The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-23
ON TRIAL
FOR LIFE.
Alexander DOMAIN Charged With His
Child'S Murder.
THE PRISONERS STORIES.
State Proves That He Said the Child
Died a Natural Death. To Prove
Other Contrary Statements
From the Man, ~

A question has arisen in the minds of
the court US to whether or not the new
con stitution permits sessions of Oyer and
Terminsr and Superior Courts stimuli
taneously. TO obviate risk until the matter
Is settled Oyer and Termiuer Court was
opened at 1885 this morning, half an hour
after Superior and General Sessions Court
were opened.
At II o'clock Alexander DOMAIN, color
cd, late Of Delaware City, was brought
into the court room and placed on trial for
his life. The state charges him with the
murder of his year old child Joshua on
March 10. Both Attorney General White
and Mr.. Cooper are prosecutors. Austin
Harrington appears for tho prisoner.
As soon as DOMAIN took his seat In the
box the empannelling CT the jury began.
Clerk Foard called Andrew f. Seack and
as he had neither formed nor expressed an
opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the
prisoner, nor had conscientious scruples
against rendering verdict of guilty where
tho punishment was death should the ties.
timony warrant the verdict, he was made
foreman. The other jurors are: Leroy
Roberts. William Lockorman, Eleven
Catts, Michael kellerher, James McAdoo,
George b. Pinder, Edward Clouser jesse
Tallev, Albert NJ. Miller, Enos Rambo,
and Elwoo Cd M. Talley.
Alexander Stevenson, J. Fletcher Dea-
kyne, John McGonieal, William A. Green.
Thomas H. Donovan and John Duncan
were excused because of conscientious
scrnples.
James G. Reynolds, Francis d. Reyn-
Odds. Jr., Thomas Kirk. Thomas S. Wells,
William G. Deakyno Christopher White,
George Cup.t, Charles Crompton, William
Rankin and Charles Tosney were chal-
lenged after they had expressed no scruples
against pVssing Oh the case. Mr.. Cupit
was the only man challenged by the State.
Mr.. Cooper outlined the case to the jury.
He also told Of DOMAIN having said the
child had fallen against stove, but
would prove otherwise
The first witness was Robert II. Smith,
who lives three miles beyond New Castle,
and who had at the time lived about q
quarter ola mile from DOMAIN. Mr. Smith
said he saw DOMAIN on March 25.. and he
told him that the child had pain and he
gave 1t dose Of camphor after which it
never opened its eyes. DOMAIN also said no
had buried tho child at Delaware City,
three weeks previously. At the time Mr..
Smith thought it strange that no one
knew Of the childs death.
On March 26 Edward Miller told the wit.
ness he had found body In his garden
and Mr.. Smith went over and looked at
1t.
The witness told Mr.. Harrington he
bore mol malice against the prisoner. Do
man however, had worked for3Mr Smith
and had occupied his tenement house
which he left. rent In arrears. They never
had any trouble except because of work.
Mr. Smith said the box DOMAIN had buried
his child in was mado from boards taken
from one Of his outbuildings. Mr. Har-
rington inquired how he knew 1t, and the
witness replied that the prisoner had said
SO on the day the body was found.
Edward Miller. colored, next testified.
He found the body which was neatly
dressed. and in an excellent state of pres
ervation, There was no blood about 1t.
Lydia Williams, Donna mother in-la W
testified that her daughter left the prison.
er's homo early last summer. They had
five children, tho Oldest being about six
years. Joshua was next to the oldest
child. Mrs. Williams said she saw the
dead boy at Domains home the Saturday
after death. DOMAIN told her of the child's
death and of his inability to give it q de-
tho head and also found a lump on the back
of the head. She asked DOMAIN how the
child received the lump and he said he had
started to whip the boy when he ran back
of the stove and struck his head. She also
found blood on the body but said nothing
to DOMAIN about It,
On cross examination Mr. Williams said
DOMAIN had cared for the child asa father
should, as far as he knew. When he went
to work he would lock the chill
dren in tho house. She never knew of him
abusing his children. She dressed the body
for burial at DOMAIN suggestion, and she
saw him carry the body to where 1t was
found. She saw nothing that indicated
thatDoman was responsible for the child's
death.
hon redirect examination Mr.. Cooper
asked the witness how ono of Domains
children became blind. Mr. Harrington
objected, whereupon Mr.. Cooper stated
that he proposed 10 provo that the prisoner
was not kind to the children as the wit
ness had testified. The court thought the
question admissible, and the witness re.
piled that all she knew was what she had
been told. Mr.. Cooper did not question