Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-06
TO TRY CAMERON DAM HERO"

HAYWARD. Wis. Mar. 4.-Every-
thing seems to be in readiness for the
hearing the case OF John Deitx and
four members OF his family, on charg-
es of murder and assault, growing out
of their violent defense OF their Cam
eron Dam home and property. The
cases are set for trial before the term
OF the circuit court beginning Monday
and, in anticipation of the sensational
trials, hundreds OF persons have come
to Hayward from the adjoining coun-
ties. eager to listen to the interesting
testimony and to await the outcome
OF the cases which have attracted
more than ordinary attention through
cut the country.
The first case to be called Is against
John Delt2, Hattie DeitZ, mis- wife, and
Leslie Deitz. their son, on the charge
of having murdered Oscar Harp. a
deputy sheriff. who took part In the
attack upon the Deitz stronghold ut
Cameron Dam The second case is
against John Deitz alone and is for
assault on William Giblin. former
sheriff, VINO 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 twelve year
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
fart in the attack of 1904. but 1t Is
believed that this case will be drop
ped by the prosecution, as there seems
to be no evidence that the girl ever
handled a rifle.
Deitz and his sturdy family have
been more or less in the limelight for
a number of years and have furnished
practically all the sensations OF the
county since 1904. Prior to that year
Deitz and his family occupied cabin
near Price dam, where Deitz acted
as watchman of the dam for the Chip
pewa Lumber Company. In February
1904 the Deitz 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 q de-
mand for his pay and the failure OF
the representative of the company to
settle led to an alteraction In which
Deitz made use OF his fists. This led
to the Issuance OF the first warrant
for his arrest. Deitz's claim was set
tied several years later by the pay
ment to him OF $1,717.
In April 1904 Deitz posted a notice
on the wing Of Cameron dam, for
bidding trespass. The Chippewa Lum-
ber and Boom company had logs in
Thornapple river. which they desired
to sluice through Cameron dam. Deitz
would not permit that unless the
company paid him $4,000. The Lum-
ber company obtained temporary
injunction against Deitz, but he dis
regarded 1t and. armed with his rifle,
prevented the lumbermen TO sluice
the logs through the dam. That ne
was within his rights was proved after
ward, when the courts decided that
along the Thornapple river and had
the control OF the Cameron dam and
II sluice.
During the summer OF 1904 several
attempts were made to serve warrants
in connection with the dam contro
versy upon Deitz, but he kept the
deputies at respectful distance
When former Sheriff Giblin and three
armed deputies attempted on May O.
1914, to take Deitz. severai shots were
fired and Giblin retired. Several other
attempts were made during the same
year and during 1906 and the early
part OF 1906. but all of these were un.
successful. On July rs, 1905. the
sheriff with q dozen deputies, all arm
ed, surrounded the Deitz cabin and q
pitched battle was the result, In which
deputy sheriff Rogich was seriously
wounded and Clarence Deitz, one oi
Deitz's sons, received a scalp wound
The warfare between Deitz and the
authorities continued at intervals unit
the matter was brought to q climax
by a new act OF violence. During 9
visit to Winter Deitz became involved
In a quarrel with Bert Horel AND
wounded him by pistol shot. AbouI
two months later Sheriff Madden ant
his men waylaid three Of Deitz's child
rem. while they were driving and sho
two OF them, AlmyrA and Clarence
lwounding them. although The,