The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-07-04
THE DAWSON MURDER.
TRIAL OF DIR. +. b. McDOW AT
CHARLESTON. iass 8

and the Material Points In the Evi
dence Acduced.
| The trial of DIR. T. B. Mellow, fol
the murder of Capt. F. w. Dawson
| editor of the Ne,cs and Courier, begar
at Charleston on Monday Of last week
Such intense interest in the trial
has been manifested by people all ovel
the country, that we give the gist oi
the testimony of the principal wit
nesses for the benefit of those readers
of THE SENTINEL who feel an interest
in the case.
DIR. Mellow was represented by ex.
Gov. Magrath and Asher D. Cohen
The prosecution was conducted by
Solicitor Jervey and ii. A. M. Smith.
DIR. McDow's counsel objected to all
the white men called except five, and
selected seven colored men on the
panel.
FIRST DAY.
s. G. Gordon, policeman, testified
that he was near the scene of the
murder, and that some one told him a
pistol shot had been fired. He went
to DR.. McDow's house and saw his
wife and child hurrying out on the
street. Then he went to DR.. McDow's
office and knocked at the door. The
door was slightly open and witness
saw a mans eye peeping at him. The
door was closed and fastened a few
moments later. Witness heard a
noise in the office, as if a man was
hauling bag of corn across the floor.
Later on he saw DIR. Mellow come out
of his Office and 60 to the grocery on
the corner. DIR. McDow's hat was
indented and bore marks of white
wash. His coat was also dusty. DIR.
his Office. Witness then went to an
other part of the city, and returning
about three hours later saw DIR. Nc
Dow drive out of the yard. Mellow
called him and gave himself up, say
ing he had killed Captain Dawson.
DR.. Michael, who made the post
mortem examination, explained the
nature of the wound. He stated that
from the course of the bail the shot
must have been fired from behind. He
also testified that when he saw the
body the dead man had op his gloves
and had evidently been regularly laid
out. The coroner and deputy coroner
testified to the investigation which led
to the discovery of the attempt to con
ceal the body in the closet in the rear
of the Office. All the effects and
clothing of the deceased were put in
evidence and identified; also, the spade
which the murderer had used to dig
the grave, the halfburned candle he
had used to light up the cellar and a
blood stained towel found in his office.
Policeman Fordham, colored, iden-
titled DR.. McDow's hat, showing the
dent and whitewash stain that it had
received when he was digging the
grave for Capt. Dawson's body.
SECOND DAY.
John H. Deveraux, Henry Oliver
and Mike Hogan were examined by
the State to establish McDow's at.
tempt to bury Captain Dawson's body
after the shooting. The evidence on
this point was overwhelming. The
State thus far had established hey ond
question the fact Of the killing, the
fact that Mellow shot Dawson in the
back, and the fact that. he tried to
bury the body.
After the examination of Hogan
Helene, the French governess of Capt.
Dawson's children and the cause of
the shooting, was put on the stand.
She testified that she met Mellow for
the first time on February 1st end had
almost daily interviews with him un-
til the day of the shooting. She had
an interview with him in Captain
Dawson's library, also in an out house
in Captain Dawson's yard. He had
kissed her twice. The final interview
was in the upper part of the city,
where Mellow had endeavored to
take her into room in the house of
an old colored woman. She refused
and returned home. Had given and
| received books. Mellow also gave
her a gold watch. He had promised
to get a divorce from his wife. She
never permitted any improperly and
thought McDow's object in asking her
to go into a colored woman's house
was to escape discovery by detective
said by Mellow to be following them.
THIRD DAY.
DR.. T. B. Mellow told the story of
his killing Capt. Francis w. Dawson,
editor of the Neaos. and Courier, twice
to-day, once on the direct and again
on cross examination. He was on the
stand for two hours. He presented a
haggard appearance, and was as white
as sheet when he began to testify,
but before his story had half been told
he became perfectly calm and appar-
emily unconcerned. In all his recital
of the details of the tragedy he was
led by his counsel, Judge Magrath
and testified to just what his counsel
wished. There were several spats be-
tween counsel for the State and de.
fense as to the leading character of the
examination, but the court generally
sustained the defense. 8
DIR. McDow said that Capt Dawson
came to his Office, rang the bell and
was admitted by him. Captain Daw
son, he testified, was domineering in
his demeaner and warned him that he
must not speak to the Swiss maid again
or come upon his premises DR.. Nc
Dow replied he would speak to hel
whenever he chose and until Capt