The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-15
THE CHAMPION BULLDOZER.
MAYOR CoTTRELL'S REIGN OF TERROR
IN CEDAR KEYS, FLA.

IN CEDAR KEYS, FLA.
The whole Town In Mortal Fear OF Him
Thrashes Men, InruIts Women, Goes
| Cunning for Those who Offend Min, and
Shakes Up tho Community GeneraIIy-A
United states Posse Goes TO Cedar Keys
to Arrest the Mayor. but He Disappears.
JACKSONVILLE, May 14.-Latestn news from
Cedar Keys brings TO light to most astonishing
state OF affairs in that city. Mayor Cottrell his
Marshal. Mitchell and ono or two other cronies
have had the town by the throat, and this reign
OF terror had lasted for several months with
out any one daring to interfere. The Mayor
has also until very recently hold q position as
Inspector OF Customs under the Democratic
Collector. For nearly year he has been
holy terror In Cedar Keys. as nearly every
man, woman, and child will bear testimony.
! He is a bulldozer from way back. and for no
other reason apparently than pure cussedness.
His acts of violence have extended over several
| months, but have been particularly violent,
| numerous. and dramatic In the past ten days.
Not long ago Cottrell had a grudGe OF some
| kind against q telegraph operator at Cedar
| Keys. Tho operator was entced into a room
| where Cotttell was. Cottrell then led into his
| presence negro, and ordered the latter to
| thrash the operator. This the darkey very
| naturally refused to do. but Cottrell covered
| him with q pistol and threatened to blow his
brains out II he didn't do the thrashing. Then
| the darkey wilted. and the operator was beaten
| by him numerically, while Cottrell apparently
enjoyed the proceedings. Then the model
Mayor allowed both to depart.
ON another occasion this cheerful Chief Ex-
ecutive met an acquaintance, prominent citi-
zen. In store. and. made a request OF him
which the latter very properly refused under
the circumstances. Cottrell cursed him round
IT, and finally drew his revolver on him with
threat to kill him II he didn't humbly beg his
pardon. A tussle ensued. in which his adver-
cary disarmed Cottrell. and the latter was led
away from the fray by his brothers.
He has placed a man in Jail and kept him
there all night for no other reason on earth
than because he wanted 10 do the bulldozing
act and show his authority In all affairs OF
this kind he has had ldus Achates In his
Town Marshal. who presumably. has been
forced into abject obedience through fear.
Cottrell sent word one day to an inofrensive
citizen and good and upright man that. II the
latter appeared on the streets OF Cedar Keys
he would do him up with q shotRun-and he
actually took a position on prominent corner
to carry out the threat. The man was advised
to keep out OF his way but he waited and
watched for chance. and finally succeeded in
closing in on the Mayor and disarmed him.
On another occasion he slashed man with
knife for no other reason than to crafty his
own inclination to violence. He has browbeaten
and bulldozed inoifensive strangers tempo
rariy in the city, attending to their legitimate
business. and has even gone SO far as to
threaten women whose husbands incurred his
dislike. Even ministers OF the gospel were
These are but few OF details nown made pub
lie. Tho story in detail would fill q book. The
in abiect fear Of Mayor Cottrell,, No man dared
mon Of Cedar Keys have feared to appear on
the public streets lest they encountered him
az time and
fearing that they had by some chance crossed
Cottrell's path and been shot or cut by him.
and in one or two instances prospective in
ySestors have been fIightene ed away ~ me lazy,
to eonciiate him or to su6dHe him have re-,
suited In failure. and he has held the town by
he acs or al hsse ,hngs o mGnae
became candidate for reelection as Mayor in
April last; and succeeded in securing ma.
him because they did not dare to go on record |
as voting against him. and the negroes nearly |
nent was a Democrat. so that there was no |
politics In It In the light in which it might be |
construed by the operators OF the Southern
C9ttrSI had charges preferred against him
and H was orced essn his position as GEg
toms Inspector. This was after tho appoint |
ment OF Collector Ink0rton BY President |
Harrison. One day last week Cottrell met |
Pinkerton In a store and asked the Collector
TO open the Custom House for him. as he
wanted to get some things belonging to him.
1t was after office hours and Pinkerton
fused. Then Cottrell cursed him and throat
ened his life. Tho Collector went homo. but
notice was given that If he appeared on the
streets OF Cedar Key he would be sent into
eternity on Cottrelrs shotgun schedule. His
family naturally objected to having Plnkerton
leave the house.
Then Cottroll tried to persuade negro to 20
inside and drag the Collector out. The negro
refused. and was thereupon beaten most un-
mercifully by this charming example OF a
municipal chief. Pinkerton was kept from go
ing to his Office by the fact that Cottrel was
cunning for him on the streets and the bust
ness Of the United States Government was
seriously interfored with.
Numerous Indictments have been found
against Cottrell by the Grand Jury OF Levy
county. but by hook or crook the cases have
not yet been brought to trial. This condition
OF Affairs was. however. reported to tho United
States Court officials In this city and the
charge Of ,obstructng q Custom House officer
against Cottreil. Last night a posse of four
deputy United States Marshals went down to
Cedar Keys armed with necessary papers to
take Cottrell and his accomplices into custody.
The people there are actually afraid to give
any Information concerning Cottrell for pubi-
The town is actually demoralized with fear.
II Is learned tonight that q dozen families
have leit there. refusing to live under such a
reign OF terror. and others threaten to change
thelr residence unless the Mayor 10 got rid OF.
"A telegram late tonight to the United States
harshRi here reports that the posse captured
Town Marshal Mitchell. but Cottrel skipped.
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