Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-07
MEMPHIS APPEAL
JANUARY Z, 1883
MAnsH POLK,s THEFT.

If the statements which we publish this
morning from Nashville are true, Marsh Polk
deliberately robbed the State and deliberately
sonspired with othera 70 rob her. He ia a
deep.dyed criminal, unworthy of pity and
on whom 'tWere alnost criminal 10 waste
tear. Five years ago he began to steal the
money of the State, and to conspire with
Others, who shared in the profit of hi,
crimes. He bought silver mines in Mex
lco and State bonds in New York, and
freely exchanged the funds intru.ted 10
his keeping for the dse.biIIs of his
friends and his partners. He dealt with the
contents of the treasury Of the State az If il
was his own 10 do with it as be pleassd
Already the names of two we'll known poll
tioisns have been brought 10 light as borrow
srs on no better security than their own dus.
bills, one for $4,000 and the other for
$4,000. One of these men, Mai Tom
OConner, who was killed. in Knoxville
last November, and whose memory
was enbalmed in tender eulopies
by the press of the State, and who
was also Folks partner in the silver mines.
is beyond the reach of the courts, and can.
not answer for himself, but Mr.. Duncan
Cooper, the other, ia alive and can speak for
himself and tell his feIlow-citizens il there
IL any connection between his due-bill for
$4,000 and the purchase Of the American
last summer. Mr.. MilIiken, of the House.
who is probing this theft and conspira cy. also
tells US that Polk was SO Unsuitable and greedy
ahAt he even stole the last $4,000 OF the
school fund Of the State. The details of
fhis Wholesale and deliberate theft as they
have reached us are shocking beyond words
to express, and then, as If 10 color them with
the lowest order of crime, there is added the
details OF the burglary by which bill was
, stolen from the desk Of the clerk of the lac
Senate, chissl being used 10 pry it
open. Thus there is nothing wanting
TO the complete disgrace of a man
whose sntecedents and family were supposed
10 be good guarantees OF his integrity, and
whose services as soldier in the Federal and
Confederate armies were regarded as addi-
tional reasons for repesing good faith in him.
uanything were wanting to explode the "good
family" and the "blood" business this Dug hit
to do 1t. "Chance makes rogues," as in this
case Of Folks, and all the good blood III at
has flowed since it came in with the M ost
notorious OF thieves William the Conqueror,
will not prevent crime when temptation,
tendency and opportunity combine. Good
blood is often shield-how often let the
history of the past twenty years tell-it ia
often = mere blind. The craze of the aga is
money--mouey at-sny price and at any cost
The ease with which dsfaulters escape pun
ishment, and the farces into which the trials
OF public robbers are turned, make crimes
Like Folks seem petty, too trivial to
be prosecuted. Sympathy, too, is easily
excited for high caste criminals. Family
and political connections are invoked to stsy
the hand OF the law, sometimes to corrupt
the fountains OF justice and silence the press.
The interests of the State and society are lost
sight of in pity for the kindred OF the rascal |
In this case of Folks neither his good
blood. his relationships, his previous
good conduct" his political partnerships, |
nor any other of the usually moving
and melting considerations have been per-
mitted 10 weigh. He is being fearlessly ex-
posed, aud we may believe from the alert
ness and earnestness OF the legislative com
nitee will be dealt with to the utmost
extent of the law if arrested. Let US hope
for that result, and that all the partners in
his guilt may be uncovered and punished as
they deserve