HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Alonzo William Slayback (July 4, 1838 – October 13, 1882) was an American
Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
military officer and a founder of the
Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball The Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball was a yearly ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri, over which a Characterization, mythical figure called the ''Veiled Prophet'' presided. The first events were in 1878 and were organized and funded by the Veiled Proph ...
in
St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
, Missouri. He was shot and killed in self-defense by the managing editor of the ''
St. Louis Post-Dispatch The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the '' Belleville News-Democra ...
.''


Personal

Slayback was born July 4, 1838, in Plum Grove,
Marion County, Missouri Marion County is a county located in the northeastern portion of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,525. Its county seat is Palmyra. Unique from most third-class counties in the state, Marion has two county courthouses, t ...
, the son of Alexander Lambdin Slayback, an attorney, and Anna Maria Minter."Col. Slayback's Career," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 14, 1882, page 1
/ref> The father died of
cholera Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...
at age thirty, leaving his widow, three sons, and a daughter. A college classmate of Alonzo Slayback recalled in 1882 that Alexander Slayback had died when Alonzo and his brother, Charles E. Slayback, "were little children, leaving no property at all."No headline, ''Public Ledger,'' Memphis, Tennessee, Page 2, November 1, 1882
/ref> Nicknamed "Lon", he was tutored by his mother, and at age 10 he passed an examination which enabled him to enter the Masonic College in
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
. He graduated in 1856, with highest honorsAncestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]
/ref> in a "full collegiate course."Uncredited, ''A Memorial Volume: Being Selections in Poetry and Prose From the Written Thoughts of Col. Alonzo W. Slayback, Including a Brief Biographical Sketch,'' St. Louis: J.H. Chambers & Co. (1883) After college he went to
St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...
, where he studied law with Bela M. Hughes and taught school. He was
admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...
in 1857, his first partner being Joseph P. Grubb. On April 14, 1859, Slayback was married to Alice A. Waddell, daughter of William B. Waddell of
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
. During his military service with the Confederate Army in the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
, he was gravely ill with
typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella enterica'' serotype Typhi bacteria, also called ''Salmonella'' Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often th ...
but was nursed back to health by his wife. At his death on October 13, 1882, he was survived by his wife and six children, Susanna, 21; Minnette, 14; Katie, 12; Mabel, 9; Grace, 7, and Alonzo W. Jr., 3. Also surviving were three siblings, Charles E. and Preston Slayback and Mrs. Minnie Bond. Susanna, known as Susie, was married on March 5, 1884, to Wellington Adams.


Professional


Military

It was said that Slayback "was a participant in the
Border Ruffian Border ruffians were Proslavery thought, proslavery raiders who crossed into the Kansas Territory from Missouri during the mid-19th century to help ensure the territory entered the United States as a Slave states and free states, slave state. ...
troubles in 1855–56, living at
St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...
, at that time." Slayback served in the
Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), also known as the Confederate States (C.S.), the Confederacy, or Dixieland, was an List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies, unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United State ...
. He was practicing law in
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
, when, following the lead of
Claiborne Fox Jackson Claiborne Fox Jackson (April 4, 1806 – December 6, 1862) was an American politician of the Democratic Party in Missouri. He was elected as the 15th Governor of Missouri, serving from January 3, 1861, until July 31, 1861, when he was for ...
, he raised a regiment of cavalry, of which he was elected colonel, and he joined General
Sterling Price Sterling Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was an American politician and military officer who was a senior General officers in the Confederate States Army, officer of the Confederate States Army, fighting in both the Weste ...
's command of the
Missouri State Guard The Missouri State Guard (MSG) was a military force established by the Missouri General Assembly on May 11, 1861. While not a formation of the Confederate States Army, the Missouri State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at variou ...
in June 1861."Gallery: Marmaduke's Raid & Shelby's Raid: Alonzo Slayback," Trans-Mississippi Theater, Virtual Museum"
/ref> The next month, he was visiting his wife in Lexington when he was captured by Union Army troops. He was imprisoned for three weeks, some of the time in Masonic College, where he had gone to school and which had been converted into a prison. He escaped when he hit his guard with a bucket while they were gathering water at a spring. After the
Battle of Lexington The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 were the first major military actions of the American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great Britain and Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot militias from America's Thirteen Co ...
in September 1861, he was elected colonel of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 5th Division of the Missouri Guard, known as Slayback's Lancers. In March 1864 General
Edmund Kirby Smith Edmund Kirby Smith (May 16, 1824March 28, 1893) was a General officers in the Confederate States Army, Confederate States Army Four-star rank, general, who oversaw the Trans-Mississippi Department (comprising Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, western L ...
appointed him bearer of special dispatches to the Confederate capital in
Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
. After, he recruited a regiment of
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
(called the "Slayback Lancers") was elected
colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
, and was attached to a
brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
commanded by General Joseph O. Shelby. He commanded a regiment in the
Battle of Pea Ridge The Battle of Pea Ridge (March 7–8, 1862), also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, took place during the American Civil War near Leetown, Arkansas, Leetown, northeast of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. United States, Feder ...
, and he was promoted for meritorious conduct at
Farmington, Missouri Farmington is a city and the county seat of St. Francois County, Missouri, United States. It is in the Lead Belt region in Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 18,217. Farmington was established in 1822 a ...
, and at the
Siege of Corinth The siege of Corinth, also known as the first battle of Corinth, was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry H ...
. At war's end, he joined an expedition to Mexico to avoid surrender after defeat, led by Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby, and spent a year with him. Before they crossed into Mexico, the men ceremoniously lowered the Confederate battle flag into the waters of the
Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
. That act impelled Slayback to write a lengthy poem, ''The Burial of Shelby's Flag''.


