The Indiana State sentinel., 1886-03-31
ANOTHER SELFMURDER
Growing Out Of the Illicit Love Of Kate Dawson
and her StepsOn-
Oscar Dawson Visits the Old Home, is Re
preached by His Father and Takes
His Own Life-The Story
i'm Full.


of the Dawson family is to be recorded, as
another member of the once happy and
prosperous family has sought relief from the
pangs of disgrace and remorse in self murder
Oscar Dawson has gone to join his paramour
and give account with her for the hagitious
disregard of the sanctity of the home rela
tions which they DESTROYED in obedience to
an unnatural and unholy passion.
Thursday morning Oscar Dawson left
this city to go to the residence of
his father in Perry Townshisp. This
step was regarded as reckless by the rela-
tiyes because the father had vowed to shoot
the son, on sight, and when it had become
known that Oscar was coming, neighbors
came in to prevent further trouble. 1t Is
said that there was a stormy scene between
father and son, but no alteration eDsued,
and after the two had separated Oscar en-
tered the house, and went to the room where
the remains of Mrs Kate Dawson lay, He
gszed silently for several minutes upon
the face of the dead, and then turned and
left the room. He however remained about
the house until after the dinner
hour, when he asked one of the female mem
bers of the family for something to eat. His
request was granted, and in an hour or so he
| started on his way back to the city. H
| arrived at the residence of his brother Sam
| uel, 3S3 East New York street, where he has
| been living, about o'clock. During the
| evening he referred bitterly to the treatment
accorded him by his father, but beyond this
he said but little to the members of the
| household.
Yesterday morning Samuel Dawson went
| to his work in the southern part of
| the city at the usual hour, Oscar re-
naming at home. About IL o'clock Samuel
was summoned home, the messenger an
nouncing that Oscar had taken arsenic and
! was diving. When he arrived there he found
| Dr. Taylor at work endeavoring to relieve
| the now unconscious man, but his efforts
/ were without success, and at A O'Clock life
was extinct. Word was then sent to the
family in Perry Township, but at last ac-
counts no response had been received
| The suicide of Mrs. Kate Dawson
Wednesday, and the suicide Of 0s-
car yesterday, naturally recalls the his
tory of the troubles in the Dawson
| family. John W. Dawson, the father, is
wealthy farmer of Perry Township. He
| married and buried three wives, and was
| nearing his three score and tenth year when
| in 1878 he took into his family as a servant
| woman, one Kate Messersmith, a woman of
| Friendless Women, and had there given
| birth to an illegitimate child. She was
| recommended to the old man by the institu-
| ton, and she proved so companionaDle in
his widowerhood that his children soon be-
| gan TO suspect that their father would make
her his wife. The suspicion proved true
and despite their opposition Mr.. Daw-
| son determined to give them a new
| step-mother. The marriage took place
| in 1879, and the children left their home
| through modification and disgust. A year
| later child was born to the pair, and to all
1ta-o and IA
cember and June, were happily united. The
| children got over their opposition and Oscar,
/ then bachelor of twenty-five years. went
| home to live, taking upon himself the care
| of the farm. On Friday, the 18th OF Novem-
Der, 1885, Oscar and Mrs. Kate Dawson left
| home together and came to the city. The
police were notified of the fact, and a search
was made for them. Just one week later
| they were arrested at a private boarding
house on South Pennsylvania street, where
| they were passing man and wife under
the assumed name of Smith. They
were arrested and slated for adultery aud
| were finally sent to the Work-house. Com
| promises were made and eventually the two
| were released. A divorce suit was filed and
| afterward dismissed. Oscar and Kate were
last week fined $25 each in the Criminal
| Court. John w. Dawson's suit for divorce
was filed last Saturday and hearing was
had in Judge Taylor's Court and a divorce
| granted. Mrs. Dawson was given
| $1,000 alimony and she and Oscar
/ were arranging to go to California when
| Mr.. Bernhamer filed suit to collect an al
ledged debt of $400 against Mrs. Dawson.
The money was in bank, and she being un-
| able to get it, walked out to the Dawson
homestead Wednesday morning. In reply
to some question she told one of Mr.. Daw-
| sons family that she had taken poison to
| kill herself. When asked why she did it.
she said Bernhamer had gotten her money
and she had nothing else left for her to do
| Mrs. Dawson's funeral was set for this
morning and the programme will doubtless
be carried out, John w. Dawson having ar
ranged for the funeral to be held in the
morning and the remains to be buried at
Crown Hill. Oscars funeral will probably
take place Sunday, although this date may
be changed to suit the convenience of the
family.