The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-25
VISITED The SICK.
A Policeman TeStifies That He
Had Frequently Seen
Mrs. Bonine Come From Rooms
of Unmarried Gentlemen.
AYERS WAS INCLUDED.
Her DemeanOr on These Occa.
SiOnS Was Ever the Same.
She Never Displayed Evidences
Of Any Excitement.

Washington, Nov. 25.-The trial of
Mrs. Lola Ida Bonine for the murder of
James Seymour Ayers, jr., last May
was resumed today in criminal court
No. !. ]. Frank Drew, the capitol po-
hceman, who was on the stand last
Friday when the court adjourned, re-
sumed his testimony. He swore that
he had several times seen the defend
ant come out of Ayers room. The last
occasion was about a week before the
tragedy. 1t was at night, about 8
o'clock. On cross-examination he tes-
titled that he looked over the transom
into the room on the morning when
Ayers body was discovered. He was
closely questioned as to the location of
the furniture, the clothing and position
of the body He testified that there
was space enough behind the door for
a person to have stood there While the
door was opened to admit another per-
son. He testified that he had seen Mrs.
BOnine come out of the rooms of 9TH
ers in the hotel. among them those OF
several single men. and her demeanor
was in no wise different from that
when he saw her emerge from Ayers
room She displayed no evidences of
excitement. Her bearing was natural.
She had a habit of visiting the sick.
On cross examination he testified that
there were empty cartridge shells in
the slop jar upon his first visit to the
broke the pistol and took the shells out.
SAW HER ON FIRE ESCAPE.
Thomas M Baker, an employe of the
fish commission, who resided in the
building adjoining the Kenmore, was
then called, and testified that on the
night of the tragedy he was awakened
by the report of pistol shots He
jumped out of bed, went to the window,
and heard voice from above inquiring
what was wrong below. He replied that
he had heard pistol shots. Then while
standing at his window he saw a figure
on the fire escape just outside of Ayers
window: The figure walked the length
of the fire escape in his direction and
then descended two flights to the floor
of the veranda, where it disappeared
in a window. It was the figure of
small woman, clad in dark, tight fitting
clothing The woman wore no hat and
as he did not hear the fall of her foot
steps he judged she was in her stock
ing feet. He described the manner of
her descent, which he said was very
deliberate and without emotion.
He did not know the defendant at the
time of the tragedy, but saw her about
1 o'clock of the afternoon of that day
She was at that time being questioned
by Detective Horne. She was smiling
and he heard her say she knew moth
ing about the cause of Ayers death
The shots he heard sounded muff1ed
He could not tell exactly, but judged
they were about 10 or 15 seconds apart
Robert p Hopkins, a clerk in the
war department, who lived at the Ken
more hotel, where the tragedy occurred,
was the next witness. He testified that
he lived on the fifth floor, over the room
of Miss Lawless, who occupied the room
adjoining that in which Ayers was
killed. His daughter was i'll on the
night of the tragedy. He had been at
tending her and just he return
ing to bed he heard three loud reports.
He went to the window and looked
down. He saw something which looked
like a skull lying on the fire escape
just outside the window which he after
ward ascertained was the window of
Ayers room. The shots were fired in
quick succession, about four seconds,
he judged, between the first and last
A STIR IN COURT.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hopkins tes-
timony there was a stir in the court as
the bailiff called Emma A. Lawless,
who occupied the room adjoining that in
which the tragedy occurred Miss Law
less showed considerable nervousness as
she took the stand She testified that
craving and printing. On the night of
the tragedy about $50 o'clock she tes-
titled that Ayers knocked at her door
and asked if she had any sugar. He
to make some cocoa She gave him the
sugar. About ten minutes later he
knocked again and asked her if she did
not want cup She replied that she
did not care for it, About 10 o'clock she
retired. She was slightly aroused dur
ing the night but was not awakened.
She formed no idea to what aroused
her or what time it was. The district
attorney then turned the witness over
to the defendants cOuSel, but he asked
but single question, which brought out
nothing additional.
At 12:15 O'Clock the court took a re-
cess until l o'clock.
TContinued on Fourth Pare