Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-01
DIR. McDOw's ACQUITTAL.
Scenes in the Court-Room when the
Verdict was Announced.

The special to the New York Sun, In dis
cribing the scene in court on Saturday when
the verdict Of scquittal in the case Of DR.. Nc
Dow, who had been tried for the murder Of
Capt Dawson, was announced, says that the
courtroom was as still as death while the clerk
vas reading the written verdict which had
been brought in by the foreman Of the jury.
Mellow heard the verdict with a faint SMILE
and remained - motionless as . statue. Upon
the instant yell arose that reminded old
soldiers Of yslls heard during critical periods
IN front Of Petersburg. 1t was moro Of an
sxultant yell than one of Joy. The negroes
yelled In unison with DR.. McDow's friends.
The judge administered a stern rebuke, and
discharged the jury until Monday.
Meantime the friends of the accused trooped
up to the dock. Mr.. Cohen was the first TO
congratulate him. After that the white-haired
counsel wrote out an order for his discharge and
the judge signedit DR.. Mellow walked from the
door free man, surrounded by his admirers.
A great crowd followed him down the stairs
and through the lower corridor to the back of
the courthouse. Here q coach was waiting
The doctor entered it and was driven to his
home, negroes and others running behind the
carriage. The crowd remained about the court
house for some minutes. Many white men
seemed amazed. The negroes were especially
JuDuaut. Oue QeTCuleau DldCk buOutou AT the
top Of his voice: THAT settles it. The richest
white man in Charleston shan't call me niger
again. II he does know what to do"
The Jury commissioner IL q colored man. He
IL q barber at the Charleston hotel He was
appointed by . democratic governor, and is
said to have been kept in his place at the end
Of his first term by Capt Dawson. He is said
to be capable and efficient officer. Never
theless. the fact remains that there were
seventeen negroes and nineteen white men on
the panel from which the petit jury was drawn.
There we're seven blacks upon the jury and five
white.
The exultation Of the negroes at the acquit-
tai Of DR.. Mellow is said to arise from an an
tiPathy to Capt Dawson. Some time ago a
white man committed an outrageous assault
upon a negro girl in Pickens county. He was
afterward lynched by colored mob. Lynch
ing II the invariable punishment for such
crimes in South Carolina. Some Of the black
adherents Of Judge Lynch were tried, and one
or two convicted. Dawson espoused their
cause in the columns of the Ne,cs and Courier,
and those convicted were pardoned. In COM
menting upon the case, however, Capt Daw-
son made an unfortunate allusion to the chas-
tity Of negro women as compared with that of
the whites. This is said to rankle in the breasts
Of the colored people, 1t is said also to have
been intensified by the stand taken by Capt
Dawson in another trial. when a white man
killed a negro. Another reason is the fact that
Capt Dawson was prominent democratic
leader.
1t is averred that upon retiring to their
rooms the jurors Immediately took ballot,
all voting in favor Of acquittal. They are said
to have remained in the room for two hours
afterward discussing the case. This is only a
rumor, but it may be regarded by some the
only redeeming feature in the whole transact
ton. Certain it is that DIR. Mellow is free, and
there is great indignation among the friends OF
Capt Dawson and many others.