Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-28
TOM OICONNER
HELD TO BE E1PoNsBLE FOR PoLK's DE-
FALCATIoS AND DOWNFALL

HELD TO BE E1PoNsBLE FOR PoLk's DE-
FALCATIoN AND DOWNFALL.
The Nashville correspondent of the Atlanta
Consultation says:
Tom O'Connsr, of Knoxville, WHO owned
National bank down there and was the
emartest, boldest man and Spectator in the
State, threw his graphing irons into Polk at
the very beginning OF his term. He appears
TO have done the came with the Legislature
OF that year. The contracts at the State
penitentiary were fat picking and he wanted
them, 50 he captured great many men and
msds great deal of money. Gel. Polk's
def,lcatiens began with Mr.. OConner's con-
troll of the Legislature and of prominent men,
and from that day until the fight he
was short in his accounts from $4,000 a
year up TO S225,000. These amounts were
the minimum and maximum, varying many
thousand each year up to the final dip that
increased it to 1868 Zoo. How did be pro-
tect himself 30 long? The explanation is
easy, they say. When it became necessary
for him TO make showing Of the condition
OF his office, OConner, with his greet fnan-
cial resources, would step in and temporarily
supply the deficiency, and when the cloud
was over the peeulaiion and speculation
went on IA before; that is, this is the ex.
PLANTATION you get here on every hand
Folks association with O'Conner, is hat the
latter having him in his power would often
give him wrong points on Tennessee bands,
ETC., and then supply the stocks or securities
to be sold to Polk, and thus fleece the unsus-
pectiDg treasurer. 1t is told here as fact
that Polk eventually caught OConner at this
game, and had lively quarrel with his Knox
vile hacker. The weaker man, however, was
in the hands of the stronger. Polk was
estopped, as the lawyers say, from pleading
these facts 10 friends, and so the alliance
was continued. While OConner lived, Polk
was in no great danger of exposure. The
former was strong enough to prevent trouble
and had too much Of an interest in the pick
ingsto see his victim get into difficulty; but
when OConner died the prop was gone, ana
retribution came swift and sure. Polk made
every possible turn to save himself before
exposure and ruin reached him, but although
he appropriated $4,000 in the last four
months of his administration, it afforded
him no relief, and when the time came for him
10 report the condition of his Office to the
Legislature he left the State. Had OCon.
ner not been killed, Polk would doubtless
have gone on to the erd OF bis term without
nolestation, and perhaps never would have
been EXPOSED. The men who thus speak of
O'Conner might not be so free to 10 so were
he alive. 1t is easy to make a scapPgoat of
a dead man. Col. OConner's friends repel
these statements and aver that Polk rot into
trouble from his own innate cussedness. /
give you the views as found here upon the
streets and do not claim 10 say who is right.
The community is naturally divided as 10
the measure of his guilt and punishment.
Many think he has already suffered enough,
and the prevailing sentiment is rather favor
able. Why? Because he bears name that
is very highly respected in Tennessee. A
great many people as matter.of sentiment
would hesitate to see q relative Of one OF the
presldenis this State has givento the country
consigned to prison.