Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-03-21
HDIroR DAssoN.
Career OF she Man who was Rru-
tally Murdered by DR.. NHcnoyv.

thhy mufucEcu by Ur. mellow.
Captain Frank w. Dawson, editor of
the Charleston, 8. O., Neps and Courier,
who was murdered by DR.. 4. b. Mellow,
on Tuesday night week, was an Irishman
who, at tle age OF II years, ran away
from the Dublin University to come to
America and volunteer In the Confederate
army. Soon after entering the service
in 1869 he received the commission of
aide on the staff OF Gen. FitzhuQh Lee. He
served with distinguished gsilantry in
the campaign of the army OF Northern
Virginia, when he became marked on nc.
count OF his dash and chivalry. After
the surrender at Appomattox he went to
Richmond, Va, and commenced his
journalistic career on James Il. Pollard's
Examiner. He was successful news.
paper man from the start. Mr.. Pollard
soon appreciated his cleverness and pro-
NOTED him in afew weeks after be entered
the office. After leaving the EBanliner
Dawson went on the Richmond Dispatch
He next went TO Charleston and with Mr..
Riordan, who had been associated with
him on the Rgaaniner, secured the
Courier, which was sub,equently united
with the Ne0s. The vigor, indie.
pendeuce, courage and peniua
with which he conducted his paper placed
him in the front rank Of journalism In the
south. He resisted aud opposed the
whole system aud practice of the duello,
and did more than any man in South
Carolina TO discourage it. In acknowl-
edgement OF his great service to humanity
in this controversy the pops conferred
I upon him the honor of kniRhthood and
! TFaaA No ism nl - II
the holy Roman empire. His was the
leading intellect in the discussion OF great
measures in his state in the last 20 years.
His denunciation of tine practiceo of Garry
ing concealed weapons and Of street
fights won the respect OF tho lovers OF
South Carolina. He was the South
Carolina member Of the national Demo-
! cratic committee.
Captain Daw8on married daughter of
Judge Morgan, distinguished Louisiana
lawyer, and o sister Of the Hon. Philip Il.
Morgan, OF one time minister to Mexico.
Another brother OF Mrs Dawson WIS ap.
pointed consul to Melbourne, Australia,
by President Cleveland.
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN pAwsoN's MURDERER
FUNERAL or THE VICTIM.
CHARLEsToN, 3. O., March l3.-The
murder OF Captain Dawson was the most
brutal and atrooious ever committt d in
Charleston. The popular indignation is
Intense. ALL Glasses in the community
stand eghast at the assassination and
would lynch the murderer il they could
get him ont Of iAil.
DR.. MeDow, Captain Dawson's assassin
was called upon last evening in the jail
and asked to explain the oireums amos OF
the tragedy. he ct first declined to make
any statement, but eventually said:
Here il IL in nutshell. Captain Daw.
son entered my Ctfise, used abusive Ian.
guage and knocked me down with his
cane. / got up and he was about 10 strike
me again when shot him.
DR.. Mellow then went on to say that
Captain Dawson was not killed instantly;
that he remained alive for halt TO three
qnarters OF an hour, during which time
ne lOr, MoDow) remained in the room
with the man whose life was fast ebbiug
away, making mp his mind what to do.
But there Is the strongest an ! most con-
vlneing proof that DR.. Mellow remained |
IN the room at least an hour after the |
death of Captain Dawson, planning how
hs might dispose OF the body. At a dis.
tanoe Of few feet from the back door
OF the office, al TIE End OF pag4ogA way
is nalf door openiit nic Il Isuess.un1ot
the stairway which leads to the second
story. AS was natural and to be ex.
peoted from the coroner and his iary
borough examination OF the premises
was made with view to the fullest in.
vestigation. 1t is the belief that Lieu.
tenant FordhAm made startling dis.
oovery while this examination was in
progress.
On tho half door above referred 10 there
were noticed some spots OF fresh blood,
This was, of course, an incentive TO fur.
Their inquiry, aud the examination was
extended TO all parts OF the closet. Drops
of blood we're found On the floor up to
space where tho flooring t,rminsttd and /
tire earth of the foundation was exposed.
Here another horrible and startling reye.
lation was made. The mould was noticed /
to be freshly turned up, and to depth
which was only limited by quantity CT |
bricks and other impossible material 10 |
the spade or whatever instrument was 4
used IN the attempt TO dig grave. /. ii
almost absolutely certain that the ssyassIn
endeavored during his long occupancy OF
TIE room with the murdered man to dig .
his grave, and thus forever bury ell proof |
OF his crime With his victim. Certain ii 4
~, however, that Dr.. Mellow, after end /
log his efforts futile on account Of the |
sJli Just noted, determined TO set 10 the
pea OF ssif-de;ence, and went out and
delivered himself to Private Gordon.
DR.. Mellow said that be was standing
up when he fired the fatal shot and Can.
tain Dawson was about to strike him
second time with his cane. Three things
are, therefore, qalte rernnrksble-one.
that Captain Dawson could have bean
slot III the spot where the bullet entered.
second, that IL DR.. McDaw had been
klocked down be can exhibit no marks
OF such violence, and thirdly. IL 1t were
ser defence, why the tell-gravs beneath
the staiTsI
THE MURDERED MANS FUNERAL.
Tha funeral Of Captain Dawson took
pace this afternoon al tho Cathedral
Chapel Notwithstanding rhe severe
storm that was prevailing the chxvch was
crowded to its utmost capacity. The
services were conducted by DE,boD
Northrop Of the die ce,enf Ot--,Ieston. who
was assisted by t'i-hor 5ohn Moore OF the
diocese OF st. AuFu%ine, Florida. All the
Catholic clergy Of the diocese were in tne
sanctuary. The Sisters Of Mercy. the
ladies OF the Convent of our Lidy Of
Mercy and the orphans nader their
charge attended the funeral. Bishop
No'throp delivered the eulogy. He called
attention 10 the fact that the murdered
nan had always haen consistent mem.
bsr % the church, and alluded TO the
fact that the deceased had lived for
nearly IN honr after tho fatal shot had
been fred.
fLl,n