New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-15
THE ST. LOUIS TRAGEDY.

HIS rmnHDo SAr HE FIRED WHEN IN PERIIr-W. III.
CLoPToN ADMITS THAT sLAYBACK WENT TO THE
OFFICE TO SLAP THE EDITORS BACE-CocKERILL
IN CUSTODY.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 14-John NJ. McGuffin and Victor
t. Cole. at a late hour last night, made a state
ment OF what occurred in the room where the
shooting of Colonel Slayback took place. They
say in substance that Slayback on entering the
room threw his coat back and drew revolver and
advancing said: We'll, Pm here, srn
Then. observing weapon on CockerilIs desk. he
asked, is that for me'n
To thisCockerill replied, No. it's for use only to
defend myself
slayback then said. You arc prepared to draw |;
then draw"
"Cockerill answered. don't have to draw I
don't want to draw. Go away from here. l don't
want 10 have anything to do with you.r
Slayback and Clopton meantime pressed forward
and crowded Cockerill aga nst the wall. Then they
all got into sort of tussle, each having hold of
the other. Cockeril being the most crowded The
latter asked McGuin to take Slayback's pistol
from him, and while he was trying to do so, a
weapon was discharged and Slayback staggered,
and in moment sank to the floor.
McGuffin says he did not see Clopton have a pis-
toll but thought he was attempting in his struggle
with Cockerill to turn the latters weapon in such
way 40 W manu- ilIil SHOOJ U.lU5tlI. MCNuIIn OD-
tanned Slaybacks pistol and now has it in his pos
session.
W. Ii. Clopton. who accompanied Slayback to
The Post Dispatch office, makes the following state
ment: " / was at the Office of the deceased man on
business. When was about starting away, Colonel
sayback called my attention to an article in The
Post Dtspdfch He spoke of the remarks he had
made at meeting on Thursday night, and referred
to an article IN former edition of the paper which,
he SAID, justified him i'll his remarks. He asked me
to go with him to tue office of the paper and as
sented. 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 apology
afte7ward. Arriving at the Office Slay back passed
rapidly to the editorial room closing the door after
him. This checked my progress an instant but
at entered the room. saw Colonel Slay back
in the act of removing his coat, and while the coat
on his arm, heard hun say, Don't you draw
that pistol on me- Simultaneously with the re-
mark COckerill fired Colonel ayback closed with
COckenll and | caught hold of Cockerill at once,
forcing his right arm against the window to pre-
vent him from shooting again. could not reach
the pistol, but caught COckerlll b3twee the elbow
and wrist aud held him so until saw that Colonel
Slayback had been shot, when released COckerill
and gave my attention to Slay yback, easing him to
ing him so until he died. Colonel Slavback did not
assault Cockerill until after he shot, though
then mortally wounded Colonel Sayback showed
no pistol, and, so far as | know. not armed"
Colonel Slayback was one of the best known men
in the city. He was law partner of James o.
BrOadhead, the candidate for Congress in the 18th
District, and was at one time a candidate himself
In the same districc against ETas'us Wells. He
warm-hearted and impulsye, aud IN the heat of
political discussion was very free talker, which
fact really the cauSe OF yesterdays sad occur
renee he opinion seems to prevail that he was the
aCgresSOr in this case, but many attribute the
tra.e. quite as much &c - STRONG personal jour
nalisn OF The Post HtsPdtch Mo- hing of special
note has occurred to-day regarding the deplorable
death of Colonel Sayback Last evening COckerlll
was in consultation with his counsel ex-Lleutenant
Governor Charles f. Johnson. Joseph Lodge and
Charles +. JOY, until after midnight, at the house
of Mr. Lodge. Word was sent to the Chief of
Police that Mr.. Cockerill would surrender hlmself
at about l o'clock. At that hour COOnel Campbell,
Chief of Police, appeared at the designated place,
and taking Colonel Cockerlll in his buggy drove TO
the Four Courts and signed his prisoner to a cell
Colonel COckcrlil made no statement further than
TO say thai he acted in self-defence and had he not
shot Colonel Slayback he would have been shot
himself.
Preparations were made to begin the inquest at
O'clock this afternoon.