New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-15
COTTRELL, THE DESPERATE.
HIDING FROM THE UNITED STATES MAR
SHALS.
HIS COMPANION IN DISORDER AT CEDAR KEYS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TERROR
OF THE TOWN.

Cedar Keys, Fla, May 14.-Four Deputy
United States Marshals arrived here late last
night for the purpose of aTesting the Mayor OF
the city, w. w. Cottrell. and his City Marshall
MITCHELL on the charge of assaulting Customs
Collector Pnkerton and interfering with him in
the prosecution of Government business. This
action of the Government authorities is the re-
suit OF long series of outrages perpetrated by
Cot;rcll, in most of which he has been
atcd and abettcd by Marshal Mitchell. genu-
inc reign of terror has existed here. the full de-
tails of which will probably never lie known until
C0ttrc is safe behind the bars Tor the people
do not dare to spea against him so long as he
is at liberty. Tho United States officers sue
ceeded in arresting Mitchell this morning, but
Cottrell was apprised of their coming, and is now
in hiding Thcy are on his trail. however. and
hope to take him before morning The condition
Of affairs here seems hardly possible in land Of
liberty, but investigation proves the following
story to be strictly true:
COttrell, besides the office OF Mayor. has been
Inspector of Customs under the Democratic Col
lector. He had charges preferred against him at
the Treasury Department in Washington and was
forced to resign his place as customs Inspector
lhls was after the appointment of Collector Pin
kerton by President Harrison. One day last
week Cottrell met Pinkcrton in n store and asked
the collector TO open the Custom House for him, rs
he wanted to get some things belonging 10 him
which were stored in the building Ii after
Office hours and Pinkerton refused. Then Cot
trcll "cusscd him out" and threatened his life.
The Collector went home. but was given
notice that if he appeared on the streets of Cedar
Keys he would be shot. His family naturally OBJ
lccted to having Pinkeron leave the house. Then
COttrcl tried 10 persuade a negro go inside and
drag the Collector out. The negro refused, and
was thereupon beaten most numerically by Cot
trell Pinkerton was kept from going TO the office
by the fact that Cottrell was cunning for him on
the streets. and the business OF the United States
Government was thus seriously nterfered with.
PinkcrtOn was forced to leave his house secretly,
and to wade through the waters of the bay up to
his waist in order 10 avoid meeting Cottrell.
For year Cottrell has held This city by the
throat. No one has dared to interfere with him.
He goes armed constantly. lie compelled negro
to beat a telegraph operator; he has threatened
to thrash women whose husbands had incurred
his displcasurc: has kept men loo ked dp IN Jail
for days at time. for no cause Whatever: has
paraded the streets with loaded shotgun threat
cnin4 TO Kill anybody who came IN ms way ;
has kept men IN their houses for whole days
under a threat Of killing them on sight; has shot
at the lighthouse keeper in the street: has cut
another man with ackknfe and has actually
forced reelection as Mayor because II was
worth a mans life 70 vote against him.
There is 10 politics in the ailalr
simply a reign of terror under the domination OF
"A brute Those who know Cottrell best sly he
will never be taken alive. and II Is rumorcd to-
uieht that he will come To town and attempt the
rescue Of Marshal Mitchell. Cottrcl is des-
pcrado from old times. having killed. his brother
in-law. since war times. over drink of whlskey.