The Sheriff Who Stood Alone: Cochrane’s Standoff with Federal Deputies

SHERIFF COCHRANE STILL THINKS HIS AUTHORITY IS DEFIED BY UNITED STATES DEPUTIES.

Sheriff Cochrane still has in contemplation the arrest of the United States Deputies at Newcastle on the charge of 'assaulting and batterying concealed about his person' a deputy marshal. He went to Seattle yesterday morning for the purpose of securing the services of another deputy, but finding there were no deputies yet at Newcastle, he returned to Seattle in the afternoon.

It is firmly believed that the sheriff will not attempt the arrest of the Newcastle deputies for what purpose is known only to himself.

The extraordinary action of the sheriff in the removal of all protection between the men of the Oregon Improvement Company and the officers of that corporation has created a condition of great excitement, and the deputies have telegraphed Marshal Hamilton to quietly inquire of the sheriff if he proposes to make arrests for their arrest. Nevertheless, Cochrane's officers do not hesitate to voice freely their disapproval towards Sheriff Cochrane.

If Sheriff Cochrane does anything at Newcastle, said one of the officers, 'suit will immediately be brought against him for false imprisonment.' The men will go with the sheriff quietly and willingly whenever he desires. In the conflagrated state of affairs trouble will almost surely follow the arrest, he is of this extraordinary and unnecessary violation of the sheriff's authority.

There is not a man or boy in the company's employ at Newcastle who desires or wants the protection of Sheriff Cochrane then so troubled, no excitement, or any disturbance of either, without it being brought about through the unwelcome action in the interest of a faction which does not constitute 25 per cent of the population of Newcastle. There can be no question to the right of any man to protect his property from possible arrest, destruction and interference; and no right can have good, honest service behind it.

Both the men who own the property at Newcastle and those who are at work there are peaceable, law-abiding persons, who earnestly wish to exercise the common right guaranteed by the law to every citizen, and that is to be protected from outside violence and interference while they are following their trade and peaceful vocation. There is no thought on the part of anyone to offer any resistance, armed or otherwise, to any officer of the sheriff within the color of the law, but no right of either can be tampered with by the sheriff or any fake servant or fraudulent pretext without his being held accountable under the law for such violation. There is a way to reach officers of the law who exceed the authority conferred on them by the law, and that is in the civil courts. This path will be followed in the present case to the bitter end by the Oregon Improvement Company if the sheriff goes beyond the metes and bounds of his authority, as he seems than inclined to do.

WHAT NOW ABOUT HARASSMENT?

When Sheriff Cochrane returned from Newcastle yesterday he said that the managers and miners there dwell in perfect unity and harmony. He says the miners respect the managers and the latter treat them fairly and honorably. In short, says the sheriff, there need be no fear of trouble at Newcastle so long as the miners are under the present management. But the sheriff has not anything to say about the status of affairs at Newcastle.

COCHRANE GIVES IT UP

It was stated late last night that Cochrane had changed his mind about arresting the deputies. He had invoked aid from the governor, the United States attorney and district attorney in turn and they had refused to assist him in any way in his interference with the deputies. It would appear that Cochrane concluded that he had undertaken a little too much for one officer alone, and so he decided to retire while the way was yet open for him to recede.