Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-14
AN EDITORS FATAL SHOT,
Ex-CO0gressmAn Slsybsck Killed In the Nd.
itorial Rooms Of . St. Lou's News


kx-Cosgrsssman slsybsck Killed In the Nd.
itorial Rooms Of . St. Louie News
The business part of St. Louis was
thrown into state Of high excitement
about half past five o'clock Friday even
ing by the report that John A. COckrell,
managing editor of the Post -Dispatch, had
shot and killed Colonel A. w. Slayback, a
prominent lawyer and well-known politi-
clan. No one directly concerned in the
matter will make statement, but HeEry
w. Moore, the city editor of the paper,
who was sitting at his desk writing. says
that while Colonel Cockrell, John II. Nc
Quinn, business manager, and Victor I.
Cole. foreman, were holding business
conference in tho editorial room, Colo
mel Slayback, accompanied by w. II.
CloptoD. entered the local room and
passed on toward the editorial room, the
door to which was closed. Mr.. Moore
turned iu his chair as they passed by and
observed that ColoDel Slayback, as he
opened the door with his left hand had his
right hand in his pistol pocket, and iu less
than half = minute after Slayback en-
tered COckrell's room Moore heard the
report of a pistol. He Immediately sprang
up aud 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.. McCasthy arrived, but not until Shay
back was dead. he having died about
three minutes after being shot.
Meanwhile Cockrell washed his hands
anil IL. less than five minutes after the
fatal shot was fired he aud Mr. McGuffin
uttered 4 carriage and drove away. 1t
w,- -: tia: they went to Four Courts
and surrendered To- the chief OF police, but
such was not tho case, and it is not yet
known where COckrell is. Col. Slayback's
brother, Charles E. Slayback, president Of
tho Merchants Exchange, was immedi-
ately notified of the sad event and he gave
directions for the disposal Of tho body,
which was sent to the deceased's late
home. The ball from Cockrelps pistol
entered Slayback's left side near the
heart and ranged upward. Whether it
entered the heart Is not known, but it
must have penetrated the lungs. An i'm.
mense crowd gathered around tho Post.
Dispdtch Office and remained there till
long after dark.
An extra of an evening paper says that
Colonel Slayback had gone to the Office for
satisfaction or fight. When he entered tho
editorial rooms he and COrkrell met face
to face. The colonel began to denounce
COrkrell for assaults made upon him by
the Post -Dispatch and in his fury the col.
Onel drew revolver from his pocket.
Cockrell, who had the advantage by rea-
sou Of his self possession, also drew his
revolver and fired at Slayback, who
fell, mortally wounded, and died
q few moments afterward. His corpse
is still within the room, surrounded by .
crowd Of excited friends. The trouble
which terminated 80 tragicaliy originated
in the fact that at a political meeting on
Thursday evening Colonel Slayback mado
and its reporters, to which the paper re-
references to Colonel Slayback, which
rendered him so indignant that he visited
the Office to demand satisfaction. The
following is the article which appeared in
the Post Dispatch:
Mr.. Alonzo w. Siayback, an individual
whose chief claim to distinction rests upon
the fact that he is the law partner of Col.
James o. Brodhead, rose in a meeting of
Democratic ward politicians in this city
last night and without personal prOvoca-
tion proceeded to apply string Of vile
aud virulent epithets to the Posi- Dispatch
and its conductors. making charges which
he knew to be false. This is the same A.
w. Slayback of and concerning whom the
following card was written aud published
in the city by John n. Glover on the 18th
day of November. 1881. Mr.. Glover re-
Gently ran as Democratic candidate for
Congress in the Ninth district and received
. hearty endorsement from the Democratic
voters of character. Mr.. Glover is alive
yet. (The letter referred to above was an
open one by John NJ. Glover, accusing Col.
Slayback of cowardice.]