Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-10-19
KILLED BY AN EDITOR.
Fatal Array In the Editorisl ssnstum of
the 81. Louis ppst-rispstsh.
Colonel Slayback, Prominent Lawyer
and Politician, Shotby Manag-
ing Editor COckerill.


and Politician, Shotby Manag-
ing Editor Cockerill.
ST. LOUIS, NO., October, 13.-Colonel
A. w. Slayback. one OF the most promi-
nent lawyers Of this city, and Demo-
cratic politician of national reputation,
was shot dead this afternoon BY John A.
Cockerill, the managing editor OF the
Post Dispatch, between which paper and
the Colonel there has been a quarrel OF
long standing. About 4:45 o'clock Colo
mel Slayback, accompanied by w. II.
Cloyton, entered the Office, and passing
directly through the city editors room,
entered the room OF the managing editor.
Cockerill was sitting at his desk. and the
foreman of the composing-room, Victor
Cole. and the business manager, John
McGuffin, were also in the room. Mr..
Cole tells the following story OF what
happened: "As Slayback entered he
said: You are here, are youT Cockerill
was evidently expecting trouble. for his
revolver was lying on his desk. He made
some reply to Colonel Slayback, when
the latter said: is that pispol for me?'
Cockerill replied: 1t is for ou if you want
il, or when you want At this Colonel Stay
back pulled pistol, self-cocker, and as
he covered Cockerill. McGufin jumped
forward and grabbed the pistol just as
the hammer fell, catching the hammer
on his hand, between the thumb and fore
finger, thus preventing the pistol going
off. At the same time Cockerill grabbed
his revolver, and fired as he rose. The
ball struck Slay back in the left brest, and
he fell, dying almost instantly. There
was a great commotion, and a rush was
made for the room where the tragedy oc-
Cured" When outsiders reached the
room they found Slayback on the floor,
dead, and Cockerill kneeling by the side
of him, wiping the blood from his face.
The news few over the city, and soon
the vicinity of the POst-Dispatch office
was a scene of the widest excitement
ever known in this city. When the crowd
commenced gathering Cockerill and Nc.
Guffin went out the back door of the OF.
fee and entering carriage drove away,
first going to the telegraph office and
sending dispatch to Mr.. Pulitzer, who
is in New York. It is also known they
sent for Ex-Governor Charles P. Johnson,
and we're in consultation with him.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The immediate cause of Colonel Slay-
backs action is ssupposed to be the follow
ing which appeared in the Post Dispatch
this afternoon:
Mr.. Alonzo w. Slay back AN individual
whose chief claim to distinction rests
upon the fact that he is the law partner OF
Colonel james o. Broadhead, rose in a
meeting of Democratic ward politicians
in this city last night, and. without per.
sonal provocation, proceeded to apply q
string of vile and virulent epithets to the
Post Dispatch and its conductors, making
charges which he knew to be false. This
is the same A.sW. Slay6ack, concerning
whom the following card was written
and published in this city by John M
. Glover on the 11th day of November
1874. Mr.. Glover recently ran as Demo
cratic candidate for Congress in the Ninth
District, and received a hearty indorse
ment from the Democratic voters of char
acter. Mr.. Glover is alive yet.
The letter referred to above was al
!, open one by John, N. Glover, accusing
Colonel Slayback of cowardice, and wal
published this afternoon in the POst-Dis
Patch.
After, the killing the body was taken t.
an undertakers's where it will remain un
til after the inquest tomorrow.
a Haf COLONEL sLAYBAcK
was well.known lawyer, and brother o.
/, Charles E. Slayback, President of the
Merchants Exchange. He leaves .
widow and six children, the eldest ;
grown-up daughter, and the youngest al
. only boy of few years.
3 aE p JUDGE W. Il. CLoFToN,
) who accompanied Colonel Slay t,
! the office, made statement as to wha
occurred, He says most positively tha
Slayback was unarmed; that he wa
: greatly excited, and avowed his inten
Q ton, before reaching the Office, of slap
\ ping the editor. On arrival at the Office
Clofton says Slayback entered the sane
tum of Mr.. Cockerill and was proceeding
to divest himself of his coat and had i
: partly OF when the shot was fired which
1 stuck the victim ip the left breast, JUS
/ below the left nipple, producing death al
most instantly. Cockerill drove to police
headquarters about midnight and sur
2 rendered.
:. ST.. LOUIS Oct. 16.-It was expectet
O that counsel for Col. Cockerill would ap
= ply for his release on. bail this morning
y but the evidence taken before the coro
3 ner's jury not being yet written out ant
|, therefore not in proper condition to sub
nit to court, and owing to the fact tina
Judge Laughlin, of the criminal court
y is sick, faction in the matter has been de
ferred till Wednesday. No charge hal
!. vet been made against Mr.. Cockerill, but
! it is understood the coroner will sweal
y out warrant very soon. Frank Fl. Hurd
: Democratic Congressman from the Tole