The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-27
TESTIMONY OF AN ATTORNEY
WHO BOARDED At THE HOTEL
WHERE THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED.
Mrs. BONNIE Wanted to Make n Public
Statement, but He Advised Delay
Other Testimony.

edy on the evening after the homicide, sew
eral days before she took the police Off
Gals into her confidence. This recital was
made to George B. Gardner. an attorney
employed in the law division of the In
terror Department, who was a boarder at
the Kenmore Hotel and usually sat at the
same table at which Mrs. BONNIE took her
meals. Mr.. Gardner was on the witness
stand to-day and told his story for the
first time. He said Mrs. Bonine had sought
him out and asked his advice as TO whether
she should make a public statement and
that he had suggested to her that she
should delay her confession until the the
DRY Of suicide, which was first entertained,
should be fully exploited.
A number of other witnesses were heard
during the day, several OF them being men
who had taken Ayres out 10 neighboring
saloons during the evening of May IA and
one of whom had taken him 10 his room
after midnight, about two hours before he
met his death. The witness who took
Ayres to his room was a young man named
Burns, who stated that when he left Ayres
the latter was perfectly sober. These wit
nesses generally agreed that Ayres had
taken about two glasses of beer and that
he was not under the influence of liquor.
Burns said that on one occasion he had
seen Ayres treat Mrs; Bonine contemptu-
ously. He said she had nursed him (Burns)
when sick and had visited his room by
day and night. Other witnesses also tes-
titled that Mrs. Bonine had visited them
when sick.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WOUNDS.
The first witness called to-day was Will
liam Schoenberger, keeper of the morgue.
He testified to having taken charge of
Ayres's body at the Kenmore Hotel and
to taking it to the morgue on the morning
of May Is last under the direction of the
coroner. He had also, he said, been pres
ent at the autopsy and had photographs
showing the location of the Wounds i'm the
body. The films were introduced as evil
dence and exhibited to the Jury. Mrs.
BOnine gave one hasty look at the pictures
as they were held by one of the attorneys,
but she quickly turned her head and gave
them no further attention. She engaged in
conversation with Attorney Fulton most
OF the time while this testimony was be-
ing given. The witness said there were
powder marks on the breast and arm
wounds, but none on the thigh wound. I'm
der the arm there was a burn. Describ-
ing the condition of the corpse when he
found it Mr.. Schoenberger said the arms
were drawn up in front of the face.
In order that the stenographer may de-
scribe the posture" said Mr.. Gould, 81
suppose there will be no objection TO his
noting that the attitude was one OF de-
fense?'
we do object. most decidedly" respond
ed Mr.. Douglass.
The court agreed that the description
would be improper and it was decided that
he should say that the arms were placed
as If shielding the face.
On cross-eXamination the witness said
that when he entered the room where the
killing occurred he saw several empty
cartridge shells in the slOpjar and had
also seen more shells and cartridges on
the trunk and on the washstand.
The next witness was George B. Gard
ner, an attorney in the Interior Depart
ment, who, with his family. occupied rooms
in the Kenmore Hotel. His testimony was
new. The fact was brought out that Mrs.
Bonine had made her first confession to
him. This confession was, the witness
said, made on the evening Of May Is. the
day of the tragedy. He was followed to
his room by Mrs. BONNIE. she stated to
me- he said, that she knew more about
bthe death of Ayres than had been given tc
the public. l think she hesitated a mo-
ment, or either my manner. or something
1 said, induced her to go on, and she said
she was present when it happened. and told
me that she had come TO me because she
wanted my advice. She told me that on
the morning Of Ayres's death he came to
her room and knocked on her door and
complained Of being i'll and asked if she
could not do something for him: that after
she got into Ayres's room he had assaulted
her and had a pistol in his hand and in the
scuffie which ensued he was killed"
Did she describe the struggle that took
placer" asked the district attorney.
AYREs HAD BEEN DRINKING.
The witness stated that she said nothing
more than that when the struggle followed
the assault the pistol was fired. The wit
ness stated that she did not tell him in
whose hands the pistol was, but later cor
rected himself by saying that he believed
she said the weapon was in Ayres's hand.
She also told me that Ayres was under
the influence Of liquor at the time of the
shooting" said Mr.. Gardner.
Witness also said that Mrs. BONNIE had
spoken to him again on the next day or
the second day after the tragedy. She sat
at the same table with him in the dining
room and she again sought TO talk with him
concerning the tragedy. she said" Mr..
Gardner testified, that she was feeling
badly and that nothing was sustaining her
except the consciousness of her innocence.
She added she could not get il out and
asked me If she had better destroy il. Nv
it 1 understood that she referred to one
OF her garments, but L did not know what
L told her to destroy nothing. as she had
not decided on a public confession"
on cross-examination Mr.. Gardner testi-
fed that he could not exactly say Mrs.
Bcnine was excited. She was hurried and
her manner was tense. She had asked his
advice as TO the advisability of making a
public statement and he had advised her
to remain quiet until II was determined
whether the suicide theory would hold
good.
dlAlE bAAA 49, win Na0 LAAIf - q
friend and who had accompanied him 10
his room the night of the tragedy. was next
called. He said that on the night of the
tragedy Ayres had gone with him and
others to two or three saloons around the
corner. where, he said. Ayres had drunk
sparingly. He had then at about l23J
o'clock accompanied Ayres 10 his room,
leaving him in a perfectly sober condition.
The witness said that while originally
Ayres and Mrs. BONNIE had been on friendly
terms these relations became strained. and
on the occasion Of the Monday dance be-
fore the killing when she had approached
Ayres with a carnatiOn he had treated her
with contempt. Mrs. Bonnie told him. he
said, that she had reproved Ayres for
drinking. He did not know of Ayres hav-
ing a pistol.
on cross-eXamination Burns said that
Mrs. BONNIE had taught Ayres how 10 dance
and also taught him (the witness) the two
step. He said that before starting out with
Ayres at 1890 o'clock he himself had six
or seven drinks. but that ne was not in
toxicated. He said that he had not spent
more than two minutes an Ayres's room
when he accompanied him up, and that he
had had no confidential conversation with
him. i 90 not know that 1 could have had
a confidential talk" he said. There might
have been some one under the bed. but
do not know that there was"
HE WAS AFRAID.
Burns said that on the night succeeding
the tragedy he had not remained in mis-
room In the hotel. Asked why ne kerr