Civilian

Slayback was a
schoolteacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...
while studying
law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...
. He was
admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...
in September 1857 in
St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...
, and practiced there until the outbreak of the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
in 1860. Upon his flight to Mexico, he became ill in Mérida, but Mexican General Tomás O'Horán Escudero,
prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect' ...
of the city under
Maximilian Maximilian or Maximillian (Maximiliaan in Dutch and Maximilien in French) is a male name. The name "Max" is considered a shortening of "Maximilian" as well as of several other names. List of people Monarchs *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1 ...
, invited him to his home to convalesce. He learned Spanish and also kept a journal, or a diary of his times, "in the form of letters to his absent wife." Slayback recounted that he met his mother in Havana, Cuba, in February 1866 and she induced him to return to the United States. They reached New York on February 18, and he went on to Washington, D.C., where he received a pardon from the government. He returned to St. Louis and built up an eminent law practice. He was twice elected president of the Law Library Association, and he was proud of closing the library on Sundays because "working lawyers work enough on the six working days and ought to rest on Sunday." He was a member of the University Club, the Merchants' Exchange, the Merchants' Benevolent Society, and of the
Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...
, No. 6. Soon after the war ended, Slayback was elected regent of a group of paroled Confederate soldiers to begin "an asylum for the orphans of Missouri rebel deceased." Editor Sol. Miller of ''The Kansas Chief'' newspaper described Slayback "as much a rebel as ever" who said in an August 1868 speech that only by electing a Democratic presidential ticket headed by
Horatio Seymour Horatio Seymour (May 31, 1810February 12, 1886) was an American politician. He served as the eighteenth Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and again from 1863 to 1864. He was the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Pa ...
could "God's chosen people, the noblest men who ever lived, the gallant sons of the South," gain what they had fought for." A lifelong Democrat and the law partner of James O. Brodhead and Herman A. Haeussler, he ran for Congressman-at-large in 1872, in the Second District in 1876"State News," ''The Wakanda Record,'' Carrollton, Missouri, October 13, 1876, page 1
/ref> and in the Ninth District against Erastus Wells."Cockerell's Crime; A St. Louis Editor Kills Colonel A.W. Slayback of Political Notoriety," ''The Inter Ocean,'' Chicago, October 14, 1882, Page 4
/ref> He ran also for United States Senator, but withdrew his name during the legislative session considering the appointment. Governor Charles Henry Hardin appointed Slayback as Missouri's representative to a May 1875 centennial celebration of the signing of the
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence is a text published in 1819 with the now disputed claim that it was the first declaration of independence made in the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution. It was supposedly signed on May 20 ...
in
Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
. In the same year, Slayback attended a meeting to help form "a society to provide lectures for the working classes."


Publications

In August 1873, the '' Inland Monthly'' published Slayback's "The Next National Necessity", setting forth "that gentleman's views of the temper and action of the people of the North and South in their relations with each other." Slayback published a book of poems dealing with "war and love." After his death, his wife published a memorial volume of his writings, with an uncredited biography as the introduction.


