The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-10-17
A SANCTUM SHOT.
Col. A. w. Slayback Slain
by the Editor of the Post
Dispatch.
A Terrible Tragedy. in st.
Louis, Late Friday
Afternoon.
Personal and Vindictive
Journalism the Cause of
the Trouble.
Intense Excitement Prevails and
Threats Of Lynching Freely
Made.

Threats OF Lynching Freely
Made.
Whether the Killing Was Justi
fable or Not, is Not
Known.
The news of the killing of Col. A. w
Slayback. one of the most prominent law
yers and citizens OF Missouri, in the ed
itorial room of the Post Dispatch, in St
Louis, Friday evening at $50 o'clock, sent
a shudder throughout the length and
breadth of the state.
THE HIGH STANDING
of the two men, their position in the legal
and newspaper world, as we'll as their
social standinA seemed like q barrier
against personal rencontre, which would
result so fearfully. The man
who was the victim of the fatal
shot has long been recognized as one OF the
most brilliant members of the bar, and an
orator of peculiar force and grace. At the
time of his death he was the law partner
of Hon. James o. Broadhead, and in the
happy enjoyment of a lucrative practice,
honored name, and surrounded by the de-
light of one Of earth'S happiest homes.
The man who shot down Col. Slayback,
Is none other than John A. COckerill, the
brilliant managing editor of the Post
Dispatch. Mr.. Cockerill has become to be
acknowledged the most pungent para
graphist in the west, and his brilliant
work on the Post-dispatch has made that
paper q reputation Of the most enviable
character.
THE DIFFICULTY.
. On the afternoon of the tragedy. the Post
Dispatch of the current day contained the
following in its editorial columns
"MT Alonzo w. Slay back, an individual
whose chief claim to distinction rests upon
the fact that he is the law partner of Col
James o. B-oadhead, rose in a meeting Of
democratic ward politicians in this city
last night, and without personal pro,oca-
ton, proceeded TO apply string of vile
and viruient epithets 10 the Post-Dispatch
and its conductors, making charges Which
he knew to be false This is the same A.
w. Stay back of and concerning whom the
following card was written and published.
in this city by John NJ. Glover. ESQ on
the 1lth day OF November, 1881. Mr..
Glover recently ran as a democratic candi-
date for congress in the Ninth district, and
received a hearty Endorsement from the
democratic voters of character. Mr.. Glover
is alive yet"
Following this was the card which MIR.
Glover had inserted in that paper.
GLOVER AND sLAYBACK.
ST. LOUIS, November ii.
To the Editor OF the Post Dispatch:
In your account of Yesterdays proceed
ings, in a trial now pending. you quoted
language used OF myself Gy Col.
ian impertinent young puppy" coupled
with a statement on the coloners own
that he had pocketsd a great
many insults from me the dav before;
also, that the presence of the cohrt and the
ladies in attendance had alone induced
him to pocket said insults. The colonel
also assured the court that he was a brave
man.
Now in simple justice I'd the colonel il
must he stated that he did not use the
language quoted until / had told the
court several times that had no respect
for him, and as he correctcly says. had in
iuced him to discontinue a certain line of
by telling him that would slap
MS face at any lime and place he might !
appoint, except that court room. That he |
declined this invitation and pocketed those |
insults" rs he misnames these expressions !
II abstract truth, he W i'll be able to prove, |
Is he says, by every one i'm that courtroom.
md candOr compels me to make |,
he same admission. But when he says |
Ia. the presence of the court and the |
aides restrained his valor, perfect frank
hess requires me To say that, on the con-
rary, they account for it, In fact, SO far
rom bsing brave man, the colonel, not
his military title,is coward.
He dare not be brave except In court
Dom or a church, and he will beg or
ringe out of any difficulty into which his
'aporing humor may have gotten him.
my one who remembers the published
year or two since between
i'm and a gentleman whom he called "a
before the city council, win see
o what extremities cowardice may go after
vaporing insult. In fact, have so often
cen the calf drubbed out of that lions
kin that the process would lack both nov
lty and originality. Now the ''colonel's"
tile, believe, is Colonel Alouzo W..
lay back" The word Alonzo is of Etrusan
rigin and means coward" the name is
ever printed in full as having the same
and the title colonel" is
ever applied except in 6erision, and orig
hated i'm the gallant manner in which the
colonel" once marshaled female sewing
,ciety. JOHN NJ. GLOVER.
The publication of this editorial COM
tent and the card, the former seeming to
ndorse the sentiments of the latter, and
aking them those of the editor, enraged
back. and he
DETERMINED TO SEEK PREPARATION. y,
With this end in view he, With w. H. I
Iopton as his companion for the occasion, {
ught the editorial room of the paper. &
lat took place there can be briefly told
these words : John A. Cockerill killed I
w. Slayback. What transpired before I