Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1882-10-15
An Editor Kills His Man


ST. LOUIS, Oct. l3-At about half
past o'clock this evening John A.
Cockrell, managing editor of the Post
Dispatch, shot and killed Colonel D.
w. Slayback, a prominent lawyer,
wel!-known politician and ex-Congress.
man of this city.
THE CITY EDITORS STATEMENT.
H. w. Moore, city editor of the
paper, who was sitting at desk at the
time of the shooting, says that while
Cockrell, John McGuffin, the business
manager, and Victor I. Cole, the fore.
man, were holding business confer
ence in the editorial room, Colonel
Slayback, accompanied by w. T. Clof-
ton, entered the local room and passed
on toward the editorial room, the door
to which was closed. Moore turned IN
his chair as they passed by and OBJ
served Colonel Slay back. As he opened
the door with his left hand he had his
right hand in his pistol pocket, and in
less than q minute after Slayback en-
tered Cockreli's room Moore heard the
report of a pistol. He Immediately
sprang up, and on entering the editorial
room found Slayback stretched on the
floor and Cockrell bending over him,
apparently wiping the blood from his
face. Cockrell asked Moore to send
for a physician, which he did, and
few moments later DR.. McCarty
arrived, but pot before SIayback had
died. He died in about three min
utes after being shot. Ia the mean
while Cockrell washed his hands, and
in less than five minutes after the fatal
shot was fred, he and McGuffin entered
a carriage and drove away, it is not yet
known where. The ball from Cock
rell's pistol entered Slaybac left side,
near the heart, and ranged upward.
of the publication of an editorial in the |
Post ispotch this evening, stating
that S!ay back, in petty political meet
ing in the Eighteenth Ward last night,
applied viruleut epithets to the Post
Dispatch and its conductors, making
charges which he knew to be false, and
in retaliation for the paper having re-
produced card published year ago
ty John NJ. Glove, a we'll known young
lawyer, in which he charges Colonel
Slayback with cowardice.
ACCOUNTS OF THE FIGHT.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. l4,-John M. Nc.
Gutfin and Victor T. Cole have made a
statement as to what occurred in the
room where the shooting took place.
They say that Slayback on entering the
room threw his coat back, drew re-
volver, and advancing said: "Well,
['m here. sir" Then observing a
weapon on Cockr-lrs desk, he asked
'' Is that for ne ?" TO which Cockrell
replied: ''No. it Is for use only tr
defend myself" SIayback then said
'' You are prepared then draw"
Cockrell answered: 81 don't want to
draw. Gro away from here. l don't
want to have anything to do with you"
Slay back and Ciopt"n meantime pressed
forward and crowded Cockreu against
the wall. Then they all got into sort
If tussie, each having hold of the
,ther, Cockrell being the most crowded.
the latter asked McGutfin to take Slay.
packs pistol from him, and when he
attempted to do 80 the weapon was dis
charged, ard Slayback staggered and
.ank to The floor. McCutfin obtained
slay back .istoi and now mas it.
Clofton who accompanied Sayback
20 the uffi;e, states that he did so al
slayback's request, who said that he
would first slap the editur's face and
heo demand al apology for the article
,u b;ished Cuftrn did not reach the
room quite as soon as Slayback.
)u entering he heard Slay ybadk say:
'Dnu'r you draw thas pistol On me.
simultaneously Cockrell fired. Ciofson
Jays il was after this that be eau hit
arm 20 prevent him shooting
.gain and forced him hack against the
wall. holding linn uutil he saw that
slavback was shot, when he went to the
acters assistance. So far ~ he knows
Slayb4ck did nne attack Cockrell until
lfter the latter fired, nor did he
'how any pistol. 1t is Understood that
Cockreli has been III consultation with
counsel all night. and that it has been
decided that he will surrender to The
authorities.