Cañon City record., 1901-08-08
Ex.coNyIcT KILLED
BY City rlarshal Morrison--John Dill
lon. No. 1895 Resists Arrest
and Is Killed.

prise last Sunday afternoon, at which
time it became necessary for City
Marshal Morrison, in the discharge of
his duty, to stop an escaping prisoner.
The affair arose over the return to
this city of an ex-convict, one John
Dillon, who was released from the
penitentiary in this city on Wednes-
day, July "a, and was supposed, under
the law, to have remained out of
Fremont county for at least ten days.
He reached Canon City Saturday night
or early Sunday morning and evident
ly began drinking.
During the day he visited the peni-
tentiary and asked permission to see
a prisoner named Reilly. Not having
permit from Warden Martin his re-
quest was declined and he left the
hall cursing the guards and those who
refused his request. At later hour
in the afternoon he returned to the
penitenitary accompanied by stran-
ger. This time he was met by Deputy
Warden Burghart and detained by
that officer. Dillon was searched and
from him was taken a pocket knife
with one blade open, also a lot of
morphine.
Marshal Morrison was hastily sum-
moned and into his hands Dillon was
delivered. The prisoners were then
started toward the city Jail. One of
the penitentiary guards, a man named
Caldwell, took charge of the stranger,
while Morrison looked after Dillon.
At the corner of First street, Jerry
Moran, another guard at the pen.
overlook Marshal Morrison and hand
ed him the knife that had been taken
from Dillon. This angered Dillon who
demanded that the knife be turned
over to him, which request Of course
was refused by Morrison. Dillon did
not let up but kept up his demand with
mutterings and cursings until the
party reached point about opposite
the new house erected by Fred P.
Wilson on Main, between Second and
Third, when without warning, Dillon
swung and landed q terrific blow on
Morrison's right cheek, and then
darted across the street. Morrison
quickly pulled his gun, SO Colts. and
fired one shot. The bullet entered
Dillon's back just below the shoulders
and passed entirely through his body.
The wounded man ran probably thirty
feet and fell in Martin Moyle's corral.
The wound proved fatal, Dillon dying
in few moments.
The excitement was intense for
time, but upol learning the facts
leading up to the shooting, the crowd
dispersed. The stranger was taken
to the Jail and Dillon's body was re-
moved to Wilson's undertaking rooms
and prepared for burial.
John Dillon was born somewhere
in Ohio and was about thirty-three
years old at the time of his death.
He was sent up from Las Animas
county, February, 1899, for three
years on charge of burglary. He
was regarded as a dangerous man,
and seemed ready for fight at any
moment. During his term of service
he was punished for fighting and vio-
lation of prison rules on more than
one occasion.
Coroner Little empanneled jury
Monday morning to hold an inquest
on the body of Dillon. Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney James T. Locke
conducted the examination of wit.
nesses, five in number, and the testi-
mony adduced revealed the condition
of Dillon at his first visit to the pen
itentiary, his second visit and arrest,
also his conduct during the walk
toward the city Jail up to the time
of his being shot. All the evidence
proved the character of the man as
well as the viciousness of his assault
upon Marshal Morrison.
The jury was composed as follows: