Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-25
LIE CASE OF DR.. M,DOW.
The Jury sworn and the Trial Be
Gun.

gun.
10y telegraph to tho Dispatch.
| CHtBIEsfoN, June 24.-Ihcstatement that
! Dr. Mellow was recently elected company
/ eurgeon OF Lafayette Artillery, and that
/ this action was regarded rs significant of
/ the drift of public opinion in regard TO the
| case against Mellow. charged with the MUIR
| der of Captain Dawson, is incorrect.
! McDOW's name does not appear in the
! list Of officers elected rs furnished for
| publication 10y Captain Bolgor. of Lafayette
/ Artillery, who tates positively that Mellow
/ was not So elected.
CHKrEsroS. =. c.. June 2i-This IS just
| such % day ga, the day oL which Captain i.
| rs. Dawson was buried over three months
| ago. n has been raining and blowing for
/ f1r,y-cight hours. bat neither the cold east
wind uor rain have kept people indoors.
! Dr. J.. b. Mellow is on trial for his lire.
| charged with the murder of Captain Daw-
SON. The courthouse is packed. There is
not even standing room LETT. All classes IN
| the community are represented III the
a~-cmbage. a number of clergyncn have
secured seats at the Daraud viii sill through
the case. When Mellow entered the court
room this morning he was somewhat ner-
vous, but quickly recovered hls set-pOsse>-
sion. and IS looking on with as much ap-
parent uuconcern as any Of the spectator5.
The jury was formed without much delay.
10 ls composed as follows: a. McCObb,
George Butler, Arthur Middleton. Il. G..
Ncluuis. and 4. ii. Prince (whitel, and Z.
n. Aston, 4. N. Mckenzie. y. VI. Bng, X.
Seaman. Alexander Sims, ". Il. Burgess,
and G.. c. Leslie (colOred)-hye white and
seven c0lored men. Mellow is represented
bv Ex-Governor Mctirath and Asher ID.
ChOen. The prosecution viii be conduct
co. Solicitor Jeryey and II. A. NJ. Smith.
Mellow objected 10 al the white men call
ed except five and selected seven negroes
on the panel. The first witness called by
the State was Policeman Gordon, TO whom
Mellow surrendered himself three hours
after the shooting GOTd0n's statement
was substantially the same rs given before
the cOrOners Jury. The case VIII probably
not be concluded before Tuesday.
John +. Ficken and August Fitch, two
well-kuOWn citizens who rode III street.
car the day of the murder with Dawson.
testified that they cOnyer,ed with nm
pleasantly and cheerfUlly aud saw no signs
of irritation. lie got on the car near MS
usual stopping place.
Sc. Gordon. policeman, testified that he
was near the scene of the murder and that
some one told HIM pistol-shOt had been
fired he went 10 McDOW's house and saw
his wife aud child hurrylng out on the
street. Then he went to McDOws office
and Knocked at the door. The door was
slightly open and the witness saw mans
eve peeping 40 him. The door was
closed and fastened. 4 few moments
later the witness heard NOISE
ia the Office as ii man was
hauling big car across the floor. Later
on he saw Mellow come out of ms ohce
and 90 20 grocery store on the corner.
McDoWs hat was indented and bore marks
of whitc-wash. His coat was also dusty.
Mellow soon afterwards returned 10 has
Office. Witness then went to another part
Of the city and returned about three hours
later aud saw Mellow drive out OF the yard
Mellow called him and gave himself up,
saving he had shot Captain Dawson.
Dr. Michael, who made the post-D'ortem
examination, explained the nature of the
wound. He stated that from the course of
the bali the shot must have been fired from
behind. He also testified that when he
saw the body of the dead man he had on
his gloves. and had evidently been recent
ly laid out. The Coroner and Deputy
Coroner testified 70 the investigation
which led 20 the discovery Of the attempt
10 conceal the body IN a closet IN the rear
Of the Office.
An the effects and clothing Of the de
ceased were put in evidence and identified,
also the spade which the murderer
had used 10 dig the grave, half -burned
candle he had used 10 light up the cellar,
and a blood-stained towel found in his Of
fee. A colOred woman identified McDows
hat. showing the dent and whtewash stain
that il had received while he was digging
he grave for Dawson's body.
This closed the testimony for the day and
the court adjourned till morning.