Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1882 — SLAY BACK SLAIN. [ARTICLE]

SLAY BACK SLAIN.

A St Politician Enters the Editorial Eooms of the “PostDispatch.” lie (Joes There to Get Satisfaction, and Is Shot Dead. CoL A. W. Slayback, a prominent attorney of St Louis, Mo., was shot and instantly killed in the editorial rooms of the St Logie Post-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 are gleaned from the St Louis papers: At about 5:30 o’clock p. m., CoL Slayback and W. H. Clopton were seen turning the corner of Fourth and Market streets, talking together in an excited mood, and evidently tending in toe direction of the Post-Dispatch building. The stairs leading to the reportorial rooms were climbed in haste, and Cockerell and Slavback met face to fa. e. The Colonel began to denounce Cockerell in a sca'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 as if to wreak vengeance for the outrage which had been inflicted on his honor. Cockerell, who had the advantage of his adversary by reason of his self-possession, also drew hLs revolver and fired at Slayback. who fell mortally wounded and gasped his last breath in a few minutes afterward The immediate cau e of CoL Slaybaok’s action is supposed to be the f *llowingj which appeared in the Pont-Dispatch: 'Mr. Alonzo W. Slavback, an individual whose chief claim to distinction rests upon the fact that he is the law partner of CoL James O. BroadhCad, rose in a meeting of Democratic ward politicians in this city last night, and, without personal provocation, proc*eded to apply a 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. W. Slayback oonceming 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 Slayback 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 or a few years. Judge W. H. Clopton, who accompanied CoL Slayback to the office, made a statement as to what occurred. He save most positively that Slayback was unarmed; that ha was “greatly excited and avowed his intention beL ■ retrenching 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 himself of his coat, nd hud it partly off when the shot was fired, which struck the victim in the lef t breast, just below tha lef q nipple, producing deatn almost instantly. Cockerell drove to police headquarters and surrendered himself

John M McGuffln jtnd Victor T Cole made 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 diew a revolver. nnd, advancing, said: “Well, I’m here sir. ” Then, ob.-ervinpr a weapon on Cockerell’s desk, he asked: “Is that for me?” To wliich Cockerell replied, “No, it’s for use onlv 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’t want to draw; go away from here; I don’t want to have anythin? 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 MoGuffln to take Slavback’s pistol from him, and while he was attempting to do so a weapon was discharged, and Slayback staggered and tn a moment sank to the" floor. McGiiffin says he did not see Clopton have a pistol, but thought he was attempting, in his struggle with Cockeiell, to turn the latter’s weapon in such a way that he would shoot himself. MoGuffln obtained Slay back’s pistol, am? locked it up in a safe.