The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-10
POLK AGAIN ARRESTED.
Discovery of Box of Accounts Left
Behind for Collection.
An Account of His Wanderings in His At
tempts to Reach the Other Side of the
Rio Grande.

yesterday, which would indicate that he had
reversed his route and is seeking an entrance
into Mexico by way of Ell Paso.
The Governor has received a dispatch an
nouncing the arrest of Polk in Texas by a
deputy United States marshal. and that he
will be held for q requisition.
A box has just come to light left by Treas
urer Polk before he decamped with the for
mer treasurer, DIR. William Morrow, which
box and contents he instructed his attorney,
John w. Childress, Of this city. to take
charge of. The box contains various papers,
mostly receipts, drafts and due bills, from
different persons for amounts varying from
So to SOS, 900, and aggregating about $l25, 0O0
They date back as far as the spring of 1879
Among these are due bills of Charles N.
Gibbs, former Secretary OF State, for 81 900,
about the same amount in the name of Rufus
NJ. Polk, and smaller amounts from various
members of the last Legislature. There are
sight drafts on Thomas O'Connor for about
$4,000, also one for $1,000 drawn by a
member of the last Legislature on
OConnor. There are vouchers showing that
Polk invested about twenty-eight thousand
dollars in a lumber enterprise of G, B.
Cooper & Co. Also, a receipt of B. Cooper
for S., 1000 borrowed money. Other papers in
the box give evidence that Polk invested
1000 in the silver mines of Mexico, and
$4,000 in Nashville gate company. There
is one receipt for SIS, 900 paid Thomas OCon-
nor for stock in Tennessee coal and iron
company.
Notes of William Morrow, the former State
Treasurer, respectively for 50, 500, and $500,
and Morrow's check for $700.50, together
with numerous other smaller amounts
against various persons. These pa
pers were left in the attorneys hands
by Mr.. Polk for collection, for the benefit of
certain OF his named bondsmen. The walnut
lumber investment is first liable for the bal
ance of the purchase money, about $4,000,
and the property is probably worth double
that
The following is an account of Folks ope-
rations about San Antonio, Tex:
Travelling with Polk were tall young man
of light complexion and a short, stoop-
shouldered man of middle age They took
hack on the arrival of the Houston train and
drove to the International depot and, by
special permission of the sleeping-car con
ductor were allowed to enter the car in the
yard to await the departure of the train, Polk
giving as an excuse for wanting to enter the
CdT So lOllR DelOTc lIdlu illlC lldI Ills leg
was troubling him; he was very tired and
wanted rest. Captain James Price, of the
Texas Detective Agency, having received
telegram to arrest such a man, entered the
car soon after and found the party comfort
ably seated around table with wine and
cards, prepared to enjoy the nights ride.
Polk was arrested, charged with being the
defaulting treasurer, but protested that he
was a capitalist en- route to Mexico to look af-
ter his milling interests; that he had come di-
rect from New York. Price, with his prisoner
and Folks companions drove to the Menger
House, where Polk registered as K. Tate and
the young man as A. Van Leer and servant,
but none of them gave their residence. They
remained at the hotel under Prices surveil-
lance all Saturday night and Sunday Polk
putting in his time Saturday night writing
and mailing letters to different parts of the
country. Sunday afternoon they took a two
horse carriage ride with the detective to see
the sights. Price, not receiving authority to
hold them longer released them and allowed
them to proceed as above stated. The sleep
ing-car conductor is said to have seen in their
possession two valises filled with money one
with greenbacks and one with gold.
The following facts relative to his wander
ings are from Dallas Tex.
A few weeks ago J. W. Thompson, lead
ing lawyer of Dallas, man of undoubted
yeracity whose word would be taken with
out hesitation by anyone who knew him,
visited Nashville, Tenn, where he has
young lady relative attending school, On
last Saturday he left New Orleans, where he
had sojourned a few days, en- route home.
Mr.. Thompson was accompanied from Nash
vile by lady resident of that city, who
knows the Folks well, and the defalcation of
the treasurer was not known in Nashville
when she and Mr.. Thompson left there for
Dallas. Shortly after leaving New Orleans
for Houston via Texas and New Orleans
railroad, the lady recognized two gentlemen
on the train, whom she introduced to Mr..
Thompson as NJ. T. and Van Polk, respect
lively. They journeyed on and reached Hous-
ton at o'clock Sunday morning. On
the trip from New Orleans to Houston NJ. T.
Polk asked Van Polk to let him have GER
tain history and map of Mexico, which Van
had with him, as he wished to study. The
request was complied with, and NJ T. Polk
busted himself with the book and map
nearly all day. In conversation it was stated
that Mr.. Van Polk had been talking of visit
ing Mexico for several months, and that he
and NJ T. had at last concluded to make the
trip. No allusion was made to the Tonnes
see treasury swindle, and, as the lady nor
Mr. Thompson had either heard of it, they
thought nothing of an accident of meeting
the Folks. At Houston Mr.. Thompson pur-
chased paper, took the north-bound train
for Dallas, and, on his way home, for the
first time saw an account Of Folks defalca-
ton at Nashville. He read the
item to the lady, who was surprised
to see it. Mr.. Thompson came north from
Houston and saw no more of them. He
does not know whether they went to Calves
ton and shipped for Vera Cruz, or whether
they went by the International and Sunset
roads via San Antonio and Laredo, but in
order to steer clear of officers it is probable
they took the latter route. A gentleman
from Nashville said that Polk lived in great
STYLE entertained handsomely and twas the
remark of all that he was living beyond his
salary To make both ends meet he specu-
lated extensively in New York and Tennes.
see bonds The gentleman further said that
he did not believe Polk could show much of
the 800. 600 He thought when the truth is
known it will be found Polk lost it in specu-
lation.
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