The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-11-09
Ex-Auditor Wickliffe OF LOuisi-
ana Comes to Light.
TFro,n the Selma Ti,nea

In the monthof August, 1870, there
came to this city q man Of rather
pleasing personal appearance, appar-
emily an educated gentleman and q
man Of means. His stay in the city
was limited to q few days, and leav-
ing town he went to our neighboring
village of Summerfield, and in a little
| while settled himself III very retired
secluded neighborhood, some five
miles north Of Summeryille. He ap-
peared to have plenty Of money, but
was not by any means lavish in its
expenditure, and in place Of going
into society, he, on the contrary, ex-
pressed a desire for retirement, and
was averse to forming extended ac-
quaintance with the people among
whom he lived. He purchased lit
tie place some distance from any pub
lie road, aud in o locality rarely ever
visited BY strangers, and announced
to the public that he was physician,
and gave his name as DR.. j. Polk
Shelby, and by that name he was
know here and at Summerield.
DR.. Shelby's practice, however.
was very limited, Notwithstanding
the fact that he kept his horse, which
was by the way very fine one, con-
stantly saddled for use. The DOCTORS
prnctice would have doubtless been
larger, but for his bad luck in bleed
ing poor emaciated man suffering
from chills, and the mans dying in i
few hours afterward. This occurred
just on the threshold Of his medical
career, and caused his skill to be
questioned to degree that deferred
many from calling his services into
requisition. But practicing medicine
was more labor Of love with the
doctor than for the accumulation of
filthy lucre, and it did not ruffile his
temper, or interrupt his course of life
that his patients were few. What col
lege DR.. Shelby was a graduate Of, OF
in fact from whence he came, were of
those things unknown to the people
among whom he abided.
As before stated, the Doctor ap-
peared to have plenty Of money, and
in this case appearances were in con-
sonance with the truth, and thereby
hangs q tale that we propose to I'M
fold. Having plenty Of money, the
Doctor bought and sold divers and
and sundry things, and made numer-
GUS speculations, at the same time
continuing the practice Ut his profess
sion. -. ~
Time wore on, az the novelists
write it, witlleat the occurrence of an
incident to interrupt Or change the
current Of DR.. j. Polk Shelby's life,
and he began to he regarded as per
manent citizen Of the locality, in
which he had been tarrying since
August, A. D. 1870. 1t is true tile
Doctor had many little eccentric ways
that his neighbors and acquaintances
did not understand, but his general
conduct was unexceptional to them.
And thus things continued until with
in a few weeks since, when a change
came and DR.. j. Polk Shelby was
shrown to'be an impostor and a fugi-
tive from justice, with Nemesis OIL his
track.
Some two or three weeks since,
Mr. r.ssBummel Of New Orleans was in
Selma on business, and one day COM
ing in contact. with DR.. j. Polk Shell
by, recognized him as an old acquaint-
ance from New Orleans, and mirabile
dictm discovered in the aforesaid DR..
J. Polk Shelby, ex-Auditor George
NJ. Wickliffe Of Louisiana, and so call
ed him. His interview with Mr..
Bummel was of short duration, and
leaving him very abruptly, the ex-
Auditor, alias DR.. J. Polk Shelby,
mounted his horse, and went on time
for his home, near Snmmerfeld. Now,
let US see why Mr.. Wickliffe so ab-
ruptly left town, and why he assumed
the name Of DR.. J. Polk Shelby. In
1868, 1869 and 1870, he was Auditor
Of the State of Louisiana, and for
corruption and rascallity in Office,
was impeached and expelled from the
position. He was raised to official
position by the Radical party. While
in Office he made the most corrupt
use Of his position, robbing the tax
payers through fraudulent means, of
thousands upon thousands OF dollars.
In the spring Of 1870 he went to Mr..
Jacob Strauss, broker in New Or
leans, with Louisiana Treasury war
rants, apparently all right, aggregating
$l3O, 900, upon which Mr.. Strauss ad-
vanced him $71 ,0OOin greenbacks, and
also q certified bank check for $19 900.
Shortly after getting this money, Mr..
Wickliffe shook the dust of New Or
leans from his feet and left for parts
unknown. In short while afterward
the warrants were presented for pay
ment, and Mr.. Strauss made the rather
uncomfortable (for him) discovery that
his warrants were bogus, AMI that he
had simply been swindled by this
scoundrel to the tune Of 800, 900.
In spite of numerous efforts to dis
cover the whereabouts Of Wicklife,
they remained mystery to Mr.. Strauss
and the people who wanted him, until
the accidental meeting with Mr.. Bum
mel alluded to above. This accounts
for his abrupt departure on that oc-
casion.