Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-19

confined since the shooting of the
children several days ago by the sher-
IFS posse.
Since he took his frugal breakfast In
his cabin with his family, after the
regular morning devotions, John Deitz
had not been allowed a mouthful of
food.
According to Mrs. Deitz, the treat.
ment Of the prisoners on the way to
the Jail was most inconsiderate and
even cruel. They were roughly han
died by the sheriff and his men, de.
spite the fact that Mrs. Deitz is in
a delicate condition, expecting soon to
become mother.
Deitz Denies Killing Harp.
John Deitz, In an interview here.
soon after his arrival declared that
he did not fire the shot which caused
the death Of Deputy Harp. He says
that Harp was either deliberately shot
by some of the guards, or that he
got into the crossfire and was killed
by one Of his companions.
John Deitz must face a charge of
assault with deadly weapon with
intent to kill. Other members Of the
family are charged with "complicity
in an assault with intent to kill"
Story Of John Deitz Fight.
For eight years John Dietz had sue.
cessfully deied the processes and
warrants Of county, state and federal
courts; fought off sheriff's posses with
his rifle, punctured an occasional
deputy who came too close, and main
tanned his right to his isolated home.
stead in the wild forest along the
Thornapp1e river.
Dietz' warfare with official society
began eight years ago. He had lived
with his family for years on the spot
they call home. By hard work he had
won his living from the soil. He
claimed ownership of the clearing
and of Cameron dam, on the Thorn.
apple river, over which lumber syn.
dicate-the Chippewa Lumber &
Boom Co.-drives it's logs. Deitz de.
manded toll of 10 cents thousand
feet for all logs shunted over the DAM
and also a little claim for back wages
unhonored by the lumber syndicate.
So Deitz did exactly what syndicatea
usually do when they have the up
per hand-he sat tight on his land,
Kept his fingers crossed and his rifle
primed. They sent deputies with civil
processes to serve. He warned them
away. Others came and he demon.
strated that trespassers on his land
after fair warning, would be shot. HI
| didn't banker for visitors and unin
vited deputies would be treated as
marauders.
Nobody got near enough to serve
the papers. Warrants for arrest OF
contempt Of court likewise went I'm
served. sheriffs and deputies tried tt
surprise Deitz. A few were carried
off wounded, or crawled away. His
home is a natural fortress, almost en-
tirely isolated by curve in the river
approached by winding wagon track
through dense woods, every inch Of il
known to Deitz and his family, bu,
to few others.
Deitz, his two older sons and hi
| two daughters were expert rife shots
So was Mrs. Deitz, a former schoo
teacher. Deitz was well educated
we'll read, knew his rights and backed
them UP with rifle. He also knew
what usually happens in court to 6
poor man opposed by a rich syndi
cate. So he preferred his natura
stronghold to any legal safeguards
the law throws around a poor man
He stood on his policy of refusing tt
serve papers, and his right to shoot
any trespassers on his land.
Few people cared to oppose him
He went regularly to the town every
week for supplies. The warrants, is
sued years ago, remained unserved
They were pulled out of dusty pigeon
] holes when Dietz shot Horel.