Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-16

which Cockrell = president and Slaybeek
vas . member, on the night of September
3Oth, Col. Slayback, in the reception room
of the club, used violent language towards
the Post Dispatch, charging its editor With
being . blackmailer and making serious
charges against the paper. Later IN tne
evening C0ckrill invited Slayback into the
library room and asked II be intended TO ap
nIv the term blackmailer to him. He an
evered that be did not, but entered upon
another TRADE of abuse against the paper and
then suddenly closing and locking the door,
said to Cockrill You have brought me IN
here to bulldoze me and now We are alone
and man to man. / tell you that
if the Post Dispatch ever attacks or
assails nv character l will go to
your Office and kill you. will take the life OF
any man who employees q newspaper to abuse
and injure me-" He spoke of his partner,
Mr.. Broadhead, who is q candidate for Con-
gre.s in the 9th district, and charges which
had been made against him, repeating sever
al times that he would shoot anybody VINO
would publish such things about him.
He further said that Cockrill would be
held TO account for the course OF the paper,
and declared that before the campaign was
over he (Slayback) would go on the stump
and from house to house, denounce the Post
Dispatch and break up its business. Cock
rill assured him he had no intent to bully
him; that he had simply asked for an ex-
PLANTATION; that it was due; that he enter
tanned only friendly feelings for him; that
he had never written a line against him, anu
hoped he never would. After further con-
yersation Slayback became quiet. They
went into another room, drank together ana
parted in the most cordial way.
Col. Cockrill said that from the most ma
lignant attack made upon the POst-Dispatch
by Slayback at the political meeting Friday
night, he was satisfied that he intended to
execute his threat that he made to denounce
the paper from the stump. He regarded 1t
as an open ADMINISTRATIONS defiance
which would call for some response from the
Post Dispatch. He did not write anything
himself, but simply reproduced letter
which had been written to SlayLack to Jno.
NJ. Glover year ago.
The jury after being out about half an
hour returned with the following verdict:
"Col. Slayba came to his death from
the effect of internal hemorrhage, caused by
gun shot wound in the chest, inflicted with
a bullet fired from the revolver in the hands
of John A. Cockrill."
Physicians who made the post mortem ex-
animation testified that the ball passed
through the lungs from the left to the right,
and severed the aOrta on its passage, which
produced hemorrhage. After the verdict was
rendered Col. Cockrsll returned to his cell
in the calaboose where he will remain until
Monday when his counsel will make an appli-
cation for his release on bail.
ST. LOUIS, Oct Is.
Colonel COckrill, at the cOrOner's inquest,
Yesterday, gave the following account of the
shooting: few minutes past five l was
sitting at my desk talking with McGuffen,
business manager of the paper, and Cole, the
foreman. The door was closed. My pistol
was lying on my desk, for had intended to
place it in my pocket on changing my coat
and leaving the Office. Suddenly the door
opened and two men entered they closed the
door. l was facing the door. l recognized
Slayback and ClaptOn, lawyer, who had
few days before assaulted two members Of
his profession in his private Office. l realized
was to be assaulted and arose from my
chair. Slaybacks bearing was that of man
bent upon violence. His first words were,
"Well, 1 am here" He started as if to
draw off his coat was in the corner next
to the front window. Instlnctively moved
my hand toward the weapon on the desk. He
saw it, suddenly readjusted his coat and said,
as that for me?" at the same time throwing
mo, sir" but secured the weapon as he
drew his. He presented it at me, and
heard him cock it. l shouted, ''Don't do
that" and at the same time, while his weapon
was pointed at my breast, 1 fired, be-
lieving myself at the moment a dead man. l
knew nothing of the effect of the shot, for he
closed with me and thrust his revolver
against my side. At the same time Clapton
approached me from behind and tried to
wrest the pistol from my hand, which was
hanging by my side. l shouted to McGuffen,
Don't let these men kill me-" He tore
Slayback's pistol from his hand and pointed
it at Clapton's head, under the impression,
presume, he was trying to shoot me. At
that instant Slayback released his grasp upon
me and realized for the first time he had
been hurt. l left the room while Clapton
was calling for a doctor, my head bleeding
from a cut received when l was forced
against the window in the scuffle, and went
into the lower Office to wash nv head