The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-03-10
MINNESOTA'S
FAMOUS CASE.
JOHN DIETZ And FAMILY TO BE TRIED
FOR The MURDER OF OSCAR HARP.
100 Deputies Battled with Dletz for q
Day Before He Surrendered.

are SaLneTeu IN or ABOUT Cn6 SanCJum
of the law, eagerly waiting to hear the
call of the most famous case i'm the
States history, that OF John Dietz, de-
fender of Cameron dam.
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, a
deputy sheriff, who took part in the
tack upon the Deitz stronghold sever
al months ago.
in Sawyer county, Wisconsin, and
they'll tell you he's red-handed out
law and should be hanged.
It IL doubtful III anybody i'm the
United States has ever lived a more
spectacular life than DeitZ or figured
in more dramatic episode than he
did at his cabin, at Cameron dam, on
the Thornapple river, last October,
when he surrendered to the law after
a day-long battle with hundred dep
uty sheriffs armed with Winchester
rifles.
Deitz and his wife settled on lit
tie clearing in the virgin forest beside
the Thornapple river, in Sawyer coun-
ty, Wisconsin, back in the COS. The
Chippewa Falls Lumber and Boom
Company, one of the Weyerhaeuser
companies, had a dam opposite his
clearing, and when the log run" be-
gan each year, the company's men
would open the dam to let the logs
through on their way down to the
sawmills. This would flood a portion
on the DeitZ clearing which he used
for his garden, and, of course, ruin
the garden. Quite naturally Deitz
made a fuss about the destruction of
his property, and the company prom
ised settlement. In the meantime
1t hired Deitz at 81 a day to watch the
dam, and for several years this ar
rangement continued, Deitz's garden
being flooded each year and the COM
pany promising remuneration and
paying in promises.
Finally Deitz got tired of the prom
ises and told the lumber men that
they must not open the dam again
The next time they tried to do IL
Deitz appeared with Winchester
They did not open the dam, but they
instituted legal proceedings and
turned the papers over to the sherifI
to serve. That began Deitz's trouble
with the minions Of the law. He
would not let them serve the papers
Whenever sheriff appeared Deitz
met him with a Winchester, and the
sheriff abandoned his task.
One sheriff-the task spread itseli
over several terms-actually tried tC
serve a process by force of arms
DeitZ lay down behind some logs on
his clearing and cOmbed the under
brush with bullets until he dropped
one deputy-Rogich by name-With q
| bullet through the thigh. Then the
sheriff drew off with is wounded
leaving Deitz in the possession of the
dam. Until last September Deitz re-
mained in more or less undisturbed
possession, and the lumber company
abandoned the dam, though it contin-
ued to institute suits against the old
German.
Last September DeitZ went into
Winter, the nearest town to his home
and while there became involved liz
an alteration with Bert Horel. Deitz
says that the lumber companies
"sicked" Horel on him. Be that as il
may, Horel was hardy enough to hit
Deitz with his fist. "Old man" Deit2
came up with an automatic pistol in
each hand, and they carried Horel to
Haywood with a bullet in his hip.
Events followed rapidly. A war
rant for Deitz, charging assault with
dangerous weapon, was sworn out
and given to Sheriff Mike Madden to
serve. Deitz gave notice that he
would not permit the service, and
continued to 90 into Winter for his
mail, accompanied by his two sons,
Clarence and Leslie, both strapping
youngsters and all heavily armed.
After backing and filling and veer-
ing for about three weeks, Madden
swore in half a dozen deputies and
went into the woods near the Deitz
home. On October !, Clarence, Leslie
and the eldest daughter, Myra, started
into Winter, 10 miles away, In a rig.
Madden's deputies ambushed them,
and when Clarence leaped out of the
wagon they began firing.
Myra was shot in the side, Clarence
in the arm, and Leslie took to the
woods and escaped, going back to the
home on the Thornapple. The wound
ed children were taken into Winter,
and when the news went out there
was a roar of indignation over the en-
tire Northwest. The shooting and
seriously wounding Of the Deitz girl
shocked the country Myra was taken
TO the hospital at Hayard, while
Clarence was locked up in the jail
there. "A deputy was placed over
Myra, and permitted her to communi-
cate with no one.
His force of deputies, strengthened
to 100 men, all armed with rifles, all
experienced woodmen, and most of
them crack shots, Madden drew in on
the Deitz cabin until he had it sur
rounded. DeitZ was asked to surren-
der but refused.
The State authorities Of Wisconsin
then took VA hand. Acting for Governor
Davidson, Attorney General Gilbert
and the Governors secretary, o. G.
Munson, went to Winter, and called
at the Deitz cabin under flag of
truce. They promised Deitz a fair
trial for the Horel affair II he would
surrender. Deitz refused. He be-
lieved the lumber interest would fix"
any court and jury before whom he
might be tried. He said he'd stick it
out with his wife, Leslie and the lit
tie children-Helen, ia years old, and
little John, VI.
The peace enlisSaries left i'm de-
spair and Madden ordered hi men
to do their duty.
Early ON the morning OF October s
the attack began. Deitz apparently