Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-09-10
WRAPPERS.
s. Bro,
42O to 426 Seventh Street,
WASHINGTON, d. C.
THE WEST-COCHRAN AFFAIR.

Mr.. R. S. Cochran, of The Plains,
writes as follows to the Baltimore Sun:
In your issue of September 2 APP
pear two interviews, purporting to
be the statements of Mr.. G. c. West
and of Mr.. Maxwell Wyetb, re-
spectively, in reference to my personal
encounter with c. c. West at Mr..
Wyetb's home on the morning Of August
80. These interviews have been widely
copied in the press of this State.
Immediately after the appearance Of
these interviews it for time looked rs
ifthere might develop further unpleasant
ness. on account of certain parties, not
previously interested in the difficulty,
becoming involved in its discussion
For this reason have delayed until now
any statement in contradiction, and |
hope my friends will pardon me for hav-
ing seemingly abused their patience.
wish to say, first ofall, that previous
occurrences had more to do with my
actions than did the one fact of Mr..
West having wrecked the vehicle Of
which my wife was one ofthe occupants,
while returning from the Warrenton
Horse Show, the evening of August Is
| had heard from reliable scources that
several weeks previous Mr.. G. c. West
had driven his four-in-hand over a man
on horseback, breaking the mans arm
and otherwise injuring him; that on
this occasion, it was alleged, he had not
stopped his team after the occurrence,
and that he did not later investigate the
matter. had heard that West made
practice of reckless driving on the public
highways and that numerous accidents
had been narrowly ayerted, solely by the
ability of others in getting cut OF his
way. 49,.
When West tried to pass my wife's
wagon the driver of the wagon used
his best efforts to make room for the
heavy coach, but West completely cu5
off one of the rear wheels, and the
three ladies were precipitated in a
heap. 1t is true that, miraculousiy,
none was hurt. 1t is true that Mr..
Wyeth. as did West and others Of their
party, alighted promptly and offered as
sstance to the ladies and made all the
apologies possible. My wife, however,
knew how / regarded West and the ladies
very properly declined to enter the coach
which West was driving. All the above
my wife related TO me on her arrival
home after the accident The following
morning | went alone to Mr. Wyeth and
called for West. | did NOT allow West
the opportunity tic explain, but attacked
him with a heavy whip and punished
him severely. A friend Of West rushed
to his assistance, and while confronting
the two Mr.. Wyeth tripped me, coming
I'D behind me and throwing me luil
length upon the ground. Mr.. Nye!A
did this so as to put an end to the s'rug,,
gle, and after he had thrown me he dld
not allow any further blows. Later III
the day, through friend, ! offered west
the opportunity to finally settle the dii-
ficulty, but he declined
have expressed to Mr.. Wyeth my re
grets that the incident occurred with
West at Mr.. Wyeth's home. Mr..
Wyeth has accepted my apology for this
in the spirit in which it was given.
In letters to me from Mr.. Wyeth, since
the appearance of his alleged interview,
as reported in your issue Of September ,,
Mr.. Wyeth emphatically denies that be
has been correctly quoted in this inter
view, further than to deny that he or his
party had been rude to the ladies On the
occasion of the accident Mr.. Wyeth
insists that he made no other statement
and that mention of my name or crit
icism of any of my acts was not
authorized by him in any interview.
Again in his letter Mr. Wyeth assures
me that he entertains for me none Other
than the most friendly feeling and the
highest regard. In speaking to my
friends can only say thatno man could
have acted more fairly, courteously or
honorably than has done Mr.. Wyeth
throughout this exceedingly unpleasant
affair.