The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-01-10
100000 CONE +!
STATE TREASURER POLK A
FUGITIVE DEFAULTER!
MONEY LOST In SPECULA-
TONS!
His Bond Probably Worthless

His Bond frODaDly hOrIhlesS
Thelegislative committee appoint
ed to investigate the Office OF the
State TT easurer reported to the Sen
ate January 5, that the Treasurer
had been out of the city for two
DAYS and that his clerk was not pre-
pared to make a settlement OF his
accounts. The committee reported
a deficit in the treasury of $500, 900
and after consultation with the Urea
surer's bondsmen recommended
suspension of the business of his Of
flee FOR the present. The announce
ment of the deficit produced a gen
uine sensation throughout the city.
A Joint resolution was adopted Dy
both houses of the legislature in
structing the Attorney General OF
the State to attach instantly all the
available assets belonging to Nj. L.
Polk, that they may be held for the
satisfaction of the said deficit.
The committee authorized to take
possession of the Treasurer office
had turned over to them by Capt.
Fleming, the Treasurer's clerk, the
following moneys paper, so,9OO,
gold, S19 80, silver, 1926 90, besides
a quantity of loan currency, which
swelled the total amount TO S5,o26.
In a conversation with an American
reporter Capt. Fleming stated that
on the previous Monday he inform
ed the Treasurer that the books
showed large deficiency, and the
first thing the legislature would do,
he said to Polk, would be to appoint
a committee to examine the books OF
the office, and be urged him to make
the deficit good Immediately. Col.
Polk answered in the most confident
tone that he had made satisfactory
arrangements, that in a day OF two
he would leave for Bolivarand Mem
phis, expecting TO return Saturday.
In reply to the question, where did
the money go?" Capt. Fleming said,
"some of it went in speculation; but
as YOU doubtless know, Col. Polk
was a most liberal man. L have Of
ten saved him loss myself, when, at
nv request, he would send some one
to me whom he could not muster
courage to refuse. He has made
large loans, and much of the pres
ent trouble is the failure of those to
respond whom he has accommodate
ed Startling rumors are current
that notes for large amounts were
found among Folks private papers,
one for $4,000, one for $4,000,
another for $4,000 and a simple
ticket representing $4,000.
The books and papers of the Of
fee were further examined on the
9th and show a defalcation of S4O3,-
666.6l. The amount on deposit in
repositories is 5000, 544. Thsamount
of the defalcation may be lessened
S25, 900. as the treasurers books
show that the amount is due from
the Mechanics bank of Knoxville,
though the bank denies owing any
thing. Several notes and due bills
said to be among the effects, are not
there, all such having been removed
by Polk, if they existed. Eighty
four thousand dollars in United
States bonds, paid into the treasury
bv the Tennessee National Bank OF
Memphis during Brownlow's adj
ministration, a special deposit, are
part of the defalcation
1t is stated that as there was no
bond since Gov. Hawkins took hold
until last May, it will be hard to fix
the liability on Polk present bonds
men, as it will be almost impossible
to ascertain when the money was
taken from the Treasurer safe. The
bondsmen propose to mako an ex-
animation of their own after the
committee gets through. The idea
prevails among the members of the
legislature as we'll as elsewhere, that
others besides Polk are implicated
in the swindle, and every effort will
be made to ferrit out the parties in
volved and bring them to justice.
Descriptions of Col. Polk have
been telegraphed to every point to
which there was any probability OF
his going. The most prevalent be
lief is that he is making for Mexico,
where he has large mining interests.
Gov. Hawkins has had no applica-
ton for his arrest. As to Polk S
whereabouts nothing is known. He
was seen on sleeper that passed
Memphis last Thursday morning,
going to Little Rock. His relative
and the manager of his farm near
Bolivar, Tenn, Mr.. Alexander, was
seen in Little Rock Thursday, EN-
route to Mexico, and it is thought