Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-23

In the early part u last September
man, who gave his name a. Reward
Gatcheil, called on Harper Brothers,
commission merchants Of No. II East
| Fourth street. with letter OF introduc.
ton from w. 4. Touchton. He stated
that he lived at Somerset, Pa, and WA
the owner OF two tracts OF timber land,
containing 900 and SEQ acres respectively
According 10 his account he brought .
great deal Of lumber 10 this city, which
BE disposed Of 10 the Harlan " Holdings
worth Company and other arms. BE
continued 70 call on the Messrs. Harper
every few days and became very we'll nc.
ouainted, but In the meantime Mr.. Tuch.
| ton also called and Informed Warren
Harper that while he believed Gatchell
TO Re responsible man, he did not wish
| II understood that he would be security
for any bills he might contract, - his
only acquaintance with him was by buy
ing his lumber.
One day last October Gatchell inform
ed Mr.. Harper that he thought Of buying
q car load Of sweet potatoes, amounting
TO about 800, aud when informed that
their terms were cash, offered no objec-
ton. He Afterwards came In and sAid
that rs be had been disappointed In being
paid for his lumber, he would DO unable
70 pay the money down for the potatoes,
but referred 10 Evans Pennington, the
real estate agent, whom he said was
about ceiling one Of his tracts OF timber
land, as his surety. Mr.. Harper saw
Mr.. Pennington and he confirmed the
story oil having the land In his hands for
sale, aud also said that he would not be
afraid TO cell him half a-dozen car lcads
Of potatoes.
Acting on this Harper Brothers shipped
him car load Of potatoes to Johnstown,
Pa, on 80 days time. When the bill be-
came due the firm waited Ave or SIX days,
aud not seeing or hearing from Gatchell,
forwarded DRAFT for the amount TO the
Somerset Bank, where Gatchell said he
had an account. The draft was returned
protested with letter stating that Cat
chell had no funds In the bank. Mr..
Harper waited week or two longer and
then visited Pennsy lvania, where he
learned that Gatchell, instead OF living In
Somerset resided at Rock wood, and that
his family were In very impecunious cir
cumstances. He also learned that be did
not own land as he had represented, and
hat the only land In whish he was intes-
ested was q 30-Aere tract, OF which be
was Joint owner, but that the entire
piece was covered with mortgages for
more than Its value.
Pursuing his Investigations Mr.. Harper
was Informed that the land which he had
placed In Mr.. PenRiuRton's hands for
sale was not his land, but that he Md
been promised tonus by the owner in
case he could sell IL. In making inqui-
RES concerning his potatoes he was In
formed that although they had been
shipped to Johnstown Gatchell had them
reshipped 10 PittsburR, where be sold
them for whatever they would bring.
Having learned this much he returned TO
this city with the full determination 20
have GatchCll arrested II lie should ever
turn up hero again.
After patiently waiting until yesterday,
he learned that he was In town, when he
bad a warrant Issued for his arrest on a
charge OF obtaining goods under false
pretences. II was placed in the hands OF
Officers Burroughs and Heal, but when
they went TO the place whtre Gatchell
was stopping the proprietor refused to let
them 8 arch for him until he found that
they were determined, when the man wac
given up.
De was Arraigned before Judge Ball
this mo, ming, wien Warren Harper test,-
fed TO the above facts. The accused d :
nled a intention Of swlndling the firm,
and said he could, II given time produce
witnesses to testify TO his good character
aud for the purpose of allowing him the
opportunity of 80 doing, the hearing was
continued until next Monday evening,
and he was ordered to furnish $500 bali
Tor hls APPEARANCE st that time.