The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-22
THIS is HER STATEMENT
Mrs. BONNIE Says he Enticed Her In
to His Room.
HE THREATENED HER WITH A REVOLVER
The Struggle For Its Possession He Was Sho
Three Times. After Her Confession
The Woman is Placed Tn
der Arrest
der Arrest.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, May 20-The mystery at
tending the killing of James Seymour
Ayres, Census Office clerk in the Ken
more Hotel early last Wednesday morn
ing, was solved today by a voluntary
confession from Mrs. Lulu J. Bonine, a
married woman and guest at the house
that the three shots which ended Ayres
life had been fired in a struggle between
husband is a drummer for the wholesale
drug house of Dewitt and Company OF
Chicago, explained her presence in Ayres
room at two o'clock in the morning, say
ing that he had come to her room COM
planning of chill and asking for medi-
cine and had induced her to follow him
to his room to talk over some matters
of difference there had been between
them She said that she dressed herself
in a wrapper and went to his room. He
had preceded her and when she opened the
door and walked in he quickly closed it
and informed her he had enticed her to
the room for his own purposes and said
if she did not submit to his wishes, he
would kill her. Ayres, she said, was I'M
dressed and had a revolver in his hand
and in a struggle for it's possession which
ensued Immediately after she entered,
it was discharged three different times
the shots striking Ayres at each dis
charge, the last one proving fatal.
After her statement which was made to
the chief of police and a number of other
officials Mrs. Bonine was placed under
arrest and taken to the House of Deten-
tion where she will be held pending the
result of the coroner's inquest, which has
been in session since Saturday and at
which Mrs. BONNIE was to have appeared
tomorrow as a witness
The tragedy which resulted in Ayres'
death was discovered first about half
past eight last Wednesday morning, when
his dead body was found in his room at
the Kenmore, a small family hotel situa-
ted not far from the Capitol An eXami-
nation of Ayres' body showed that he
had been shot three times, one ball en-
tering the leg another the left arm and
q third penetrating the heart and causing
death. Suicide was the theory advanced.
but statements from two witnesses that
on the night of the murder they had seen
a woman descend fire escape leading
from in front of Ayres' room at the hotel
and disappear into the parlor OF the
house. ended this theory and the killing
quickly developed into mysterious and
sensational affair that baffed the police
until today. Saturday the coroner began
his inouest but no substantial clue was
found to connect any person specifically
with the tragedy The inquest was re-
sumed today and had developed nothing
directly bearing on the tragedy except
n
room when it was suddenly adjourned on
information that the district attorney and
others were wanted at police headquarters
to hear a statement made by Mrs Bon
inc.
It's substance as related by Major Syl-
vester, chief of police, is as follows
Mrs. Bonnie acknowledges that she
was present when the shooting occur
red. She said that some time prior 10
March 4th there had been disagree
ment between herself and Ayres, ana
that their friendly relations hal Deen
broken until the morning before the
tragedy, when she became frie1dls
with him again. She sail she had no
watch nor clock to tell the time. put
sometime in the morning. presumably
about o'clock, Ayres Knocked on her
door She opened it and he told ncr he
thought he was going to have q call
and wanted to know if she had ally"
thing that would prevent it. She said
that she thought she had some laxative
uuinine and went to her boys room
adjoining hers to get it In the mean
time he was standing in the hail. lie
was dressed in his pants, coat and I'M
dershirt.
When she came back she
said she could not find the quinine.
Ayres threw his arm over her SHOULDER
and asked her if she would not como
over to his room where they coul1 tax
over their differences. To this she as
scented. saying she would go as soen
as she could dress herself. She had
been in bed when he aroused her and
went to the door in her night gown.
Ayres left her and went back to his
room. She dressed herself, putting on
all her clothes except her corset, IL
Guiding a wrapper She then wen. TO
his room, opened the door and entered.
Ayres stood behind the door, and as