The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-21
BONNIE
ANOTHER EVE.
Governments Attorney Outlines
His Case Against Her.
Will Endeavor to Show That
She Pursued Dead Man.
WOMAN SCORNED
viii Be Offered as the Motive
For Killing.
Contends She Entered Ayers
Room Through Window.

Washington, Nov. 21.-The trial of
Mrs Lola Ida Bonine for the murder of
Mr.. James Seymour Ayers, Jr-, the CEN
sus office clerk, began in earnest to-
day, a jury having been secured yester-
day 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 witness for the prosecution
was introduced. There was an appre-
ciable increase in the proportion of Wo-
men in the court room today
In his address, Mr.. Taggart contended
that the killing of young Ayers had
been felonious and malicious and there
fore was to be characterized as murder,
as charged in the indictment. There
was, he said, a tie between the prisoner
and the dead man in the fact that
Ayers was student of dentistry and
she had studied medicine. AS a conse-
quence she became a frequent visitor
of his room in the hotel. where they
both lived not only in the day time,
but at night as well, "and,' he added,
1.-The door was not always open when
she was there"
He told of the quarrels between them,
saying that Ayers ceased to speak to
her and that she complained of his in
gratitude. we expect to show" he
said, that while she made advances to
him, Ayers did not avail himself of the
opportunity thus offered, beyond dane
ing with her again.
He had danced with her on the night
before the tragedy, but had shown that
he was aVerSe to renewal of the for
mer familiar intercourse. AS an in
stance of his attitude toward Mrs. Bon
inc, Mr.. Taggart said that Ayers had
refused to accept a carnation from her
on the Monday before the killing. 1t
was therefore evident, said the speaker,
hQ 10 he ind hor ae
a disposition on her part to mollify
him.
I'VE will show continued Mr. Tag
CART, that every act, step and pro-
ceeding on the part of the prisoner was
that of guilty person"
Mr. Taggart referred to Mrs. Bonine's
confession as being principally intended
to exonerate herself He thought the
facts indicated that the shooting did
not take place as Mrs. Bonine had
stated; that Ayers had not gone to her
room at all. as she claimed.
Outlining the governments position
Mr.. Taggart said it would be contended
that Ayers had retired when the person
who killed him entered the room and
that she came in through the window;
that he arose and started toward her !;
that sne shot MN, the flrst wound being
the fatal one in the breast. Naturally
his mouth had filled with blood and as
naturally he had put his hands to his
mouth. Then he had grasped the pistol
thuS accounting Tor the blood upon 1t.
Mr.. Taggart spoke for an hour and fif-
teen minutes and when he concluded,
Mr.. Douglass announced that the de-
fense would reserve its presentation Of
the case
Mrs Ronine sat quietly. throughout
the address and manifested no feeling.
Several ladies' left the room while Mr..
Taggart commented upon Mrs. -Bonine's S
visit to Ayers room, but their places
were immedia tely taken by others.
Thomas Francis, the first witness in
the case, was then called. He is a
draughtsman who had prepared a dia-
gram of the fourth floor of the Ken
more hotel including Ayers room. He
identified the drawing and gave details
concerning the location and dimensions
of the room.
When Mr.. Francis concluded his
statement the court took a recess until
1 IL O'clock for luncheon.