The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-10-19
SLAYBACK .COCEERILL
The Poh.i,ispatch's Account Of The
Tsagody In IT'S sanciinn State
ments In Detail Of Eye
Witnesses.
The Occurrences which eliminated In
Colonel Slaybacl's Taklng-oii-
Politics the Maln-Sprlng.
Biography of the Deceased and Ills
Slayer.
A Sad but Interesting Chapter.
What Eye-witncsses Say.

Mr.. McGufin, business manager of the
Post Dispatch, described the affair as fol-
lows:
sit happened in this way About
O'Clock this afternoon Mr.. Cockerill, Mr..
Cole and myself were in MIR. Cockerills
room discussing some business matters.
We hadn't been there but few minutes
when Colonel Slayback and Mr.. Clopton
entered without knocking or in any way
informing us of their presence. Slaybaok
advanced into the room towards Cockerill,
and, when within five or six ieet OF him,
threw his coat back and exclaimed, We'll,
sir here am y almost Immediately plac-
ing his hand on his hip pocket, and, ad
yancing on Cockerill, he then pulled out his
pistol, and at the same moment Cockerill
must have reached for his, which was
living on his desk. Colonel Slayback still
advanced, presenting the revolver at Cock
Grill. Slayback said: Is that for me? evil
IDENTIFY meaning Cockerill's pistol. Mr..
Cockerill 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.. Cockerill was by long
odds the coolest of the two. lie said:
Don't you do it, Colonel Slayback; don't
YOU do it; stop away Colonel Slayback
Continued to advance, and Mr.. Clopton also
drew near to Mr.. Cockerill. A sudden
movement had brought all three together
in n group. Mr.. Cockerill called to me for
assistance, for Mr.. Clopton at this stage
was taking hold of him, and as he called 70
me the shot was fired. Mr.. Cockerill
called the second time, Mack, don't let
him do it,. Seeing him dropping
was shot. / took hold Of Colonel Stay
backs revolver with my left, hand, and, as
/ did so, something pinched the, palm Of
my hand, which, l suppose, was the ham
mer of the pistol. secured the revolver,
and Clopton, having Cockerill almost on
his knees, in his attempt to use Cockerlll's
revolver on himself (CockerilQ, pointed
the revolver at Clopton and SAID: Let MN
gol' He did not do so and l immediately
placed the revolver close to his head and
repeated: Let him go, or you are dead
mani Clopton, at this, released his hold
on, Cockerill, Strengthening himself to
standing position; Colonel Slayback drop
ned to the floor. Mr.. Clopton walked past
myself toward the door Immediately re,
turning to where Colonel Slayback lay, ana
calling to him two or three times colonel
ColonelP -
Mr.. Victor T. Cole foreman of the Post
Disnatch composing room. told what he
knew of the occurrence. be said:
"Between 5 o'clock and quarter past, i
should say, yesterday afternoon, MIR. Cock
Grill, Mr.. McGuffin and myself were IN the
editorial room in consultation. Mr.. Cock
tt,n far a
room, Mr.. McGuflin was sitting to his right
and | was sitting in front OF both. Whlie
thus engaged the door was opened sud
denly with a wrench, and Mr.. Slayback
stepped in, followed by Mr.. Clopton.
