Evening journal., 1896-11-10
WILLIS TRIAL ENDED.
State Makes Mock of the
Novel Defence,
WHICH IS "AoC1DENTAL KILLING >

DEFENCE CLAIMS THAT THE
CHILD FELL AND BROKE ITS
HENRY CASE BEGUN.
Thomas Willis. the large and closely
shaven colored man on trial at the
Court House for the murder OF his
baby daughter. Callie Willis. may
know his fate before tc- lorrow's sun
rises.
Hearing Of testimony ia this import
ant capital case began at yesterdays
afternoon session, the state declaring
its intention OF proving murder in the
first degree.
John w. Dennison swore. as the FIRST
witness, that on May he employed
Thomas Willis on his farm. in Mill
Creek hundred. He loaned the prisoner
team TO take his child to a new
boarding-house. Frank Dennison cor
roborated his fathers testimony
William Talley, colored. identified
shawl found near where the child's
body was buried Abram Peterson, col
ored swore to seeing Willis departure
from the Dennison farm with the car
ri0ge.
Ella Beulah colored, testified that
when Willis returned on that day he
told her he had taken the child lowest
Grove, Pa. Marina ShOckley swore to
taking the child to board on April 90
On May A. Willis came after the child.
saying he was going 10 take it to West
Grove. She identified the bloody
clothes found on the child as the ones
worn by the child when she left her
house.
Mrs. Margaret Hewott testified TO see
ing Willis and a small child in q wagon
near Thompson's bridge on May 4.
Morris Messner met Willis on the road
that day, and the prisoner asked him
the way to Milford Cross Roads. Ma
thaniel Richardson and William Mouse
ley also met Willis and his child
FOUND ITS HEADLEss BODY.
James Harkins found the headless
body OF the child on his fathers farm
Thomas Harkina identified the clothing
exhibited to the jury as that which he
saw on the body. Manuel Williams
swore that Willis told him, after the
body had been found, that he had taken
the child to West Grove.
John X. Chambers testified to a par
tial confession, and Detective McVey
to a full confession made by Willis.
Willis said that he put the child I'm a
phosphate bag and pushed it under the
water and kept IL there until it was
dead. He then hid the body in the
bushes and buried it the next morning
Detective Witsils statfmcnt was prac-
tically the same as OF Mr.. McVey. Will
lis stated to the witness that he killed
the child because she was a burden to
him. Coroner Stidham also heard the
confession. The state rested here.
WILLIS Defence OPENED.
Mr. Marvel. in opening for the de-
fence, made an eloquent appeal for the
prisoner He said that Willis had
intended TO take the child to Newark.
Alongside the road Willis got out Of
the wagon and sat down In the woods
to rest The child fell out and was
killed. Then filled with fear lest he
should be accused as a murderer he
buried the child in a field Marvel ac-
cused Detective McVey of promising to
free Willis If he would say that he had
killed the child.
Testifying in his own behalf. Willis
said that he came from Virginia TO
Delaware in 1888. He Immediately
went TO work for Mr.. Dannison. He
told Of getting his child from Martha
Shockley, and detailed his movements
until the time when the child fell out
OF the wagon and was killed. He said
he was afraid to take the body home
for fear the people would say that he
had killed the baby and buried il i'm a
field. When he had finished testifyinp
court took a recess until o'clock this
morning.
JURY TAKEN OUT OF COURT
This morning Willis was again placed
on the stand under cross-examinatiOn
Deputy Attorney-General Cooper, who
was questioning the witness, asked
him why he first pleaded insanity and
I then changed his defence to prove that
the killing was accidental. The de.
fence strenuously objected, and the
chief justice ordered the jury to be
withdrawn from court while the point
was being argued.
Judge Cullen held that the prisoner
had the right to make whatever de
fence he desired, and the state had tC
abandon that point. The jury wa.
brought back into the box.
ANOTHER CONFESSION FRON
WILLIS.
Isaac Anderson, who was a prisoner
in the Jail with Willis. testified that tn,
accused had told him he had killed hil
child, hoping to get rid OF It and &c
back to Virginia.
what IN the world did you kill you
child for?' asked Anderson.
Because it was a burden TO me- wal
the reply.
Judge Marvel charged the jury, lay
ing special stress upon the degree o
credit TO confessions. considering tn
circumstances surrounding the case. L
cautiously scrutinizing the evidence o
detectives, and giving it whateve
weight they, as reasonable men, thinl
they are entitled TO. The jury mus
give the prisoner the benefit OF an.
doubt that might exist in their minds
They must either find Willis guilty, a
indicted. or not guilty at all.
PRAYERS OF THE DEFENCE.
In submitting the prayers OF the de
fence to the court, Josiah Marvel aske
that the jury be charged as to the de
gree OF caution with which they mus
. receive q confession; as to the reason