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Name: Tony
Diedtman, real name George Antone Dittman County of Conviction:
Lewis & Clark |
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Allegations: "This
damn Country is not worth a damn and as soon as Germany gets over here me for
the old Country. Then they can all go to hell. I always wonder why the
Germans in this Country don't wake up and use their brains. It is getting
worse all the time, but the time will come pretty damn quick. How can this
damn country expect the Germans to buy any Liberty Bonds if they take their
property away? 1st trial ended in hung jury. 2nd jury "recommended him
to the mercy of the court." Case Details: Defended by retired Supreme Court Justice Henry C. Smith. Soleprosecution witness was convicted felon who had worked as spy for Anaconda
Copper Mining Co. First trial ended in hung jury. Ample evidence of jury
tampering by Helena Independent editor Will Campbell. 2nd jury
convicted but "recommended him to the mercy of the court." But
Judge Lee Word sentenced him to the maximum term. S. Ct. reversed on 5/8/20
58 Mont. 13 190 Pac. 117 (1920), holding that Judge Word had been biased in
favor of the prosecution, improperly allowing character evidence and
restricting cross-examination of the state's witness. See "Darkest Before
Dawn," Chap. 13.
Personal Information: Born in Bavaria. Served in German army from 1895 to 1897 as a private and came to US in 1903. A baker by trade. Came directly to Helena to visit his uncle, George Dittman, who working on the section gang at Austin north of McDonald Pass and was later a musician in the Helena band. Twice returned to Germany to see his parents, last time in 1908. Had brothers in Germany. Citizen of US since 1911. Cousin Hubert died in 1959. Before he was arrested for sedition he worked as a swamper at the Central Beer Hall on South Main St. Also identified as bartender. Date and place of death unknown.
Revised 4/9/06 |
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