The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-21
CHARLESTON.
Terrible Excitement Over the As
sassination of Editor Dawson of
the News and Courier.
Statement Made Yesterday in jail
by Doctor McDow, the
Murderer.

OHAhLESrON, o. ", MArcn lo.-1 ne Inur-
der of Captain Dawson was the most brutal
and atrocious ever committed in Charles.
ton. Popular indignation is intense
All Glasses in the community stand sghast
at the assassination and would lynch the
murderer if they could get him out of jail.
Revelations only partially made last night
indicate the death of Captain Dawson was
not only compassed in a brutally murder
GUS manner, but that futile effort had
been made to bury the victim and make
his fate a secret forever.
Doctor McDow, Captain Dawson's as
sassin and murderer, was called on last
night in Jail and asked to explain the cir
cumstance of the tragedy. He at first de-
clined to make any statement, but event
ualy said:
"Here it is in a nutshell. Captain
Dawson entered my Office, used abusive
language and knocked me down with his
cane. got up and he was about to
strike me again when shot him." Doctor
MoDow then went on to say that Captain
Dawson was not killed instantly; that he
remained alive for half to three quarters
of an hour, during which time he (McDow)
remained in the room with the man whose
life was fast ebbing away, making up his
mind what to do.
But there is the strongest and most con-
vinoing proof that Doctor McDow re-
mained in the room at least an hour after
the death of Captain Dawson, planning
how he might dispose of the body.
1t is almost absolutely certain the as
sassin endeavored, during his long occu-
pancy of the room with the murdered
m an, to dig his grave, and thus forever
bury all proof of his crime.
All the flags in the city are at half-mast
and telegrams of sympathy are pouring
in from all parts of the country. The
funeral will be held at the cathedral at
O'Clock this afternoon. All civic and
social bodies with which Captain Dawson
was connected will attend. Bishop North
rop will conduct the funeral services.
PARTICULARS OF THE CRIME.
AUGUSTA, Ca, March 13.-A specia
| from Charleston to the Chronicle gives
the following account of Captain Dawson't
assassination: The city tonight is in 9
terrible state of excitement over the as
sassination of Captain Dawson, editor oi
the News and Courier. The murderer il
named L. B. McDow, a young physician
who is married and has several children
The evidence in the case is very meRgre
but it has been learned that Captain Daw
son was murdered because of an attemp
| - 60 <,fs
girl in his employ. The murder, it il
said, was committed about 4:45 p. M, bu
was not discovered for three hours after
ward, when the murderer surrendered him
self. The body of the murdered man had
in the meantime, lain in the Office of tn,
murderer, not 100 yards from his owl
residence.
Captain Dawson left the News ant
Courier Office about 800 p. m, and wa
never seen alive again. 1t appears tina
he had suspicious that his maidservant
who had charge of his children, was MOI
behaving herself properly. Last week h
asked the chief of police to detail de
teotive to shadow her, as he did not desir
his children to be entrusted to girl wht
was not strictly honest. The detective &C
cordingly shadowed the young woman
On Monday morning he saw her get on
Rutledge street car, where she was sool
Joined by Doctor MoDow, the murderer
The detective followed the pair for sew
eral hours, and submitted report il
writing to the chief of police, who com
municated the details to Captain Dawson
AS stated above, Captain Dawson lef
his Office at 8 p. M, and was found mur
dered about $3.50 p. m. in the Office of Nc
Dow. His face was badly beaten and I
pistol bullet was found in his heart. 1t !
supposed he went to Doctor McDow's I,
remonstrate with him, married man an,
father of several children, against seduc
ing his maidservant, and that Doctor Nc
Dow shot him after the two had been en-
gagged in the controversy. After the mur
der McDow disappeared till $3.50 p. m
when he appeared at the police station an,
surrendered himself. McDow is said t,
be the only doctor in the city who is not
member of the State Medical society, ant
has an unsavory reputation.
He married several years ago tn
daughter of @. O. Apens, a rich retire,
grocer. 1t is known that the police hsv
been asked to shadow him several times
The city is in terrible state of excite
ment. All the evidence adduced thus fa
shows that the murder was one of tine mos
diabolical in the annals of crime. Captain
Dawson was shot while sitting down.