St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-14
M'DOW, THE MURDERER.
Claims That He Killed Capt. Daw-
son in SeIfDefense.

son In Self-DefenSe.
CHARLESTON, S. c., March 13.-The
murder of Capt. Dawson was the most
brutal and atrocious ever committed in
Charleston. The popular Indignation
is intense. All classes in the commit
nifty stand aghast at the assassination
and would lynch the murderer if they
could get him out of Jail. The circum-
stances attending the murder are now
given as follows: Capt. Dawson left
the News and Courier office at
$50 o'clock. Some time ago it
had been brought, to his atten-
tion that one OF his dOmestics, a
stranger in America and one for whose
conduct, being employed in an educa-
tional and fiduciary capacity. he was
responsible, was conducting herself in
a manner that demanded his immediate
attention. AS will appear elsewhere,
Capt. Dawson had the best reasons for
calling upon DR.. Mellow, which he did
at probably about twenty minutes to
o'clock yesterday afternoon. Capt.
Dawson, on reaching the Office of DIR.
Mellow, alighted from the street car
and entered. He never returned alive.
The whole truth of the history of what
really occurred in that Office, and iE the
few fatal moments Of the tragedy, will
be buried i'll the grave of Capt. Dawson.
The revelations only partially made last
night. indicate that the death of Capt.
Dawson was not only cOmpaSsed i'm
brutally murderouS manner, but that a
futile effort had been made
TO BURY THE BODY
of the victim as secret forever. DR..
Mellow, Capt. DawSon'S assassin and
murderer, was called upon last night in
jail and asked to explain the circum-
stances OF the tragedy. He at first de-
cllned to make any statement, but
eventually said: "Here it is in a nut
shell. Capt. Dawson entered my office,
used abusive language and knocked me
down with his cane. IL got up and he
was about to strike me again when l
shot him." DR.. Mellow then went on
to say that Capt. Dawson was not killed
instantly; that he remained alive for
half to three-quarterS of an hour, dur
ing which time he (McDow) remained
in the room with the man whose life
was fast ebbing away, making up his
mind what to do. But there is the
strongest and most convincing proof
that DIR. Mellow remained in the room
at least an hour after the death of Capt.
Dawson. planning how he might
DISPOSE OF THE BODY.
At a distance of few feet from the
back door of the office at the end of a
passageway. is 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, a thorough examination of the
premises was made with a view of the
fullest investigation. 1t Is the belief
that Lieut. Fordham made startling
discovery while this examination was
in progress. On the half-door above re-
ferred to there were noticed some spots
of fresh blood; this was, of course, an
incentive to further inquiry, and the ex-
animation was extended to all parts of
the closet. Drops of blood were found
on the floor up to a space where the
flooring terminated, and the earth of the
foundation was exposed. Here another
HORRIBLE AND STARTLING REVELA-
TION
was made. The mould was noticed to
be freshly turned up, and to depth
which was only limited by quantity
of bricks and other impossible mate
rial to the spade, or whatever instru-
ment was used in the attempt to dig
grave. Such certainly is the conviction
of all those who saw the upturned earth
and the blood spots Oil the floor and the
door. This closet door was found nailed
up last night, although it had evidently
formerly been laid up against the open
ing into the closet. 1t is therefore al
most absolutely certain that the assas-
sin endeavored, during his long occu-
pancy of the room with the murdered
man, to dig his grave, and thus forever
bury all proof of his crime with his vic
tim. Certain it is, however. that DIR.
Mellow, otter finding his efforts futile
on account of the soil just noted, deter
mined to set up the plea of self-defense,
and went out and delivered himself to
Private Gordon. 1t was stated that be-
fore being taken to the central station
he was permitted to visit one or two
lawyers. DIR. Mellow said that he was
standing up when he fired the fatal
shot, and Capt. Dawson was about to
strike him second time with his cane.
Three things are
THEREFORE, QUITE REMARKABLE;
one, that Capt. Dawson should 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
thirdly. if it were self-defense, why the
tell-tale grave beneath the stairs? Ali
the flags in the city are at half-mast and
kilograms of sympathy are pouring in
from all parts of the country. The
funeral will be held at the cathedral at
O'Clock this afternoon. All civic and
social bodies with which Capt. Dawson
was connected will attend. Bishop
Northrop will conduct the funeral
services.