Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-27
M'D0W ON THE STAND.
he Says He Killed Captain Dawson
Purely in Self Defense.
HIS STORY OF THE CRIME,
The Captains Attack on Him and His
Attempt to Hide the Body.
THRILLING SCENE IN THE COURT ROOM



day was bright and hot. The court room
was packed almost to suffocation. DR.. Nc
Dow took his seat within the bar at about
$3.50. He was greeted by many of his
friends and entered into lively conversa-
tion with them "Hats off," shouted a
Deputy Sheriff, and Mr.. Cohen, counsel for
the defense, arose TO his work. He
made no opening. "Call Geo. Wash
ington Harper" he said. The eyes
of the blacks in the audience began to
glisten. Harper is the colored coachman
who heard the pistol shot in DR.. MeDow's
Office and who was not placed upon the stand
by the prosecution. He said he saw gen.
tleman alight from horse car and go to
DR.. McDow's Office. Five minutes after he
disappeared the coaehman said he heard the
report of pistol. A long, loud groan fol-
lowed. Then he heard some one shout in an
excited tone of voice:
Gas you said you would Ia smy life. 1
have taken yours!''
As the witness left the stand Governor
McGrath arose with stately dignity. He
said: ''You Honor, according to the law
of the State and to the practice in the South
Carolina courts, the accused wishes to be
allowed to state the circumstances of this
unfortunate affair"
M'Dow ON THE STAND.
Judge Kershaw bowed and DR.. Mellow
arose and walked to the witness box. All
eyes were upon him; every fan ceased
waving. The Doctor was sworn and sat
down as straight as an arrow. He wore
light four-in-hand tie and dark suit He
was quite pale. He placed his right hand
upon his knee and rested the other upon his
hip. He was apparently very cool and
showed no signs of agitation. After giving
his name and residence, he said that he
well remembered the 18th Of March last. 1t
was impressed upon his memory, because on
that day he killed Captain Dawson. He
had known the Captain by sight, but had
never had any conversation with him until
that day. His feeling toward him was
pleasant. There was no reason why it
should be otherwise. He said:
1 met him that day in the vestibule of nv
house. 1 was in the sitting room upstairs
when heard the sound of the gong. As was
waiting for dinner did not wait for a servant
to open the door. opened it myself Captain
Dawson said; Are you DR. McDow" replied:
II am Dr. Mellow" He said: Al am Captain
Dawson" walk in, Captain" I" answered. He
had domineering air and was aggressive and |
irritable. As we entered the Office the Captain |
of your ungentlemanly conduct to one of my |
servants" l replied: THAT 1 have been un- |
gentemanly to one of your servants is untrue" |
1 felt indignant at the words. The Captain |
was large muscular man. / was a mere |
pigmy at his side He next said: Il give you;to |
understand, sir, that she is under my protection
and forbid you to speak to her." l replied |
that l should speak to her when pleased and |
until he showed some authority for his inter |
ference. He said: If you speak to her again |
shall publish you in my paper" replied: IF |
Spoundrpl T
responsible. Now get out of my Office" He |
instantly struck me over the head with his |
cane. At the same time he used his fist and /
knocked me across the lounge
M'Dow-s STORY OF THE MURDER.
These answers were brought out by Gov
ernor McGrsth in very impressive man.
ner. The counsel for the prosecution were
nettled, and began to protest against his
putting leading questions to the accused. |
The doctor continued his evidence.
While was endeavoring to resume my foot
ing and arise from the sofa the Captain fol-
with his cane. The blow left slight confusion
upon the left side of my hea7. ] was afraid of
losing my life. l did not know but what the
next blow would kill me. L was positive that
was about to receive severe bodily harm. My
impulse was to save myself. had a pistol in
my hip pocket l used it for protection. 1 /
arose in close proximity to the Captain and
fired. He seemed to be in front of me.
Judge McGrath (sternlyl-What do you
mean, sir, by saying he seemed to be?
The witness Immediately left out the word
aseemed."
He was in front of me, but have a con-
fused idea of the exact situation. 1 habit
ually carry pistol because think it necessary. |
had put the pistol into my pocket that morn
ing. As soon as the shot was fired the Captain
groaned and cried: You have tried to take
my life, sir, and now have taken yours" He |
staggered toward the desk in the back of the
Office and fell in the angle of the room be-
tween the bookcase and the wall. stood for a
dumfounded. then felt of his pulse
The idea of calling in medical attendance
was dying; that he was in fact al
ready dead 1 lost all self-control after
had fired the shot was not aware that the
pistol was pointed at any vital part of the
body. The shot was fired, not for the purpose
Of killing him, but for my own protection. 1
would have preferred to disable him, felt
that he had insulted me, and that an unpro-
voked injury had been done to me. If possible
[ would have restored him to life but the
wound was fatal and he was dead. was hor-
ritied and bewildered, for well knew of the
scandal that was sure to follow the occurrence,
In my despair first hid his hat and cane in the
sink IN the yard where they were afterward
found. 1next
TRIED TO CONCEAL THE BODY
n the dark closet 1 had no control over my
'eason. scarcely knew what did. lifted
he body by the arms and drew it in the hall
hen drew the nails from the door of the closet
md tore up the flooring. Finding that there
vas not time enough to hide the body under
he floor, got a spade and dug hole, threw
he earth against the scantlings and placed the
ody in the hole. I got the spade from the
table. 1t required much exertion to lift the
ody and drag it into the closet After it had
cen placed in the hole l realized that my
ctions were foolish and altogether wrong.
he unwonted exertion seemed to have restored
ly reason. was entirely exhausted and went
ut for air. made up my mind to return the
Ody to the Office and surrender myself. I !
anne back and made several efforts to remove ,
he body from the hole. took it by the hand
nd tried to raise the head, but could not / ]
'as too much fatigued. As the closet was
ute dark l went out and bought candle.
hen 1 returned 1 lighted the candle and
gain tried to extricate the body. The head
ly under beam on piece of flooring. With 6
ard work managed to draw the body out of C
pc mole; Inc scratches and abrasions that a
citing it out OF the closet. drew the body
ack TO my office and left it lying near the door
brushed the sand from my clothes and wiped
he mouth and nose of the corpse while it was
ing in the closet. 1 bitterly regretted the
eeessity that compelled me to kill Captain
le house. and walked up and down the room
llling my hair. l finally determined to sur L
'nder myself Immediately | gave myself up T
Policeman Gordon. who drove me to the
alton house. There was manacled and car
ed to the jail in the patrol wagon. pro-
sted against this indignity. but was told that
was done according TO the law and must
bmit /
ONLY IN sELF-DEFENsE. s.
Mr. Mellow continued as follows: :. -
knew who Dawson meant when he referred
the servant and said had not acted gentle
anly toward her. He meant the woman who
d acted as governess for his children She z
S the same woman who was on the stand ft
sterday, and yesterday was the first time l e,