The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-21
SHOT IN A SANCTUM.

ny John \. Cockerill, the Damaging
Editor.
Alonzo w. Slayback, a prominent "
attorney, was shot and Killed nv John A.
Cockerill, EDITOR o' the Post DSpg'ch, this
city, yesterday afternoon. Witnesses gave
different versions Of the affair, but I was un-
derstood that Mr.. Slayback, accdntpaued
by friend, visited the sauc5um to
demand satisfaction for an editorial puhli-
cation. Mr.. Cockenll, in n sworn statement
at the inquest today, thus tens the story Of
the tragedy:
ON the evening of the 3oth of September q
social entertainment was given 1T tire rooms
ton 1t was my duty to receive and enter ain
guests, About 10 O'Clock my attention was
called TO Col. slayhack, who was sitting at II
table with Mr.. II. W. Moore, and o'he,s. lIe
was Speaking in loud tone, and using vio-
lent language toward the Post Disnofcb.
went into different part of the building to
avoid hearing his language for'I fearrd tha5
in his excitement he would say some hing un-
pleasant to me, and wished TO avoid scene.
half hour later Mr., Moore spoke TO me- and
said that Mr. Slavback had applied the term
" blackmaier" to the editor Of the Post Dis
patch, and had made serious threats. AS this
had taken place in Il public asSemhlage of my
friends, felt called upon 10 ask him for an
explanation went 10 him i'm the next room
touched him on the arm, and told him wished
to speak to him. We went into the small
room known as the lib airy, the door OF which
was standing open. quietly said to
him Colonel understand that YOU
have made some very bitter pub
lie declarations here this evening,
and would like to know if you meant them
to be personal TO unexpectedly. do you moan
to amply the term blackmaier to me-" His
answer was that he had not intended to
brand me as a blackmailer. He then entered
upon n bitter TRACE of abuse against the pa
per, to which listened quietly. telling him
at the same time that he was entitled TO his
opinion ~ to the course of the paper in op-
posing the candidacy OF his partner, Mir.
Broadhead. Then. suddenly, he sprang to the
door and closed It, and locked il. With his
fist clinched, he said "YOu have brought me
in here to bulldoze me, and now we are alone,
and man TO man, and tell you now that IL
the Post Dispatch ever attacks me or assails
my character will go to your office and kill
yon. will take the lite OF any may who EN-
pIoYs a newspaper TO abuse and tnlure me"
] assured him that had no intent to bully
him, and that had simply called him in the
room TO ask for an explanation that was due
me. Iturthcr assured him that had always
entertained a friendly feeling tor him;
and hoped that / never would
lie spoke of his partner Mr..
Brosdhead, and the charges that had been
made against him. repeating several times
that nc would shootanvbody who would pub
lish such things of him. He told me that I
would he held to account for the course of the i
paper and declared that before the campaign
was over he would go on the stump hndffom
house to honsc TO denounce the Post Dispatch
and break up its business. There was much
talk OF this character on his part. / assured
him that WIS at al times in readiness to
meet any responsibility that belonged to MD,
and that when properly called upon would
render any satisfaction that a gentleman
could demand: He. gave me to understand
that he held himself subject to the same de-
mand, and that if occasion ever arose he.
would certainly put me to the test. After still
further conversation. in which assured him
that had no ill.feeling toward him. and in
which 1 attempted to show him that he was
not called upon to 90 70 extreme lengths in
maintaining Mr.. Broadhead's candidacy, L
Sneeeedings in calming him. He shook my
hand and we agreed TO be friends, 7 assuring
him nat no ee Of 5aEe him PER-
invitation we entered the sideboaTd room
and took asocial drink. We then together
sat down in the main halfor an hour, listened
TO some songs and stories, drank together
and parted in the most cordial way. When
next saw Col. Slayback he calleda ut the Office
onthe day of the parade of the Yelled Proph-
cts to ask me to suppress an mentton of the
action OF certain citizens regarding the Ilish
fioat. Our meeting was pleasant and he
/ IL had been sufficiently supplied with
tickets to the Yelled Prophets BAH Meantime
] had been informed that II the course OF the
paper was not changed toward Mr.. Broad-
head would be shot. had reason TO believe
that this threat came from Slayback, but no
reference was made to him IN She paper
whatever. was guarded that thete should
be nothing to which he could tasd personal
exception, for had ed him 81 my indi-
vidual friendship, and meant TO maintainit.
Yesterday morning read III the daily papers
that on the evening previous Col.Slavback
had addressed Democratic meeting In tho
Eighteenth Ward, ana had matigppntly at
tackled the Post DisDdfch and its contractors I
nOtidedthen that he was putting in oeNecution
his threat made to me TO deuounce the paper
from the stump. Later on saw persons who
were at the meeting and who gave me some
idea Of the bitterness of his asSattlt i re.
gardei IL as n orens difianee-- an. Intentional
pl oyocatiop which would call for some re-
sponse'hofn the Post Lipocfh dtdinot write
@ny %ySF ad B5an %a F
by Mr. John NJ. Glovera year before, inserted
in the first edition of the Post. 2 SpGtch and
taken ont of the last edition by Nc .0Pulitzer
whoidid mt wish to give ofense t. Col, sIdy-
back, ! expected, from the tone OF the com
Sersaion had with Cob. slaybacll at the Elk
felt hinse1f Sufficiently aggrieve,h rand did
not think that he would come to the office to
si, a%t S sg9E S should aEen Of
snsG s P sd HYSi& S %s ne;
eeSS y @s%ai esS with ees
Iuom. At a few Minutes past 5 o'cloek Twas
sitting at my DESK i2PyE,o@9@s Sy 4npSint,
manager OF the paper, aud Mir. Cole foreman.
The d99rNaFGao q M pistol W., lying on
pocket ba clrihking my, coat ahd,Ieavins the
ofliee- isudgeply The door opened and two
men entered, 1losina the doorbehtnd them.
slayhaeil and in an Instant afterwar,I iecos-
nized Mr.. oCloptong lawyerfwllo had few
days hsi9re SgSes tTS me3sStz Or his
j was tobe hssalul ted, and roseh ON my chair.
Col, fSlaybackls bearing was that OF n man
bent ,ipon whence. His 1nst words were,
"Well am hercG, lie started as II to draw
of his coat / v a. in the corner 1lexb to the
front window instinetiyelyI moved my baid
toward the weapon ON the desk. He Saw IT,
suddenly readjusted his coat, and saidl as
that TIN nieip iaty the same time throwing
was. VI"No, .sir.'DV fsut "a secured my
lweApoppsIhe dlgy his.e He,pointedtt dfi6-