The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-02
COCHRAN REPLIES TO N[Y.
.~vns An ISDIG>ANT DENIAL OF
THE COLLECTORS CHARGES.
wrnng~I Attorney Wanss tn
waow About the Failure of the
Cnil~rsor of Customs 20 Suppress
Traffic I'm Contrahnnd Liquor.

.s,uis in Alaska, has been pretty general
!. -zs. ore b. one the men whom Mr.
,,sv accused d corruption and Of diznon-
=. p~zc:ices are replying 10 him. Several
sass ago. Editor Bedaoe. OF the Alaska
u.asr. delivered through hts paper a
...bsng reply 70 the collector. Mr. VI.
r Cochran, an attorney OF Wrangsl, comes
aark q, Mr. Ivsy with an Indignant denial
:, .he accusations made against him. sup
-eusensei by an attack upon the collector.
", cochran's letter TO tins Post-infalr-
~s.e~r appended hereto. contains some
ssss,ss.ira; references to affairs az Wraug-
: ss<sst which there has been so much
ss.rsert Tae writer charges that the
M.g,scsor fonIy slandered the town 0s
wrangsl N his account OF his late inter-
.sriag experiences there.
NJ rvey's charge that Mr. Cochran and
sas commissioner at Wrangei mad formed
/. combination with the hwis-ss element og
Zee p.aee T. pronounced Ee bv NJ t.och-
"a s,eak.ng fo~ himself Finally. Mr.
cochran asks some pointed questions as
Is he failure OF the officials to suppress
~ trsssc IL contrabafsi liquors
Nj. cochranE letter IS as follows:
Cochran Goes Into History.
Fort Wrangel. Alaska. June 3. 1853
r the Editor: I, is possible that I
snosia take no notice OF the illusions Ia,
sc In the interview OF J. W. Iyey. COL
lscsor Of customs for Alaska. published in
Ysgr iszas Of the 18th inst. bur az ne has
s~e. As 10 attack me I'm my own home
and amongst my friends. ] deem II my
dgsy 10 make q Sfatement OF the facts as
s9ey aEr and a. they can be verified here
arrived In Alaska. at WFansel on the
ast q January last and Immediately en-
gsEss 70 ine practlc. or my profession
sooE after ny arrival criminal asses be-
gsa 10 multiply. and on account OF the
fact that the government had made no
provision for counsel IL. this part OF the
aistriTi. The conduct OF cases before the
ra.tsd States commissioner WAS sur
rounded with a great many difficulties
ia. ths commissioner. finding II almost I'M
possible 70 aet as court and also as a
PROSECUTOR. asked me. a. an assistance 10
him 10 appear as counsel for the govern
seat. which ] did from time 10 time as
necsx.sy required.
YES not acting as deputy district at
.arney. aad never claimed TO act In that
capacity at any time, still | continued as
lad right 20 do. to act as counsel for
he prosecution.
After thif. when Mr. I.ey came 10
NFange. some time early IN March, there
we're great many complaints filed against
ERR sssrged with gambling ana getting
money ~ means Of nut Shelf aud other
surc-t1:rg game and SO far as Law in .ha
power Of The commissioner and myself
tasse cases were all prosecuted and some
caGyif;i1ns secured. but in the majority
q cases TIE victim preferred to let his
mebFy 20, rather than be kent over II
PFossesis aear.y all of them having mere
KaHea N the town for a few hours en-
raa's y ssagsay and points beyond, so
tAi xata tae defendant was arrested the
pFaeeeaIiAz Witness would be gone This
fSve fiss 10 meeting for the purpose OF
NssalxEx vigilance committee. 10 which
! ss iasiissi tn common with Mr.
~ asf some Of his inspectors. At this
nfsiHx hr. ivey n tho course OF an
sassss opposed the Org nization OF such
committee. as did his employee Al this
t.ms De hreweFses and saloons N The town
asfe rEsring fuf. time and iiQuor ssufyi-
ssat fnr all their needs was being con
sAtlY brought In TO town. bat some In
ss1seant seizures OF liquor were made
% ire collectors office.
Later on Mfr fvey accttentailv nrO-
ssFea evidence Of the sale Of liauor 30 two
sa'msr Oregon acquaintance. both Of
sem admitted 10 me that they had no
Eisaiion Of placing themselves IN a posi-
~ 70 htf called a. witnesses. and Angus
Aslohald. z bartender In the Victoria
saiel vas arrested. Mr. lvey making the
Complaint. On the examination OF the
sazfse 1t appeared from the testimony
80 liquor and had been refused bat when
tass claimed they had been out in the
taia and were We and cold II Was given
- them. The accused testified that he re-
sriFtd no pav for il and only one OF the
WITNESSES for Inc government swore
nat anything WAS paid. and he TO the
s1ye' iha' Ne threw The money on the bar
saa Waikef out Taking into conS.dera-
nen The unaernanded manner In which
lsn Prosecution was instituted. and hcliev-
Ms mat M grand jury would sndict ar
NE commissioner that the case ought 70
= a,sFnssta. bat leaving the matter 10 the