Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-03-22
AN EDITOR SLAIN,
Il. Ill. Dawson, of the "|News and
Courier" Murdered.
Shot Dead in the Office of a Charles.
ton Is. Co. Physician.

captain F. W. Dawson, editor of the
Charleston Is. CO. News and Courier, and
one or the most popular men in South Caro-
nna' was shot and instantly killed by DR.. T.
b. Mellow in the Office of the latter, A dis
paEh from the scene of the crime saws:
Inc city is in a terrible state of excitement
over the assassination of Captain f. W,
lawson the editor of the Ne,os and
courier: The murderer is named T,
B: Mellow, Young MUSICIAN
who is married and has savarai
children. The evidence in the case is very
meager, but it has been learned that CAPTAIN
dawson was murdered because of an attamDt
on his part to protect the honor of a Servant
girl IN his employ.
Inc murder was committed about 3:45
olock IN the afternoon, but was not dis
Covered 1or three hours after ward, when the
murderer surrendered himself The body of
Ine murdered man had, in the meantime
lain In the office of the murderer. not 100
yards from his own residence
Captaln Lawson left the NeUs and Co,Lr-
s ger on luce about $50 o'clock, and was never
seen alive again. It appears that he had
Suspicion that his maid servant, who
had charge of his children was not
pehaVlng herself properly. Last week
ne asked the Chief of Police to detail de-
tective to shadow the girl, stating that he
would not subject his children to her control
III she was not strictly honest. The detective
accordingly Swallowed the girl.
Inc ueCectlVe submitted a report IN writ
ing to the Chief of Police who communi-
Gated its contents to Captain Dawson
AS stated above, Captain Dawson left his
once at $3.50 o'clock and was found murdered
ABOUT 6:3O o'clock in the office of DR.. Mellow.
His face was badly beaten, and a pistol
bullet was found lodged in his heart.
1t Is supposed that he went to DR.. McDow's
Office to demonstrate with him, married
man and the father of several children
against going with his maid servant and
10 hot of %L,o@ L,rI Ioor
engaged in scrimmage.
after the murder Mellow disappeared un-
TIL about $3.50 o'clock, when he appeared at
the police station and surrendered himself.
mellow is said to be the only doctor in the
city who Is not member of the State Medi-
cal Society, and has an unsavory reputation.
de married some years ago the daughter of
=. ID. Ahrens, rich retired grocer, and it is
known that the police have been asked to
shadow him several times.
All the evidence adduced shows that the
murder was one of the most diabolical in the
annals of crime. Captain Dawson was shot
while sitting down. The shot was fatal.
After numbering his victim, it is said, Dr.
Mellow left him lying on the floor locked his
Office door and went out to corner grocery
shop There is evidence that ne tried to bury
the corpse Of his victim, but that in the
meantime suspicious had got out and,
finally, three hours after he had killed his
victim, he surrendered himself up to the
police authorities.
The murderer was hurried to the Jail as
soon as he had surrende- sd himself and for the
present is safe from lynching, as the jail is
we'll nighiimpregnable. The entire community
was incensed. The city council had just met
when the news Of the murder was. tele-
phoned, upon which the council at once ad-
journed.
The street in front of the Ne,os- Courier
building has been thronged all the evening,
and the expressions of regret at the death
of the popular editor are loud and sin
cere. Mr.. Dawson, during his career in
Charleston, had made himself a power,
but he was at no time or in any relation Of
life disliked by any one. He had absolutely
no enemies so far as can be learned. His
purse was ever open to the needy, and his
pen was always at the service OF every just
cause.
During the fearful earthquake excitement
in 1886 Mr.. Dawson was most active in solicit
ing and securing aid for those who had suf-
fered.