Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-04
DEAD OR ALIVE.
Drowned in New York and FOund
Alive in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dis
appearance, Search and Arrest
of Charles A. FOik-Strange
story of Life Insurance.

of Police P. r Athy and his detectives
of this city, man who was supposed to
have died ard found q cold wateIy
grave, has been resurrected. The story
Is strange one, and yet it is not with
out its counterpart in the history OF life
insurance companies and policy holders.
Two or three years ago a man named
c.. 4. Folk insured his life for ten thou
sand dollars in the New York life in
surance company. Folk at that time re-
sided in New York, but shortly there.
after he mysteriously disappeared, and
it was believed by all who knew the
man that he had been drowned. One
cold day in January Folk left home on
8 hunt, but as he did not return his wife
and neighbors the day following started
in search Of him. They followed his
TRACKS IN THE SNOW
for some distance, and finally reached
stream which was frozen over. There
they discovered Folks hat and gun on
the ice, near the edge of hole, and the
conclusion was natural enough that he
had broken in and drowned. Mrs.
Folk, in her bereavement O., did not
forget the necessity OF having funds to
live on, and therefore applied to the
New York life insurance company for
payment of the ten thousand dollar poll
icy on her husbands life. Mr.. s. II.
Carney, the agent Of the company, how
ever, did not believe that Folk was
dead, but that he had gone away, and
left his hat and gun near the hole in the
ice to create the impression that he had
been drowned. He therefore refused to
pay the policy. Thereupon suit was in
stituted by Mrs. Folk, who obtained a
verdict, but new trial was granted.
The result of the second trial was
the same as that of the first, but stay
of proceedings was obtained. In the
n lntime, Mr.. Carney visited Mem
ptlIs and conferred with Chief Athy up
on the subject, when he ascertained that
q man by the name of r. r. Russell,
who answered the description of Charles
A. Folk, came to this city in January,
1875, and remained here six or seven
months. Chief Athy placed the matter
in the hands of Detective Harry Gram
mer, and every effort was used to ascer-
tain where
FOLK, ALIAS RUSSELL, HAD GONE.
By means of uuceasing inquiry and dill
igent effort, such as characterize Chief
Athy when he undertakes the detection
of criminals, he sscertained that Folk,
alias Russell, had gone to Arkansas and
was living about with negroes in obscure
places. More recently he ascertained
that the man, under the name of J. r.
Sloan, was making his home with ne
gro named Wyatt Huff, near Surround
sd Hill or Fredonia landing, Prairie
county, Arkansas. Folk had been traced
from county to county, and place to
place by Chief Athy, who was all the
more anxious to have him arrested as
dispositions as to the fugitive being alive
or dead, were to be taken in this city
to-day, August 4th. He informed Sher-
if 81. o. Williams, of Prairie county,
Arkansas, and the latter thereupOn
started in search Of Folk, toe telegram
sent to him being as follows, and dated
Memphis, July 9th: ARREST white
man named Chss. A. Folk, alias r.
fnd him at the cabin Of Wyatt Huff's,
colored, at Surrounded Hill or Fredonia
Landing. II he is the party wanted,
they will give you one hundred dollars
for him at your place. P. r. ATHY,
"Chief of Police"
Chief Athy also forwarded
A PHOTOGRAPH AND DESCRIPTIVE
LETTER
of Folk, and in the meantime received
a telegram from Deputy-Sheriff ]. u.
Carlley that he had returned from his
search but could not find him, although
they would keep lookout.
Chief Athy, on July 31st, telegraphed
to the agent Of the company as follows:
s. II. Carney, 347 Broadway, New
Yo1k-I have Just received the follow.
ing dispatch: "Meet me at DevsIIs
Bluff tonight. 1 have G. A. Folk. An
swer Immediately. H. o. Williams,
sheriff Prairie county, Arkansas. S. II.
Carney will advise you to come on i'm
mediately." PR. ATHY,
Chief OF. Police.
In answer Chief Athy received the
following telegram, dated New York,
July 2Stb: 81 shall await good news
with interest. When found do not let
him slip. S. H. CARNEY"
On the thirty-firss Mr.. Carney also
telegraphed Chief Athy as follows:
dispositions are to be taken in Mem
phis, Friday, unless Sloan is found; then
the dispositions are unnecessary. What
are your chances? Answer quick"
In the meantime Sheriff Williams tel
egraphed Chief Athy that he had Folk
at Devalls Bluff, and asked him to meet
him there. Chief Athy then notified
Mr.. Carney Of the arrest, and received
the following answer: ~ have tele-
grsphed Williams to hold Folk, aud
also notified Mr.. Hill, our agent at S.. |
Louis, to get arequisition. Perhaps it is
not necessary for you to go to Devalls |
Bluff. Use your discretion, but you
must hold Folk anyway. 1 leave for |
ST. Louis tonight" Chief Athy then |
directs
SHERIFF WILLIAMS
to bring Folk to Memphis as all ex. |
peuses would be paid, but in the mean |
time the sheriff teIegSaphed Chief Athy |
that w. 8. Hill had telegraphed him to |
take Folk to Little Rock instead Of Mem |
phis, but be could bring him here with
out a requisition anu ASKED what to do. |
telegram fiOm Sheriff Williams |
was received and stated that Hill and |
Carney told b m not to briDg Folk to |
Memphis under SDy circumstances. |
Sheriff Williams not knowing what to /
dc, came to this city, and after consulta-
ton with Chief Athy returned yesterday
to Duvalls Bluff, where he left the pris- |
Oner in jail. Folk has admitted every |
thing and will be taken to New York |
where his wife resides. He is an ordi.
nary man, about thirty five years of
age, and might have lived long while
IN the forests of Arkansas had it not
been for Chief Athy's perseverance, and
skill in ascertaining his whereabouts
and securing his arrest.