The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-10-17
flictiug are the statements Of eye witnesses
THE FACTS OF THE TRAGEDY.

John NJ. McGuthn. and Victor Il. Cole
at late hour tonight made statemen
IS to what occurred In the room where tn,
shooting took place. They are in sub
stance. that Slayback. on entering IN,
room. threw his coat back and drew u re
volver, and advancing, said:
swell, I'm here, sir"
Then observing q weapon on Cockerill'
desk, he asked: ''Is that Tor me ?" to which
Cockerill replied:
mo, it's for use only to defend myself
Stay back then said:
You are prepared to draw, then draw,
and Cockerill answered:
II don't have To draw. / don't want Il
draw. Go away from here. don't wan
to have anything to do with you"
Slayback and Clopton meanwhile pressed
forward and crowded Cockerill against the
wall. Then they ali got into q sort o
tussle, each having hold of the other
COckerill being the most crowded.
The latter asked McGuflin to take Stay
backs pistol from him, and while he wa:
attempting To do SD a weapon was dis
charged and Slayback staggered and in .
moment sank to the floor
M'GUFFIN's STATEMENT.
4
have pistol, but thought that he was at
tempting in his struggle with Cockerill ia
turn the latter's weapon in such way that
he would shoot himself McGuffin OBJ
tanned Slayback's pistol and now has it in
his possession.
w. II. ClOpton, who accompanied Stay
back to the POst-dispstch, MAKES the fol-
lowing statement:
II was at the Office of the deceased on
business. When starting away Col. Stay
back called nv attention to an article i'm
to-day's Post-Dispatch. He spoke of the
remarks he had made q: meeting last
night, and referred to an article i'm a former
edition OF the paper, which he said justi-
fed him in his remarks. He asked me to
go with him to tie Office of the paper, and
/ assented On the way to the office he
said an apology for the editorial would not
satisfy him that he would slap the editors
face and demand an apology afterwards.
Arriving at the office Slayback passed
rapidly to the editorial room, closing the
door after him.
This checked IN progress an instant. but
l atVnce entered the room and saw Col.
Slayback in the act Of removing his coat.
and, while the coat was ON his arm, heard
MIN say:
Don't you draw that pistol OH me-"
simultaneously with the remark Cock-
Grill fred. Col. Slayback closed with
COckerill and caught hold Of Cockerill
at once, forcing his right arm against the
window TO prevent his shooting again. I
could not reach the pistol, but caught
COckerill between the elbow and the
wrist and held him SO until I saw that
Slsybsck had been shot, when | released
Cockerill and gave nv attention to Col.
Slayback. | eased him to the floor, he
rested his head ON my knee, and held him
SO until he died.
Col. Slayback did not assault Cockerill
until after he was shot and MORALLY
wounded. Col. Siayback showed no pis-
tol, and, so far as know, was not armed.
Cockerill had heen in conference with
his counsel most OF the night, and at lat
est advices it was arranged that he should
surrender himself to the authorities at 1
o'clock. Whether this was actunlly done
is not known, but if he hasn't he will give
himself mp early in the morning
Col. Slayback was one of the best known
men in the city. He was the law partner
Of James c. Broadhead, who was a candi.
date for congress in the Ninth district, and
was once candidate in The same district
himself against Erastus Wells. He was
warm-Learted, impuIsive man. and in the
heat of political discussion, q very free
talker. which was really the cause of to-
days sad event.
The opinion seems to largely prevail that
he was the aggressOr in this case, but many
attribute the tragedy quite as much tn the
strong personal journalism OF the Post
Dispatch.
AFTER THE KILLING
there wac the most intense excitement, and
as the news few over the city. great
crowd OF people assembled in front OF the |
building, MANY of whom |
made threats of summary vengeance on |
the editor. There was an attempt on the |
partof the police to disperSe the crowd and |
It was we'll there was none made, for it /
would have proven futile and, perhaps,
cost many lives
During the excitement Cockerill left the |
in company with Maguffin, the
business manager, and securing q hack,
'apidiy drove to the Lindell hotel, where
ne changed his
BLoOD-sMEARED CLOTHES
or a clean suit and then drove to the
home Of Joseph G. Lodge where he re-
NAMED until o'clock Saturday morning.
vhen he was taken in charge by Chief of
Police Campbell and locked up in the
Four courts.
The only persons with the prisoner at
dr. Lodges house, were Charles p. John
on. Mr.. Joy and Mr.. Magufiin. Messrs
Johnson, Lodge and Joy will defend Cock
rill.
WHAT PULITZER SAYS.
New York, Oct. l4.-Joseph Pulitzer,
proprietor Of the Post Dispatch. was
ound at the Fifth Avenue hotel. He was
n the company of several physicians who
re in attendance upon one OF his children,
tho is severely i'll. He said he had just
eceived the news of the tragedy i'm the
'ost Dispatch office, and was too much
hooked, amssed and afflicted to say any
hing He was At loss to understand