Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-06
THE DEFENDER OF CAMERON DAM.

a Madison dispatch says that the governor of Wiscon-
SIN IS likely to look with favor on the petition for the par
don or Communication Of the sentence Of John Dietx. who &C.
cupied a prominent place in the limeight some years ago,
and who for some time has been serving out a 2o-year
sentence for murder.
Dietz came into prominence through hi, controversy
with a lumber company over a dam in northern Wiscon-
Dletz claimed the right to maintain the dam. which
claim was contested by the lumber company. Attempts by
the lumber company to remove the dam were resisted by
Dietz, who mounted guard with a rifle and defied anyone
to touch what he declared was his property. The case was
taken to the courts. and Dietz was defeated. He refused
to recognize the authority Of the courts, and finally shot
ana killed a deputy sheriff in an alteration growing out
OF the original controversy. He took shelter in his cabin
IN the woods and there for some time he held out against
posses sent to arrest him. Women members Of his family
were WIN MIN during the siege, and the fight took on such
spectacular features that the attention Of the whole coun-
try was directed toward it. Dietz finally surrendered, was
tried and convicted
There Is probably a good deal in the assertions of the
family that Dietz was greatly influenced by the publicity
which had been given him. The court seems to have been
quite clear IN the conviction that as a matter of law, Dietz
had not a leg to stand on, but there is always something
IN the spectacle of a lone man fighting for what he. claims
to be his rights against a powerful adversary which ap-
peals to the sympathies and the imagination. Dietz evil
IDENTIFY had a strong vein of egotism, and it was easy for
MN TO assume the role of a hero. Having assumed that
role he felt it incumbent on him to live up to it, and he be-
came an armed rebel against all authority.
The proceedings leading to the arrest of Dietz after
the shooting of Harp. the deputy sheriff, were marked by
sensationaEsm and boncheadedneS on the part Of some
of the public authorities, and while Dietz had made him.
self an outlaw, and drastic methods for his apprehension
were undoubtedly permissible, and probably necessary.
the officers in charge were severely censured for their
manner of. conducting the affair. The Dietz homestead
was besaeged in impressive form, and if field artillery and
brass bands were not actually employed, there were
things which served as equivalents. There were plenty
OF correspondents and photographers<o on the ground, and
dispatches from that front became a daily feature of the
papers. The fact that, the wife and daughter OF ,Dietz
were in the cabin with him did not prevent the lombard
ment OF the castle" and about all that could be done Of
Iclauy was done to create sympathy for the hunted man.
Under all the circumstances it is likely that a pardon
for Dietz now would be generally approved, although
there appears to be nothing on which to base, the doubt
which is now suggested as to the actual shooting of Harp
by Dietz. That matter waS very thoroughly gone over
at the trial, and the jury entertained no doubt on the
subject ~~