He said either Here am or
Here l am, SIR l cannot say
which. He ripped his Goa. back, ex-
posing four Or. nve inches oil ms shirt-
sleeves, then with movement of the LETT
arm he threw the coat on again and with
his right hand drew his pistol. Ny I'M
preston is that he saw Mr.. Cockerill's pis-
tol living on the desk. Mr.. Cockerille was
SO sitting at the time that the pistol on his
desk was at his left. Mr.. SIayback said
either "Do you draw or You are pre-
pared to draw. Draw" Mr.. Cockerill said;
''No, sir; am simply here to defend sIi my
Keep back Keep back All this time
MIR. Slayback was advancing toward Mr.:
Cockerill and holding his pistol at short
arm pointed right at Mr.. Cockerill. AS
Mr.. 'Slayback advanced Mr.. Clopton slid
around behind me, upsetting the chair that
| had been sitting on. Mr.. Cockerel
lifted. his revolver from the desk at TINS
moment. Mr.. Slayback and Clopton
rushed together on Mr.. Cockerili, who arose
from his chair and backed into the window
recess to his right. l rushed to the door
thinking to get q revolver, when saw II
was no use, and stopped just as / had the
door partly opened. AT this moment the
shot was fired. 1 then pulled the door smut,
and at this time all four men-Slayback,
vrrv close together. Mr.. Cockerill was be-
ing forced down by Mr.. Slayback and Chop
ton. who both had hold Of him. As the
shot sounded my first impression was that
Slayback had fired it, but Immediately
saw that he received the shot. His legs
began TO give way and his body tremhled
His force was all gone. Then came scuili e
Messrs. Slayback and Clopton, during
which made a rush out of the room for 9
revolver. When returned the scufiie had
ceased. Mr., Cockerill had Strengthened mp
toa standing position, Mr.. Clopion was
irving 10 get to Mr.. Slayback and Mr.. Nc
Gufiin was trying 20 force Mr., Clopton
from the room. Mr.. Cookerill ,put on ms
coat and lett the. room with Mr.; Mc,s uinni
making a remark to the effect that he was
going 10 give himselfup. / caught hold OF
Colonel Siayback and put him IN as easy
position as could, placing chair under
Ills head. / felt for his pulse, but there was
none. DIR. Mccarthy arrived soon afief;
examined Mr.. Slayback and pronounced
him dead. Mr.. slaybark was much excited
when he came into the room, and his man
ner indicated intense anger"
- cr-rnrfa UuTTsTrW eTkTEMFNT.
Early in the evening Mr.. William ii;
Clopton, the gentleman who had entered
Ire Post Dispatch Office with Colonel Slay-
baok 10 interview Mr.. Cockorill. was seen.
He declined at first 10 be subjected TO an
interview, saying he had no statement 70
make, and that, as Colonel slayoack ole9 i
in his arms, be was 20 upset that II would
moi be possible for him 20 make state
msnt. He did say, however, and said u I'd
most emphatic terms, and that IN the
presence Of the reporter and Lyndon a.
smith. the Mayors secretary. Col STAY
back had no pistol or other weapon IN ms
hand when he was killed" Later M.
Clopton made a written statement, ana ~
m,drseht brought the following % The
/ was All the ONCE Of The deceased on bus
mess. when starting away Colonel Stay beck
called nv ct entiOn % the matter IN
fh-dstfs Post Dispatch. He spoke Of tbe
rpnnrks b. made last night ~ speecn ~
Ire J1eople az the eighteenth ward, ein
called nv attention 20 Ar editprl2l n 49,
n,er edition a the P0st-Dispatch, which ne
srid justified him in bis remarks ne
ssted me 10 70 with him 70 the oflcs o.
The payer. I assented, nna A,stI
tr.nrarfine some buslness IN re
-. "a The Law publisher On the
ser,e aoor.I Joined the colonel and pro
e.s,sd ~-ilh htrn n the once Of the paper
on he unT b. aid that Al apology ioI tne
editorial would not satisfy hin' thA' 'e
.1sr -Hr Tu1r0k's FscE
md demand ~ apology air. ss-n-- a -.
fors N the sfairs lesd ~ - ne
editorial rooms-ths ray beng 20
r~r-uu for tTo pe-sons a1re1A-i
III t..hs~F ard beloved close -
bir,. ne p.r-sd reT rrridlT through -
E.Ii - rrrnrters' rn1rn leaolDe % ne
s.1ifnri.l ro0rn upsnsd ne cor 40 49,
II rlr-Irr n door behind BIN - a. - nj
- - - - r.~r.r~er4 frr ruomenL