Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-10-21
Col. Siayback's strength lasted only

McGufiu retained possession of Col.
Slayback's weapon. At least the fact
that no revolver could be found was So
accounted for. -,
When Col. Slayback fell, Cockerill
bent over Inn and wiped away the
blood oozing from his lips with his
handkerchief. When the crowd attract
ed BY tho shot commenced to collect. lie
rose and lett the ro"m. and the ONCE In
company with MEG ufiD, going in q
carriage to the telegraph office, it is
said, and informing Pulitzer of what
had occurred.
So much Tor tho one story. How an
tagouistic tt is to the other cannot iall
to escape the attention OF those who
read what follows, tor iiDpartiality de-
mands that the whole affair must be
gone over again from the beginning.
The reader will not be wcaried, by rep
clifton, tor this version varies so WIDE
ly from the one above that the former
comparison might well be mistaken Tor
the history of another tragedy If ame
were only changed.
After reading the assault on him IN
the Post Dispatch white in MIR. Clop-
toms Office, Col. Slayback became in
| dignant and requested Mr.. Clopton to
accompany him to the Office. AS Mr..
| CloptOn had business with the publish
ire house next door. he assenteu. The
two gentlemen entered the office, as has
already been described, Col. Slayback
leading the way. He SAID to MIR. Clop-
ton that an apology Tor the injury done
him would not make amends he would
FIRST SLAP THE WRITER'S FACE
and demand IN apology aitcrward. lie
did not intend, however, 10 carry his
hostilities beyond the blow OF the hand.
He entered the editorial room first
and the door closed behind him OF itself.
Mr.. Clopton opened it followed. finding
Col. Slayback standing in the middle OF
the floor removing his coat. lie had
one arm OF the garment nearly OF, and
was saying to Cockeriil Don't You
draw that pistol on me-"
The shot followed before he could
make an attack on the editor. After
receiving the bullet Col. Slayback ad-
vanced and closed with him. still with
out having drawn any weapon. Mr..
Clopton seized Cockerill's arm 10 pre-
vent his using a second shot,. but a
moment later the struggle was ended
by Col. Slayback failing into Clopton's
arms with the blood bursting from his
mouth. When he looked up as he was
lowering the dying man to the floor he
saw that some Que very much excited
(McGuffin, no doubt) had him covered
with o revolver and was commanding
him not to interfere.
With Col. Slayback's fall hostilitios
ceased. The crowd commenced to gath
er, and police officer Dan O'Connell
entered the loom. Col. Siayback lived
only a few minutes. Tho officer search
ed carefully to find a pistol, but there
was none, either OIL his BODY or in the
room. The scene for the next halt hour
was terribly dramatic. The office soon
filled with people. One young man who
came in soon after the shooting tainted.
The sad news reached Mr.. Charles E.
Slayback. president of the merchants
exchange and brother of Col. Siayback.
He came at once to the Post Dispatch
office, and when he saw his brother u
corpse on the floor, his face covered
with blood, and a pool OF blood which
had flowed from the wound around him,
he covered his face with his hands and
his whole frame was shaken with the
outburst of tears
BITTER MANLY TAERS,
which his friends and the friends of the
man who had died so untlmely, seeing,
were filled with pity and indignation.
This scene, stories of which passed alter
ward from mouth to mouth in the
crowd, caused threats OF violence and
unmeasured denunciatIons, and no one
who mingled in the great throng col
lected there could help hearing men
commonly cool and guarded of speech
vehemently exclaim that the Office
should be torn down, and doing their
best TO fan the flame were not a few
who had a personal interest in seeing it
done from having felt the lash welded
by the man who had comprised Col.
Slayback's death.
When the doctor had come and gone,
finding that the wound was past all his
surgery and leechcrait, the andertaker's
wagon was driven with much difficulty
| through the crowd and the body placed
in q coffin vas lifted and carried down
the stairs. When it was placed in the
wagon there was a crush around it,
people crowdiDg under the very wheels
in spite of the drivers cries and threats
that they would be run over. A small
portion OF the throng followed the
wagon on its way to Lynch's undertak-
ing establishment on Olive street, W here,
later, there was another scene almost
too sorrowful for description when Mrs.
SlaYback, leaving her orphaned children
heart broken. came to look upon her
dead husband.
The crowd on Market street remained
for hours, venting threats of racking the
building, OF calling meetings to organ
ize lynching committees, and other
violence, which IL 10 probable not one of
them had the least intention Of carrying
out.
A COMMENT.
The Republican has the following
to say editOrially OF the tragedy:
Whatever may be the verdict as the
legal OF technical responsibility for
this act, the conscience of Cockerill
will forever tell him he first attempt
ed the ruin of S%laybsck's character,
aud then slew him for his manhood
in protecting it. The publication that
exasperated Slayhack to frenzy was
first made to. the Post-Dispatch a year
ago, SO That the malice is of no new
growth and Col. Stay back must have
felt it was both merclless and con-
tinuing. 10 this impulsive nature
the repetition of epi,heis for the pur-
pose of belitlling and rendering him
odious in the minds Of his fellows
was gallant than blows. Few
will commend the act of going, in his
excited frame of mind, to the otfic e OF
the Post-Dlspath even to merely re.
monstrate against the publication re-
TERED to-; but none will say he de-
served death Tor 1T. Ishmae!itish
course of the Post-I)ispaicn in imiis.
ultimately assMillng character; in
hunting up points upon which to at
Jack The best ci,lZtns; in holding
nothing sacred from its vemom-hal
been n by-word in this community
No one has l.lt safe from its shafts o
Islander and v~ituporaLion. 1t hal
sought 10 gain power through mem
Tears ot its vile reproachc-. a. i
could not m kt its way by command
ing respect. it was content to aclliev,
~noiorltty by being despisea and hated
, Could Col. Slayhack have realized
that he stood only the higher by re
celvlng abuse from such a source, tn
, mother, wife and children whose tear
now wet the cold face of their believe
| would have been happy to-day in III
| smiles of a devoted son, husband an,
father.
DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN LOWE