The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-25
TIVE TRIAL OF
WILLIAM FISHER
Charged With Breaking Into a
House With Felonious Intent
Now in Progress.
TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES
Defendant Testilies That His
Motive Was Robbery.
Alexander DOMAIN Convicted of Man
slaughter in Causing the Death
of His Son Joshua Is Given
One Year In New Cas-
tIeJaiIa and Fined
$1,000

... $1,000
In the Court OF Oyer and Terminer
yesterday morning Alexander Doman,
convicted OF killing his S.year-old son,
Joshua, was sentenced to one year in
New Castle Jail and u fine OF $1,000 and
costs. He was taken to New Castle
Jail.
The case of William Fisher, colored,
charged with breaking into the house OF
William Hunt, 5l5 West Sixth street, on
the night of April 9th last, with the in.
tention OF committing felonious assault
upon Mrs. Hunt, was next called.
j. p. Nields was appointed to represent
the accused. The jury drawn to try the
case was composed Of the following men
w. G. Deakyne, Edward Clouser, Thos
II. Donovan, Elwood M. Talley, Chas.
Donnely, Thos. S. Wells, Thos. Mcintyre,
Jas. McAdoo, Wm.A. Green, Jesse Tulley,
Levin Cats and Enos Rambo.
Mrs. Maria Hunt was the first witness
called, and she stated that on the night
OF April 9th she was at home with her
three children, who were in bed. AT
ll.45 O'Clock she heard the latch of the
back door lifted, and some one enter the
room. At the time she was in the tase-
ment and supposing it to be her hus-
band, she called to him. Receiving no
reply she came upstairs to see what was
the, trouble, and was confronted by Il
negro whose clothing was disarranged.
On being cross-eXamlncd by Mr.. Nields
she stated that she only saw the man for
a few moments. The plot OF the prem.
ises was then produced, and about hall
an hour was spent i'll going over it and
locating different points. Court ad,
iourned until 2.30 p. m.
At the afternoon session Mrs Hunt
was recalled and testified that all hel
children were boys, and that she was
the only woman about the place at tie
time OF the attempted assault.
William Hunt was next called and
testified to the dimensions Of the house.
He'had measured them. during dinner
hour by stepping off so many PAGES.
Mr.. Cooper, assistant attorney OF state,
produced diagram, and Hunt pointed
ont deterrent positions of yard and build
ings.
Charles Reed was the next witness for
the state. He testified that he lived at
No. 5l9 West Sixth street and was
awakened by cry on the night of April
9th. He told how he had ran into the
alley in the rear of his premises and had
assisted in the capture of negro whom
he now identified as Fisher. He first
saw him STOPPING behind fence.
Thomas McGoldrich stated that he
had had hand in the capture of the
negro and said the first notice he had OF
any trouble in the vicinity was the
scream OF a woman. He assisted in
searching the prisoner but found moth
ing upon him. He further stated that
when caught his clothing was dis.
arranged.
Mr.. Hunt was then recalled and asked
about the condition OF the house. He
stated he had searched for missing things
but found all in tact.
James Thompson then testified that he
came to the police station with Fisher
and after getting there noticed the COLI
dition of his clothing.
State Detective Witsil took the stand
and testified us to the condition OF
prisoner sclothing at the time he reached
the station house and also produced a
cap supposed to belong to the defendent
Which was found two Loors above Hunts
House.
Officer John J. Payne testified that he
fret saw defendcnt at the station house
and noticed the condition OF his clothing.
He further stated that he had accom-
panied Fisher on the night he was ar
rested to the house of Mrs. Hunt and
placed him in the same position as he
was first seen by Mrs. Hunt and that
she, Mrs. Hunt, identified him as the
man who had entered her house.
Sergeant Black, of the police force,
took the stand and stated that he had
officer Payne when he took
Fisher to BE- identified by Mrs. Hunt.
Captain Kane testified that he had
ordered his men to take Fisher out to the
Hunt house for identification. This was
after II m.
The State rested and Mr. Nields pre-
sented the defense's side OF the case.
Fisher took the stand as the only wit
ness for the defense. He admitted
breaking in Hunts house but said that
his object vas robbery. He met Mrs.
Hunt coming up the stairs and upon
seeing him she screamed and he immed-
lately made his escape. He showed the
jury where he had torn his pants climb
ing over a fence. He had the same
on as when arrested.
He was cross-cxamined and asked
what his business was. He stated that
he was "missionary." This created a
laugh, which was soon suppressed by
the court. He also said that he had been
before the court twice before He was
then asked by the prosecution whether
he had not been arrested for breaking in
the house of Mariah Hartman and ac-
ruittpd on account uf lack of evidence,