The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-07-29
DAWSON'S SLAYER DEAD.
Found Dead in Bed at His Home In
Charleston Tuesday
Morning.

Dow. who killed Capt. F. w. Daw-
son. in this city. on March l2, 1850.
was found dead in his bed Tuesday
morning.
The death OF the slayer OF the bril-
liant Charleston editor. perhaps one OF
the most brilliant; men who has ever
honored the field Of southern journal
ism. calls 70 mind tragedy which at
the time shocked the state more pro-
ic,:ndly than any occurrence since.
except possibly the killing OF the edi-
tor OF the State newspaper. =.
DR.. Thomas Ballard Mellow was
born in Camden. kerShaw county.
about fifty-one years ago. He was pri-
marilv educated in his native county.
and at nlatriculating age entered
the Cumberland university at Leba-
non, Tennessee. There he pursued
course OF medical study. and gradu-
ated with the first honor OF his class
in 49,.
Subsequently he came to Charles
ton and became student at the Med
ical college of the State of South Car
DINA, located in this city, and gradual
ed with considerable merit, being the
valedictorian of his class, composed Of
bright material. The Charleston.
World of the morning after the
shooting of Capt Dawson contains
an account of his life, which further
says that his standing in the college
entitled him on graduation to a posi-
ton as one of the physicians of the
city hospital, and there he served un-
til his term expired. Afterwards he
established himself in This city and
was getting into professional busi-
ness at the time OF the awful tragedy
which ended Capt. Dawson's life. He
was son Of DR.. R. S. McDow, who
was practicing physician of Lam
caster. He was man Of family at
the time of the tragedy. being then
thirty-siN years OF age.
It can do no possible good to call
up the awful memories OF the affair
which ended Capt Dawson's life, and
vet the death of Mellow brought its
memory back to South Carolinians
and it may be we'll at this time to
give McDow's story of the tragedy,
told on the witness stand during his
trial, which ended in his acquittal on
June 90, 1880. A Charleston special
to the old Columbia Register gives
McDow's story, which is here pub
lished in part:
81 was sitting in my sitting room.
said Mellow, "heard TIE Office gong
ring; went down stairs and opened
the Office door. Dawson said: '..Dr.
McDow. I have just been informed
that you have been guilty OF ungen-
tlenmanly conduct to one of my SER
wants 7 replied: 1t is untrue.
Dwson said: I give you to under
stand that I am responsible for that
girl. and you must not speak to her
again I replied that I would speak
to her as often as I desired until I
was convinced that he had authority
to prevent me. Then said Dawson,
If you do so. I will publish your con-
duct in the papers, And if you do,
you Internal scoundrel,' I reriied, I
will hold you personally responsible.
Get out of my office At that time
ne struck my hat off with his cane
and hit me with his hand. knocking
me down to the lounge. The two
blows were almost Simultaneous. He
followed me up and struck me again.
I drew my pistol. and. rising. fired at
him. l had my pistol in my hip pock-
ct. I habitually carry pistol; have
done so ever since I entered the prac-
tice of my profession ........ I stood
for a moment. then stopped down and
felt his pulse Next I dragged him
by his feet, so as to get his body IN
recumbent position, and thought OF
calling for medical assistance: but
saw death approaching. and wondered
if l could do anything to resuscitate