Postwar speech

According to the ''Daily Missouri Republican,'' he later "admitted the inherent weakness of the
secession Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a Polity, political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence). A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal i ...
idea and the perception of it by the confederate soldiers at an early stage of their struggle." In a speech given at the decoration of both Union and Confederate soldiers' graves on May 30, 1873, Slayback said that the Southern soldiers had
cast their eyes upon the government at
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...
, and its constitution recognizing the right of any state in certain contingencies to set up a separate nationality for itself, with its little president and its little senate, its little supreme court and its little navy, with its Palmetto, its
Pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...
, or its Lone Star for a flag, and the soldier began to ask himself, "For what am I fighting?"A Secession Reminiscence," ''Daily Missouri Republican,'' June 14, 1873, page 4
/ref>
The ''Rolla (Missouri) Weekly Herald'' noted that the speech "seems to meet with almost universal approval, as expressive of a returning spirit of fraternity, by which alone is the genuine work of reconstruction to be accomplished." ''The Cash-Book'' of Jackson, Missouri, however, said it spoke for "thousands of ex-Rebs, who utterly deny that Slayback represented the prevailing sentiment of the South at the time of the surrender" and that the speech was "silly twaddle."


Veiled Prophet celebration

Historian Thomas M. Spencer has credited Slayback with "all of the work" that the latter "had put into creating" the organization responsible for the St. Louis Veiled Prophet celebrations, beginning in 1878. Slayback wrote the description or story line for St. Louis's first Veiled Prophet parade. He noted in his diary:
Today I gave to the printer the descriptive manuscript whereby I have woven a classical story and brought into order and coherency the "Floats" for the Parade, or illuminated nocturnal pageant of the secret society known as the "Veiled Prophets." I think it is the nearest thing to a "stroke of genius" that I ever produced."Quoted in Thomas M. Spencer, ''The St. Louis Veiled Prophet Celebration: Power on Parade'' (Columbia and London: University of Missouri Press), 2000
In 1882, a movement by St. Louis
Irish American Irish Americans () are Irish ethnics who live within in the United States, whether immigrants from Ireland or Americans with full or partial Irish ancestry. Irish immigration to the United States From the 17th century to the mid-19th c ...
s forced the parade organizers to withdraw a float that was to have featured, in the words of historian Spencer, "a Donnybrook Fair with several jig-dancing and seemingly drunken Irishmen,
hich Ij () is a village in Golabar Rural District of the Central District in Ijrud County, Zanjan province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq ...
was certainly in accordance with the usual
stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalization, generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can ...
of the Irish at the time." Slayback then challenged the protestors:
Let them raise a finger against any part of the pageant, if they dare. I feel sure that there will be on hand a sufficiently large number of people who have St. Louis's interest at heart to prevent any sort of attack. Yes, sir. Just let them try it.


Death


Editorial page article

Slayback was a law partner of James O. Broadhead, and "bitter controversy had arisen" between Broadhead and John M. Glover "over a race for Congress.""Died in Cairo, Egypt; Sudden Passing of Col. John A. Cockerill, Formerly of St. Louis," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' April 11, 1896, Page 5
/ref> On Friday, October 13, 1882, the editorial page of the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' printed the following (quoted only in part):
Mr. Alonzo W. Slayback, an individual whose chief claim to distinction rests upon the fact that he is the law partner of Col. James 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-Dispatch and its conductors, making charges which he knew to be false.
In fact, so far from being a brave man, the Colonel ... is a coward. He dare not be brave except in a courtroom or a church and he will beg or cringe out of any difficulty which his vaporing humor may have gotten him. ... Now the "Colonel's" title I believe, is Colonel Alonzo W. Slayback. The word Alonzo is of Etruscan origin and means "coward," ... and the title "Colonel" is never applied except in derision and originated in the gallant manner in which the "Colonel" once marshaled a female sewing society. — JOHN M. GLOVER''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' Page 4, October 13, 1882
/ref>


