Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-18


if he is not turned loose on his e~u recosni-
zance. While the death of Col. SfSsback ia
universally regretted, everyone seems TO be
of the opinion that it was Gaze of justifia-
BILE homicide-that Col. Cockred had 10 kill
SIsyback in self-defense. This view of the
case has been greatly strengthened by the
pawnbroker's testimony before the coroner's
jury last evening, when he identified the
pistol said 10 have been tskeu-f from Col.
Slayback as one he had sold that gentle man
few months ago
PRESS COMMENTS.
The Post Dispatch said, editorially: 'In
regard 10 the deplorable tragedy which oc-
Cured Friday evening, the Post Dispatch
has nothing 70 say but words of sorrow for
the dead, Of sympathy for the beresved, and
of simple justice TO the gentleman who is
one ofthe most sincere mourners and one OF
the chief sufferers by this sad affair. Every
eerson connected with this paper had the
kindest regard for Col. Alonzo w. Slayback,
and The proprietor and Col. John A. Cock
rell had especially cultivated and main
tanned the most cordial relations with him.
Nothing personally offensive 10 him was
ever permitted TO appear in the columns OF
this paper, until he had, in a-public speech
on Thursday night, violently denounced,
with opprobrious epithets, everybody con-
nected with the Dispatch, and denounced
tho saper itself az slanderous and black
mailing sheet. Yesterday there appeared
in its columns a brief editorial paragraph
repelling this attack in Language as mild as
the nature Of the attack permitted. While
the presses were still running OH That Issue,
and while Col. Cockrell was at his desk In
his editorial room, talking about business
m alter with the foreman and the business.
manager of the paper, his room was invaded
by Col. Slayback and Mr.. w. II. Clop-
ion, the former advancing on Col.
struggle. while Cockrell was crowded
against the wall and almost on his knees,
regarding himself sssaied with apparently
murderous intent by two men, he fired the
fatal shot. Fortunately for him, Mr.. Nc
Guffin and Mr.. Cole were present, and are
witnesses of the fact that he fred in neces-
sary self .d,fense, and that Col. Slayback's
pistol wss wrenched from his hand by Mr..
McGufin after the shot was fred. Thee
are the simple facts, and we assure the pub
lie that a legal investigation will develop
these and other facts proving that this was
as clear case of self-defense was ever
forced upon any man. OF course all the en-
mites aroused by the fearless cosree OF this
paper are arrsyed against Col Cockrell, and
the Republican is pouring out upon HIM the
Was of It's long pent-up wrath, vIliainousiy
and systematically misrepresentlug the facts,
and doing all that it can 10 exasperate pub
lie feeling against man who has promptly
surrendered himself TO the hands OF the law,
and asks nothing but the justice OF fair
trial Leaving The public to characterize, as
il deserves, tails cowardly course OF the Re
publican we ask leave 10 add only that all
who know Col. Cockrell, know him to be as
lender. hearted as = woman, man OF peace,
whose whole life has been full of generous
and kindly deeds, a man who abhors injus-
tice, and is ever ready to impair wrong"
The following appeared in the editorial
columns OF the Republican: "The examina-
ton of the witnesses before the coroner's
jury in the Cockrell-Slayback case scatters
10 the winds the theory advanced by the de-
tense, that the killing OF Col. Slaybaek was
an act of self-defense. The testimony of
Mr.. Clop;on is clear and distinct that Col.
Stay back had no pistol in his hand; that he
was- IN the act of pnlling off his coat when
the shot was hred, ana tnht ne hsd Tue right
sleeve nearly off his arm, which would throw
him 10 the right with his left side turned TO-
ward Cnck9elL The examinatIou-vf-,i.. a-
physicians who made the post. morton exsmi-
nation fully corroborates Mr.. Clopton's state
ment; for il is shown by them that the ball
entered the left side, about three inches below
the armpit, which could not have been the
case unless the arm was either thrown up or
thrown back, with the left side presented to
the person who fred the shot. Their testi-
mony shows further, that the ball penetrated
both lungs and severed the aorts, and that it
ranged slightly forward; that it was slightly
d, effected in its cours-, but that if it had met
with no obstacle by which il was detected it
would have come out of the right bresst, snd
that Slayback, even if ne had pistol in his
hand, would have been pointing the pistol
away from Cockrell, instead of toward him
and therefore Cockrell fired when there was o
Danger to be apprehended from Sayback. L.
