The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-04
Case Of John Dietz and Four
Members Of Family Set for
Hearing at This Term
Of Court
MUCH INTtREST IS AROUSED
First Case to be Tried Will be on
Charge of Murder Said to Have
Been Committed in 1904. Myra
Deitz May Go Free.


Hayward, Wis, March 4.-Every-
thing seems TO be in readiness for the
hearing OF the cases against John
Deitz and four members OF his family,
on charges of murder and assault,
growing out of their valiant defense of
their Cameron Dam home and prop
erty. The cases are set for trial be-
fore the term of the circuit court be-
ginning next Monday and, in anticipa-
tion of the sensational trials. hum
dreds of persons from the adjoining
counties have come to Hayward, eag-
er to listen to the interesting testimo-
ny and to await the outcome of the
cases which have attracted more than
ordinary attention throughout the
country.
Myra Deitz May Go Free.
The first case to be called is against
John Deitz. Hattie Deitz, his wife, and
Leslie Deitz, their son, on the charge
of having murdered Oscar Harp,
deputy sheriff, who took part in the
attack upon the Deitz stronghold at
Cameron Dam. The second case Is
against John Deitz alone and is for
assault on William Giblin, former
sheriff, who with Patrick McGinn,
tried to capture Deitz in 1904. Valen-
tine Weisenbach, who helped Deitz at
that time, is now in the state peniten-
tiary at Waupun on a twelve-yea
sentence for the shooting. The third
case is against Almyra Deitz, eldest
daughter of John Deitz, who is charged
with assault with intent to kill John
Rogich, a deputy sheriff who took part
in the attack of 1904. but IL is believed
that this case will be dropped by the
prosecution, as there seems to be no
evidence to show that the girl ever
handled a rifle.
In Limelight Since 1904.
Deitz and his family have been more
or less in the public limelight for a
number Of years and have furnished
practically all the sensations of the
county ever since 1904. Prior to that
year Deitz and his family occupied
cabin near Price dam, where Deltz
acted as watchman of the dam for the
Chippewa Lumber Company. In Feb
ruary of 1904 the Dietz family moved
to the Cameron farm, which Mrs. Deitz
had purchased four years before from
the widow of Hugh Cameron. Before
leaving Price dam Deitz made de-
mand for his pay and the failure of
the representative of the company to
settle led to an alteration in which
Deitz made use of his fists This led
TO the issuance of the first warrant for
his arrest. Deitz's claim was settled
several years later by the payment to
him of s1.717.
Posted Trespass Notice.
In April of 1904 Deitz posted a not
ice on the wing of Cameron dam, for
bidding trespass. The Chippewa Lum-
ber & Boom company had logs in
Thornapple river, which they desired
to suice through Cameron Dam.
Deitz would not permit that, unless
the company paid him 100000 The
lumber company obtained a tempor-
ary injunction against Deitz, but he
disregarded II and, armed with his
rife. prevented the lumbermen TO
sluice the logs through the dam. That
he was within his rights was proved
afterward. when the courts decided
that Mrs Deitz owned the fiowage
lands along the Thornapple river and
had the control of Cameron dam and
its sluice.
Held Deputies at Bay.
During the summer of 1904 several
attempts were made to serve warrants
in connection with the dam controver-
sy upon Deitz but he kept the depu-
ties at respectful distance. When
former Sheriff Giblin and three armed |
deputies attempted on May O. 1904, to
take Dietz. several shots were fired |
and Giblin retired. Several other at |
tempts were made in the same year
and during 1905 and the early part of
1906, but all were unsuccessful On |
July %. 1906. the sheriff with dozen |
deputies, all armed, surrounded the |
Deitz cabin and a pitched battle was
the result in which deputy sheriff Roz
ich was seriously wounded and Clar-
ence Deitz, one of Deitz's sons re-
ceived a scalp wound.
Captured Last October.
The warfare between Deitz and the
authorities continued at intervals un-
I'll the matter was brought TO a climax
by a new act of violence. During a
visit to Winter Deitz became involved |
in quarrel with Bert Horel and
wounded him by a pistol shot. About
two months later Sheriff Madden and
his men waylaid three of Deitz's
children. while they were driving and
shot two of them, Almyra and Clar-
ence. wounding them seriously. al