Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-21
LULU |. BONINE'S
CONFESSION.
Tells the Story Of the Killing Of
], S. Ayers,
CAME TO HER ROOM AT2 AN,
She, at HIS Request Went TO His
Room Improper Proposals Fol-
lowed by shooting.

washington, May 2O--Thc mystery
attending the killing Of James Sey-
mour Ayers, IL census office clerk, in the
Kenmore hotel early last Wednesday
morning was solved today By a yolun-
tary confession from Mrs Lulu /.
Bonnie, married woman, and a guest
at the house, that the three shots which
ended Ayers life had been fired in
struggle between herself and Ayres.
Mrs. Bonine, whose husband is
drummer for the wholesale drug house
of Dewett a. Co., of Chicago, explained
her presence In Ayers room at 2 O'Clock
in the morning by saying that he had
come 10 her room complaining Of q
chill aud asking for medicine, and had
Induced her TO follow him 10 his room
to talk over some matters Of difference
there had been between them. She said
that she dressed herself In q wrapper
and went to his room, He had preceded
her and when she opened the door and
walked In he quickly closed 1t and in
formed her that he had enticed her to
the room for his own purposes, and
said II she did not submit TO his wishes
he would kill her Ayers she said, was
undressed and had revolver in his
hand, and In a struggle for It's posses
sion, which ensued Immediately after
she entered, 1t was discharged three
times, the shots striking Ayres at each
discharge, the last one proving fatal
After her statement, which was made
10 the chief OF police and number Of
other officials, Mrs Bonine was placed
under arrest and taken TO the house Of
detention, where she will be held pend
ing the result Of the cOruner's inquest
which has been In session since Satur-
day, and at which Mrs, BONNIE was 10
have appeared tomorrow as a witness.
The tragedy which resulted in Ayers
death became known about $3.50 O'Clock
last Wednesday morning, when his dead
body was found In his room at the
Kenmore a small family hotel Of mod
crate prices, situated not far from the
capitol. The dead mans full name was
James Seymour Ayers, He was
between 20 and q years Of
age, and lived In Port Austin
Mich, before coming to Wash
ington, as a clerk in the census office.
His father is q man of some standing
in Republican state politics In Michi-
gan.
An examination Of Ayers body
showed that he had been shot three
times, one ball entering the left leg and
another the left arm and the third
penetrating the heart and causing
DEATH Suicide was the first theory
advanced, but statements from two
witnesses who on the night Of the muir
der had seen a woman descending IRE
escape leading from in front Of Ayers
room at the hotel and disappear into the
parlor OF the house, ended this theory.
Gradually facts We're developed
pointed to Mrs, BONNIE, a guest or the
hotel, with whom Ayers had been on
very friendly terms and with whom he
had had a falling out. Mrs. Bonnie,
who had been subjected TO several rigid
examinations by a detective, without
result, today told him her story and
asked his advice. He counselled her
to tell all she knew, and In the pres"
ence of Dist. Atty. Gould and the de-
tectlve she again told the story or the
deed In her own words.
Mr. Gould would make no promise as
TO immunity from punishment, how
ever. and arrangements were maze TOT
a complete and full recital Of the deed
at the office of Mai Sylvester, the sup
erintendent Of police. Before gong TO
police headquarterr, however MRS
Bonnie asked that she be allowed TO
tell the story to her husband, who was
at the police station at the time. TINS
she was permitted to do She then went
to police headquarters, where a stem
ographic report was taken Of what she
had to say. Her statement was entirely
voluntary, and during It's recital she ap-
peared perfectly calm and collected lts
substance as related by Mat sylvester
chief Of police, is as follows;
Mrs. Bonnie acknowledged that she
was present when the shooting oc-
cured. She said that some time prior TO
March there had been a disagreement
between herself and Ayres ana that
their friendly relations had been broken
until the morning before the tragedy
when she became friendly with him
again. She said she had no watch nor
clock to tell the time, but II was some
time In the morning, presumably ABOUT
O'clock when Ayers knocked on her
door. She opened II and he told her ne
thought he was going TO have a chlll
and wanted to know II she had any
thing that would prevent it.
"She said that she thought she had
some laxative duinine and went to her
boys room adjoining hers, 10 get H. IN
the meantime he was standing III the
hall. He was dressed in trousers, coat