The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-26
DAWS0N'S MAID HEARD.
A SENSATIONAL sCENE IN THE
GREAT TRIAL.

the Case-She Tells the Story of
McDow's Persistent Pursuit and His
Endeavors to Induce Her to Elope
With Him-Only Two Kisses - The
Racy Novel "Twixt Love and Law"
CHARLESTON, s. c., June 25-The sensa-
tional denouement in the McDow murder
trial to-day was the appearance Of the
Swiss maid-the moving cause OF the
tragedy. She was on the stand for two
hours, and was subjected to most searching
cross examination. 1t was noon when she
took the stand. Immediately there was a
crush forward of the dense crowd in the
court room SO that the judge, lawyers, wit
nesses and reporters had scarcely room
to move. Several attempts were made to
move the solid wall of humanity back, but
without avail. Her name is Marion Dur
beyon. She is pretty girl of exquisite
form and strikingly beautiful features
dark eyes and hair; an olive complexion,
with the faiDtest blush Of roses on the
checks; large, lustrous eyes. which boldly
looked into the face of the examining coun-
SELL and has a most captivating manner of
making little moves aud of Struggling her
plump shoulders when answering questions.
A BECOMING COSTUME.
Attired in close-htting, clinging cos
tune of black cloth, with tight-htting
black jersey, which outlined bust fit for a
Venus, with black chip bonnet, trimmed
with jet-black ribbon, this maid sat on the
witness box for two hours.
The states attorney made repeated efforts
to have an interpreter, but the defense OBJ
jected, and the court sustained the OBJ
lection. Her story was drawn out by re-
peated questions, the answers being always
frank, and delivered in the most piquant
and delightful of pigeon English. This is
her statement, condensed:
II live in Charleston wiz the Dawson
family for three years; born in Geneva,
and came to Amerique wiz Mees Dawson (;
l haf father: 'ees in Geneva wiz
my two brothers; one brother ices
in London" She met Mellow on Feb.
last in the street. She knew him, but not
to speak to. He asked her to run away
with him to France the first time.
What did you tell himp
81 say no, l would not lef Mees Dawson
for anysing in 70 world"
It seems that the acquaintance or fiirta-
tiou continued from Feb /, 1889, to the day
of the murder.
SECRET MEETINGS AT CAPT. DAwsoN's.
During this time the girl admitted that
she had frequently met Mellow on the
street and at Capt. Dawson's house. He
gave her flowers and gold watch and
chain, and wrote poetry to her. The burden
| of his talk with her was to run away with
! him. She kaew he was married and a
father, but he always said that he would
get divorce from his wife; that he had
| only married her for her money. His wife
was German woman, and he found it inn
| possible to live with her any longer. She
saw him at Capt. Dawson's house, where
| the two remained in the library
| for two hours, and at another time
when they met in tae cooks house
| ON Capt. Dawson's premises. This was while
| Mrs. Dawson was away. On the morning
of the murder she met Mellow in street
car by appointment. They rode up to the
outskirts of the city and walked around for
some time Finally they got in Nunan street,
| where there was a small house occupied by
a colored woman. Mellow led her into the
yard and asked the old woman to let him
have the use of room, which was refused +;
whereupon they went out.
WHY SHE ENTERED THE YARD.
| When asked on the cross-examination
why she entered the yard, she tried to ex-
plain that Mellow told her there was de-
| tective after them and he desired to avoid
him. On returning Mellow asked her to
see him that night. but she refused. She
finally consented to see him in Capt. Daw-
sons garden. She told him then that he
had ruined her reputation as her duty
was to Capt. Dawson's family and
not to be running around in the
man and father. Mellow followed her
almost every day when she was coming
from school with the children. ut was
always the same thing; he wanted me TO
| leave Charleston with him and 60 awayn
| She gave him some good advice She told
him he must have patience He was not
the only man who was not happy with his
wife.
The witness was cross-examined by Judge
| Magrath. one of the Oldest lawyers in the
state, and it was during this cross-exami-
uation that the story became exciting.
THE FIRST MEETING.
She remembered the first day Of Feb
ruary, when she met Mellow first, because
she had written it down in her diary.
"What did you write"
81 wrote: Il will remember this day. y
"What caused you to remember itp
"I remember 1t because / think it was a
memorable day when married man asked
poor girl to run away with him and leave
her home.n [Sensation.]
| "What did you think of his offerp'
81 think it was very bad. II he get
divorce from hes wife, den dat not so bad" !"
| "If you considered his proposal wrong,
| why did you allow him to repeat itW
81 don't know. 1t was wrong. but /
| can't tell Each day ask him by de name
of God to lef me alone, but he will not
do it.n
1t was pitiful TO see this girl. when pushed
by question she vaguely understood, look
around for help, and, when asked question
that tended to compromise her, answer, 81
don't know" 81 can't telln She said she
did not know what love was, and she did
not love McDow. She believed he thought
he loved her.
''TwIxT LOVE AND Law"
The lawyer produced a copy Of Jessie
Anness Miller's sensational novel "Twixt
Love and Law" and she admitted that she
had lent it to him. She said she knew
what was in the book, but could not be
made to admit that the parties in the novel
were in the same relation as she and
Mellow. In the book, she said, the single
woman is in love with a married man, but
it was not case for me, because the single
woman there she loved the married man.
There was an explosion in the court
| house when the venerable counsel elicited
from her that Mellow bad kissed her twice
I during their liason. 'Did he ever kiss
| youp asked the aged lawyer.
"Yes,D with a move and a shrug.
"How many timesp
1.-TWO times. and two times too much"
''Only twice7"
'Yes.n very pointedly. "you want some
more, ehfn
The counsel declined, but persistently
made her describe the kissing. It was the
1 occasion Of the meeting In the library. She