The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-24
CITIZEN DAWSON UNMAsKED.
Seymour Youths Egg Him for His
Part in the Election.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SEYMOUR, Ind, Oct. 23.-A story has
been sent out from Brownstown of an out
rage perpetrated on A. A. Dawson, of this
place. last Tuesday night before the result
of the county seat election was known. The
trouble was caused by what is commonly
known as kids" and was on account OF
the many stories told during the campaign
by Dawson, who, with few others here,
had taken sides with Brownstown in the
election to bring the county seat to Sey-
mour He had misrepresented the situation
in his speeches. Dawson was a clerk on
the election board in the Fourth precinct.
After the board had completed the count
he went to the Hotel Jonas to meet eigh-
teen men, who had come up from Browns
town for the purpose of witnessing the
count. The news of so many men from
Brownstown being in the city on the night
of election naturally drew a large and sus-
picious crowd. When the party started for
the depot the boys who knew Davison's
past history hooted at him and followed
along the street with angry threats. Sud-
denly there was shower of rotten toma-
toes and eggs, several of which struck
Dawson. His friends from Brownstown
took fright and hustled him off to the sta
ton. The crowd quickly grew to formid-
able proportions, and made the street echo
with jeers and ,yells. The station agent
fearing the vengeance of the mob of
youngsters, let Dawson in his room at the
station, extinguished the lights and locked
the door. The boys struck matches, ana,
holding them up to the windows, spied the
frightened Brownstown sympathizer on the
floor, and began to beat on the door.
About this time Mr.. "A. w. Mills, a coal
merchant and an ardent removallst, stepped
up and, being admitted to the depot said:
There is no yellow dog so low but what
he has got a friend and l will protect you,
Dawson, and take you home'
He then ordered the boys to stand back,
and walking out of the depot escorted the
frightened man five blocks to his home.
which no reached without further trouble.
The feeling here is very bitter against
Dawson on account of his action during
the courthouse fight when he took the
stump for BrOWnstOwn and spoke deroga-
tory of the business men here In his
speeches he claimed that he represented
800 voters of Seymour who We're opposed
to the relocation of the county seat. The
against it in the township. 1t is also the
common opinion that Dawson inStigated
the two circulars scattered broadcast over
the streets here last Sunday and Monday
nights. Dawson had been honored and be-
friended by the citizens of Seymour on
many occasions, and the people could not
stand his ingratitude. He had been elected
to the State Legislature, City Council and
county treasurer, and was appointed post
AldSlCl VI ILLS CITY Oh the
of Jason b. Brown, at that time congress-
man from the Third district. But he was
unfaithful to his trust. his bondsmen made
up his shortage and the Office was turned
over to Mr. 3. F. Price, one of his bonds
men, now president of the Seymour Ma
ttonal Bank, who served out the unexpired
term. AT the time of Davison's shortage
he was arrested for embezzement and
taken before Judge Woods, at Indianapolis
Business men, irrespective of party, pleaded
for his release on the ground that his
shortage had been made good by his bonds
men, and they brought enough influence to
bear 20 save him from the penitentiary
The history of Dawson was we'll known
to the crowd of boys who mobbed him
the night of the election, and this accounts
for their youthful indignation. One of the
eggs struck Dawson on his shirt BOSOM
and after he was taken home by Mills the
shirt was taken to the laundry and after
wards photograph was taken of it.
Since the night of the trouble Dawson
has not shown his face on the street
friend from Brownstown drove up Thurs
day and took him to the ratification meet
ing at that place. The citizens deplore the
action of the boys in their treatment of
Dawson, but the friendly feeling formerly
existing towards him has disappeared, and
he is held in contempt, not so much for
his support of Brownstown as for the many
misrepresentation made by him during the
campaign.