Lloyd Hastings, at the time of the transaction out of which this prosecution arose, was a licensed fur buyer in business for himself. Melvin Olson was a licensed fur buyer employed by the Grand Forks Hide and Fur Co. On March 17, 1947, early in the morning, Hastings called at Olson's home in Devils Lake in Ramsey County and inquired if Olson would be interested in buying muskrat hides. He stated that he didn't have the hides but that he knew where he could get some. When Olson indicated an interest in buying, Hastings asked where Olson would be that evening and Olson informed him that he would be at Drake in McHenry County.
That evening Hastings and Olson met at Drake. Hastings had with him some two thousandmuskrat hides contained in three sacks. Together they took the hides to the show room of the International Harvester Company in Drake where the hides were sorted and examined by Olson. After some bargaining they agreed upon an average price of $1.15 each for the hides. Hastings demanded Olson's personal check in payment rather than a draft upon Olson's employer. Olson gave Hastings his check for $2,576.00 telling him that there was not sufficient money upon deposit to meet the check but that arrangements would be made to pay it. Hastings drove back to Devils Lake that evening. Olson telephoned his wife directing her to go to the bank the next morning and draw a draft on his employer for an amount sufficient to cover the check.
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