The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-10-20
KILLED BY AN EDITOR.
Tragic Death Of a Prominent St.
Louis Lawyer.
He Goes to a Newspaper Office for
Satisfaction and Gets a Bullet.


Col. A. W. Slayback, a prominent attorney
of St Louis, Mo-, was shot and instantly
killed in the editorial rooms of the st. Louis
Pos Dispatch by Col. John A. Cockerell, the
chief editor OF that paper. Slayback had
come to demand an explanation of an as
sault on him through the columns of the pa
per of a political nature, and, as alleged, was
attempting to draw a revolver, when Cock
erell anticipated him, and he fell corpse.
The following particulars of the tragic affair
are cleaned from the st. Louis papers:
At about $40 o'clock p. m, Col. Slayback
and W. H. Clopton were seen turning the
corner of Fourth and Market streets, talk NO
together in an excited mood, and evidently
tending in t re direction of the Post Dispatch
building The stairs leading to the reporto-
rial rooms were climbed in haste, and Cock
erell aud Siavback met face to fare. The
Colonel began TO denounce CockeralI in
a sea hing manner for the assaults
made upoa him by the Post DisDateh In the
fury which had taken possession of him the
Colonel drew a revolver from his pocket as
If to wreak vengeance for the outrage which
had been inflicted on his honor Cockere4l,
who had the advantage of his adversary by
reason of his self-possession, also drew his
revolver and fired at Slayback. who fell
nlOrUdlly WOUNDED ana gaSD6Q his ldSU Dr6SUD
IN few minutes afterward.
The immediate eau e of Col Slaybacks
action is supposed to be the f i OWN, which
appeared in the Post Dispatch.
Mr. AlonZo W. hanback, an individual
whose chief claim to distinction rests upon
the fact that he is the law pai tner of Col.
James o. Broadhead, rose in meeting of
Democratic ward politicians in this city
last night, anl without personal provoca-
ton, proceeded to apply string of vile
and virulent epithets to the Posi- Dispatch
and it's conductors making charges which he
knew to be false. This is the same A. W.
Slayback concerning whom the fol-
this city by John NJ. Glover on the 18th day
of November, 1881. Mr. Glover recently ran
as Democratic cand date for Congress in
the Ninth district, and received a hearty in
dorsement 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 Stay
back of cowardice, and was published in the
Post Dispatch
After the killing the body was taken to an
undertaker's
Col Slayback was well known lawyer
and brother of Charles E. Sayback, Presi-
dent of the Merchants Exchange He leaves
widow and six children, the eldest grown
up daughter, and the younget an only boy
of a few years.
Judge w. H. Clopton, who accompanied
Col Sayback to the Office, made 81 atement
as to what occurred He sa S most posi-
lively that Slayback was unarmed; that he
was greatly excited and avowed his inten-
ton Def IRE reaching the Office of slapping
the editor. On arrival at the office Clopton
says Slayback entered the sanctum of Mr.
Cockerell and was proceeding to divest him
self OF his coat, nd had it partly off when
the shot was fired, which struck the victim
in the lett breast just below the left nipple,
producing death almost Instantly.
Cockerell drove to police headquarters
and surrendered himself.
John NJ McGuffin and Victor T. Coleemade
a statement as to what occurred in the room
where the shooting took place. They say
in substance, that Slayback, on entering the
room, threw his coat back and d ew re-
volver, and, advancing, said: well, I'm here
sir. Then, observing wearon on Cocker
ellis desk, he asked g Is that for
m3?" To which Cockerell replied, mo, it's
then said, you are prepared to draw; then
draw" And Cockerell then answered, Il
don't have TO draw; / don't want to draw;
go away from here; l don't want to have
anything to do with you Siaybaok. and
Clopton meantime pres ed forward and
they all got into sort of tussle
each having hold-of the other, Coekerell
being the most crowded. The lat
ter askel McGufin to take S!ayback's pistol
from him. and while he was attempting to
do so aweaponw discharged, and Slaybaek
staggered and in a moment sank to the floor
MeGufin says he did not see Clopton have a
pistol, but thought he was attempting, in his
struggle with Cockerell, to turn the latter's
weapon in such a way that he would shoot
himself. McGuffin obtained Slayback's pis-
tol, and locked it up in safe. 1