further shows that Clopton's statement is
true, because no one can conceive that Stay
back would under the circumstances have
turned away from Cockrell, but that such
position would naturally be assumed in an
attempt 10 pull off his coat. The testimony
speaks for itself, and we desire 10 make no
which the testimony will not fully
-ustain.
surprise is manifested that
Dur police could not or did not find John A.
Cockrell Friday night until his friends gave
after midnight, of his where
abouts. 1t seems that Cockrell, after leaving
he Post Dispatch Office, went to the Lindell
Hotel, thence 10 Walnut and Sixth streets,
and thence TO the residence of Mr.. Lodge,
one of his attorneys. 1t seems further, that
quite 4 cOteTie OF his friends assembled at the
latter place, and discussed the kind of testi-
nony necessary to make successful defense.
All this makes up an extraordinary
piece OF business, and some people
are anxiouz to know how it could have
There was not a
word used by Col. Stay back that approached
oillinsgate in the remotest degree, and no
,harge that those connected with the Post
Di-patch were blackmailers, or that they were
not gentlemen. He made no personal allu-
lions, direct or indireci, TO the proprietors or
my of the employees attached TO that paper.
His denunciations were wholly against the
paper itself, because of its slanderous per-
onalities and impertinent intrusion into the
anctity of private households. He was &C.
7ere in his denunciations OF the methods and
conduct OF the paper, but he made no per-
onal illusions and said nothing that W as not
lpplauded again aud again by his audience,
" which thousand people in the whole city
,ould be found to condemn or aisapprove."
on the affair in its local column,
he Republican says: "Mr McCullagh, ed |
tor of the Globe Democrat, gave currency
to a report that the publication of
he Glover-Slayback letter in Fridays Post
Dispatch was made under the in
of Mr.. Pulitzer. Mr.. McCullagb,
[ seems, met Mr.. Cockrell Thursday evening
".
lttorney for Mr.. Cockrell, and was there in |
ormed by Mr.. Cockrell that he had received |
Instructions from Mr.. Pulitzer TO publish the |
letter at the first oppor-
unity-the first time an occasion arose that |
would seemingly justify it's publication-and |
hat feeling that Mr.. Slayback's assault on |
he Posi- Dispatch in a public speech Thurs
lay evening was such as, in Mr.. Pulitzer's |
opinion, would justify the republication of |
he letter, he Mr.. Cockrell] had had it in |
erted in Fridays paper, firmly believing |
hat in doing SO he WAS carrying opt the in |
tructions Of the proprietor, Mr.. Pulitzer"
coCKRELLs CHARACTER IN BALTIMORE.
The Baltimore Day Gays: "We publish |
elsewhere full details of the unfortunate st. |
Louis tragedy, in which former Baltimore |
journalist, Col. John A. Cockreli, figured as |
he SLAYER OF Col. Stay To-day's press |
dispatches fully sustain the belief expressed |
" all in this com unity who read the first |
lccounts Of the killing, that Col. Cockrell |
vas amply justified in defending his life |
rom the assault OF would-be assassin. |
When an individual imagines himself ag- |
,rieyed at newspaper publication, there
ire at all times proper modes OF redress, but |
ntering an editorial-5oom armed and &C
ompznied by friend, pouring forth q tor
ent of abuse on the editor, and showing a
disposition to take his life, is not wise one.
t was under such circumstances as these
hat Col. Cockrell found it necessary to de-
end himself, and il was not his fault that
be intruder was killed. 1t Is TO be hoped
be investigation will prove the act to have
cen, as we believe it to be, iustiiable homi-
ide."
LIGHTERS MUST EXPECT TO TAKE AS WELL
AS GIVE.
The New York EUening Post says: "If we
lay rely upon the published reports OF the
hooting ARRAY at St. Louis, in which Col.
lavback lost his life. Mr. Cockrell acted in