Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1882 — KILLED BY AN EDITOR. [ARTICLE]

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 Sfc. Louis Dos'-Dispatch by Col. John A. Cockerell, the chief editor of that paper. Slayback had come to demand an explanation of an assault on him through the columns of the paper of a political nature, and, as alleged, was attempting to draw a revolver, when Cockerell anticipated him, and he fell a corpse. The following particulars of the tragic affair arc gleaned from the St. Louis papers: At about 5: JO o’clock p. m., Col. Slayback and W. H. Clopton were seen turning the corner of Fourth and Market streets, talk ng together in an excited mood, and evidently tending in tAe direction of the Post-Dispatch building. The stairs loading to the reportoi iat rooms were climbed in haste, and Cockerell and Slavback met face to face. The Colonel began to denounce Cockerell in a sea hing manner for the assaults made upon him by the Post-Dispatch. In the fury which had taken possession of him the Colonel drew a revolver from his pocket ns if to wreak vengeance for the outrage which had been inflicted on his honor. Cockerel), who had the advantage of his adversary by reason of his self-possession, also drew his revolver arid fired at Slayback. who fell mortally wounded and gasped his last breath in a few minutes afterward. The immediate came of CoL Slayback s action is supposed to he the following, which appeared in the Post-Dispatch: “Mr. Alonzo W. Slavback, an individual whose chief claim to distinction rests upon the fact that he is the law partner of Col. .Tames O. Broadhead, rose in a meeting of Democratic ward politicians in this city last night, and, without personal provocation, proceeded to apply a string of vile and virulent epithets to the Post-J)isj)atch and its conductors, making charges which he knew to he false. This is the same A. W. Slayback concerning whom the following card was written and published in this city by John M. Glover on the 11th day of November, 1881. Mr. Glover recently ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress in the Ninth district, and received a hearty indorsement from the Democratic voters of character. <> Mr. Glover is alive yet. ” The letter referred to above was an open one by John M. Glover, accusing Col. Slayhack of cowardice, and was published in the Post-Dispatch. After the killing the body was taken to an undertaker’s. Col. Slayback was a well-known lawyer and brother of Charles E. Slayback, President of the Merchants’ Exchange. He leaves a widow and six children, the eldest a grownup daughter, and the youngest an only boy of a few vears. Judge W. H. Clopton, who accompanied Col. Slayback to the office, made a statement as to what occurred. He sa-. s most positively that Slayback was unarmed; that ho was greatly excited and avowed his intention before reaching the office of slapping the editor. On arrival at the office Clopton says Slavback entered the sanctum of Mr. Cockerell and was proceeding to divest himself of his coat, nd had it partly off when the shot was fired, which struck the victim in the left breast, just below the left nipple, producing death almost instantly. Cockerell drove to police headquarters and surrendered himself. John M. McGuffin and Victor T. Cole made a statement as to what occurred in the room where the shooting took place. They say, in substance, that Slavback, on entering the room, threw his coat hack and drew a revolver, and, advancing, said: “Well, I’m here sir. ” Then, observing a weapon on Cockerell’s desk, he asked: “Is that for me?” To which Cockerell replied, “No, it’s for use only to defend myself. ” Slayback, then said, “You are prepared to draw; then draw.” And Cockerell then answered, “I don’t have to draw; I don e want to draw; go away from here; I don’t want to have anything to do with you. ” Slayback and Clopton meantime pressed forward and crowded Cockerell against the walL Then they all got into a sort of tussle, each having hold of the other, Cockerell being the most crowded. The latter asked McGuffin to take Slayback’s pistol from him, and while he was attempting to do so a weapon was discharged, and Slayback staggered and in a moment sank to the floor. McGuffin 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 woulcf shoot himself. McGuffin obtained Slayback’s pistol, and locked it up in a safe.