Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-15
A REIGN OF TERROR.
The Mayor of Cedar Keys, Fla, Carries
Things with High Hand - United
States Officers After Him.

CEDAR KEYS, FLA. May 14.-Four
deputy United States marshals arrived
here late last night for the purpose of ar
resting the mayor of the city, W. w.
Cottrell, and his city marshal, on the
charge of assaulting Custom Collector
Pinkerton and interfering with him IN
the prosecution OF business. This action of
the government authorities is the result
OF long series of outrages perpetrated
by Cottrell, in most of which he has been
aided and abetted by Marshal Mitchell.
A reign of terror has existed here,
the full details of which will
probably never be known until Cot
trell is safe behind the bars, for
the people do not care to speak against
him so long as he is at liberty. The
United States officers succeeded in ar
resting Mitchell this morning, but Cot
trell was apprised of their coming
and is how in hiding. They are
on his trail and hope to take him
before morning, The recent condition of
affairs here seems hardly possible in a
land of liberty, but investigation proves
the following story to be strictly true:
Cottrell, who occupies the offioe of may
or, has been inspector of customs
instead of the Democratic collector
He had charges preferred against him at
the treasury department in Washington
and was forced to resign his position as
custom inspector, this after the appoint
ment of Collector Pinkerton by Har-
rison. One day last week Cottrell
met Pinkerton in O store and asked
the collector to go to the custom house
with him, as he wanted to get some
things belonging to him which we're
stored in the building. It was after
officer office hours and Pinkert0n re-
fused. Cottrell 'fcussed him out' and
threatened his life. He was given notice
that If he appeared on the streets bf
Cedar Keys he would be beaten into
snternity. Then Cottrell tried to per-
suade some negroes to go inside and draw
some water out. The negroes refused,
and therefore put most of the difficulties
on Cottrell. Pinkerton was kept
from going to the Office By the fact
that Cottrell was running for him on the
streets, and the business of the United
States government was thus variously
interfered with. Pinkerton was forced
to leave his house secretly and to wade
through the waters of the bay
up to his waist in order to
aVolu meeting CottreH. FOR some time
past Cottrell has had this city by the
throat. No one has dared interfere
with him. He goes armed constantly.
He has -compelled negro to whip tele-
graph operator, he has threat
ened 10 thrash women whose
husbands had incurred his
displeasure, he has kept men locked up in
Jail for days at time, for no cause
whatever, has paraded the streets with
loaded gun, threatening to kill anybody
who came in his way, has kept men in
their houses for whole days, under u
threat of killing them on sight, has shot
at the lighthouse keeper in the street,
has cut another with a jack knife, and
has actually forced recollection as
mayor, because it was worth q
mans life to vote against him.
There is no politics in the affair,
simply reign OF terror under n white |
brute. Those who knew Cottrell best |
say he will never be taken alive, aud it |
is rumored that he will come to town and |
attempt to rescue Mitchell.