The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-24

GREAT ExcITEMENT-A .. S. OFFICER IN
TRouBEE-There has been, for some time
growing feeling in this community, and
extending to some extent throughout the
State, originating in the fact that Cap
tain Polk of the rebel army, wounded and
captured at Pittsburg Landing, was being
carried backward and forward on board the
City of Memphis, and, as it was said, receiv-
ing greater attention and care than the
wounded Union soldiers of equal rank.
This feeling had grown so strong that
after the City of Memphis landed here yes
terday morning, number of our most
prominent citizens went aboard and re-
quested the Medical Director, DR.. Turner,
in charge, to land him here. Not receive
ing satisfactory reply, they appealed to
DIR. Writ, in charge of the hospitals here,
who undertook to investigate the case. Oh
On board the boat was DIR. John Nur-
ray, an army surgeon, who made himself
very oficious, and most insolently 90, in
resenting what he professed an attempt to
interfere with ths business of DR.. Turner,
frequently giving expression to his pent up
wrath to the effect that had he been in
command when these citizens came aboard
he would have wrung their necks. These
| remarks being made and often repeated,
served to increase the excitement.
Shortly afternoon he got into an alterca-
ton with several gentlemen and by his
clustering insolence, and menacing GESTURES
added to the most vulgar and opprobrious
language to quiet, orderly, peaceable citi-
zens, rendered it evident that he desired to
create disturbance or supposed be could
insult citizens with impunity.
He carried his operations so far that he
was at length arrested, and taken before the
Mayor, who after hearing the evideRce fined
the Doctor $40, and costs.
During the trial DR.. Turner made state
ment in excuse of his conduct, to the effect
that his orders were to take Capt. Polk to
St. Louis, unless the nature of his wound
required that he be left elsewhere. Reach
ing Cairo he was ordered to this city with
his wounded. Returning to Cairo he was
, ordered to New Madrid and thence again te
this city with sick. He desired to leave the
rebel captain at Cairo, but they declined tC
receive him there. He denied most EN-
phatically having shown any more atten
l ton to Capt. Polk than to Union officers.
; He said his case was a peculiar one ant
he felt interested in it solely in profession
al point of view. He also handed to Mayo
: Baker written opinion of his consulting
surgeon, that the condition of Capt. Pol
required that he be left at the hospital here
h DR.. Murray, before judgment was rendered
addressed the crowd-not the Cour
setting forth that he had been born a
: Englishman and bred an Englishman unit
twenty-eight years of age; that he had a
ways been Wing until 1854, and eve
IS since a. Republican and good Union mar
q He expatiated anonymously on scenes {
= horror and suffering he had witnessed, an
n wound up by expressing the belief that
e had violated the law. The whole case .e1
cited much int rest, and the Mayor'seofic
was crowded with spectators. ea-
The City of Memphis dropped down {
n the Marine Hospital, and Capt. Polk wa
g we believe, landed there
Had DR.. Turner, whom we are incline
to believe is instinetively gentleman, e1
u planned the case in the morning and d,
L clared hisintention to leave Capt. Pol
y here, he would have saved himself muc
annoyance, and DR.. Murray some eightee
. dollars.