New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-14
POLK At HOME.


The illustrious but irregular Mr. Polk, OF
Tennessee, is once more with his fellow-citl-
zens. He reached home yesterday morning
after O railway journey which had been filled
with thrilling adventures lie LETT home about
ten days ago to look after some Mexican mines
In which he was interested. 1t Is evident that
bis departure was not an attempted flight from
Justice, for he made no effort to conceal his
identity. It must have been a great shock to
him to learn by telegraph few days after his
departure that casual glance at his accounts as
State Treasurer revealed defalcation OF nearly
$3.50, 900, and that public sentiment was so in
famed against him that reward of $4,000
was proposed In the Legislature for his cap
ture. Where the money had gone TO nobody
could tell. There was convincing evidence
that the larger part of it had been sunk in Wall
Street, and Mr.. Polk at once let IL be known
that he had some of it with him, for he openly
displayed large quantity OF gold and green
backs-enough, we are informed by admiring
eye witnesses, to fill two vaises. The news
from home did not depress him at all, for when
a detective sought him at San Antonio, Texas,
he fouLd him in sleeping-car playing cards
and drinking wine with his companions, himself
tho merriest Of them.
The detective rudely disturbed the pure Joy
OF the occasion by arrestng him, but Mr. Polk
was equal to the emergency. He paused IN his
journey long enough 10 spend Saturday and
Sunday at San Antonio, and 10 take carriage
ride with the detective en- Sunday afternoon.
His imperturbable good nature, together with n
liberal present from the two yalises, had so
modifying an effect upon the detective that
when Sunday evening came that officer decided
that he had no authority to hold so genial
gentleman without direct orders from the Gov
ernor of 7 ennessee, and as he could not get
those orders, he allowed him to proceed on his
Journey. He had not proceeded far before
second detective, made Of sterEer stuff, got upon
bis track and arrested him. Offers of liberal
presents from the two valses were rudey Ie-
fused by this detective, who clapped Mr. Polk
upon train going in the opposite direction
from the one in which he had been so joyfully
journeying, and started him for Tennessee.
This harsh treatment for time disturbed the
serenejoy of Mr.. Polk, ana caused him to re-
mark that 1t was all up with him, and that 1t
was useless to attempt to deny 1t any longer.
He also displayed some bitterness toward Others,
and declared that if he had to 90 down he
would pull down some emlnently respectable
persons with him, including Supreme Court
Judge.
But as he neared the end of his return
| journey his natural cheerfulness returned, and
he entered his beloved and plundered State
almost joytully, for the latest dispatch, which
was received Oh Saturday evening, contained
this interesting information; Polk has been
drinking heavily ON the trip, but seems to be
q now in good spirits" This is welcome inteli-
gence. Mr.. Polk has disagreeablo future
ahead of him, and he does we'll to meet it with
a smiling face. During his absence it has been
ascertained that he has made away with about
$350,000 of the States money, and it will be
| his unpleasant duty to account for this, aud to
explain how it was that he was ena bled to steal
so large an amount without the knowledge of
his associates in the State Government. He has
intimated that he did not take 1t without their
knowledge, and that many other eminent men
were also in the secret and were shsrers in the
theft. Of course 1t will be more or less painful
for 80 genial a gentleman to make all these
revelations but by drinking freely" we
| trust MIR. Polk will be able to keep in good
spirits.n II he were disreputable carpet bag
ger the process would of course be much harder
for him, and he would not have that sympathy
from the press and the people which is now
| extended to hum 10 q member OF one Of tina