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

FRANK y. cannon anu hugh j. cannon,
sons OF George Q. Cannon, and Angus NJ
Cannon, Jr. These parties had been
seen standing in front OF the hotel when
Major Erb came up from his dinner at
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 keep
an eye on the party, and it
proved very fortunate thing that
such was the case, for il 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 il he would step out
Il 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-
scented 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
partially held him while his brother
rft !, ln,,
with his bent fist on the Prose.
cutting Attorneys left eye Major
Erb who had watched the parties go
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.
Mr.. Erb's hand was struck down, but he
reached out the second time and grasped
young Cannon by the collar, but noticing
at this juncture that Frank was Juggling
at Dickson's side and fearing that he was
about to use knife the Major let go his
hold on Hugh and grasped Franks throat,
in the meantime, the former took
to his heels and ran mp 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 depressed, 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, ut
once left Frank and took hold of
Angus .Jr., with whom he had quite
tussle, landing finally on the
porch floor, having tripped in his
tn hnI hn ~
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 ut this stage
of the encounter Policeman John Y.
Smith came up, and he Immediately in
sisted on taking Frank into custody, not
withstanding that Judge Powers had
already arrested him. Frank was taken
over to the City Hall, where his brother
Hugh had already appeared and con-
fessed his assault on the Prosecuting
Attorney. Both these young men.
with James Buckly, who was
spectator OF and q suspected associate i'm
the proceedings, were placed in the city
Jail over night. Angus, Jr., in the mean
time had been taken charge OF by Mar
shal 1reland's deputies, and spent last
night ut the .penitentiary. The Marshal
found on him u six-shooting revolver,
brand new, and loaded in every cham
Der. He also had slung shot, which he
had gone to considerable trouble yester-
day to prepare for the occasion.
Mr.. Dickson who had received ONE
very painful bruises on the eye and side
OF his face, was cared for by surgeon,
and expressed the opinion that Major
Erb's opportune aid had saved him from
gnnnthInD mi nah L..
had suffered.
Within an hour after the occurrence the
whole town was alive with excitement
over the event, and all classes were
heard to denounce the affair unqualifedly.
AT the opera it became noised around
and afforded subject for numerous
whisperings throughout the evening. The
general conclusion was that the recent
arrest OF George q. Cannon, his ex-
cessive bonds, and the questions
asked Mrs. Martha II. Cannon
before the Grand Jury, had induced the
assault; and those who expressed dis
passionate opinions on the affair were
generally willing to concede that it had
no origin with the elder Cannons nor
with the church authorities but these
same opinions held that the recent sensa-
tional editorials in the Herald and Neivs,
giving the Mormon people license mot
to stand too much, had powerful infu-
ence in making the action appear excusa-
BILE to the minds OF the irresponsible
boys.
Hugh j. Cannon gave certain persons
to understand that he was avenging the
insult to his mother, and il was already
known that Franks feelings were CON
siderably wrought up over the treatment
accorded his father by Marshal Ireland
and Mr.. Dickson.
This morning Frank and Hugh Can
non We're arraigned in the Police Court,
5. A. Kenner appearing rs their counsel.
Bonds had been made out for the parties
in the sum OF 5000 each, and Franks had
already been signed by A. III. Cannon and
George q. Cannon, when peculiar turn
in affairs TRANSFERRED. Ii had been noticed
that Marshal Ireland with several OF his
deputies were present, and the moment
Frank left the courtroom after filing his
bonds he was arrested on Il charge OF
assault and taken to Marshal Ireland's
office, where later on Commissioner
Critchelow fixed new bonds. S. A. Ken |
ner was also taken into custody on a
charge OF conspiracy with Frank j. Can |
non, Angus Nj. Cannon, Jr., and Hugh j.
Cannon to assault Prosecuting Attorney
Dickson and attempt to murder him. |
Hugh Cannon was also wanted, but |
Marshal Phillips refused to allow his /
being removed from his custody until
after the police court had acted upon |
the case. Judge Piper therefore set to-
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock for hear