The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-16
SLAIN FROM AMBUSH.
Martin Cannon Assassinated While
Sitting on Gallery of His Home
at Acy-EIIiott Powers Accused
OF Crime and Disappears.

OF Crime and Disappears.
Martin Cannon, a WeH-knoWn farm
er residing at Aey, on the west bank
OF New River in the seventh ward
OF Ascension parish, was shot from
ambush and instantly killed while
sitting on the gallery of his home
about $50 o'clock Sunday evening.
His wife and son, who We're with
him at the time, accuse Elliott Pow
ers of the murder, declaring they
| looked in the direction from whence
the gun was discharged and recog-
nlzed Powers as he turned to flee.
Cannon's son grabbed shotgun and
pursued the fugitive for short dis
lance, firing two shots at him as
he jumped a fence into, a nearby
cane field, but apparently without re-
suit. The murderer carrieda double
barrel shotgun, and as but one OF the
loads had been discharged, young
Cannon refrained from pursuing the
man into the cane field, fearing he
would be shot down.
One buckshot struck Cannon in the
temple, penetrating the brain and
causing almost instant death. Anoth-
er pellet passed through his nose,
and these were the only two of the
deadly missiles which found their
mark. The assassin stood in a corn
his victim down while the latter was
sitting on his gallery talking with
members Of his family.
Cannon was farmer, aged about
fifty years, and is survived by his
wife and thirteen children. Powers
also cultivated a small tract Of land
in the neighborhood, and is a man
of about forty years of age, with
wife and several grown children.
He has disappeared, and efforts on
the part of Sheriff E. c.. Hanson
and his deputies to apprehend him
have so far been without avail.
DR.. D. c. Brumfield, coroner of
Ascension parish, proceeded to the
scene Monday morning in company
with Sheriff Hanson, and held an
Inquest over Cannon's remains.
1t. il believed Powers escaped in
to the sWamps and that he will ulti-
mately make his way to some lum-
Der town in this section since he has
previously worked about saWmilIs.
Sheriff Hanson has despatched mes
sages by telegraph and telephone to
the authorities of the various par
ishes and communities for miles
around, giving them a description Of
the fugitive and asking that a close
watch be kept for him
An investigation since the tragedy
shows that Powers must have lain
in wait the entire day in the corn
field near Cannon's house, pending
a favorable opportunity to murder
his victim without detection Two
spots were found in the patch where
the corn had been cut down and
the ground packed, and empty to-
bacco sacks nearby indicated that
Powers had consumed by chewing a
package and half OF tobacco while
maintaining his vigil. A China tree
interfered with an unobstrueted view
of the front gallery OF the Cannon
home from one of these spots, and
it is presumed that upon ascertaining
this the assassin moved to another
point from which he could obtain a
clear view of his intended victim.
Bad blood has existed between
Powers and Cannon for some. time,
following the arrest of the former
about fifteen years ago on a charge
of stealing a gun, the affidavit in
the case being sworn tc by Cannon
and man named Richardson, who
is brother-in-law OF Powers. The
latter threatened at the time that
eusers if it took twenty years.
Shortly afterward he departed from
the New River section, returning
some six months ago. The feud, in
stead of being forgotten, was kin
died anew by family troubles which
have cropped out since Powers re-
turn, resulting in one of his daugh-
ters leaving her home recently and
going to live with the Cannons She
refused to return, Notwithstanding
her fathers solicitations. Powers
is declared to have made threats to
kill Cannon, and it is said one or
his sons warned Cannon Sunday eve
ming, about half an hour before the
fatal shot was fired. to be on his
guard.
Powers is described as weighing
about $50 pounds, feet 10 inches
tall, with black hair and dark COM
p1exion. He is somewhat stoop-
shouldered, and was elean-shaven at
the time of his disappearance.
Woman's Missionary Society Meeting.
There will be called meeting of
tho Home Mission #Sncietv next Mon