The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-06-13
CEDAR KEYS TROUBLE.
THE COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS DRIVEN
FROM OFFICE AND TOWN.

Unltsd states Omclnls victitnlsol BIZ the
Rssidsnts and Eoiled Il Thsir EfE6rts-
Exorbttant Demands from the Captain Of
. Local Steamer-Ths Matter Trans
united to Congress.
The presidents letter Transmitting to
the senate information about the Cedar
Keys, Fla. matter, details the circum-
stances already familiar to the public, and
adds: 1T will bs observed that the United
States collector Of customs at Cedar Keys
had been driven from his Office aud from
the town, and the administration OF the
customs laws Of the United States ct that
port suspended, BY the violent demonstra-
tion and threats Of n Cottrell, the mayor
OF the place, assisted by his own marshal,
Mitchell. Il has been necessary, and
I do think It can be 80 In my case,
for q United States officer 10 appeal to
local authorities for immunity from vio-
lsnce In the exercise Of his duties. The
situation at Cedar Keys did not suggest or
encourage such an appeal. II will always
BIZ agreeable to me il local authorities,
acting upon their own sense Of duty, main.
tain public order in such . way that officers
Of the United States shall have no occasion
to appeal for the intervention OF the gen.
eral government, but when this is not
done. ! shall deem II my duty to use the
adequate powers vested In the executive to
make It safe and feasible to hold and exer.
else the Offices established by the federal
constitution and laws. The means used
In this case were, in my opinion, lawful
and necessary, and the officers do
not seem to have intruded upon
any private right in executing the warrants
Placed in their hands. A letter dated An.
gust 4 last, which appears in the CORE
spondenos submitted, appealing to me to
intervene for the protection of the city Of
Cedar Keys from the brutal violence Of
Cottrell, 1t will be noticed, was written be-
fore the appointment Of the new collector.
1t is o very grim commentary upon the
condition of social order at Cedar Keys
that only a woman, who had, as she says
in her letter, no son or husband who could
be made a victim Of his malice, had the
courageto file charges against this man who
was then holding a subordinate position
In the customs service.
The report OF United States Deputy
Marshal Estrange says he and Capt.
Smythe, OF the revenue cutter Nolan,
we're victimized BY the people Who foiled
them several times in their efforts to re.
capture Cottrell. The captain of q steam
launch demanded $50 q day for the use Of
his vessel to make Q trip up the Sunee
river, whore it was believed Cottrell was
hiding. when $40 o day would have been
q big price. After Marshel Mltchells
release he was reinstated in Office, 90
one may safely infer that the policy
of Mayor Cottrell has been fully in.
dorsed. The report says: THE attorney
general has been misinformed in the
matter Of ~ searching dwellings un.
lawfully. In every instance I asked per-
mission, which, I am pleased to say, was
readily il not checrfully given. / have
been religiously sorupulous ON this point.
But the rabble will talk aud buster The
reports Of Capt. Smyths, Of the Nolan,
and j. H. Pinkerton. collector at Cedar
Keys, agree with the report published.
Pinkerton says: 1 had heard that Cottrell
said thar United States Attorney Stripping
would not prosecute him, % they were par
ticular friends. I must say that Stripping
discouraged my action in the matter and
advised ne to wait until Cottrell had made
further demonstrations, and then to take a
shotgun and shoot him if he interfered,'"