, 1890-06-12
THE CO1TRELL CASE.
Some of the Correspondence
Made Public.
PRESIDENT HARRISON'S LETTER
He Thinks the State of Affairs at
Cedar Keys Justified
Him.

wAsntSGroN, June D. The president s
letter, transmitting to the senate infor-
nation about tho Cedar Keys, Fla,
matter. details the circumstances al.
ready familiar 90 the public, and adds
at will be observed that tho United
States collector OF customs at Cedar
Keys had been driven from his office
and from the town, and that the admin
i,tration of the customs laws of the
United states at that port had been siis-
pended by the violent demonstrations
and threats of one Co,trell, mayor of the
place, assisted by h,s town
marshal, Mitchell. II It had
been necessary, as do not
think II can be in any case, for United
states officer to appeal to local authorl-
ties for immunity from violence in the
exercise OF his duties, the situation at
Cedar Koys did not suggest OF encourage
such an appeal 1t will always be
agreeable to me, ifthc local authorities
acting upon their own sense OF duty,
maintain the public peace.
When this is not done, should deem
il my duty to use tho adequate powers
vested in the executive To make 1t safe
and feasible 20 hold and exercise the Of
tlcers established by the federal consti-
tuition 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 August 4 last, which
appears In the correspondence submit
ted, appealing TO mo to intervene for the
protection of the city of Cedar Keys
from the brutal violence OF Cottrell, II
will be noticed, was written before the
appointment OF the new collector. Ii is
a very grim com mentary upon the con-
dition of the social order at Cedar Keys
that a woman was the first to have tie
courage to iilo tho charges against this
man, who was then holding n subordi-
nate position in the customs service
The report of United States Deputy
Marshal Estrango says that he and Cap
tain Smythc, ol the revenue cutter
MoIane, were yictimized by the
people, who foilod them several
lines in their efforts to re-oapture
Cottrell. The captain of a steam launch
demanded $50 n day for the use OF his
vessel TO make u trim up the Swsnee
river wncrt IL W WAh DclltNCu iOttftll WAS
hiding, when so day would have been
a big price. After Marshall Mitchell s
release he was reinstntod in office, SO one
might safely infer that the policy OF
Mayor CottTell had been fully indorsed,
The attorney general was misiniormed
in the matter OF searching dwellings un-
lawfully. In every instance permis.
sion was asked, which was readily, IL no,
choerfully given. ~ have been relig-
iously scrupulous on this point" he
says, but the rabble will talk and blus-
ter
The reports of Captain Smythe, of the
McI.ane and J n. Pinkerton, Collector oil
Cedar Keys, agree with the report pub
lished. pinkerton says: ~ heard Cot
trell say that United States Attorney
Stripping would not prosecute him. as
they were particular friends. ! must
say that Stripping discouraged my action
in the matter and advised me to wait
until Cottrcll made further demonstra.
tions and then to take shotgun and
shoot IL he interfeled."