The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-13
POLK's DEFALCATIoN.
A New Move-SuIts to BE Brought Against
Banks for Recovery of Money

Nashville Letter.
There was new and important move made
In this interesting case to-day that may throw
some light on the dark places.
Encouragement Lea and John J. Vertrees,
acting for the State, entered suit against the
Merchants National Bank of Nashville for
$57, $50 Suits will be begun at once against
the Nashville Savings Bank for $33, 979.
against the Mechanics Bank at Knoxville for
$50, 900. and against the First National Bank
of Columbia for $45 900. The bill of COM
plant, which is based upon a report of
special committee of the Legislature in the
case already stated which charges that these
banks unawfally permitted State Treasurer
Polk to report balances to his credit in them
of the amounts named, when the money was
not there to his credit.
1t appears that last May special commit
tee of the Legislature appointed to in
vestgate Mr.. Folks Office and it is charged
that he covered up his defalcations by
making some arrangements with these four
banks, that were State repositories, to carry
fictitious balances for him. The report of
the special legislative committee, appointed
since the defalcation, in relation to these
banks says:
LAS to these four banks, the committee is of
the opinion that their conduct is ndefensible,
and they are equally responsible to the State
for the injury resulting therefrom. BY their
conduct they have enabled the treasurer, NJ.
T. Polk to make a false settlement of his ac-
count with the Legislature, and TO continue
in office whereby his then large default has
since been increased more than 100000.
and the State has been wronged and injured,
and the Attorney general should be in
structed to at once take such steps against
L.. 4 H..
to recover from them the loss accruing to the
State from their conduct, or at least to hold
them liable for the amount of the credits
which they wrongfully entered on Mr. Folks
account as Treasurer"
These suits against the bank, and other
matters that are yet behind the curtain, con-
vince people here that a settlement OF Mr..
Folks difficulties is near at hand. The ex-
State Treasurer is an amiable, good-natured
man. who has a good war record with the
Confederacy and stood high as a citizen be-
fore this defalcation. 1t is apparent that he
got into the hands of sharks soon after he
became State Treasurer. and that they have
Systematically feeced him from that day
until ne fled the State. He was largely mixed
up in the settlement of the State debt from
the day the State began to daily with it, and
was, therefore, an easy victim for the shrewd
spectators that soon gathered about him.
They have profited by Folks misfortunes,
ard they are now expected to come forward,
pay off his liabilities in deprecated notes.
thus taking 1882 900 more out of the State
treasury make money out OF the transac
ton, save themselves from trouble and ex-
posture, and keep their victim out of prison.
Some of the men who are supposed to be
interested in this honorable transaction
doubtless sit mighty close to the Amen
corner" OF some of the leading churches
Funny. isn't it? that poor devil gets hung
for stealing a mule or the hungry man into
prison for stealing bread, while the man who
robs his neighbor or his State, without stint,
keeps a higher place in the synagogue and
society.