The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-03-20
CAPT. DAWSON KILLED.
ANOTHER HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN THE
CITY By THE SEA.

The Editor Of the News and Courier Shot
Through the Heart by DR.. MeDow, a.
Young Physician--The Murder Com.
mitted in McDow's Office, Whittier Capt.
Dawson Had Gone to Demonstrate With
the Doctor About Delicate Matter
The Murderer Locks the Body Of His
Victim in the OHce and Tells No One OF
His Horrible Crime Until Three Hours
Afterwards.
CHARLESTON, March 12.-[Special to-
The Register. THE city tonight is in a,
terrible state of excitement over the
assassination of Capt. F. ". Dawson,
the editor Of the Nems and Courier
The murderer is named T. B. Mellow,
young physician who is married and has
several children =
The evidence in the case is yerys
meagre, but it has been learned that
Captain Dawson was murdered because
of an attempt on his part to save the
honor of a servant girl in his employ.
The murder, it is said, was committed
about 3:45 p. M, but was not discovered
for three hours afterwards, when Dr.
Mellow surrendered himself. The body
of the murdered man had in the mean
time lain in McDow's Office, not one
hundred yards from his own residence.
Capt. Dawson left the Nears and Cou-
1ier Office about $50 p. m, and was
never seen alive again.
1t appears that he had suspicious that
his maid servant, who had charge of his
children, was not behaving herself pro-
perly. Last week he asked the Chief of
Police to detail detective to shadow the
girl, stating that if she was honestly
courted he would have nothing to say,
but that he did not desire his children to
be entrusted to girl who was not
strictly honest.
The detective accordingly Swallowed
the girl. On Monday morning he saw
her get on a Rutledge avenue street car,
where she was soon joined by DR.. Nc !.
Dow. The detective followed the pair
for several hours, and submitted re-
port, IN aoriting, to the Chief of Police,
who communicated its contents to Capt.
Dawson this morning.
As stated above, Captain Dawson left
his office at $3.50 p. m to-day, and was
found murdered, about $50 p. NJ, in
the Office of Dr. Mellow. His face was
badly beaten. and a pistol b1fEzMas
found lodged in his heart.
1t is supposed that he went to Dr..
McDow's Office to demonstrate with him
IA married man and the father Of seve-
raj children) against seducing his maio
servant, and that Mellow shot him after
the two had been engaged in scrim-
mage.
After the killing, Mellow disappeared
until about 6:S0p. M, when he appeared, j,
at the police station and surrendered
himself.
Mellow is said to be the only doctor
in the city who is not a member of the
State Medical Society, and has an un-
savory reputation He married, some
years ago, the daughter of G. D. Ahrens,
a rich retired grocer, and it is known
that the police have been asked to
shadow him several times.
All the evidence adduced thus far
shows that the murder was one of the
most diabolical in the annals Of crime.
Capt. Dawson was shot while sitting
down. The shot was fatal one. After
numbering his victim, it is said, DIR.
Mellow left him lying on the floor,
locked his Office door, and went out to a
corner grocery shop. There is evidence
that he tried to bury the corpse of his 5
victim, but that in the meantime sus-
picion had got out, and finally, three :
hours after he had killed Cart. Dawson,
he surrendered himself to the police
authorities.
The murderer has the reputation OF
being rake, and it is said that ne IS
known in almost every bawdy house in
the city.
Tonight the city is wrapped in mourn.
ing, and the murder is the subject OF
discussion in every quarter of the town.
The body of the murdered man has
been taken to his residence, and the
Coroner, after empanneling jury, has
adjourned the inquest until tomorrow.
McDow was hurried to the jail as soon
as he had surrendered himself, and for
the present is safe from lynching, as the
Jail is we'll nigh impregnable. The en-
tire community is incensed.
The City Council had just net to
night when the news of the murder was
telephoned, upon which the Council at
once adjourned. J. a. M.
Details and Incidents Of the Shocking
Tragedy.
CHARLESTON, March 13.-lspeclal to
The Register. The entire city is ap-
palled at the murder of Captain Dawson.
Of course Captain Dawson had friends
and enemies, as all newspaper men must
necessarily have. But friends and en-
emies alike are appalled, at the manner
of his taking off. 1t was horrible. AS
telegraphed The REGISTER last night, ne