Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-04-30
STRANGER PASSED
WORTHLESS CHECK

An impostor, who poses as Estate
cattle inspector, is at large among
the farmers of this county. The fell
low has at least one fraudulent check
to answer for and is evidently an all
around bad man.
Charles Diehl, who resides on farm
on Montour ridge near Mooresburg is
the person victimized. On the even
ing Of April 18th stranger with a
horse and buggy drove up to his door
and asked permission to remain all
night. He explained that he had been
at the hospital for the insane at Dan
Vile for the purpose Of inspecting cat
tie and told plausible story of being
misdirected, which brought him to the
Diehl farm. He did not wish to over
drive his horse, he said, and he plead
ed so hard to be permitted to remain
that consent was finally obtained.
Although he made his business per-
fectly clear yet he offered no sugges-
tion that would indicate that he de-
sired to inspect Mr.. Diehl's herd.
Early the next morning he was ready
to leave. The farmer declined pay
ment for the nights lodging, but the
stranger refused to leave without re-
warding the farmer for his hospital
ity, explaining that he was in the
States employ-that he was expected
to pay his way and would be reim'
bursed.
In business.like way the man fill
ed out a check OIL the Blair County
National bank of Tyrone, for 81 80,
made payable to C. II. Diehl. The
check was signed by "A. j. Otto, NJ.
D" Below the signature was writ
ten: estate Board Agent,
On April 2lst Mr., Diehl drove into
town and all unsuspicious deposited
the check at one of our banks where
he has an account. Nothing more was
thought of the matter until Saturday
when the check, having been returned
TO the bank in Tyrone on which it was
drawn, came back to Danville with
the words q" Fraud-No account writ
ten across one corner.
Mr. Diehl being in town was appris-
ed of the turn events had taken. a lit
tie inquiry sufficed to reveal that there
is no such an official as the stranger
had represented himself as being
When the State authorizes the inspec-
tion of cattle the regular veterinarian
employed by the dairyman is chosen
to act and he for the time being be-
comes the representative OF the live
stock sanitary board. Dr. Cawley, the
representative of the State, sent to the
hospital in connection with the recent
inspection, was an official acting in
altogether another capacity.
The impostor informed Mr.. Diehl
that he had condemned forty head oS
cattle at the hospital, whereas the fact
is that but twenty-six head were found
infected with tuberculosis, the inspect
or being Veterinarian ] o. Reed of
this city.
To what extent the man operated
throughout this and adjoining coun-
ties can not be determined at present.
Mr.. Diehl states that so far as he is
able to recall the fellow he was short
thick-set man with sandy hair. The
only thing that impressed Mr.. Diehl
oddly was the fact that he carried
with him in the buggy two kits OF
tools, which included. to use the farm
ers' words, couple of short crow
bars" also quantity Of clothing,
suits of different kinds, and variety
of photographs.
Altogether there is great deal of
mystery about the affair, and we shall
probably hear more of the man, Since
he does not scruple to deal in traudul-
MT checks, in his travels up and down
the country, he evidently now and
then finds an opportunity to realize
much more heavily than he did in the
case of Mr.. Diehl.