In 1880 Connell Cannon, cattle dealer, originally of Drimkeelan and now of Donegal town, got into a dispute with a neighbour, David C. Pearson, regarding the diversion of a water supply used by Cannon for his cattle.

According to the Londonderry Sentinel, 26 June 1880, Cannon’s initial claim for £50 damages was struck out due to having been wrongly filed by his solicitor, Mr Henry.

By the next Quarter Sessions, Cannon had filed not one, but two new claims against Pearson, which had been left to arbitration. Meanwhile Pearson had counter-sued Cannon for trespass in the Petty Sessions Court. The Derry Journal of 15th November 1880, records a successful application by Cannon in the Petty Sessions Court to have Pearson’s cross-claim adjourned until after his claims were heard. Cannon had to argue the case for the adjournment himself as Mr Henry was not available.

The outcome of Cannon’s damages claims against Pearson is not reported, but, according to the Derry Journal of 3 December 1880, Pearson withdrew the cross-claim the following month. Peace, it appears, may have broken out – a fortunate event, as Cannon and Pearson were to find themselves both sitting on the same local boards and committees many times over the quarter-century or so to come.