Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-23
ASSAULT ON ATTORNEY DICKSON.
Brutal Attack Oh Utah,S PrOsecu.
ting Officer by Two of the
Cannon Boys.

M sauited at the Continental Hotel b.
n Frank j. Cannon and Hugh J. Cannon
N sons of George @. Cannon, and Angus M
n Cannon, Jr. These parties had bee1
n seen standing in front of the hotel whel
n Major Erb came up from his dinner a
n n the Walker House, and Angus, Jr
stepped up and shook hands with Mr.
Erb as he entered the Continental. Mr.
. Erb's suspicious were sufficiently
aroused to cause him to keeI
an eye on the party, and il
Z proved very fortunate thing that
such was the case, for if it had not been
for the interference and aid of the Major,
Mr.. Dickson would very probably have
suffered more severely. A few minutes
after his arrival Mr. Erb saw the Cannon
boys come in and inquire for Mr. Dick
son, and as the latter gentleman came
out of the dining-room with his family,
Frank j. Cannon and his brother Hugh
stepped out into the hall leading from the
dining parlors to the street, and the for
mer of the boys asked the Prosecuting
Attorney if he would step out
a moment for they had something to say
to him. All three of the gentlemen
walked then into the Office of the hotel,
but Frank requested that they adjourn to
the outdoors, as they had some pointers
and something Of interest to commune
cate to the attorney Mr.. Dickson con-
sented to 20 out with them, and proceed
ed to follow the boys through the hall
before referred to. When he found him
self outside the front door Mr.. Dickson
was instantly grabbed by Frank j., who
partially held him while his brother
Hugh dealt three powerful blows
with his bent fist on the Prose
cutting Attorneys left eve. Major
Erb who had watched the parties 90
into the hall, followed stealthily, and
reached the door just as it was allowed
to close behind Mr.. Dickson. He pulled |
it open with his left hand, and with his
right reached out to take hold of young |
Hugh who was in the act of striking.
MIR. Erb's hand was struck down, but he
reached out the second time and grasped
young Cannon by the collar, but noticin
at this juncture that Frank was Juggling
at Dickson's side and fearing that he was
about to use knife the Major let 60 his
hold on Hugh and grasped Franks throat,
in the meantime, the former took
to his heels and ran up the street before
any hand could be laid upon him. The
striking had all been done in an instant
and before Mr.. Dickson could realize the
trap he had fallen into, and while Frank
was being repressed, Angus Jr. came to
the rescue, striking at Mr. Dickson, with
out any serious effect Mr.. Erb, ever
mindful of the safety of his guests, at
once left Frank and took hold of
Angus Jr., with whom he had quite
a tussle, landing finally on the
porch floor, having tripped in his
efforts to hold the incorrigible Angus.
Angus was handed over to Judge Powers {
and others present, and Mr. Erb returned !
to where Frank was swearing loudly and
wildly at Mr.. Dickson. Just at this stage {
Of the encounter Policeman John 7. /
Smith came up, and he Immediately in 1
sisted on taking Frank into custody, not t
that Judge Powers had '
already arrested him. Frank was taken /
over to the City Hall, where his brother 1
Hugh had already appeared and con-
essed his assault on the Prosecuting t
Attorney. Both these young men, r
with James Buckly, who was n
spectator of and a suspected associate in tt
he proceedings, were placed in the city r.
all over night. Angus, Jr., in the mean a
ime had been taken charge of by Mar Il
hal lreland's deputies, and spent last =
hight at the penitentiary The Marshal 4
ound on him a six-shooting revolver. n
'rand new. and loaded in every cham Z
'er. He also had slung shot, which he p
lad gone to considerable trouble yester- p
lay to prepare for the occasion. s.
MIR. Dickson who had received some
cry painful bruises on the eye and side fe
his face, was cared for by surgeon. G.
nd expressed the opinion that Major II
ribs opportune aid had saved him from al
much more serious than he &C
ad suffered. to
Within an hour after the occurrence the j.; Il,
hole town was alive with excitement at
yer the event, and all classes were Al
card to denounce the affair unqualifedly.
t the opera it became noised around
1d afforded subject for numerous
hisperings throughout the evening. The
sneral conclusion was that the recent We
rest OF George @. Cannon, his ex- W:
'sslye bonds, and the questions lie;
'ked Mrs. Martha T.. Cannon wi
efore the Grand Jury, had induced the wi
sault; and those who expressed dis 90
opinions on the affair were he
nerally willing to concede that it had thi
origin with the elder Cannons nor 2.
18th the church authorities; but these ha
me opinions held that the recent sensa-
NAL editorials in the Herald and Nems.
wing the Mormon people license "not
stand too much, had a powerful influ-
zee In making the action appear excusa- Co
e to the minds of the irresponsible -
,ys. La
Hugh j. Cannon gave certain persons cal
understand that he was avenging the sew
suit to his mother, and it was already Sto
own that Franks feelings were con- Ste
erably wrought up over the treatment Tor
corded his father by Marshal Ireland ma
d Mr.. Dickson. eitf
This morning Frank and Hugh Can a {
4 were arraigned in the Police Court. all
A: kenner appearing as their counsel. retr
nds had been made out for the parties did
he sum of 5000 each, and Franks had ient
eady been signed by A. HI. Cannon and
,rge q. Cannon, when peculiar turn
lftairs transpired. 1t had been noticed A
Marshal Ireland with several of his ~.
uties were present, and the moment Nlel
nix left the courtroom after filing his call
IDS he was arrested on a charge of the
iult and taken to Marshal Ireland's o,o
&c, where later on Commissioner H. IT,
fchelow fixed new bonds. S. A. Ken nan
was also taken into custody on a OIso
rye OF conspiracy with Frank j. Can Id
!, Angus M. Cannon, Jr., and Hugh j. n NJ =
mon to assault Prosecuting Attorney mar
kson and attempt to murder him.
yh Cannon was also wanted. but
'shal Phillips refused to allow his Ne
lg removed from his CUSTODY until choi,
the police court had acted upon cigar
case. Judge Pyper therefore set to- tap.