Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1878-11-09
DETAILS OF THE MURDER OF THOs.
G. COCKRELL.

From the Scdaia Democrat, Sunday
| The Democrat Of yesterday morning contained
short account OF the brutal murder Of Thomas
Il Cockr"ll, at Ridge Prairie. SALINE county, on
Friday night. Since then we have obtained
fall particulars of the affair. The details are a.
follows:
Maj Thomas II CockreI, the murdered man.
was we'll known in PettIs. Saline and Cooper
counties. where he mad numerous and suhstan-
t!al friends, ana nephew oi Senator
Cockrell and the late Hon. /. R f Harry
He WAS single man about forty five years OF,
age, and WAS formerly somewhat addicted to iu-
temperance. but OF late had not been given to
dissipation. He had for some time been em-
pioyed as a clerk in the store +. >totts, Il;
Ridge Prairie, and occupied t1at position at the
tine OF h- murder
Mr.. Stotts has been in Southwest Missouri for
some time. and during his absence Mr.. CockrclI
was IN charge OF the store 1he murder Is
supposed to have been committed ~ about 80
clock, Friday night. The victim had been
boarding with blacksmith named Cole, in
Riile Prairie, and slept alone in the store. On
Saturday morning, about six o clock, the black
smith sent his boy to awaken Cockren In q
short time the boy returned and said Mr. Cock
rell was lying the door and was probably
drunk as he had plIshe j him and tried TO Aw AIKEN
him, but could not.
Mr. Cole then went down to the store and
found the murdered III All in the rear part of the
store. lying on his back. with his lands near
the whisky barrel. and pint flask near him.
containing ab ut a Gill of liquor. A stove leg,
all covered with blood and hair, lying be-
side him. and with this murierous Implement
he had been killed. The stove leg weighed
three and one half pounds, and had been WELD
ed with terrible force. The victim httt been
struck three blows on top aud one on the back
Of the head. each one breaking the skull. Not
satisfied with this, the murderer had used
knife 10 complete his hellish work. Mr.. Cock
reI's throat was deeply cut on both sides. and
his windpipe WAS almost severed. In his right
hand, which wi- badly cut, he nrmly Srlpped a
knife, the same one the assassin used, and
which Mr.. CockrelI in his struggle " ith the foe
had evidently wrested from him
The murderer then rHed the dead mans
pockets. broke open the money drawer and
sostracted It's contents, obtaining about $50
Nothing further hal been missed from the store
when our informant left.
The theory in regard TO the murder is that the
assassin or ASSASSIN. went into the store after
whisky. and while MIR. Cockrcll was drawing it
he was struck over the head with the stove leg,
Both knife and stove leg We're covered with
blood. The owner OF them Is being industr.ously
looked Tor.
A young man named John Womack Wa. In the
store at eight q clock Thursday night and that is
the last time Sir. Cockreil was seen alive BY
any OF his friends. Captain Womack lives
within sixty yards of the store, but heard no
disturbance.
Three years ago the coming Christmas a
negro named John McEey. who used to live in
the neiHhborhood. had an alteration with Mr.
Cockreli. and attempted to kill HIM by shooting
at him. The negro al rested, tried and
sentenced to the pententiarY Tor two years AS
soon as the murder became known. suspicion
pontei toward the negro. and on Friday even
ing he WA. arrested while at work III the corn
field oi Mr.. jackson Hunt. There was no proc,
against HIM. but he had ieen heard TO threaten
the lie OF Mr.. COckr.lI, and tnht was deemed
sufficient TO warrant his arrest. The negro bears
q bad reputation in The neighhorhood. His
preliminary examination took place YESTERDAY
morning, but We ARE unable to learn the result
Mr.. tuckrel has been u resident o: Ridge
Prairie Tor about twelve years. and was one of
its prominent citizens, and highly esteemed and
respected BY all. He went with Shelby's ex-
petition to Mexico, and has n most honorable
war record. He was gentleman IN every
murder one OF the nost atrocious ever com
mited, and the utmost pains should he taken
to discover and punish the perpetrator.