Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-31
ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS CHILD.

nOOOOIb VI hILlNN NV IlhLOt
-
Alexander DOMAIN, Uolorad, Arrested at
state Rond ut the Point Of Revolver
Buried tho Chiid In HIS Garuen.
Alexander DOMAIN, colored, who liyes
six miles south OF New Castle, along
the Delaware River road. was arrested
by State Detectives Witsil and McVey,
Sunday, charged with the murder of
bie 8 yeara-old sou, Joshua Dorian.
Doman, it is alleged, after killing
the boy, buried his body in a pine box
in corner of his garden. DOMAIN then,
abnut February 23d, lived On the fnrm
of Robert Smith. lie afterwards moved
away. Edward Miller moved TO ths
Smith farm on March 25th, and in walk
ing over tho place on Saturday found
mound OF dirt. Investigation showed
that the spot contained the body of tho
child.
When the officers drove on. to On
mans place they founi DOMAIN at work
in the yard. with small hroaiaxe in
his hand. When Detective McVoy told
him why be had come iioman tried to
strike at him. McVey drew revolver,
and pointing il al Doman, told him to
drop the axe or ho would fire. Doman
held on to the axe and ran intu the
houss. In order to prevent hiH escape
by the rear entrance Detective Witsil
ran around tho house. Seeing that he
was hemned in. Doman agreed to come
outside, and was put intu the wagon.
Coroner Thomas Wright summoned
jury OF inquest, which renderol vor-
dict that the hoy had como TO his death
from injuries received by causes un-
known to the jury. and recommended
that tho father be held for trial.
Doman was committed to New Castle
Jail According to the testimony of
Coroner'H Physician Smith the ohiid's
skull showed wounds sufficient to cause
death. DOMAIN says lle buried the boy
in tho garden because he could not
afford lot in burying ground .Ac-
cording to his statement. tho boy died
If cramps. DetaCtivo McVey says that
the child's disobehienCe in taking a
particular slice Of bread from the cup
board when Doman commanded him to
take another slics, is the only apparent
motive for the alleged crime. McVey
also says that he has two witnesses who
will swear that they saw Douan strike
the hoy over the head with club on
the night he took the bread from the
cupboard and that he never regained
consciousness.
The detectives further state that
Domains vito mysteriously Disappeared
about six months ago She was last
seen hy Mrs. Roberts, apparently in
good health, hut one evening she was
missed from about the house, nor have
any tidings been resolved of her since.
On Monday Detective McVey aod
Frank Stout, agent OF the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty TO Chill
dren, went to the home of Alexander
Doman, colorod, in Pencader hundred,
who 10 now undsr arrest On n charge
OF having murdered hia son, Joshua
DOMAIN, and buried the body in his
yard. They were looking for DOMAIN q
wife, but she could not no found.
A visit TO the home occupied by the
children and tho mother in law of the
accused man WAS next made, with the
result that Mrs. Lydia Jane Williams,
hettor known as "Minty" Jane Will
liams, and tho four children, were
found In the house. The children are
John William Henry, aged years
Josephine, aged 5 years. Alexander,
aged 3 years, and Rachel Sarah Jane,
aged years. The eldeHt of these was
|
the mother in law was taken care OF by
Detective McVey. They were brought
to this city, where they will be held aG
witnesses 10 the case now pending
against Alexander DOMAIN.
The other children were placed In
the care OF Mrs Sarah Ann Hayes, 6
nsighbor, and will be looked after.
Josephine DOMAIN is blind.
| M.,, Williapaa stakal Tint aba hpG
not sesn the dead boy for two day.
before his death, and that the fatbel
ordered her to wash the blood from thu
boys head.
DOMAIN was seen in tho Jail Mon
day afternoon, and after being ques
toned in regard to the death ant
not know what had caused the boy
death. lie also said that children
sometimes made people angry and wert
a trouble to bin. lie said tho lad hat
died after eating broad. When asked
why he lnnde the coffin and buried th,
boy without informing the people witt
whom he lived, he stated that he die
not know what to do and did not wan
the people to know about it. lie alst
said that he was afraid Mr.. Smitl
|
he did not tell Mrs. Smith about th
death of the boy, he said that she wa
Htricr and he did not like her to know
When asked why he did not tell tn
county authorities, be said he though
it best to do it himself.
When his wife was spoken of b
looked about the cell in startled wa
and before replying hesitated at grea
length. lie finally stated that on
day, while he was cutting oats in tn
fold of Mr. Smith, no took a notion +
go to his home and found that HE viii
: was missing. He left tho team in tn
field and at once went in search of her
lie asked ono of tho children whare th
mother was, and was informed thu
, she had gone up into the woods for To
purpose OF securing some wood for tn
fire. la went to the woods and Their
made search for her, without tindin
her. liz searched throughout the Who'll
, night and went aa far as the Hturo O
Samuel Miller, at State Road, althoug
he did not ask any questions in ~
lRtion to her. lie thought that tbi
Q occurred sometime 10 September O
, August and since that time he ha
: seen nothing of his wife.
Several other children OF DomRn
, are also missing and nothing is know
| of their whereabouts.
Rachel Ann Williams, tho repute
wfs of Alexander Doman, anil tn
, mother OF the lad, Joshua Domnr
whose body was found in the garden o
tho land of Farmer Smith, naar Stat
Road, has been located in Chester b
Chief OF Police Berry. This dispose
| A.. ....-..l I..nt ha ...n..,nn hid I,an