The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-01-11
ROBBED THE TREASURY.
State Treasurer Marsh =. Polk a
Defaulter.
Skips the State 100000 Be.
hind-Captured in Texas
and Escapes.

The most startling piece of news
that ever astounded Tennesseans
was given out last Friday ina re
port of a committee appointed by
the legislature to investigate the
accounts of the treasurer of Ten
nessee, Col. Marsh 7. Polk, which
announced that he was some four
hundred thousand dollars behind
and had fed the state, having been
gone nearly forty eight hours be-
fore any one knew it. The widest
establishment prevailed and the
and the city were thrown
into CONSERVATION. immediately
resolutions were introduced author
izing the strictest investigation and
directing proceedings to be institu-
ted to effect his capture and to place
the treasury in the hands of a re-
ceiver. The committee at once set
about investigating and found only
about $4,000 in the office. U. S.
bonds of $4,000 were missing and
the books showed deficit of about
100000. The money had been
deposited in banks all over the state
and these banks were shown to hold
now only about 100000 out of the
100000 that ought to have been on
hand.
Col. Polk was elected first in 1877
and gave bond for 100000. He
was reelected in 1879 and the old
bond was not renewed. He was
again reelected in 1881 and it was
strongly suspected then that all
was not right and a bill was intro
duced requiring him to give a new
bond. 1t passed three readings in
the house and two in the senate and
on the night before the last day of
the session. when it was to have
been passed, the clerks desk was
broken open and the bill stolen
This was enough to excite suspi
cion ordinarily, but the senate didn't
seem to regard the matter as serious
and it was passed lightly over
Very strong opposition was made to
the passage Of the bill and the fol-
lowing senators fought it and voted
against it: Barrett, Bib, Cason,
Matthews, Smith of Fentress, Till
man, Watson and Morgan. 1t is
not known what prompted such OF
position, as it was clearly evident
the funds were in danger. After
adjournment, Col. Polk gave an
other bond, but escaped investiga-
ton, his SECURES being bound in
$40, 900 each and no more, and were
Jas. K. Polk, W. M. Duncan, T. F.
P. Allison, J. E. R Carpenter, w.
Morrow, A. r. Duncan, A. S. Hors-
ley, Max Sax, R. P. Cole, Will Polk.
1t was accepted as good and suffi-
Gent by the governor, although there
is no warrant in law for restric ting
the liability of one bondsman to
pro rata part.
The matter thus went on while
Col. Polk was daily squandering
and making way with thousands.
1t is said that Tom. O'Conner had
free access to the treasury and that
Col. Cooper's orders were as highly
respected as bank drafts, and the
treasurer kept a running loan &C
count with various men who were
specializing in bonds and buying
mines in Mexico. He is reported
to have deal tpretty largely in bonds
himself and invested in silver mines
and coal mines, though it is morally
certain, from his known abstemious- |
ness and absence from the specula-
tors resorts, that he was lamb feec-
ed by others sharper than himself |
and who must now go free while he
bears the odium and disgrace and
lives worse than death in knowing
that he has brought shame upon a
proud name.
The amount that should have
been on hand is exactly 1923, 693.11,
while the amount actually on hand
is 5000, 593.78, leaving a defalcation
Of $402, 666,91. 1t is said that large
amount of it can be recovered from
the banks that paid his cheeks when
drawn. Some of it can
possibly be recovered under his old
bond and perhaps all of his new
bond.
ARREST IN TEXAS.
The police were notified all over
the country but no reliable trace
,ouI6 ha bod Of Col POIL,o xybaro |