The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-15
THE SHOOTING OF SLAYBACK
EDITOR COCKRELDS DEFENCE BEFORE
A CORONER'S JURY
Public Opinion Growing More Lenient Ts.
ward the Prisoner-A Dispute ~ TO Wheth.
err or Not his Victim Carried . Revolver.


ward the Prisoner-A Dispute as to wheth.
err or Not his Victim Carried . Revolver.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 14.-The turn Of public
sentiment to-day regarding the Cockrell- Stay
back shooting has been in favor Of the man in
the cell. After prolonged and exhaustive in.
Quiry tho Coroner's jury found verdict
which does not, as is often the case here hold
the party firing the fatal shot guilty Of murder.
but merely declares that Slayback came to
his death from the discharge OF pistol in the
hands Of Cockrell. Prior to the inquest. the
topic was one Of universal comment on
Change. Slayback had beon for years counsel
OF tho Merchants Exchange. where ne was very
popular. his brother being still President Of
that body.
At the inquest Clopton. who accompanied
Slayback. as his friend. to the place where he
met his death. swore point blank that Slayback
was not armed at all. and that Cockrell shot
him while his hands were behind him. pulling OF
his coat and practically pinonod The witnesses
from the Post Dispatch office. on the contrary.
us strongly swore that slayback came in and
at once pointed his pistol at Cockrell. and
that the latter fired only to protect his
hsy to they So DfG Ss
by Slayback. 1t was not found on his body
by the Police last night It appeared that one
Ths s "% f1Sss insist Sst
o his drawer Where has
lain unused for months
to the time Coskre was sworn xsor at his own
b. FIX it $ 81 Ss s
and its editors, that Slayback had in his life:
time tim used; and concluded with an account q
enaed asS r nstns t hss
the killing was in in self-dSsiense The
backs friend. CIopton. was weakened. Among
that he had been meddlosome throughout. and
as e. ha t
osSssS The Office ss Of the de-
article in the iSst- 1espsieh: He spoke q the
l former edition # the paper which, he said.
&c go with him to the office Of the paper. and I
o on the the oa se he said
face. and demand an apology alterward.
eosHx Ss door Gan ssez
butt at once entered The room. saw COL Say:
yss d%sx sSss q Pisse! q %s s%aitsnooSsi,
John N. Mcdafiin and Victor T. Cole say that
on ,sns% r. the & ed
volyer, and advancing said. well. I'm, here.
desk. he asked. is that for me p
n,. AZ IT'S d2r use only to defend myself re-
. %Y gu are prepared to draw then draw"
I don't have to draw; don't want to draw.
thing TO do with, YOU" answered Cockrell.
pess ooekrs agsnss
the wall. Then they all got Into tussle. each
most crowded, The latter asked McGuffin to
take Slayback's pistol from him. and, while he
sybRs and sss
GoeLre l. said to be greatly stricken with
SSmy have he d hsi fa mse that ha as
Sssa ths SS"
munication with Mr.. Pulitzer, who. is yet in
New York, and who has sndeav99red to cheer
though there is revulsion OF popular feeling
IN T his fsea Chronicle in concilatorv ed.
tora Urges that Gockreii seems to have been e1
RG{IpuudIanrr g. eSnsdsrEtion: on Monday morning
so%mtt.d to ball. s and h nsv' ar ann
at once i9dct him. he viii doubtless be I re.
mnder hsy bonds nd The law partner
steps to press prosecT T yWhe Gre
which he and Ills victim, both belonged, rally to
ms snpp9Pr,t ana are making his stay in jail rs
The funeral Of Sayback is set for to- morrow
attended, The s essitement over v the a afair
which still obtains. though in q less degree than
s thu Shy T hSn be sb The g
condemn Cockrell.