The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-28
SHERIFF'S BOAST
not MADE GOOD
DIETZ STILL HOLDING TEE FORT
ON THE THoRNAPPLE.
One Sheriff Is in Jail for Not Arrestin&
Him and the Governors Appointed
May Be Sent There TooDletz Loss.
ing sympathizers by His Refusal tos
Arbitrate.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Chippewa Falls, Wis, Nov. 28.--John Dietx
who has been holding up the drive of the Chip.
pewa Lumber Boom company on the Thorapp1e
river In Sawyer county, is unique figure In
the criminal annals Of Wisconsin. Here is a.
the orders of the circuit court and bids fair to
DO 80 for months to come.
Sheriff Peterson is serving six months SEN
tence In the county prison because he was afraid
to carry out the order Of Judge Parish to arrest
Dietz. In October, Governor La Toilette ap-
pointed James Guest as sheriff Of Sawyer coun-
ty. few days after taking the oath Of office,
sher1n Dietz said: L will get Dietz or he will
get me-"
The lawabiding people heaved sigh OF re-
lief, for they believed that the fair name Of
date arrest of Dietz. But they have thus far
been disappointed. The new sheriff has been
fully as inactive as the former sheriff, and III
| would not be surprise If he is soon sent to-
join Sheriff Peterson in prison cell.
1t is a mistaken idea that John Dietz and his
wife and sons are fortified in their home on
| the Thornapple river, and that they are armed
| The fact is that Dietz goes about the county
| just as any other citizen. The papers Of Hay
ward and Rice Lake often chronicle such items
| as these:
"John Dietz was in the city purchasing pro-
visions. " ..John Dietz is visiting his brother
| a few days. 6
| The Rice Lake Chrohotype last week noted the
fact that John Dietz and Sheriff Guest guests
village the same day and stopped at the same
hotel the same night
1t would be a misstatement Of facts If It were
| said that large number Of the people Of Sawyer
county did not sympathize with Dietz, and did
not believe that he had the right title to the
Cameron dam on the Thornapple river and the
land adjoining, but reaction is gradually set-5
| ting in, it is felt that he should be willing
| to settle the dispute before court or a board
Of arbitration, both avenues being open to
! him. ~.
I'd History Of the Dam and Site.
The dam under dispute was built in 1877 by
Daniel Shaw of Eau Claire, under charter
from the legislature, and the site was that year
decided by him by Barrows & Leavitt, the then
owners Of the land, and such deed was duly re-
| corded in the office of the register of deeds Of
time was located. - Consequently the heirs Of
Daniel Shaw decided the damsite and assigned the
| charter rights to the Chippewa River Improve
| ment & Log Driving company. In 1901 this
company decided the site and assigned all rights
to the Chippewa Lumber & Boom company.
The deed made to Daniel Shaw in 1877 con-
y s to him ne in ADDITION to the site the right
by Dietz and his wife, and this right was trans
ferred to his heirs in their deed to the Chippewa
Lumber & Boom company. Ever since 1877, up
to the month Of March, 1904, the dam has been
in the possession Of the rightful owners and has
been maintained and operated by them every
year. Even late as February, 1904, the Chip.
pewa Lumber & Boom company expended about
$500 in making necessary improvements on the
dam without any protest or claim by DietE.
In $780, Dietz purchased two forties Of land
lying along the Thornapple river at and above
the location Of the dam. These forties were
owned by Barrows & Leavitt at the time they
decided the site Of the dam and fowage rights
to Daniel Shaw, and, of course, Daniel Shaw
secured perfect title Some years after maxi
ing the deed to Shaw, Barrows & Leavitt quit
| claimed the forties to Edward FLANDERS, and sub.
sequently the wife of Dietz got warranty deed
| of forties from, Flanders grantee, altho
! Flanders in making the deed expressly reserved
! the dam and fowage rights, as appears from the
record of the deed in the office Of the register
Of deeds Of Sawyer county.
j E. VA. Dietz Defiant.
| In March 1904, Dietz notified the Chippews
! Lumber & Boom company that 1t could not use
the dam unless it paid 10 cents thousand fol
the logs driven tn thru It and a also paid all all 81 e
I in all aggregating somewhere between 81. DOT
and $4,000 When the cOmpany's driving crew
undertook to use the dam. they found Diets II
l possession Of It, armed with rife and threat
ening to shoot anyone who undertook to 60 upor
the dam or make any use of 1t. The members
9 of Dietz' family Joined him In holding forclDit
: possession of the dam. - f.'..s s
9 Last August Dietz expressed willingness g
> arbitrate his differences with the company, al
d he had no confidence in the courts, he stated
y that he was willing to lay his case before the
To this the representatives of the company
;. agreed A few weeks later Dietz changed bill
- mind and decided that not even arbitration would
+ give him the necessary relief. y
n z- Meanwhile the people are asking themselves
a whether the sheriff appointed by Governor Ii
e Toilette will enforce the laws Of the state, O
d whether they will have to wait until the sheriff
n elected Nov. s takes his oath Of Office
d Plan for Next Years Fair.
~ According to the statement Of Secretary Rober
In 3. Clark Of the Northern Wisconsin State Fat
= association the receipts Of the past season wer
/? over SD 0OO increase Of about 81 per cent,
If compared with the receipts Of last year.
re Plans are already being made for next year
io Mark I'm tO m 9ke 10
= fair receipts $25, 900. and with this in view thu
10 4. officers Of the association are now working.
IT The county board last week made a specia
le appropriation for the erection and improvement
n of buildings on the grounds. The association wi
2 also expend large amount Among the build
Is ings that will be erected are large horse shee
ut and cattle barns The erendstand will also b
~ enlarged.
bbe a .G&s POULTRY SHOW IN FARGO
d. Ea5'as