The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-01-11
4 DEFAULTING STATE TREASURER.
The Tennessee Treasury Loses 500, ,OGO
ThrOuEI, u Crooked Onlcial.

NASHVILLE, January 5-The lepisIa.
tive committee appointed 10 investigate
the Office Of State treasurer, reported
this morning that the treasurer had been
out Of the city for two days, and that his
clerk was not prepared TO make state
nicnt OF his accounts. The committee
reported deficit in the TREASURY Of four
hundred thousand dollars, and after con
sultaton with the bondsmen Of the
treasurer, recommended suspension OF
the business Of his office for the present
The announcement from the State
Capitol this morning Of the deficit pro-
duccd genuine sensation throughout
the city. The following is the report Of
the legislative committees: "The joint
select committee to settle with the comp
trOller and treasurer, report that they
have visited the Office Of the treasurer
and, on inquiry, find that the treasurer
is away from the Capitol, and has been
for two days, and they are not advised
when he will return. His clerk states
that he cannot go into Il settlement Of
the treasurer's accounts until his chief
returns. They also have information
from The bondsneD, or some OF them,
that the condition Of the treasury is such
that they feel justified to recommend
that the workings of the treasury be
stopped until an examination can be
had. The Senalc adopted the following
joint resolutions: Whereas the Senate
has reason to believe that NJ. II. Polk
present treasurer, is Il defaulter for about
$iOO,0OO, and, whereas, the bond given
by Sal officer i, not sufficient in amount
To secure said deficit, therefore, be it re.
| solved by the Senate and house Of repre-
sentatises, that the Attorney General Of
| the State be, and lie il hereby, instructed
to attach instantly all available assets
| belonging to said NJ. Il. Polk, provided
that sufficient grounds exist, to the end
that the same MAJ be held for the salts.
| faction OF said deficits. The State treas
urer's official bond VAS for one hundred
| Thousand dollars. His bOnd,inen are
| William Nj. and a. K. Duncan, Of New.
| el, Duncan ~ Co.. brokers Max Lax,
cashier of the Nashville savings bank !;
| WIN. Morrow, former State treasurer
Will f0:k and J. T.. K. Carpenter, all OF
Nashville; and j. h. Polk, f. Il. ID. Al
lson and K. i. Cole, of Tennessee. and
a. :. llansley, of Columbia. At the
last extra session Of the legislature bill
was introduced to increase the bond ui
the State treasurer, but the bill WAS
stolen from the desk Of the clerk Of the
Senate the night before it was to come
up for final passage on the day before
the time fixed Tor the final adjournment
Of the Legislature
The amount Of the deficit in the treas.
ury cannot he accurately asyertained till
after thorough investigations One cl
the bnndsmcn, who has been examining
the accounts, says they show thus far i,
deficit Of S3SQ,0U0 The same bondsman
says the lreasurer's books and accounts
at one of the hanks show discrepancy
of over 100000. Just before Christmas
1t is said, he drew out Of the bank al
Pulaski $4,000 The State funds were
distributed in the various banks at Nash
vile, Knoxville and Memphis. The
missing funds are supposed to have been
lost i'll speculation or loaned to persona
friends engaged in speculation in bond,
and stocks. Treasur Polk left Nash
vile on Wednesday, nLd was last heart
of at Milan, Tenn, from which point ht
wrote back that he would return on Sun
day. His family here do not know o
his whereabouts. Treasurer Polk i
fifty years old, graduate of West Point
and served four years on the frontier
He was captain Of artillery in the con
federatc army in Cheatham's division
lie lost a leg at the battle of Shiloh. II.
afterwards served on the staff of Genera
l.eondns Polk, to whom he was related
After the war he resided on farm nea
Bolivar, Tennessee, till elected treasure
six years ago. He was nephew of tn,
late President Polk. He has o larg
family and occupied high social posi-
tion in this city and State.