Evening journal., 1889-03-13
CHARLESTON MOURNING.
A Favorite Citizen and Editor
Foully Murdered.
NO WITNESS TO THE TRAGEDY.

Capt. v. w. Dawson. Of The News and
Courier, Shot Through the Heart and
Terribly beaten BY DR.. #. b. mellow
While Projecting His ChiIdreD's Morals
CHARLESTON, s. G., March 1s Capt r.
W. Dawson, proprietor and editor of The
News and Courier, was found dead in the
otiice Of Dr. r. H. Mellow at 630 o'clock last
evening. At that hour DR.. Mellow walked
nto the police sta ton and gave himself up
with the statement that Capt Dawson was
lying dead in his office.
Mellow vouchsafed no explanation, but it
has been learned that Capt Dawson recently
became suspicious thata young giri employed
in his house as a nurse for his children was
having improper relations with men. Last
week he called upon the chief OF police, and
asked that detective IA detailed to shadow
the girl for few days, and let him know
what, II anything, he discovered.
Cnpt Dawson stated that if the girl was
being honorably courted hs wopld have no
objection 70 make but that il sha were noa
strictly moral he did not want his children
10 be in her care.
On Monday morning detective saw the
nurse girl get ON a Rutledge avenue car
After proceedings a few blocks she WIS joined
by Dr. Mellow The detective followed tho
pair. keeping track Of them and their stop
ping places for several hours, and submitted
"a report in writing 20 the chief OF police.
who in turn communicated its details to-
Dlwsn.
Capt Dawson left his office at $3.50 o'clock
and was found dead at $3.50 in McDow's
Office, less than a hundred yards from hia
own residence His face was badly beatem
and ballet was found lodged in his heart
In the absence Of any positive knowledge,
il Is supposed that Capt Dawson went to
DIR. Mcnowis office and demonstrated with
him about his conduct with the nurse girl.
and that they became engaged in a quarrel.
which resulted la the shooting Mellow them
left his office and wandered about until $50.
when he appeared at the police station
DR.. Mellow IL a married man and thal
father OF several children. His wife is the
daughter Of g. D. Ahfeh, a Wholesale grocer
He is the only physician in the city not %
member of the state association and is not IA
good standing in the profession. He is gener-
ally regarded as q rake and has several timen
been under police surveillance on suspicion
Of being implicated in crimes
The city is IN mourning over the death "a
Capt Dawson, and q eat excitement prevails.
The body has been removed 20 the late resi-
dence Of the decreased A.coroner's jury has
viewed t. and adjourned until to-day. There
are threats OF lynching the murderer, who
was hurried 70 the Jail as soon as the crime
became known The jail is very strong
one, and could hardly DO. taken by a mob.
The city council was in session, bat adjourned
Immediately upon learning OF the tragedy.
An the evidence thus far adducod shows
that the murder was one of the most horribls
in the annals Of crime Capt Dawson waa
shot while sitting down. After numbering
his victim, il is said. DE-. Mellow left him
lying ON the floor, locked his ofiice door and
went out 70 a corner grocery. There is evil
dence that he tried 10 bury tho corpse, bus
suspicion having been aroused in the mean
time, he finally, three hours after the murder.
surrendered himself 10 the police authorities.