The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-10
Matt Cannon, Chief Officer of Beau
dette, on Canadian Line, Shot
Through Window While Drinkino
at Bar by Crowd Supposed to Have
Come From Spooner to Run Him
Out of TOwn---ViCtim Defied the
Gang to Do Their Worst

northern part of the state With a
wild, unbroken eXpanse of country.
with impossible lakes and swamps,
the only law known is force, and it is
mere that Matt Cannon shone But
that star set when ne allowed himself
TO be enticed to a bar 10 drink whisky
with 2 crowd while a window behind
onered an opportunity to shoot Firm
In the belief of his own strength, he
never dreamed of treachery; ne met
his death like Jesse James of Mis-
souri, from behind
1t was the iron handed rule of Can
non that caused his death in the wilds
of the north. Because the men of
Spooner feared him they killed him.
But it took a crowd of them to do it,
and there is little glory left for them
in the doing.
Yesterday these same men who kill
ed Cannon had meeting in a saloon
! in Spooner. Excitement ran high, and
dire threats were made. There were
those of the gambling fraternity who
had felt the iron hand, and they chat
fed under its restraint.
Expedition Organized
In union there is courage. and the ex-
pedition was soon organized on this basis
Galloping away on their horses, the crowd
soon brought up at Beaudette. The lead
er of the expedition led as wild a gang of
which was TO become famous in the
annals of the northwest In the crisp air
there was murder" in the trees that
lined the road there seemed the echo
murder" when the crowd rode into
Beaudette everyone seemed to shout
murder the town pump that gushed out
water for thirsty horses gufSled ''mur-
DER" the hotel clerk shifted murder" the
| barkeeper smelled murder in the orders
for refreshments.
Early In the afternoon, While Cannon
sat in the lobby of the hotel note was
sent to him. warning him to leave town.
He sneered. DO you think L am afraid
of such gang as you coming up here to
run me out of town."
Then 5att Cannon walked into the bar
room and ordered whisky.
Later in the afternoon the office hoy
brought Cannon another note.
You will be given until s o'clock to
leave town." IL ran.
Cannon laughed, and called two drum
mers in to have a drink. To them he
showed the note and laughed as he order
ed the drinks.
THAT Spooner crowd is nothing but
crowd of bums.' he said.
II was about 8 o'clock when Cannon sat
in the lobby that few of the Speoner
crowd approached him. The leader ap
preached cautiously, while Cannon saw n
dozen others ready with their guns. His
eye swept them over, and he was ready.
His first thought was that they would en-
gage him in conversation, and then some
of the others would shoot him. When he
was asked to have a drink al the bar he
could not refuse.
Certainly" he replied. If l am al
! lowed to buy the drinks It's on me, you
know and smiling, he went TO his death.
S-x, lie nurdarers
Though mortaIy wounded. Cannon sent
for a magistrate and had his antemortem
statement taken. He named those who
he said caused his death He claimed to
have seen the men through the window
who fred the fatal shots, and they are
directly charged in this statement with
the murder. Cannon lay propped up on
the couch and dictated his statement.
Blood gushed from his mouth Mt every
word, but he kept bravely on. Every
medical attention that could be secured
was given to the wounded man. but he
died this afternoon.
Local officers are working ON the case,
but there is a spirit of dread from the
gamblers of SpoOner that will probably
make the progress slow. Sheriff Bailey
of BeItrami county is on his way here,
but will not arrive until several days
have elapsed. He will nave TO take a
roundabout way.
One report says that Cannon drew his
gun on several of the citizens during the
afternoon, and cowed them into sub
mission, and that it was this act that
precipitated the killing. Gannons troubles
have been many, and last spring his
house was burned by his enemies. He
leaves a wife and one child.