Got rid of by a cross editor (4)
I believe the answer is:
axed
'got rid of' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'by a cross editor' is the wordplay.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'cross' becomes 'x' (an X is a cross).
'editor' becomes 'ed' (abbreviation).
'a'+'x' is 'ax'.
'ax'+'ed'='AXED'
(Other definitions for axed that I've seen before include "Discontinued with hatchet?" , "Cut; terminated" , "Made redundant" , "Chopped or terminated" , "removed" .)