The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-03-20
CAPT. DAWSON KILLED.


that had be, summout,l help after firing
the fatal shot something might have
been done, at least to prolorg the life OF
his victim-at least TO allow INN to be
shriven. But, according to the mur-
derer'S own statement, the shot was not
instaNaneouslv fatal. His victim lived
nearly an hour, during which time the
murderer remained IL the room, decld-
ing u..llt to do about it. 1t IS proven
that after Captain Dawson died, ne went
SO the corner shop, bought spade, ana
returned to his house, again locking
himself up with the murdered man. In
the meantime Mrs. Mellow and her
children had fed Having bought the
spade the murderer started to dig a
grave in which to bury his victim.
1t was found that he had made an
etfor, to dug the grave, but that, finding
that the soil. Gas is most of the soil IN that
localitv) was OF made earth. E. COM
posed of debris of various klndS-he
gave up the attempt. Then he..nalied up
the doors leading to the grave, straight
ened out the Office furniture and sur
rendered himself to the police. The
: murderer was in company with his VIC
tim from about $50 p. m. till 6:3Op, m,
over three hours.
Captain DawSon'S face was badly
battered up, while the face of his mur-
6erer showed no signs of a conflict. Ills
statement is that Captain Dawson as
saulted him; but the appearance OF the
faces of the two men does not bear out
the theory. The, opinion is rapidly gain
ing ground that it was & most diabolic
and -blooaed murder, and those who
visited the scene think that Captain
Dawson was first felled to the ground
and then deliberately murdered.
Mellow is not in good standing with
the profession. He is native of ker-
shaw County, is about So years old, and
came here in 1876 to attend the Medical
College, whence he graduated with first
honors. He served as house physician
to the city hospital for two years, and
afterwards opened an Office and began
practicing his profession. He made ap-
plication for membership to the State
Medical Society, but was black-balled-
or atleast withdrew his application
the charge being that his conduct was
As.upethical." Later he married a
daughter of Mr.. c. D. Ahrens, a wealthy
merchant, who retired fromIbusiness two
years ago. 1t seems that last month he
secured his election to membership IN
the State Medical Society, although his
reputation was bad.
His intrigues were known to his wife,
and She was about to quit him when this
murder was done.
It is learned from the Chief of Police
thatrhe. had been engaged in an intrigue
with the maid brought here by Captain
Dawson, and that it was to demonstrate
against this that Captain Dawson had
called upon him That Captain Dawson
had not called with intent to assault
him is proven by the fact that the muir
dered man was entirely unarmed, and
that when the body was found the
gloves were on his hands.
THE. funeral of Captain Dawson took
place this afternoon. The weather was
wretche6 -It,is little singular that
very. shortly after the murder was dis
covered last nig ght a heavy wind and rain
storm set in This continued al. day.
The Mneraf took place this afternoon at
the Cathedral Chapel. Notwithstand-
ing the severe storm, the church was
crowded to it's utmost capacity; and, in
addition to this, the entire city seemed
to have turned out to honor the memory
of a man.who was. ruthlessly slain by 4
lbertine in his efforts to protect the
honor cSa menial in his household. The
services were conducted by Bishop Nor
.tt6rop of 1.-The. Diocese of Charleston,
who was assisted by Bishop John Moore
of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida.
All the Catholic clergy Of the diocese
we're m the sanctuary The Sisters OF
Mercy, the ladies Of the Convent Of
Our Lady of Mercy" and the orphans
under their charge. attended the funeral.
Bishop Northrop delivered the eulogy.
Hecafled attention to the fact that the
murdered man bad always been a con-
sfstenS HemSef of the church he al
luded to the fact, as developed in the
statementsof the murderer, that the de-
ceased had lived for nearly an hour after
the fatal shot had been fred. knowing
theman snsaid Bishop. Northrop, Lying
inSfhe presence of his murderer, within
almost the sight of his wife and chill
dren, with nobody by him but the man
who had taken his life, l am satisfied
that those last moments were devoted to
the purpose of making his peace with
his God
There has never been in the history
Of this city such funeral as that of F.
W.DaWSon to-day. In spite of the rain
stoHas ah0st 1xhe entire population
turned out to 90 honor to the memory
of the man so foully murdered. Flags
were displayed at half-mast over the
public buildings in the city, the
commercial exchanges and on many Of
the ships in the harbor The streets of
the city along which the funeral process
sion passed were thronged with clti-
zens, who braved the rain and wind
and turned out en- mGSse to pay last
tribute of respect to the memory OF a
man who had been slain in the defense
of a woman's honor.
The inquest on the body will be held
tomorrow
The murderer is stiIl in jail. The
community is very much excited, and
should Mellow be brought out Of the
Jail tomorrow to attend the inquest he
will certainly be lynched.
1t has transpired since the murder
that Mellow had 4 housekeeper in his
1rbo,,, ~ is SoIS b.. had haH