The times., 1901-05-19
PROBING THE AYERS Case
Nothing Sensational Brought Out
at the Inquest.

Miss Minas Tells of Night of Ter
ror-The Relations of Mrs. Bonine
and the Murdered Youth - DR..
GlnzebrooI Describes the Injuries.
The first day of the inquest into the
circumstances attending the death of
James Seymour Ayers, jr., the young
Census Office employe who was muir
dered in his room on the fourth floor
of the Kenmore Hotel, on North Capitol
Street about o'clock Wednesday
morning. May IS. did not develop any
of the sensational and dramatic Incl
dents that had been looked for by the
crowd which packed the commodious
dormitory, which had been temporarily
turned into a courtroom.
There were, however, many impor-
tant and interesting facts brought to
light, and of the five witnesses who
were examined during the afternoon the
greatest interest seemed to centre in
the testimony of Miss Mary f. Minas,
whose room adjoined on the south the
one formerly occupied by Ayers. She
told of being awakened by the firing
of three shots; of the cries for help,
which appeared to come from the hall
in front of her door; Of the terror with
which she was seized, and of her tongue
clinging to the roof of her mouth when
she thought of burglars. She told of
jumping from her bed and barricading
her doors in terror; of her feeling in
stinctively that man had been killed.
and that his body was lying outside of
her door.
Then all was quiet, anu she wondered
if she had been suffering from d night
mare She went to her window and
looked out, but saw no one, and in the
agony of her suspense she paced the
floor all night.
She also detailed the misunderstood
ing that had estranged Ayers and Mrs.
Bonine, who had previously been on
terms of the utmost intimacy. She
spoke of seeing Mrs. Bonine in Ayers
room on many occasions at various
times Of the night and day previous to
the estrangement, which occurred about
March T. All of this testimony failed
10 impress the utlEGllNtS dS ElluNll d.
did the statement of the witness that
when Mrs BOnine went to the witness
room about 1890 o'clock on the night
of the tragedy she wore a dark brown
dress. This information was not vouch-
safed at any of the interviews, it is
said-not even at the most thorough
examination by Major Sylvester and
Captain Bcardman.
AN INDISCRETE REMARK.
Another incident that tended to the
dramatic was the facing OF Robert p.
Hopkins with the accusation that he
had remarked the previous evening that
Ayers should have been killed num-
ber of months ago. Mr.. Hopkins ad-
mitted that he might have made such
a remark. but asserted that his only
reason for so doing was based on the
reports that he had read in the papers.
District Attorney Gould insisted that
he specify what particular report
he referred 10, but Mr. Hopkins
was unable To even designate any paper
in which he had seen such an article
as he referred to.
Afterward he said that he probably
had some feeling in the matter, as
Ayers had approached his daughter one
night when he had been drinking and
asked her to dance with him. The wit
ness admitted that at times he himself
partook of an occasional drink, and
that if he had not done so the pre-
vious evening he probably would not
have made the remark which was at
tributed to him During the progress
of the enquiry a letter was handed TO
District Attorney Gould that had been
received by Major Sylvester but a few
minutes before by special delivery
The letter bore directly upon the case
and ii is understood that the informa-
ton which it contained may play
prominent part later on in the hearing.
Major Sylvester also sent to Mr.. Gould
later in the day several additional ar
ticles that have but recently been dis
covered and that will be introduced in
evidence. At the close of the hearing,
it is understood, Blr. Gould was con-
suited as tC whether certain parties
should be placed under arrest, but he
deemed it wise not to DO so at present.
Mr. BONNIE ARRIVES.
Aside from the developments at the
inquest, there was but little that was
new in the mystery yesterday. J. c.
Bonine, the husband of one OF the most
interesting figures who viii be called
upon to testify, arrived in the city late
in the evening and reached the hotel.
grin in hand shortly after 10 O'Clock.