The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-10-09
NOT MUCH OF A HERO.
WilImar Official Who WaIIoped John
Dieh in Politics Tells History.

vSHau1s OibsSs0i VHO VuuOpIu JOuu
Dieh in Politics Tells History.
Willmar Republican Gazette.
The reported settlement of the
case of John Dietz of Wisconsin,
better known all over the northwest
as the outlaw Of Cameron dam, with
the Chippewa Log and Boom Com
pany last week recalls memorable
campaigning in Wisconsin years ago
when John Deitz and Ralph Telstad
Of this city were opposing candi-
dates. In the campaign Telstad de-
feated the outlaw of Cameron dam,
and he is in full knowledge of the
case which has troubled the state of
Wisconsin for so many years. Mr..
Telstad was register Of deeds in
the county where Dietz lives and
knows all about the shooting carni-
walls in which Dietz and his son, wife
and daughter have effectually kept
ell the constables and sheriffs off his
place.
Everybody in this section has
heard about John Dietz and his fight
with the logging company. Nearly
everyone in this section who has
read and knows anything about the
case as it has been given to the pub
lie has formed opinions favorable to
the intrepid defender of Cameron
dam. Every time he has shot at
sheriff or subpoena server he has
been applauded, but Mr.. Telstad is
of the opinion that the man deserves
a long sentence at Waupun where
he rightfully belongs.
According to Mr.. Telstad Dietz
purchased his farm from a home
steader on the Thornapple river
few years ago. After having his
land surveyed. he ascertained that
Cameron dam. instead of being on
the logging company's land, was on
his farm, and that under the law of
Wisconsin he was entitled to 10
cents thousand for all logs sluiced
through the dam. This sum he de-
manded upon eighty million feet of
logs but this the company refused
to pay. Injunctions were issued
against Dietz for interfering with
the logging company's logs and
when the servers of the papers at
tempted to reach Dietz they were
met with resistance. No sheriff
could be found with nerve enough
to serve the papers and Dietz be-
came known as the outlaw of Cam
eron dam, Several unsuccessful at
tempts were made by armed forces
to capture Dietz, both upon civil
and criminal warrants, but each
attempt proved futile. He once had
a partner, an Indian. who was cap
tured, tried, found guilty of at
tempted murder and is now serving
a tWelve-year sentence. The war
rant for Dietz on the same charge
was never served.
i Telstad states Dietz is something
of lawyer. Before he purchased
his homestead the site of the dam
had been sold to the logging com
pany but when the deed was reg.
istered it failed to state the exact
location on the premises. The trans
fer of dam on the land owned BY
the homesteader was recorded but
! the exact location on the land re
manned in doubt. In looking up the
: title soon after the land purchase
Dietz discovered the error and hi
came out stoutly with the assertion
that Cameron dam was not the ont
) sold by the previous owner of the
, land. Mr.. Telstad had made hun
dreds of abstracts for various attor.
neys in the case and has committed
to memory every minute detail Of
| the description. Dietz has always
; refused to take his claim into the
| court, asserting that a poor mar
had no chance against a corportion
and SO he has preferred fighting fol
his rights with gun. In the use
of a rifle he is an expert.