The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-14
THE KILLING OF DAWSON.
The Murderer Declines to Talk of the Tragedy
, Services Over the Editors Remains.

CHARLESTON, S. c., March 13.-The MUIR
der of Captain Dawson was the most brutal
and atrocious ever committed in Charles
ton, and the popular indignation is intense.
DR.. Mellow, Captain Dawson's assassin and
murderer, was called upon last night in
Jail and asked to explain the circumstances
of the tragedy. He at first declined to
make any statement but eventually said:
Here it is in nutshell Captain Daw-
son entered my office, used abusive Ian
guage, and knocked me down with his
cane. i got up, and he was about to strike
me again, when shot him." 4,
DR.. Mellow 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
(McDOwj remained in the room with the
man whose life was fast ebbing away, max
ing up his mind what to do. But there is
the strongest and most convincing proof
that Dr. Mellow remained in the room at
least an hour after the death of Captain
Dawson, planning how he might dispose of
the body. At distance of a few feet
from the back door of the Office, at the end
of passageway, is a half-door opening
into recess under the stairway which
leads to the second story. AS was natural
and to be expected from the coroner and
his jury, thorough examination of the
premises was made, with a view to the full
est investigation. On the half door above
of fresh blood. This was. of course, an in
centlve to further inquiry, and the exami-
nation was extended to all parts of the
closet. Drops of blood were found on the
floor mp to space where the flooring term
mated and the earth of the foundation was
| exposed Here another horrible and start
| ling revelation was made The mould was
noticed to be freshly turned up. and to
depth an Mlch of Srcf only and ntSsr 6y
passable material to the spade or
whatever instrument was used in the at
tempt to dig grave. Such, certainly, is
the conviction of all those who saw the
upturned earth and the blood spots on the
| floor apd the door. This closet door was
found nailed up last night, although it had
evidently formerly been laid up against
the opening into the closet, 1t is therefore
almost absolutely certain that the assassin
| endeavored, during his long occupancy of
| the room with the murdered man. to dig
his grave, and thus forever bury all proof
| of his crime with his victim. Certain it is.
| however, that Mellow, after finding his ef-
| forts futile on account of the soil Just noted,
| determined to set up the plea of self defense,
and went out and delivered himself to the
| III was stated UnaC before De-
ing taken to the Central station he was
permitted to visit one or two lawyers Dr.
| Mellow said he was standing up when he
fired the fatal shot, and Captain Dawson
| was about to strike him a second time with
his cane. Three things are, therefore, quite
remarkable: one, that Captain Dawson
| could have been shot in the spot where the
bullet entered; second that if DR.. Mellow
had been knocked down. he can exhibit no
marks of such implied violence; and third,
| if it were Self-defense, why the tell-tale
grave beneath the stairsf DR.. Mellow
| reached the Central station at 6:15 p. NJ,
and surrendered himself to Lieutenant
Heidi.
The coroner's jury will not meet until IL
o'clock tomorrow, when a thorough inves-
tigatiOn of the crime will be made.
Dr. Mellow is in jail, and, under the adj
| vice of his counsel, Ex-Governor McGrath,
will not speak of the circumstances attend
! ing the bloody deed.
I George w. Williams is foreman of the
cOroner's jury. which is composed of promi-
of the police. After the murder was COM
mitted, McDOw's wife, with whom he had a
serious quarrel on the day of the tragedy,
fled from the house, taking her baby with
her The police have positive. proof of
! DawsOn's maid. He and She were
traced by detective to an assigna-
tion-house. where they. remained for
an hour or two. The maid is still in Captain
Dawson's family. Her mistress is not in
clined to believe her guilty, as charged.
Messages OF sympathy have been pouring
in to Mrs Dawson to-day from all parts of
the country. Ex-President Cleveland tele-
graphs: lam shocked by the death of your
husband, and sadly tender you my heart
felt sympathy and coincidence"
The funeral, this afternoon. was attended
by an immense crowd, representing all
classes of the community. The services
took place at the Cathedral chapel. The
services were conducted by Bishop North
rop. of the Diocese of Charleston, who was
assisted by Bishop John Moore. of the do
cese of ST. Augustine, Fla. All the Catholic
| clergy of the diocese were in the sanctuary.
The Sisters of Mercy. the ladies of the
Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, and the or
phans under their charge attended the
funeral. Bishop NorthrOp delivered the
eulOgy.
Rain fell the whole day. The flags all
over the city were displayed at half mast,
and business was partially suspended In
the editorial, repertOrial and business stats
of the News and Courier acted as pail
bearers.
| WASHINGTON, March 13-The news of the
death of Captain Dawson was received here
with great regret by his numerous friends,
and expressions of coincidence with his
widow and two little children were
universal Senators German of Maryland.
and Ransom, who have for a number of
years been associated with Captain Daw-
son on the National Democratic executive
committee, were much shocked at the re-
port of the murder, and Senator German
said: "By the death of Captain Dawson
the South has lost one of its best men, and
a champion who was ever foremost in every
matter of material interest or benefit to that
section"
The deepest sympathy was manifested in
army circles, where Captain Dawson was
we'll known having married sister of the
wife of General Drum.
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