The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-19
TUFTS I. TELLS / OF
GANN0N'S DEATH
STORY OF A FEDERAL OFFICER
WHO WAS ON THE GROUND.
Inquest Is Portrayed as Farce and
County Attorneys Attitude Invites
Criticism-Gannon Was Warned of
His Danger, but scorned to Ask for
Protection.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Fergus Falls Minp., April 1o.-Peter Run
ming, who one of the mob that went from
Spooner to .Beaudette to intimidate Mayor Can
non, was brought to this city by Deputy Marshal
Tufts today to answer to charge or timber
stealing. The marshal took him from the mob
andNwas holding him in rooms over the saloon
when the shooting occurred.
The details Of the tragedy have been pub
1ished III full, but the causes leading up to 1t
have received but scant attention Deputy Mar
shall Tufts is thoroly familiar with the situations,
and his story Is decidedly interesting.
The villages Of Spooner and Beaudette are
only about mile and half apart. Beaudette
IS OH the Canadian Northern railway The
very origin Of Spooner casts discredit on the
state of Minnesota.
Several years ago Peter Running squatted
what is now Spooner TOWNSHIP and he is ac-
cused of having stolen timber there from time
to time ever since. Afterwards the village OF
Rainy River sprang up directly across the river
on the Canadian side. Several mills were erect
ed there and a rough population gathered about
them- but the Canadians enforced the laws strict.
ly and disorderly resorts were excluded, no gam
bling permitted and the saloons were closed
at $50 sharp. 1t occurred to certain TOWNSHIP
boomers that there ideal location FOR
village the American side where the laws
were not enforced and everything could be wide
open. This led to the founding OF the village
Of Spooner
Peter Running was induced to surrender what
ever shadow of a claim he might have on the
proposed townsite as squatter In exchange
for land Immediately adjoining. and the
TOWNSHIP boomers then filed on the land: Ihey
were a little late, however. as Cannon had got
ahead Of them. A contest followed. both for the
possession Of the land and the running OF the
town. The TOWNSHIP men had their own Officers.
but Cannon overthrow them and had himself
elected mayor. Then his house was burned, ana
this led to his removal to Beaudette
The mob informed him that unless he left
the country by O'Clock they would string him
up They had gunnysack in which there ap-
peared to be coil of rope, and rs there were
several unruly characters among them, 1T looked
tho they meant to carry out their threat
There were thirty-hve or forty men in the mob
but Cannon. who was one of the characters'that
are pictured in novels but seldom met In real
life, laughed at them He dehed them to come
on. and not man dared lay hands on him. 1t
was not until after dark that they mustered
up sufficient courage to shoot him In the back
Marshal Tufts found Running in the mob and
took him into custody. He expected trouble nut
no attempt was made to modest him. On the
contrary, three different members of the mob
came to him and asked him II he Intended to
protect Cannon in he called upon him for
protection and he replied he would do what he
could for him. The mob did not like this. The
leaders apparently felt that they were safe. so
far as the Beltrami county authorities were con-
cerned, but they did not wish to clash with a
federal officer.
Cannon however, scorned to ask for protection.
Mr.. Tufts advised him to keep away from the
mob and warned him that he was in real dam
ger. but he replied that God hated coward
and he feared nobody. :,
The deputy marshal had to keep his prisoner
with him, as there Is no jail IN beauNelte, anu
he secured for the night in the second
story Of the saloon building where the shoot
ing occurred He had just gone to bed when
four shots fired in quick succession and he
heard Cannon exclaim: They've got me, Tom;
I'm killed" Two bullets had hit him from be-
hind a third had gone wide of the mark and
thefoGrth3had passed just above him, being fired
at him after he fell. =
The marshal dressed as quickly. as possible,
locked his prisoner in the room and went down.
stairs, but the assassins had fed. ,. -: p:
The inquest is described as a farce. the
county, attorneys questions being apparently
aimed to excuse the murderers on the ground
that Cannon was dangerous man. and 1t is the
general opinion that no one will be punished un.
less the state takes up the the county
attorney Is removed under the charges which
are now pending before the governor.