Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-03-20
A Dastardly Murder.
CAPT. FRANK W. DAWSON KILLED BY DIR.
G.. B. MCDOw.

CAPT. FRANK W. DAWSON KILLED By Dh'
G. B. McDow.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 12th
inst, in Charleston, 8. c., Capt. Frank
W. Dawson, the splendid gentleman and
brilliant editor of the Charleston Nescs
and Courier, was shot and killed by DR.. G.
B, Mellow in the Office of the latter, in
which he was called upon by the former for
the purpose of demonstrating against his
improper conduct with the French servant
girl, the nurse of his (Dawson's) children.
Capt Dawson was on the staff of General
Fitxhngh Lee during the war, and was
afterwards on the Richmond Dispatch. He
was a man of chivalric courage, with q
warm and kind heart, full of generous i'm
pulses, as well as man of brilliant talents.
He was universally popular, and his death
at the hands of scoundrel, who murdered
him in the manner he did, has excited a
profound sensation not only in South
Carolina but in this and other States. On
the 18th, the following dispatch from
Charleston was sent to the Richmond
Dispatch -
Captain Dawson was buried this evening
in St. Lawrence cemetery. The funeral
services we're held at the Cathedral
Bishop Northrop officiating, assisted by
Monsignor Quigly and Father Duffy. The
church was jammed, all the city turning
out to do honor to his memory. The
funeral cortege was the longest seen in
Charleston for many years. AS it passed
through King street on its way to the
cemetery the street was lined with SYM
pathetic lookers-on, who, standing with
barred heads in a driving rain, bore mute
but eloquent witness to his great popu-
larity. The honorary list of pail bearers
was made up of the most eminent men in
the city. the scene at the grave could not
have been more pathetic.
THE MURDERER EXCITED.
DR.. mellow, the murderer, is in Jail and
is yery much excited. He is very confused
in his statement. He is evidently liar as
we'll as an assassin. The indignation of
the community is simply overwhelming
The more the murder is stirred the deeper
the intensity of its barbarity appears. Nc
Dow claims that he shot Captain Dawson
in self defence.
dawson" he says, ''came into my Office
and struck me first in the chest, and as be
is pugilist was staggered (although be
scarcely seemed to make an effort in dealing
me the Blow, and fell over on the sofa.
As recovered myself he struck me over
he head with his cane. When got to my
desk pulled cut revolver had in it and
shot him. It was all over in a minute ald a
half. had never seen Captain Dawson to
know him we'll before. They say that
money is the root of all evil. I think that
is a mistake, and that women are. A
woman is at the bottom of this. 1t is no
doubt great fault, but it is nevertheless
trne that am addicted to the sin of run
ming after women. Captain Dawson had q
French goverress for his children, with
whom had an affair, and yesterday morn
ing met her by appointment and took q
car and rode to the terminus of the railway
with her. We were Swallowed by de-
tective, and the matter was reported to
Captain Dawson"
mellow is alleged to be untruthful by
nature, and be is known to be libertine.
He has DO standing among the medical men
of the city. He is essentially vulgar in his
liasops, and on more than one occasion has
been caught in unprofessional conduct.
WHAT IS CLAIMED.
When the case comes to trial it will be
proved, it is claimed, that Mellow shot
Captai Dawson when he was leaving the
Office; that he tried to bury the body of his
victim IN a closet under the stairs of his
house: that he dragged the body through
the hall after he had shot him; that he
| locked himself in with his victim and
watched his dying struggles; that be tried
to hide the evidence of his bloody deed by
| throwing bis victims body into a vault,
and that he acted throughout the terrible
affair with the malignity of fiend. There
| is nothing like his crime il the annals OF
the State.
WENT TO EXPOSTULATE.
The facts show that Captain Dawson
| went to McDow's office TO expostulate with
him about his conduct towards the French
| maid in his family; that Mellow in fact
called him into bis Office, and that having
locked him in, that he murdered him IN
cold blood. The inquest will be held to-
morrow. There has been strong talk of
lynching the murderer, but as this would
be the last thing that Captain Dawson him.
self would desire, it is hoped that the bet
| ter coupsels of his friends will prevail, and
| that the law will be suffered to take its
course.
| An affecting incident Of the funeral to-
| day was the presentation of simple but
elegant crown of white immortelIes, pre-.
scented by the Confederate Survivors As.
sociatioD, of which Captain Dawson was a
| member. a plaster cast of his face was
taken by Viett the sculptor before the cof-
fin was closed. The house of the chevalier
was thronged up to the time the coffin was
closed by people of all classes and con-
ditions. Strong men wept when they
| looked into his face, and the grief of the
poor people whom he had befriended
through his charity was overpowering. He
was buried with the ribbon of the Order of
ST. Gregory the Great in his button hole.
HE REMEMBERED AN OLD FRIEND.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.1
| PETERsBURG, VA March ia gallant
Confederate cavalry officer who is now one
of cur most esteemed residents tells the
following story about Editor Francis w.
Dawson, who was killed in Charleston
yesterday "Dawson," he said. ''was not
only one of the bravest of mep, but he was
also generous spirit. During one of the
engagements of the war, when be was
despera ely wounded, he was taken into
the house Of plain farmer in Sussex
county, by whom be was gwen the most
tender attention. The wounded cavalry
man was restored to health by the attention
which ives iavished on him and was en-
abled to regain his command.
Years passed by, and Dawson was not
the penpiless Confederate soldier, but the
rich aud influential editor. One day bis
old farmer friend died in Sussex county-it
was only few years sgo-and left bis
farm heavily mortgaged. His widow was
in distress, and knew not to whom she
might apply for help. All of a sudden her
thoughts turned to Captain Dawson, in
Charleston, ard she sent him a letter at
once acquainting him with her troubles
The answer came back promptly. Il was
tbe simple announcement that he would
look after her interests. This he did. He
bought the farm, gave the widow deed
for it during her lifetime, and, it is said, de-
posted me'hing substantial to her credit
as WE'LL" This is why Captain Dawson's
cod G., ;e bo.n in tb;,