Extrajudicial measures such as the lynching of Ellen Watson inflamed public opinion against the long-established big ranchers Canton worked for, and to re-establish control over grazing they funded an all-out assault on those small operators considered to be rustlers.

Canton directed Frank Wolcott's imported gunmen in their planned vigilante campaign, known as the Johnson County War, which was quickly ended by a local posse.

Elected sheriff of Johnson County, Wyoming in 1885, he was seen as a strong right hand of the cattle barons, and the tone of a letter from the Pinkerton Agency recommending Tom Horn to Canton confirms that he took a very hard line against rustling suspects.

With a mob forming, Canton was arrested, but several big ranchers stood surety for him and his lawyer got him released, whereupon he left the state.

Two days later a huge posse, led by Sheriff Angus surrounded the Regulators at the "TA Ranch" and only the U.S. Cavalry's arrival rescued Canton and his companions from having to surrender.

With the newspapers portraying them in a favourable light due to the influence of powerful ranching interests, Canton like the other regulators was freed.

Marshal based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, he worked with other famous lawmen such as Heck Thomas, Chris Madsen, Bass Reeves and Bill Tilghman in the Indian territories.

In 1895, Canton joined a posse that tracked down Bill and John Shelley, who had escaped from the Pawnee jail and barricaded themselves in a cabin across the Arkansas River.

before reaching his pistol, which got caught in his suspender while Canton drew and fired hitting Dunn in the head and killing him instantly.

If this truly happened, it would be one of the very few examples of an incident resembling a Western film-style fast draw shooting actually occurring; the local law enforcement that Canton worked with ruled it self-defense.