Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-13
TIE osfALcAHoS OF TREASURER POLK.

, counts deficit of $400, 900 WAS dis
, covered and reported yesterday b,
] a special joint legislative commit
tee, is still missing. From all the
information and rumors regarding
. the absconding treasurer, it appear
he went from this city to Bolivar
his old home, and after reInainin,
there until yesterday or day before
left for parts unknown. 1t is ever
suggested by some that he may bt
town. In the meantime, the inves
tigation goes on, and some startling
disclosures may be expected.
OTHER HEARTS TO ACHE.
The idea prevails among a major.
Ity of the members of the Legisla.
ture that others besides Treasurer
Polk are implicated in the swindle,
and every effort will be made to
ferret out the parties interested and
bring them to justice. 1t is not
known who they are, and suspicion
rests upon no particular ones, but
in a general way half dozen or
more are accused of having shared
the funds. A prominent business
man of this city said this morning
that Mr.. Polk's crime was the de-
feat of the 1908 bill.
HOW 1T ALL HAPPENED.
The s6OO,OOO was paid into his
hands to meet the interest under
that act, and when the injunction
suit was begun he had all the mon
ey. Time dragged along until the
1908 was declared unconstitutional,
leaving the money in his possession.
He dare not use it for State purpo-
ses, and hence he used it for his
own; doubtless loaning out much
of ii to tide over friends in close
place. When called upon to pro-
duce it he could not. Hence the
deficit. Had the interest on the 1908
been promptly paid he would never
have been subject to the tempta-
ton.
THE FEELING IN NASHVILLE.
Throughout the city in circles
where Mr.. Polk was known and
liked for his generosity, there is
universal regret at the disgrace
which has come upon him, and per-
haps no mans fall was never more
generally regretted. AS was said
by Hon. r. r. Butler in the House
this morning, she was not an ex-
travagant man, wore no fine
clothes, kept no horse and carriage,
and was the victim of mad specula-
tion."
1t was rumored this morning that
Treasurer Polk would return to the
city to-day or tomorrow, but on
this subject his friends are singular
ly reticent, and the general opinion
is he has gone for good and always
His family, it is understood, will go
TO Bolivar, Hardeman county,
where he owns a fine farm and
pleasant country house. A resolu-
tion was introduced in the House
this morning offering
A REWARD OF $4,000
For the apprehension of Polk.
When it came up, one member re-
marked "that there would only be
$780, 900 more lost if he is found, as
he has nothing by which the State
can reimburse ITSELF" The resOlu-
ton was passed over. The House
adopted "a resolution appointing
Joint committee to ferret out all the
guilty parties connected With the
alleged defalcatiOn of the treasurer,
and ascertain, if possible, where the
missing money went. This morn
ing, Immediately after the assem-
bling of the two. houses, the joint
select committee appointed yeSter-
day to settle with the comptroller
and treasurer repaired to the office
of the treasurer and proceeded to
make
A DETAILED INVESTIGATION
OF the treasurer's books and voucil-
ers. The committee state that the
work will probably occupy several
weeks, and the committee are now
engaged in getting the books into
shape, so they could be turned over
to treasurer as sOon as the Senate
saw fit to appoint one. The COM
mittee have not yet detected any
further deficit, but they say they
are safe in saying the amount of
shortage will be at least between
$500, 900 and $4OO, 900. The commit |
tee find, including checks, bank ac-
counts and cash on hand to be about |
81, ,000, 900. As soon as this commit |
tee get the books in good shape they |
will appoint experts to go over |
them again. 1t is thought more !
than probable that the Senate will |
a temporary treasurer some |
day next week, and the workings |
of tine treasury will be resumed. |
The committee say there has not |
been found, as was reported, notes |
for large amounts to various par !
ties, among the papers of the treas |
IIrer.
HIS BAGGAGE CHECKED FOR TROY |
1t is believed that the chief of |
police has some information con- |
cerning the whereabouts of the |
absent treasurer. Information was
received tonight that when he |
changed cars at Milan he checked |
his baggage for New Orleans. This |
lends color to the belief that he has |
gone to Mexico.
The House to-day tabled a resolu-
ton to elect a receiver of the treas |
ury on Tuesday and require him to !
give bonds in 100000 for the faith |
full performance of his duties.
THE TELEGRAPH AFTER THE TREAS /
OhEh.
A member of the committee said
at a late hour tonight that tele-
grams ordering the arrest of Polk
had been sent to every city through
which he would likely pass, and |
that there is reason to believe that
he will be captured. Should he
reach Mexico, said the committee
men, there is little hope of his be-
ing brought back to Tennessee, as
there is no extradition treaty
between the United States and
1t will not be a difficult /
matter to track Treasurer Polk, by |
reason of the fact that he has
leg, with which he walks
with difficulty. Friends of the
treasurer say that he will
suicide in the event he is
arrested, AS he could not face the
people whom he has defrauded of
so large a sum. Polk placed too
much reliance in his friends, being
quite confident up TO few hours
before his departure from the city
that they would come to his assis-
tance before the legislative commit
tee commenced the examination of
his books.
Effect of the Steal
NEW YORK Jan. 6-The CONNER
cial Adviser in it's financial article
to-day says: "The pleasant little
I