Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-13
Editor Dawson Slain.
Murder Of the Well Known
Southern Journalist.
A FOUL CRIME AS 1T APPEARS.

1
| Virtue tho Cause.-The Doctor's Aceoun,
OF the Anair-Sketch of the Life of the
Murdered Man.
CHARLESTON, S. c., March 13.-Capt. f.
| w. Dawson, Of The News and Courier, was
found dead in the Office of Dr. F. B. Mellow
at $50 O'Clock last evening. At that hour
DIR. Mellow walked into the police station
and gave himself up, with the statement that
Capt. Dawson was lying dead in his office
| Mellow vouchsafed no explanation
| 1t has been learned that Capt Dawson re-
Gently became suspicious that young girl
| employed in his house as a nurse for his chill
dren was having improper relations with
men. Last week be called upon the chief OF
police and asked that detective be detailed
to shallow the girl for a few days and let him
know what, if anything he discovered
Capt. Dawson stated that if she were being
| honorably courted he would have no objec.
ton to make, but if she were not strictly
moral he did not want his children to be in
her care
On Monday morning detective saw the
nurse girl get on a Rutledse avenue car.
After proceeding few blocks she was Joined
by DIR. Mellow The detective followed the
pair and kept track of them and their stop
ping places for several hours, and submitted
a report in writing to the chief of police who
III turn communicated its details Yesterday
morning to Capt Dawson
Capt Dawson left his office at $50 O'Clock
IN the afternoon, and was found dead at $50
p. IN in DR.. McDow's office, not 100 wards
from his own residence. His face was badly
beaten, and bullet was lodged in his heart
The city is in frensy OF excitement, and
the police station was surrounded by an i'm
mense crowd of people. Threats of lynching
were freely INDUCED in, but Mellow was
safely taken to jail. He was escorted by a
strong guard of blue coats There was even
talk OF storming the Jail after the prisoner
had been incarcerated but the building is
strong enough to defy assault, and no danger
is apprehended
DR.. Mellow was seen soon after he was
placed in prison. He gives the following ac-
count of the shooting: Il was standing in
the vestibule of my Office about O'Clock
when gentleman approached me and in
quired If | was DR.. Mellow. Yes re-
sponded, 4 am DR. Mellow
Il am Capt Dawson said he Walk in.
captain, | said, whereupon be entered my
office
AS soon he was we'll inside he said
DIR. Mellow, you have been using ungen tie
manly language to one of my servants
This denied. The captain continued 4
forbid you speaking to her I will speak to
her when please replied 4 shall speak
to her until you show me that you have pro-
per authority to prevent me
If you speak to her 1 will publish you in
the paper
a, I x.-,1l Ill
sponsible'
AS soon as | uttered these words Capt
Dawson struck me a staggering blow on the
chest, which caused me to fall back over my
lounge and strain my back. I endeavored to
get up, and while endeavoring to do so he
gave me a cut across my head with his cane
indentlng my hat and causing me to stagger
again. While trying to recover myself, and
seeing him in the act of aiming another blow
at me with his cane managed to get around
to my desk and get my pistol, self-cocking
e-shooter OF 3S-caliber. As soon as got
my pistol in my hand, and burning under the
blows | had received l fired at Capt Daw-
son, and. 1 thought, struck him somewhere
in the chest. He staggered and fell on nv
office floor beside the table He was breath
ing heavily when l leaned over him and
raised him up
MY first thought was to 60 out and call in
some physician and see the extent of his
wound, and if possible resuscitate him
How many shots were firedr inquired the
reporter
Only one. As soon as he feu | ceased
shooting"
Did you leave your Office immediatelyF
No; in the excitement Of the moment and
remotely, by little unpleasantness | had
just had with my wife, did not act at once
Not long after, however, got my buggy to
carry out the purpose of calling in medical
aid and drove 10 the corner of Bull and Rut-
ledge streets. On arriving there saw Po-
hceman Gordon, whom I told | had shot
Capt. Dawson. I concluded. under the cir
cumstances. to deliver myself to the author
tiles
DR.. Mellow is a married man and the
father of several children. He married the
daughter of c. d. Abrens, a wholesale gro
Ger. 1t Is asserted that he has the reputation
of rake; had been Swallowed by the police
several times before, and is regular habitus
of the houses Of prostitution.
1t is also asserted that all the evidence
shows that the murder was most diabolical
Dawson was shot while sitting down
There is evidence that Mellow
tried to bury the corpse but
suspicion having been aroused in the mean
time he finally, three hours after the murder,
surrendered himself to the police authori-
ties. After numbering his victim, it is said
mellow lett him lying on the floor, locked
the door and went to corner grocery,
where be spent some time.
The city council was in session. but ad-
Jourued Immediately upon learning of the
tragedy.
Capt Dawson was a native of England
He served in the Confederate army during the
war, and was afterward connected with The
Richmond Wing as a reporter
After leaving Richmond he became associ-
ated with B. W. Riordan in the ownership
and management of The Charleston News
and subsequently became sole owner of that
journal He represented the state OF South
Carolina on the Democratic National commi,
tee, and was otherwise prominent in public
AFFAIR." He achieved some distinction a few
years ago by his refusal to accept challenge
to fight duel with one of the most promi-
nent citizens of the state Capt Dawson
boldly announced his opposition to dueling.
For this he received substantial endorsement
from the pope He was held III the highest
respect by all classes of citizens and his kill
ing is looked upon as deliberate murder.
BE Chinese Leaving milwaukee,
MILWAUKEE, Wis, March I3-There are
not more than ninety five Cinnamon in tn,
city, and many of them have left town. Their.
was no demonstration last night and no NOR.
trouble is expected. The two Chinamer
charged with debauching young girls were
held to the criminal court yesterday in s.. OK
and went to Jail.
NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL NOT GO DRY
The Prohibition Constitutional Amend
meut Decidedly Defeated.
boston, March l3.-Judging from partial
returns the constitutional prohibition amend
ment has been defeated in New Hampshire by