, 1891-12-10
CANTON ACQUITTED.
B%uffalo's U. S. Marshal Discharged
al the Preliminary Hearing.
He Proved a Complete Alibi by
Leading Business Men.
Alleged Rustlers Believed to be
Making Ready to Skip Out.
Frank Canton Released.

EIhuh ShhNoh
Special Dispatch to The Leader
BUFFALO, Wyo., Dec 9.-The ex
animation of United States Deputy
Marshal Frank NJ. Canton OF this
CITY. who was at his own suggestion ar
rested on complaint of Al Allison on the
charge of killing John A. Tisdale. a
brother of the latter, began Yesterday
morning at 10 O'Clock in this district
court room before Justice of the Peace
G.. II. Parmelee.
The arrest of Canton was the sequel
to an interview which he bad on Satur-
day with hall a dozen friends Of the
murdered man, in the course of which
Canton told them he understood they
were OF the opinion that he had com
mitted the deed and he would like to nave
a chance to 10 into court ami clear him
self of the odious charge. The warrant
was issued on Monday morning and
shortly thereafter Mr.. Canton was taken
in charge by the sheriff and kept under
official surveillance till the end OF the trial.
AT the examination the state was rep
resented by County Attorney Alvin Ben
nett, assisted by j. Walter Wilson of
was counsel for the defense. The court
room was crowded with spectators
throughout the trial, conspicuous among
the anxious ones being Allison and his
friends.
The chief witness Tor the prosecution
was Charles +. Bssch. a ranchman living
sixteen miles from Buffalo, through
whom the first intimation of TIsdalc's fate
reached Buffalo. Basch testified that he
rode within fifty or sixty yards of the
man who did the shooting and that he
was positive he was riding Canton's horse.
The man wore a light overcoat and soft
felt hat similar to those worn by Canton.
but his face was hidden by a muller and
he could not swear that he knew him.
Basch heard two shots fred after he
passed the gulch in which the murder
was committed and afterwards saw the
party ride rapidly across the country to-
wards Buffalo.
Others testified that they had seen, two
or three days before the murder, Canton
conversiug with Lee Moore, an enemy
OF Tisdale's and that the defendant, who
is afflicted with rheumatism, had been out
riding on his horse the preceding day.
The prosecution had eighteen witnesses,
the only material evidence being that of
Basch.
For the defense, business men OF the
city stated under oath, that they had seen,
met and converscd with Mr.. Canton 10
Buffalo at various times covering the en-
tire period during which one must have
been eight miles from town in order to
commit the crime, and a perfect abb was
proven. The rest of the testimony was
submitted at 10 o'clock last night and the
Justice took the case under a~dvisement,
setting the time for the announcement
of his decision at $3.50 o'clock this morn
ing.
There was little doubt what the deer
sion would be in the flee of the evidence
and when the Justice announced the
acquittal of the defendant no surprise was
manifested in the crowded court room.
Cauton's innocence was established
beyond the shadow OF a doubt.
The cowboys who Hocked to Buffalo
alter the news of the murder OF their
friends was spread abroad have at no
time made any demonstration of violence
and after the announcement Of the deci.
sion this morning they quietly dispersed.
There i great uueasinesl among the
the alleged cattle r~ustlers. who fear hat
more of their number are on the list and
it is predicted h those who are in a posi-
ton to know that the recent occurrence
will result in an exodus of large number
of the residents of the Powder river
within the next tx months.