The Dickinson press., 1917-09-01
SLOPE MAN With
CHECKERED PAST
SENT TO ASYLUM

D. P. Abbey, known from one end
of the Slope country to the other,
wanted in many places, mourned by
many creditors, former preacher,
editor, farmer, politician, school
teacher, real estate dealcr, and all
other known trades and professions,
has at last reached the end of his
rope, as far as public safety is con-
cerned. Information which reached
Mott during the week says that
Abbey has at last been adjudged in
sane and has been placed in the state
asylum for the insane at Evanston,
Wyoming.
1t appears that Abbey has been
back at his old tricks, writing checks
on banks in which he had large i'm
aginary deposits. He was picked up
at Casper near where he had been
working, having used a check in
amount of $500. For a time he was
an inmate Of the jail at Casper and
from there taken to the asylum.
During his examination before the
insanity board, Abbey stated that he
thought at times he must be insane
and at other times he would be in
his right mind. There is no question
as to his statements, but most Of his
acts, committed in this county, where
he resided for a number of years,
were never followed up by prosecu-
tions.
Abbey is a we'll known character
here and in other counties where his
crookedness seems to have had full
swing for a number of years. At one
time he chartered a special car on
the railroad people a "bum" check. He
out from Minneapolis with a number
Of land seekers. In payment he gave
the railroad people a bum check. He
was thrown into Jail at Dickinson on
several occasions. Later he ran a
newspaper at Richardton, Golden VAL
ley and other points. At ono time
he was arrested in Bowman county on
out of trouble by hook and crook.
Church postoffice. Then obtained
some land south of Regent, in the
Alden country. He tried about every
thing in the category and in anything
he undertook, "a always ready to
write a check, money or no money in
the bank. For a time he taught
school at Havelock. Trouble was his
there, with the school board, pupils
and parents and it was made neces-
sary to close the school. His last
move in this county was to start a
newspaper at Havelock. He did it,
without investing a cent. His wild
cat schemes were still with him and
after issuing many "bum" checks, he
made his getaway from the country.
About the time he left here, a war
rant was issued for his arrest. The
warrant is still out, but he never
came back. His next operations were
uncovered at Sclfridge and Fort
Yates. 1t was at Selfridge that he
proposed to start a newspaper and
after getting a number Of proposed
subscribers on his staff together with
their silver dollars, he made his get
away from that point, Fleeing the
people of both Fort Yates and Self
ridge out of about 5000. Later he
was heard from in the Black Hills
country and then during the past
winter at Villisca, Iowa. 1t is evident
that the fever was again on him
when spring came, az he wandered
out to Wyoming, where he got busy
with his "bum" check business, which
landed him in Jail at Caspar, and fin
ally put him in the insane asylum,
where he will have ample opportunity
to write checks for amount of mil
lions and more, to his hearts content.
The news will be received with a
sigh Of relief, especially among the
bankers of the country, who have
ofttimes been victimized by this once
preacher, poet and peasant. A num-
Der of men are out considerable
amounts, but all will agree that
"Dippy" Abbey is now placed where
he ought to have been several years
ago.-Mott Spotlight.