The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-14
The Murderer Tells His story-start-
ling Developments At the Coro,
ner's Inauest-SIcDow Alleges
Self Defense-The Details,

tional and tiduCiary capacity, he was re-
sponsible, was conducting herself In q
manner that demanded his immediate
attention. AS will appear elsewhere,
Captain Dawson had the best reasons fol
calling upon Mr.. Mellow, which he did
at probably about twenty minutes to 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Captain
Dawson, on reaching the office oil DR..
Mellow, allghted from the street car and
entered. lie never returned alive,
THE MURDERER TELLS his STORY.
The whole truth OF the history Of
what really occurred in that office
and in the few fateiul moments OF the
tragedy will be buried in the grave OF
Captain Dawson. The revelations only
partially made last night indicate that
the death OF Captain Dawson was not
only conipassed in brutally murderous
manner, but that u futile effort had been
made 10 bury the body Of the victim as
a secret forever. DR.. Mellow, Captain
Dawson's assassin aud 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 1t Is In q nut shell-Capt. Daw.
son entered my Office, used abusive Ian
guage and knocked me down with his
cane. got up and he was about to
strike me again when ! shot him."
TIE coRoNER's INVESTIGATION.
DR.. Mellow then went on 10 say that
Capt. Dawson was not killed instantly T;
that he remained alive for half or
three.quarters of an hour, during which
time he (McDow) remained In the room
with tho man whose life was ebbing
away, making up his mind what to do.
But there is the strongest and most con-
vinCing proof that DR.. Mellow remained
in tho room at lenst an hour after the
death OF Capt, Dawson planning how he
might dispose of the body.
At q distance OF few feet from the
bdGk door Office, at the end OF a passage
way, is hall door opening into q recess
under the stairway which leads TO the
second story. As was natural and TO be
expected from the Coroner and his Jury,
a thorough examination OF the premises
was made with view OF the fullest in
vestigation. 1t is the belief that Lieu
tenant Fordham made startling dis
covery while this examination was in
progress. On the door above referred
to there were noticed some spots OF
fresh blood. This was Of course an in
Centive to further inquiry, and the OK.
animation was extended to oil parts Of
the closet. Drops Of blood were found
on the floor up TO space where the
flooring terminated and the earth OF the
foundation was exposed. Here another
horrible and startling revel'tion was
made. The mould was noticed TO be
freshly turned up and to a depth which
was only limited by quantity Of bricks
and other impossible material to the
spade or whatever instrument was used
In the attempt to dig a grave. Such
certainly is the conviction OF all those
who saw the upturned earth and the
blood'spots on the floor and the door.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
This closet door was found nailed VI
last night, although it had eyidentl!
formerly been laid up against the open
ing into the closet. 1t is therefore al
most absolutely certain that the ASSASSIN
endeavored during his long occupancy
OF the room with the murdered man Il
dig bis grave and thus forever bury al
proof OF his crime with his victim. Ger.
tain 1t Is, however, that DR.. Mellow
after finding his efforts futile, on nc
count OF the soil Just noted, determined
10 set up the plea OF self defense and
went out and delivered himself to Pri
Yate Gordon. It was stated that before
being taken to the central station he wal
permitted to visit one or two lawyers
DR.. Mellow said that he was standing ut
when he fired the fatal shots at Captain
Dawson, who was about 10 strike him q
second time with his cane. Three things
are therefore quite remarkable; one
that Captain Dawson could have beer
shot in the spot where the bullet enter.
ed second, that II DR.. Mellow had been
knocked down he can exhibit no marks
ofsuCh implied violence, and thirdly, Il
1t were self.defense, why the tell.talC
grave beneath the stairs. DR.. Mellow
reached the central station at 0:1t
p. tl., and surrendered 10 Lieutenant
Heidi. He was Immediately transferred
10 the jail.
All the flags in the city arc at hali.mas
and kilograms OF sympathy are pouring
In from all parts OF the country. Tho
funeral was held at the Cathedral at /
o'clock this afternoon. All civic and 30
Cial bodies with which Captain Dawson
was contested attended. Bishop Nor
throp conducted the funeral services,
A MESSAGE PROM CLEVELAND.
The coroner's jury In the Dawson mur
der case will not meet until II o'clocI
tomorrow, when a thorough investiga
tlon Of the crime will be made. Dr.. Nc
Dow is In jail, and under the advice o
his counsel, Ex-Governor Magrath, vii
not speak Of The circumstances attendinI
the bloody deed. George W. William
is foreman OF the Coron6f's Jury, which
Ia composed Of prominent men. Nc
Dow'B house Ia In the hands Of TN
police.
After the murder was committed Nc
Dow'B vile, with whom he had a serl
ous quarrel on the day Of the tragedy
fled from tho House, taking her baby
with her. The police haye positive
proof Of MCDow's Illicit connection Will
Captain Dawson's maid, He and Bh
were traced by q detective 10 an asalRna
ton house, where they remained iof al
hour OF two. Tho maid 10 still In Car
tain Dawson's family. Her mistress
not Inclined 10 believe llor guilty q
charged.
Messages Of sympathy have beef
pouring In 10 MB. Dawson to-day ifor
all parts oi the country, Ex.Pfeslden
Cleveland telegraphed! " am BhoCke
by the death ol your husband and Bat
ly tender you my heartfelt Bympath
and coincidence
Tie funeral this afternoon was d
tended by an immense crowd, feptesen
Ing all classes Of the community,
A pitiless rain fell the whole day, III
flags oVerthS city were displayed al ha