Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-17
A CALABASAS AFFRAY.
CHAS. CANNON SHOT AND KILLED
BY ELIAS FLETCHER.
The Quarrel Was Over Land
Claim = Tho Facts of the Case
as Stated by Coro-
ner Weldon.

Coroner Weldon returned from Gala
bssas last evening. where he had gone
to hold an inquest over the remains of
Charles Cannon, who was killed by Elias
Fletcher last Wednesday night. The
jury in the case returned a verdict of
justifiable homicide, all the evidence
adduced clearly establishing that Gan
non was the aggressor.
From the meager details at hand the
following is fair synopsis of the case,
as stated last evening by the coroner:
For the past four years Elias Fletcher,
who by the way is an old resident of the
community, held possession of some un-
surveyed land by virtue of his having
'squatted" upon it. 1t had been his
intention, as soon as the property was
surveyed and thrown open to settlement,
to make formal filings and take actual
possession of the land.
Some time during September Fletcher
found it necessary to accompany his
sister to San Francisco, where he re-
mained until quite recently.
Upon his leturn to his farm he found
that in his absence Cannon had taken
possession of his place and torn down
all the buildings he had erected and
in their stead had constructed new ones.
The first time that Fletcher appeared
upon the premises he was unceremoni-
ously driven off by Cannon.
Last Monday evening Fletcher again
attempted to show Cannon the Justice
OF his claim, and as result he was
hustled across the county line and
made to sleep on the ground in Ventura
county.
Fletcher then recited his tale Of woe
to a number of his friends, and upon
their advice he determined to make
bold stand against his adversary. In
the absence of Cannon, Fletcher entered
the little shanty and prepared to make
himself master of the situation. Unex-
pectedly Cannon returned to the
premises and seeing light in the house,
for it was then dark, he surmised that
Fletcher had taken possession Of the
place.
Approaching the houee he ordered
the occupant to disclose himself. Upon
appearing at the front door armed with
rifle and revolver Fletcher was ordered
by Cannon to point his weapon to the
ground and retire from the scene, or he
(Gannon) would kill MIN on the spot.
Notwithstanding the fact that Fletcher
was standing in the lamplight and GAN
non in the darkness, the former was not
daunted in the least, and locating his
challenger by his voice he opened FIRE
upon him. The fact of Gannon's death
is eloquent testimony in behalf of the
accuracy of Fletcher's aim. The first
shot ;s said to have been fired from the
rifle, and Immediately upon it's recoil
Fletcher is said to have lost his nerve
and to have fallen to the ground. He
recovered Immediately, however, and,
grasping his revolver, sent another bul.
let into the anatomy of his enemy.
Coroner Weldon states that both bull
let's entered practically at the same
point, although they diverged after en-
tering the body.
Cannon is said to have recently como
from Carson City, New, where at one
time he was employed at the state peni-
tentiary. During his connection with
that institution he is said to have made
record for bravery and daring rarely
equalled.