The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-05
SLAYER OF DAWSON,
DR.. Thomas D. MoDow, Found Dead
in His Bed.
IN HIS HOUSE ALL ALONE.

Judging from the state or His
ID o III p o d Body, He
Must Have Been Dead
Several DAYS.
A special to the State from Charles
lesion says: DR.. Thomas B. Mellow,
the slayer of Capt. f. w. Dawson,
late editor OF The News and Courier,
was found dead in bed at his residence
ON Ratleage avenue Tuesday morning,
having been dead since probably
night or Sunday morning,
judging from the state OF decomposl-
tion Of the body. DR.. McDow's wife
and daughter we're In the mountains
and he had been occupying the house
alone, which accounts for the long
time that elapsed between his death
and the hnding of his body.
The discovery Of the dead body was
made by j. g. McDow, a .stableman,
cousin Of the deceased, who was
notified Tuesday morning about 6
o'clock by DR.. McDow's negro buggy
driver that he had not seen the doc.
tor since Saturday afternoon and was
fearful that something had happened
to him. When the negro failed to see
the doctor Tuesday he concluded that
he had taken a run out of the city,
but finding the house shut up again
Tuesday morning, after attending tc
the horse and stable he notified the
cousin OF the dead man. McDow
forced open the door of the house and
then entered the bedroom, 70 find the
doctor dead. The room was in an
orderly condition. The mosquito net
had been carefully tucked In around
the mattress, DR.. McDow's clothes
were laid on chair near his bed and
pitcher az water and glass stccd
on table by the bed. The body was
on it's back, with the arms carefully
thrown over the chest. There was
no evidence Of any struggle and it
looked as though death had peacefully
and suddenly come to him.
NO AUTOPSY HELD.
An autopsy was not held, being con.
sidered unnecessary on account of DR..
McDow having been under treatment
for heart disease, DR.. A. e. Baker is-
suing a certificate that this was the
cause OF his death. DIR. Mellow had
a fainting spell a few days ago at the
office of the Charleston Light and
Water company while paying his wa
ter rent, and the. supposition is that
the repetition Of the attack was too
great strain for the organ. II. bear
and he succumbed under 1t during
Saturday night or Sunday morning.
DR.. McDow was 49years OF aye. He
has been practicing his profession here
for q number Of years and was con
sideredeto be- I'm good Ecu tns u iices.
He had nice home on Rutledge ave.
nue..
THE DAWSON TRAGEDY.
On March IL, 1899, DR.. McDow
shot and killed Capt. Francis War
rington Dawson, editor of The News
and Courier, one OF the best known
men In South Carolina and a man OF
national reputation in the world oil
journalism and politics. Capt. Daw.
son had gone to DR.. McDow's office tt
demonstrate with him concerning
alleged attention by him to young
woman employed as a domestic ir
Capt. Dawson's family, and 1t was
while the two men we're alone in the
office that the killing occurred, at
about o'clock In the afternoon. /,
was not until several hours atterwarG
that the tragedy beca me known anc
1T made an immense sensation ir
Charleston and all over the country
After killing Capt, Dawson, by shoot
ing him with revolver, Or. McDou
attempted to hide the bodyin small
unpaved passageway leading from hi.
office, which he tried to dig a grave
He testified at his trial, upon charge
OF murder, that this was done In tht
high excitement and nervous trepida
tion following the death of his victim
and not with any intelligent idea o
hiding the result Of his deed, and tha
as soon as he had come to realiza
tion of what he had done, he reported
the death OF Capt. Dawson to TIN
authorities.
The trial Of DR.. Mellow was a,
event OF absorbing interest In Charles
ton and every feature of IL was closel
followed by the crowds that. packe,
the court house. He was acquitte,
upon Il plea Of self.defense, his claiu
being that Capt. Dawson had threat
ened him and had struck ut him wit
heavy cane.
In the excitement following th
first news Of the killing Of Capt. Dlw
son, there was some talk Of lynchip
party and actually plans were laid b,
some of the overwr0ught friends Of th
slain editor to take DR.. Mellow fror
the county jail and execute him sun
marily, but better councils, fortifie
greatly by citations of Capt. Dawson
own firm views upon the dignity {
the law, prevailed, and there was n
demonstration made.
Since the tragedy DR.. Mellow ha
continued to live in the house on Ru
ledge avenue and to have his office Q
the place where he killed Capt. Dav
son, and 1t was in that residence tha
he died and his body was found.
Died from Cigarettes.
Mr.. Chas. Steele, young man 2
years Of age, shot himself through til
! head with q revolver at the home r