Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-16
THE ST. LOUIS TRAGEDY.
HOW SLAYBACK WAS KILLED.
Two Sides of the StOrY-EditOr Cock
Tellss Statement.

ST. LOUIS, October 14.-Colonel A. W.
slsyback, accompanied by W. b. Clopton,
visited the editorial rooms OF the Post
Dispatch yesterday afternoon to demand
satisfaction of Colonel John A. Coekrell for
assaults made on him in the columns of that
paper. Col. Slayback was shot and killed.
John M. McGuffin, business manager, and
Victor I. Cole, foreman, at late hour last
night made statement Of what occurred in
the room where the shooting took place.
They say in substance that Slsyback, on en-
tering the room, threw his coat back and
said " Well, Pm here, sir. +"
Then observing a weapon on CockreIl's
desk, he asked, ''Is that for me ?" to which
Coekrell replied, "No it's for use only to
defend myself" Slayback then said,
tbeO rOu dare, are prepared Sa cooSrou TO draw,
swered, Il don't care to draw, l don't
want to draw. Go away from heze. don't
want to have anything to do with you"
Slayback and Clopton meantime pressed
forward and crowded Cockrell against
the wall. Then they all got into
tussle, each having hold of the other, Cock
rell being most crowded. The latter asked
McGuftin to take Slayback's pistol from
him, and while he was trying to do so the
weapon was discharged and Slayback stag
gered, and in moment sank to the floor.
The inquest on the remains of Colonel
Slayback began about o'clock this after
noon in the court room, and was con-
tinued until after dark. VIM. H. Clopton,
who accompanied Colonel Slayback to the
EOSt Dispatch office, testified, stating dis
tinctly that Slayback was shot while
he was in the act of taking his coat
off, and repeating his former statement
that S!sybsck was not armed, and therefore
could not have drawn revolver. The other
principal witnesses were John NJ. McGuf1n,
business manager, and Victor T. Cole, fore
man. who were in the room when the shoot
ing took place. Their testimony did not
differ materially from their statement as
telegraphed. Both testified emphatically
that SlaVback drew revolver as soon as he
entered the room; that he and Clop-
ton advanced on Cockrell, the
former holding his pistol at short
arm, and pointing toward Cockrell;
that COckrell uttered the words, and gave
warning So telegraphed last night; that
quite brief tussel took place; that Cock
rell fired; that ClOptOn closed with Cock
rell, and only released his hold Of him
when McGufin placed the pistol he had
taken from Slayback to Clopton's head
and told him to do so or he was
dead man. McGufin produced
the pistol he took from Slsyback. 1t was a
pearl-handled revolver of British build and
pattern. of 39 calibre. 1t shows signs of
having been carried in warm weather, the
cylinder being rusted by perspiration.
Mr.. Cole produced Col. Cockrell's pistol.
1t is black-handled Smith & Wesson re-
volver Of 40 cslibre. Several other witnesses
were examined, but their testimony
was not material. The jury, after
being out about half an hour, re-
came to his death from the effects of inter-
nal hemorrhsge caused by gunshot wound
in the chest inflicted with bullet fired from
a arevolver in the hands of John A. CocSrell.
The physicians who made the post mortem
examination testified that the ball passed
through the lungs from left to right, and
severed the aorta on its passage, which pro
duced hemorrhage.
After the verdict was rendered Col. Cock
rell was returned to his cell, where he will
remain until Monday, when his counsel
will make application for his release on bail.
ST. LOUIS, October 15.-Colonel Cockrell
at the Coroner's inquest yesterday gave the
following account of the shooting of Col.
Slayback
"a few minutes past five o'clock l was
sitting at my desk, talking with Mr..
the paper, and Mr.. Cole, the
foreman. The door was closed.
My pistol was lying on my desk, for 1 had
intended to place 1t in my pocket in chang
ing my coat on leaving the Office. Suddenly
the door opened and two men en-.
tered, closing the door behind them.
was facing the door. 1 recognized
Colonel Slayback and Mr.. ClOpton, a law
yer, who had few days before as
81 IA,
In his private office. l realized that | was
to be assaulted, and arose from my chair.
Col. Slsyback's bearing was that of man
bent on violence. His first words were:
well, 1 am here.' He started as II to draw
off his coat. l was in the corner next
to the front window. InsttnctiVely
moved my hand toward the
weapon on the desk. He saw it and sud
denly readjusted his coat and said: is
that for me?' at the same time throwing
his hand to his hip pocket. My reply was:
No, sir;' but l secured my weapon. AS
he drew his he presented It at me and
heard him cock IT, | shouted: Don't do
thatr and at the same time, while his
weapon was pointed at my breast, l fired,
believing myself at the moment dead man.
81 knew nothing of the effect of the shot,
for he closed with me and thrust his re-
volver against my side. At the same time
ClOplOn appTOacneO me from behind and
tried to wrest my pistol from my hand,
which was hanging by my side. l shouted
to Mr.. McGufin: Don't let these men kill
me- He tore Col. Slayback's pistol from
his hand and pointed it at Clopton's head,
under the impression, presume, that he
was trying to shoot me. At that instant Col.
Slayback released his grasp upon me, and
realized for the first time that he had been
hurt. left the room while Mr.. Clopton
was calling for doctor, nay head bleeding
from a cut received when l was forced
against the window In the scuff1e, and went
into the lower office to wash myself"