lola Ida Bonine for the murder of
James Seymour Ayres, Jr., the census
office clerk, has begun in earnest. The
first order of the day was the outline
of the governments case by Assistant
District Attorney Hugh T. Taggart,
and after he had concluded the first
witnesses for the prosecution We're in
troduced. There was an appreciable in
crease in the proportion of women in
the courtroom.
I'm his address Mr.. Taggart contended
that the killing of young Ayres had
been fclonious and malicious ana there
fore was to be characterized as muir
der, as charged in the indictment
There was, he said, a tie between the
prisoner and the dead man in tho fact
that Ayres was n student of dentistry
and she had studied medicine. AS n
consequence she became Il frequent
visitor to his room in the hotel where
they both lived, not only in the day
time, but at night as well, ''and," he
added, the door was not always open
when she was there He told of the
q,larrels between them, saying that
-Ayres ceased to speak to her and that
she complained Of his ingratitude
"We expect to show" he said, that
while she made advances to lin Ayrcs
did not avail himself Of the opportunity
thus afforded beyond dancing with her
again. He had danced with her on the
night before the tragedy, but had
shown that he was averse to Il renewal
Of the former familiar intercourse"
wouIdn't Accept "a Flower.
AS an instance of his attitude toward
Mrs. Bonine Mr.. Taggart said that
Ayres had refused to accept a carna-
tion from her on the Monday before the
killing. 1t was therefore evident, said
the speaker, that while he was indiffer,
ent there was Il disposition on her part
to Tiollify him.
I'VE will show" continued Mr.. Tag
CART, that every act, step and proceed
Ing on the part of the prisoner was the
net of a guilty person.
Mr. Taggart referred to Mrs. Bo-
mines confession us being principally
attended to exonerate herself. He
thought the facts Indicated that the
shooting did not take place as Mrs. Bo-
nine had stated: that Ayres had not
gone to her room at all, as She claimed.
Outlining the governments position,
Mr.. Taggart said il would be contend
ed tsat Ayres had retired when the
person who killed him entered the room
and that she came in through the Win
dow; that he arose and started toward
her; that she shot him, the first wound
being the fatal one in the breast. Nat
urally his mouth had filed with blood,
and as naturally he had put his hands
to his mouth. Then he had grasped
the pistol, thus accounting for the
blood upon it.
Defense Reserves Presentation.
Mr.. Taggart spoke for an hour atd
fifteen minutes, and when he conclud-
ed Mr.. Douglass announced that the
defense would reserve its presentation
of the case. Mrs. Bonine sat quietly
throughout the address ana manifest
ed no feeling. Several ladies left the
room while Mr.. Taggart commented
upon Mrs. Bonne's visit to Ayres
room, but their places We're Immediate
ly taken by others.
Thomas Francis. the first witness in
the case, was then called. He is a
craftsman and had prepared dia-
gram Of the fourth floor Of the Ken
more hotel, including Ayres' room. He
identified the drawing and gave details
concerning the location and dimcn-
sions of the room.
When Mr.. Francis concluded his
statement, the court took n recess.