The daily gazette., 1881-05-27
rrsn Yesterdays Late Edition,
FIGMTINa FoR AN ITEM.
An Enceunter between . Morning
News Reporter and Clerk Of the

News Rsporter and CLERK OF the
Feace Cochran.
After the adjournment Of Court, yes
terday afternoon, Arthur +. Francis, q
reporter of the Morning Nesos, called up
on Clerk Of the Peace Edwin r. Coch-
ran, with areqnest for q copy Of the
liquor licenses granted and applications
refused during the late session Of Court,
for publication In the Ne,ps. Clerk Coch-
ran felt constrained TO refuse the request
and 20 informed Francis, and also Mr..
Myer, the reporter Of the Ffeie Presse.
tue German daily paper, who had joined
In the request.
At nearly oil previous sessions OF
Court the liquor applications were finally
acted upon several days prior TO adjourn
Inent, which gave the Clsrk an apport-
unity 70 carefully inspect the entire
number, compare them with bis books,
extract all private letters and petitions
Of recommendation, and get them other
wise arranged for publication immed-
lately after the close Of Court. At this
session, however, the Court was occu-
pied In consideration of the applications
until tho day Of adjournment, and IL was
not until noon, yesterday that Mr.. Coch-
ran had the applications returned to his
charge. For this reason he refused to
allow them 70 60 into the hands of the
reporters until he had opportunity OF
examining and arranging them in the
proper manner, In accordance with
tho prevailing custom, and said they
would not be open for the inspection
OF any enc until 0 O'Clock this morn
ing.
With this decision Mr.. Myers, the
German reporter, expressed himself
satisfied, but Francis saught Chief
Justice Comegy's and obtained from
him the following note to the Clerk OF
the Peace, which he caused to be sent
70 that official:
CLAYTON HoUsK, May 25, p. nj
Mr.. Cochran: You are at liberty now
to make public the courts action with
respect to the tavern licenses, and to
furnish lists OF names to those who ap-
ply for them.
J. P. G., Chief Justice.
Without meaning any disrespect to
the Court, Clerk Cochran felt that
while he might be al liberty to make
the licenses pnblic he was not yet pre-
pared to do 70, and persisted in his re-
fusal. This ended the matter for the
present.
At O'Clock this morning, Mr.. Fran
els called at the Clayton House for the
purpose Of seeing Deputy Clerk Osborne
and ehdeavoring TO procure list OF the
licenses from him. While there Mr..
Cochran came In and Francis made an
other application W him, which was still
met with refusal.
An alteration followed, which wa. In
tcnsified by an offer, on the part of the
reporter, OF fee Of SIS to Mr.. Cochran,
II he would furnish the desired list. As
II was entirely without precedent 70
make any charge or receive any fee for
this service, Mr.. Cochran Indignantly
replied that the reporter could not get
them for $500. Warmer words follow
cd, and soon Mr.. Cochran gave the lie
TO the reporter, when accused Of holding
the licenses back for the benefit of the
afternoon papers, and followed the asser-
tion by calling Francis "little K--of
D." and striking him In the face.
A brief rough-ana-tumble contest en-
sued, which friends of Mr.. Cochran
promptly suppressed. When the COM
batants were parted the Nesos reporter
was vigorously chewing the thumb of
Mr.. Cochran's hand, while Mr.. Cochran,
with his left hand, was choking bis ep-
Ponent with all bis might. Neither par
ty sustained any serious injury.
The Neios claims that Mr.. Cochran
was actuated in this matter, by q perso-
nal spite toward Mr.. Francis, but Mr..
Cochran maintains that In refusing TO
allow an immediate publication of the
iisences he was simply protecting hlm-
sell against mistakes that were likely TO
occur II they were published before be-
Ing carefully examined. It Is q matter
OF regret that the difficulty ended In
such an unpleasant manner.