The Morning herald., 1878-05-11
WILMINGTON. DEL. SATURDAY, MAY H. 1878.
OUR COUNTY COURT.
THOMAS THE WIFE MURDERER ON TRIAL
ALL THE EVIDENCE IN.

| l.
| THOMAS THE WIFE MURDERER ON TRIAL
| ALL THE EVIDENCE IN.
New Castle, May 10th, 1878.
Court opened this morning at 10 O'Clock,
Chief Justice Comegys anl Associate jus
tices Wales, Wooten and Houston on the
bench.
This being the day fixed for the trial of
Thomas, the wife murderer, at twenty
minutes past ten, he was brought into the
Court. He was dressed in black clothing,
with white shirt, and the wound which he
had inflicted on bis throat was bandaged.
The empannellug of the jury was then
Commenced. After calling forty-one juryo
men, the following jury was accepted and
sworn in: George W. Lodge, of Christiana
Hundred, foreman; Andrew G. Alexander,
of Christiana.; John Moody, Jr., Penc ader;
Samuel H. Black, New Castle; Joseph R
Pennington, Red Lion; Thos. F. Dllworth,
St. Georges; William P. Single, White Clay
Greek; Edward j. Rodgers, New Castle;
Joseph Folawood, Brandywine; John ".
Naudaiu, of Appoquini mink; David c.
Webb, Red Lion; Thomas J. Craven, St.
! Georges.
State VS.. William Thomas Indicted for
having, on the 5th of April, 1878, at VIII
mington, committed murder by cutting the
throat of Sarah E. Thomas, his wife, with
a razor.
H. R. Pennington, Esq, opened for the
State.
Nellie Thomas testified Il am going on
Ii years of age; my fathers name is VIII
liam Thomas; my mothers, Sarah Eliza
] beth Thomas; remember the time OF her
death, it was about month ago, and It oc-
Cured ia our house. She then went on to
narrate the details of the murder as follows;
was at home on Friday, April 5th, with
my mother and two little children. That
afternoon, about ten minutes after 10
o'clock, papa left home to &c to work;
, Rosie and Sallie went out to play, and
mother was laying down on the lounge
. was sweeping up stairs. Father returned
from work exactly at five O'Clock, by our
clock. I was ironing, and mother was st Ill
laying on the Lounge in the room. Papa
didn't say anything for a good while; l
asked what he would have for supper; he
said he didn't know; didn't speak for or
q ten minutes, when l asked him whether he
would have an egg, slice of toast, and a
cup of tea he said yes. got it; he sat
down and ate; mother was still laying on
the lounge; father ate his supper; mother
didn't eat anything and still remained laying
on the lounge. After supper father sal
down, and after short time said he was
going up to bed; which was about o'clock
He went up; mother was still laying down;
about Is minutes after father went up stairs
she went TO the cellar way, got her supper,
ate It, and went to bed. 1t was about ten
minutes after leaving me and Rosie and
ssllie down stairs, heard papa and mo,
ther talking Ia low tone up stairs; couldn't
hear weat they said went to the stairs
and heard papa accuse mamma of going
: with anotner mar. She didn't reply; re-
turned and went on ironing. heard moth
ing else until about fifteen minutes after,
when papa said he wanted mamma to tell
the truth; she said she had no truth to tell.
finished ironing, and went up stairs after
8 O'Clock, I saw father and mother In bed
in the back groom. There is q stairway
t leading up stairs; my room is on the right
hand side; fathers Is on the left. l went
into my room, and was just getting un-
y dressed. l didn't get into bed.
c heard papa tell mother to get
out of bed; mother said, "What do you
y want me to get out of bed for % "Why,
because you are drunk" She got out and
came into our room, stood by our bed for
= awhile and went back to her own room
I again. When mother returned papa was In
bed. Mother was going to bed, when papa
told her to 90 into our room. She came
ipto our room, papa followed, and papa
said she had bought necklaces and watch
C chains for another man. Mother denied it
& Papa said he knew she did it, and to go and
- find them. She said she never bought any
thing. Papa then took her by the arm anG
4 led her into his room. l followed, paps
!. shut the door of his room after him.
b went to my room and put on my dress
!, heard him ask her whether she wanted u
die ia the dark-it was dark in their room
but we always kept light in our's-mothel
said of course l don't want to die in tht
dark. l went and opened fathers door
It he was standing by the bed, mother Wal
!. laying on the floor, father picked up tn,
:, pitcher and said he would smash her brain
- out. He didn't strike. Mother made NJ
= reply. He then picked her up, and abou
. . one-half carried and dragged her dowl
. stairs. I followed behind. When he 90
down, he laid her on the lounge in the bacl
room, and went to the cupboard-befor
father carried her down, he told me to q
and get the razor, and would not do it
!. lie didn't tell what he wanted with it, bu
p he afterwards said he was going to cut he
: throat. Father went to get his razor, tool
u my sister Rosie and ran to Mr.. John Hawks S
!. across the street. gave the alarm at Mr.
!. Hawks. l returned alone In about tel
minutes, and found little Sallie, who is no