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 H1s HOUSE ALL ALONE.
Judging from the State of His
Dec imposed Body, He
Must Have Been Dead
Several Days.

Deo mp 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. E. w. Dawson,
late editor Of The News and Courier,
was found dead in bed at his residence
on Rntledge avenue Tuesday morning,
having been dead since probably
Saturday night or Sunday morning,
judging from the state of decomposI-
tion OF the body. DR.. McDow's wife
and daughter were in the mountains
and he had been occupying the house
alone, which accounts for the long
time that elapsed between his death
and the finding of his body.
The discovery OF the dead body was
made by j. q. McDow, a stableman,
cousin Of the deceased, who was
notified Tuesday morning about 8
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 run out of the city,
but finding the house shut up again
Tuesday morning, after attending to
the horse and stable he notified the
cousin of the dead man. Mellow
forced open the door Of the house and
then entered the bedroom, 20 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 OF water and glass stood
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
locked as though death had peacefully
and suddenly come to him.
NO AUTOPSY HELD.
An autopsy was not held, being con-
sldered unnecessary on account Of DR..
Mellow having been under treatment
for heart disease, DR.. A. E. Baker is-
suing certificate that this was the
cause OF his death. DIR. Mellow had
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 to bear
and he succumbed under it during
Saturday night or Sunday morning.
DR.. McDow was 49years Of age s He
has been pfacticing his. profession f1 lure Il ];
for number OF years and was. con-
;sidered In good iYGti NIT iiees.
He had nice home on Rutledpe ave-
hue.
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 man of
national reputation in the world of
journalism and politics. Capt. Daw-
son had gone to DR.. McDow's office to
demonstrate with him concerning
alleged attention by him to young
woman employed as domestic In
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. It
was not until several hours afterward
that the tragedy beca me known and
lt made an immense sensation in
Charleston and all over the country.
After killing Capt. Dawson, by shoot
ing him with a revolver, Or. McDow
attempted to hide the body yin small
unpaved passageway leading from his
otlice, which he tried to dig a grave:
lie testified at his trial, upon charge
OF murder, that this was done in the
high excitement and nervous treplda.
tion Following the death OF his victim
and not with any intelligent idea OF
hiding the result Of his deed, and that
as soon as he had come to a realiZa-
tion OF what he had done, he reported
the death OF Capt. Dawson to the
authorities.
The trial Of DR.. Mellow was an
event of absorbing interest IN Charles.
ton and every feature Of IL was closely
followed by the crowds that. packed
the court house. He was acquitted
upon plea OF self-defense, his claim
being that Capt. Dawson had threat.
ened him and had struck at him with
a heavy cane.
In the excioement following the
first news OF the killing OF Capt. Daw-
son, there was some talk OF a lynchipR
party and actually plans were laid by
some of the overwrought friends OF the
slain editor TO take DR.. Mellow from
The county jail and execute him sum-
marily, but better councils, fortified
greatly by citations of Capt. Dawson s
own firm views upon the dignity of
the law, prevailed, and there was no
demonstration made.
Since the tragedy DR.. Mellow has
continued to live in the house on Rut.
ledge avenue and to have his office at
the place where he killed Capt. Daw.
son, and 1t was in that residence that
he died and his body was found.
Died from Cigarettes. Z
MIR. Chas. Steele, young man 23
years OF age, siIot himself through the
head with n rpyolyer n ~ tho home ~