The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-10-17
The Post'Dlspatch's Account of the
Tragedy In its Sanetnm State
ments In Detail OF Eye
Witnesses.
The Occurrences which eliminated In
Colonel Slaybaek's Taking-off-
Politics the handspring.
Biography Of the Deceased and His
Slayer.
a Sad but Interesting Chapter.
What Eye-witnesses Say.


Post Dispatch, described the affair as fol-
lows;
at happened in thiswa About 5
O'Clock this afternoon Mr.. Cockerill, Mr..
Cole and myself were in Mr.. Cockerlll's
roam discussing some business matters.
We hadn't been there but few minutes
wien Colonel Slayback and Mr.. Clopton
entered without knocking or in any way
informing us of their presence. Slayback
advanced into the room towards Cockerill,
aud, when within five or six feet of him,
threw hia coat back and exclaimed, Well,
sir, here am = almost Immediately plac-
ing his hand on his hip pocket, and, ad-
vanoing on Cockerill, he then pulled out his
pistol, aud at the same moment Cockerill
must have reached for his, which was
lying on his desk. Colonel Slayback still
advanced, presenting the revolver at Cock
Grill. Slayback said is that for me q evil
deptly meaning Cockerills pistol. Mr..
0ooiseril! replied: 1T is not, except to de-
fend myself, and in an instant the two
were facing each other, both with revolvers
drawn, and both pointing at each other.
They were face to face and not more than
three feet apart. Mr.. C0ckeril was by long
odds the coolest OF the two. He said .
Don't you do it, Colonel Slayback don't
yeu do IL stop away Colonel Slayback
continued to advance, and Mr.. Clopton also
drew near to Mr.. Cockerill. A sudden
movement had brought all three together
III group. Mr.. Cockerill called to me for
IA NJ. rtNntA,, ~
was taking hold of him, and as he called to
called tue second tine, Mack, don't let
him do it, Seeing him dropping
| presumed that it was he that
was shot. | took hold OF Colonel Stay.
backs revolver with nay left hand, and, as
] did So something pinched the palm of
my hand, which, suppose, was the ham
mer Of the pistol. secured the revolver,
and Clopton, having Cockcrill almost on
his knees, in his attempt to use Cockerill's
revolver on himself (CockerilD, pointed
the revolver at Clopton and SAID Let him
go' He did not do 80 and | Immediately
placed the revolver close to his head and
repeated; Let him 20, or you are dead
mani Clopton, at this, released his hold
on Uockerill, STRENGTHENING himself to u
standing position; Colonel Slayback drop
ped to the floor, Mr.. Clopton walked past
myself toward the door, Immediately re-.
turning to where Colone! Slay back lay, and
calling to him two or three times, Colonel ,
Colonel
MR., VICTOR I, COLES STATEMENT.
Mr.. Victor T. Cole, foreman of the Post.
Dispatch composing room, told what he
know OF the occurrence, He said
between o'clock ana quarter past
should say yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Cock
Grill, Mr.. McGuitin and myself were in the
editorial room in consultation. Mr. Cock
criIl was sitting in the far corner OF the
room, Mr.. MoGut'in was sitting to his right
and was sitting in front OF both, While
thus engaged the door was opened sud
denly with wrench, and MI Slayback
stepped In, followed by Mr.. Clopton.
He said either Here | am or
Here am, SIR cannot say
which. He ripped his coat back, ex-
posing four or.-hve inches Of his shirt
sleeves, then with movement of the left
ann hc threw the coat on again and with
his right hand drew his pistol. My i'm.
preston Is that he saw Mr.. Cockerll's pis.
toll lying on the desk. Mr.. Cockerille was
desly was at his left. Mr.. Slayback said
either "Do you draw or you are pre-.
pared to draw. Draw" Mr.. Cockerill said.
mo, sir; am simply here TO defend my
aef, ! want you to keep away from here.
Keep back Keep back All this time
Mr.. Slaybac was advancing toward Mr..
Coclcrill and holding his pistol at short
arm pointed right a, Mr. Ccckerill As
Mr., Slayback advanced Mr.. Clopton slid
around behind me, upsetting the chair that
! had been sitting on. Mr. Cockerell
lifted his revolver from the desk At this
moment Mr., SlaybacA ami Clopton
v,ta nd IA lt.r
from his chair and backed into the window
recess TO his right, | rushed to the door
thinking to &c, revolver, when saw IL
was mouse, aud stopped just as | had the
door partly opened. A this moment the
ahot was fired. then pulled the door shut,
ana at this time all four men--Slayback,
Clopton Covkerill and McGu,lin-were
very close together Mr.. Cockerill was be.
ing forced down by Mr., Slayback and Clop.
ton, who both had hold OF him. As the
shot sounded my first impression was that
Slpyback had fired Il, but Immediately
saw that hc received the shot. His legs
began to rive way aud his body trembled,
hSt s iSsSe was al gone S MSa Si' 'CI anS
Messrs, SIayback and Cloptou, during
which made rush out OF the room for a
revolver. When returned the scutlle had
ceased Mr. Cockerill had Strengthened up
toa standing position, Mr.. Clopton was
trying to got to Mr.. Slayback aud Mr, Mc.
Guihn was trying to force Mr. Clopton
from the room, Mr.. CoCkerill put on his
coat and left the room with Mr. McGu0n,
making q remark to the effect that he was
going to give himself up, | caught hold Of
Colonel sIayback and put him in as easy
position as could, placing y chair under
his head, lelt for mis- pulse, but there was
nr Mnl'upihV arrival an