The Detroit times., 1910-11-23

Wouldn't Sell for $500.
When the Deitz property was sur
veyed it was found that part of the
dam was on his land. The company
then had the lines run and the resur-
vey gave Deitz even more of the dam
than had his own survey. The true
line runs about the middle OF the
creek
The company acknowledged the
corn and offered John DeitZ $500 to
waive all title to the use OF the dam.
(The company claims, however, that
ther lights in the dam were never re-
served In the deeds Deitz holds).
The legal toll on logs driven over
dam Is 10 cents per thousand feet.
Deitz had it figured out that some
thing like eighty million feet OF tim
Der had gone over his dam in the
time had been in possession OF the
property. Naturally he wouldn't set
tie for $500.
The lumber company secured a tenn
porary Injunction epjoining Deitz from
interfering with the driving of logs
over the mooted point. The Ilaid OF
Cameron dam was in earnest.
That was nearly seven years ago.
From that date to the eighth OF Oc-
tober of this year, John Deitz held the
dam against all comers.
From the start Deitz deliberately
chose to trust in his Winchester rath-
er that in the north Wisconsin courts.
! He knew that the corporation with
which he was fighting was affiliated
with the Weyerhauser interests. He
/ knew what that meant.
No Faith in Courts,
He knew that his opponent could
command money without limit: could
carry any litigation to lengths that
would make II impossible for him TO
win, even II his quarrel were altogeth-
er just and the courts wholly incor-
ruptible and unbiased. For John Deitz
didn't have any money to spend in
long-drawn-out litigation.
So he chose to be an outlaw.
Whether he chose wisely or not Is a
question that must needs be looked
at in longer perspective than that in
which it appears now before 1t can be
settled with any degree OF certainty.
But that he chose heroically Is beyond
| reasonable question.
The story of the seven years strug-
bic over Cameron dam runs the whole
gamut from farce-comedy TO tragedy.
Ii involves the story OF how a snort
ing COW, with tail in air, unconscious
ly won the soubriquet OF 'Deitz's
scout"-and of how grievously
wounded man, deserted by cowardly
companions, crawled through the
| trackless woods for two days and
nights, suffering agony unspeakable
from exposure and wounds.
II involves the story of how one
sheriff of Sawyer-co (Peterson) was
fined and locked up I'm his own jail
because he wouldn't go after John
Deitz-and also the story of how
young wife whose babies had recent
! ly died, was left wholly alone In the
world when a certain 20-30 bullet
found it's billet in the body OF Deputy
Oscar Harp, when he exposed him
self with reckless bravery on the bald
slope above the Deitz barn.
Slipshod methods OF official service
have been boon to John Deitz. The
sheriff who brought DeitZ copy OF
! the first temporary injunction began
| the loophole- by handing Deitz
the Injunction with other mail, saying
casually that there was writ OF In
junction in the bundle, but deprecat-
| ing II in the same breath, saying,
according to Deitz, that It didn't
amount 10 anything"
Ignores Injunction.
Deitz claims that the injunction was
not signed and that no Endorsement
| of service was ever made upon IL.
AT any rate, he ignored IT. A hearing
was held: Deitz did not appear, and
the Injunction was made permanent,
mo man can. more than, perhaps,
merely temporarily. defy the law" !"
said Judge John X. Parish. in handing
down his decision in the matter. Sub
| sequent events have given the words
decidedly humorous SAVIOR.
After that there were various in
effectual attempts 10 serve warrants
on Deitz. but no actual fighting. 9TH
er than a few scuffles. took place nm.
iii May 10, 1904. when Sheriff Giblin,
with a posse, attempted to raid the
| Deitz place. There was considerable
shooting, and Deitz got some hemlock
bark in his eyes. but otherwise no
body was hurt.
In July, 1906. Sheriff Gylland with
a posse from Milwaukee, disguised
as state militiamen. made an attempt