Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-10-12
DIETz SURRENDERED
AND IS NOW IN JAIL
Together With Other Members
of His Family.
Sensational Episode at Cameron Dam
Thus Ended After One Deputy
Had Been Killed.

John F. Dietz. 1.-The hero" Of
Cameron Dam, has been in the glare
OF the calcium at different times
during the past seven years. but
never has his defiance of the law
attracted such wide attention as at
the present time.
He first became known as an ''out-
law" when he defended Cameron
Dam. on Thornapple river, against
one of the largest lumber companies
In the state. He claimed that the
dam was on his land and by refus-
ing to allow several winters cut of
logs to pass the dam without paying
toll, tied up property valued at
many thousands of dollars by the
lumber company.
The lumber company sought legal
aid but Deitz deied the order
of the court and held at bay all
officers attempting to serve papers
on him. The lumber company tired
of trying to oppose such tactics as
Deitz resorted to and agreed to set
tie with the man by paying him a
large sum of money. He in turn
allowed the logs to go through.
The second escapade that Deitz fig
ured prominently in fell little short
Of murder. The trouble arose over
certain school business in which
Deirz had interested himself. The
Cameron Dam defender first
quaralled with c.. G. O'Hare, one of
the school officers of Winter. Bert
Horel took O'Hare's part and dur
ing the alteration that followed
was shot through the shoulder by
Deitz.
After the shooting Deitz again
took recource to the methods that
gained him his previous notoriety
and held the officers intending to
serve warrants OH him, at bay.
Gov Davidson refused the sheriff
troops to capture Deitz but the
officer deputized nearly every clti-
zen Of the town. The next exciting
episode of the serge was the shoot
ing of Myra Dietz The two sons
and daughter OF the outlaw were
driving into Winter from their
home at Cameron Dam October 1
wnen they we're met by a posse
headed by Sheriff Madden aud
ordered to stop. The boys respond
ed by opening fire and during an
exchange of bullets Myra Deitz was
shot through the back. She was
taken shortly to hospital in Chip
pewa Falls
Leslie Deitz was shot through the
arm but escaped and his brother
Clarence was captured and placed
unGe' arrest for attempted murder.
Attorney General Gilbert and
Governor Davidson's private secre-
tary Col O. g. Munson paid a per-
sonal visit to Cameron Dam last
Thursday in an attempt to put q
stop to further hostilities but Deitz
was stubborn and apparently pre-
fe1rod to stay in his log cabin fort
ress and continue his defiance of the
authorities.
By those who have visited him
Deltz is said to be mOnOmaniac:
every personal quarrel IN which he
becomes involved he lays at the
to imagine that the lumber company
and it's employees are bis deadly
enemies.
A great deal of the sympathy ex-
p:essed for Deitz by the citizens Of
Wisconsin and other states seems to
have been misplaced. The latest
developments OF the case have prov
en- him more deserving than ever
before of the title of outlaw
Another unsuccessful attempt to
induce Deitz to surrender was made
f lday afternoon by Atty. Gen.
Gilbert and Col. Munson. Deitz
met them in front of the cabin and
expressed his willingness to talk but
repeated his stubborn declaration
II am rot going to surrender"
The attorney general anu the
governors secretary pleaded with
both Deitz and his wife for a long
time without making any visible
impression on either and finally
agreed to leave the case to Sheriff
Madden.
One Of the outlaws final dramatic
statements was, i will make my
stand here IN my home in defense of
human rights just as John Brown
did"
T surrender Of the Cameron
Dam outlaw came Saturday after
noon after battle in which one
deputy was killed and several 9th
err combatants injured Drirz was
shot through the hand The war
was brought to an end by Helen
Deitz appearing at the edge Of the
clearing and saying that ii the be-
siegers would promise not to shoot
him, her father would surrender.
The Dpitz family were all taken
to the Winter jail where they will
await trial on several charges.
Co. Tito