The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-25
Capt. Dawson's Murderer in Court.
A Jury Composed of Five White
Men and Seven Negroes.
Tho Courthouse In Charleston
Packed With Eager People.
Tho State Begins TO Submit It's
Damaging Evidence.
OF Witnesses who wero Near
the Fatal Spot at tho Time OF
tho Killing The Attempted
Burial OF the Corpse.

CHARLESTON, S. c., June 2i-This is
just such q day rs the day on which Capt.
4. w. Dawson WAS buried over three
months ago. Il has been raining and
blowing for IS hours, but neither the cold
east wind nor the rain have kept the
people indoors Dr. T. Il. Mellow is on
trial for his life charged with the murder
Of Capt. Dawson. The courthouse is
packed, there Is not even standing room
left, all classes In the community
arc represented Ia the assemblagc A
number OF clergymsn have secured seats
at the bar and will sit through the case.
When Mellow entered the courtroom this
morning he was somewhat nervous but
quickly recovered his self possession, and
is looking on with ~ much apparent un-
jury Was formed without much delay. IL
IL composed 10 followG
A. McClob, George Butler, Arthur Mid
dleton, 7. q, McInnis and A. U. Prince,
white; Z, II. Aston, A. Mckenzie. J. NJ.
Bing, Il. Scsnlan. Alexander Sims, W. II.
burgess aud g. @, Leslie, colored, ilvo
white aud seven colorsd men.
Mellow Is represented by cx.Gov. Ma
gralh and Asher ID. Cohen. Tho prosecu-
ton will be conducted by Solicitor Jaryey
aud II. A. Nj. Smith.
Mellow objected ~ all the white men
called except five, aud selected seven
negroes on the panel The first witness
called by the state was Policeman Gordon,
10 whom Mellow surrendered himself
three hours after the shooting.
John i. fickcn aud August Fetch, two
well known citizens, who rode in q street
car the day Of the murder with Dawson,
testified that thuy Converscd with him
pleasantly aud checriully and saw no signs
Of irritation. lie got oil the car near bis
usual stopping place.
:, q. Gordon, n policeman, testified
that he was near the scene Of the murder,
and that some one told him that a pistol
shot had been fred. lilo wcntio McDow's
house aud saw his wife aud child hurrying
on, ON the street. Then he wont 70
| Mcnow's office and knocked at the door.
The door was slightly open aud witness
saw u mans eye pceping az him. The
door was closed. Witness heard noise
- the Office NJ II man was
hauling bug Of corn across tho
floor, Later on he saw Mellow como cut
VI his office aud 20 10 the grocery on the
corner. McDow's hat was indenicd aud
borc marks Of whitcwash. Ills coat was
also dirty. Mellow. soon aiicrward, re-
turned to his office. Witness then went
10 another part OF the city aud returning
about three hours latof saw Mellow drive
ont OF lhc yard. Mellow called him and
gave himacll up, saying he had killed
Capt Dawson.
Or. Michael, who made the pos, norton
examination. explained tie nature Of the
wound. lie stated that from the course
Of the ball the shot must have been fired
from behind. lie also testified that when
be- saw the body the dead man had on his
gloves aud had evidently been regularly
laid out. The Coroner and Deputy Coro-
net testified o. the investigation
which led TO the discovery OF tho
attempt 10 conceal the body In tho
closet In the rear OF the Office.
Al the effects aud clothing OF the deceased
we're pat IA evidence aud identified, also
the spade the murderer had used TO dig
the grave. the haliburael candle ho had
used 60 light az ihe cellar and a blood
stained towel found la bio office.
Policeman fordham. colorcd. Identified
McloW's hat, showing the dent aud
whitcwash stains he had received while
digging the grave Tor ia~son's body. This
closed the testimony for tie day, and tho
court adjourned I'LL morning.