Shooting and inquest

Slayback went later that day to the ''Post-Dispatch'' editorial offices "to demand retraction or seek satisfaction." He had a gun with him, and, according to testimony at a coroner's inquest, he threatened John A. Cockerill, the
managing editor A managing editor (ME) is a senior member of a publication's management team. Typically, the managing editor reports directly to the editor-in-chief and oversees all aspects of the publication. United States In the United States, a managing edi ...
and chief editorial writer of the newspaper. Cockerill had his own weapon and fired, killing Slayback."A Shot in the Sanctum," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' Page 1, October 14, 1882
/ref> Five members of the six-man
coroner's jury A coroner's jury is a body convened to assist a coroner in an inquest, that is, in determining the identity of a deceased person and the cause of death. The laws on its role and function vary by jurisdiction. United Kingdom In England and Wa ...
and all witnesses took the oath at the Slayback home in the presence of the body, as was "usual" in homicide cases, and then the inquest adjourned to the Criminal Court chambers."Was Slayback Armed?" ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' page 2, October 15, 1882
/ref> After testimony of Cockerill and other witnesses, the jurors adopted a verdict that Slayback had died "from the effects of internal
hemorrhage Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, ...
, caused by a penetrating gunshot wound in the chest, inflicted with a bullet fired from a revolver in the hand of J. A. Cockerill, a few minutes before death." Although jailed for a time and the object of
Grand Jury A grand jury is a jury empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a person to testify. A grand ju ...
investigations, Cockerill was never put on trial."Cockerill's Career," ''St. Joseph (Missouri) Daily Herald,'' April 16, 1896, Page 5
/ref>


Funeral

The funeral service at the Slayback residence on October 15 "was perhaps the largest that ever occurred in St. Louis", it was reported. The
cortege Many words in the English vocabulary are of French origin, most coming from the Anglo-Norman spoken by the upper classes in England for several hundred years after the Norman Conquest, before the language settled into what became Modern Eng ...
"consisted of 142 carriages and about fifty buggies containing members of the family and friends, the Knights of St. Patrick,
Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...
,
Bar Association A bar association is a professional association of lawyers as generally organized in countries following the Anglo-American types of jurisprudence.
,
Southern Historical Society The Southern Historical Society was an American organization founded to preserve archival materials related to the government of the Confederate States of America and to document the history of the American Civil War.Benevolent order of Elks whichproceeded directly to Bellefontain Cemetery." Slayback's body was taken to
Lexington, Missouri Lexington is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,726 at the 2010 census. Lexington is in western Missouri, within the Kansas City metropolitan area, approximately east of Kansas C ...
, aboard a special car donated by the
Missouri Pacific Railway The Missouri Pacific Railroad , commonly abbreviated as MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers. In 1967, the railroad ...
, where it was received by a party of Confederate veterans headed by General Joseph O. Shelby. It was interred in "the old cemetery" (Machpelah Cemetery) within sight of the Masonic College "where Col. Slayback received his education and where he fought his first battle."


Tributes

* Slayback was honored with a memorial service at the St. Louis Exchange. * A matinee of Shakespeare's ''
Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed around 1607, by the King's Men at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre. Its first appearance in print was in the First Folio published ...
'' was given by "the well-known actor" and "very warm friend of Col. Cockerill", John McCullough (who acted as
Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...
), at the Olympic Theater, St. Louis, as a benefit for the Slayback family. It netted between $7,000 and $8,000. Receipts at the door amounted to $6,797. "The building was jammed from pit to dome," one newspaper reported. "It was, perhaps, the grandest audience that ever greeted this great tragedian." * Union General
William Tecumseh Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman ( ; February 8, 1820February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a General officer, general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), earning recognit ...
said: "I knew both of the parties well. Col. Slayback was one of nature's noblemen, generous to a fault, and had an unlimited number of friends. Mr. Cockerill's father was in my command during the war."


Insurance

Questions were raised whether
insurance companies Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect ...
would pay a benefit on Slayback's policies "if it is proved that Col. Slayback went into the ''Post-Dispatch'' office with a drawn revolver." Eventually, there was an insurance payout of $20,000, although another report put the sum at "fully $40,000" based on more than one policy, and some said that the total sum available to the family, including the benefit, was fifty thousand dollars."Stray Items," ''The Weekly Republican,'' November 23, 1882, Page 2
/ref>


References


External links


Verbatim report of the session of the coroner's jury
''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 16, 1882 {{DEFAULTSORT:Slayback, Alonzo 1838 births 1882 deaths Border ruffians Confederate States Army officers People of Missouri in the American Civil War People from Marion County, Missouri Deaths by firearm in Missouri 19th-century American lawyers Missouri Democrats