The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-08
SALTMARSH.
Still No Tidings of the Defaulter.
In Fact, the Police Don't Seem to
& Care For Tidings, Anyhow.
Chief Davis Confesses to Failure to
Act in the Premises.
That Officer Don't Know" Why
He Was Allowed to Skip.
He Wants to Know" What Direc-
tion He Took, and Has Heard.
He Admits the Fugitive Gould Get
%
He Admits the Fugitive Gould Get
Clear Out of the Way.
An Appeal Reporters Visit to the
Station House Yesterday.
Chief Davis, sergt. Hackett, Special on
Ger Koran, and Turnkey Turbe-
- Vile Undertake to Explain
Few OF the Main Points.


Charles T. Saltmarsh, the dofaultng day
police station-keeper, is still conspicuously
absent from the scene OF his wholesale and
systematic pilfering.
II Is also made THE APPEALS painful
duty 10 state that the efforts thus far made
by the police to capture him would not do
credit TO ten year old child OF even aver
age intelligence
Chief Davis was kept interested yester-
day by the appearance and expressions OF
people who were not in the least surprised
at the disclosures The Chief refused to
credit the validity OF these convictions and
frankly acknowledges that he was, so 10
speak, speechless over them. Such an ad.
mission from the head OF the Memphis Po-
lice Department will hardly inspire the
public with an overwhelming confidence
in his penatrative shrewdness. How a
man OF family on salary Of $500 year,
with no other legitimate business, could
live as Saltmarsh did, under the nose OF
the Chief, and yet not excite suspicion, is
a seven days wonder. II the Chiefs ut
terances on this point may be credited,
then there are scores OF men in Memphis
better suited for the office he holds than
himself, and many oi.them are on the po-
lice force in the rank OF patrolmen.
An APPEAL reporter met Chief Davis at
the siationhouse at 3 o'clock IN. yester-
day. There was also there at the time
Sergeant Pat Hlackett. The two officers
volunteered further explanation Of how
the robberies were perpctrated, and how.
IN their judgment, II was nothing 10 be
wondered at that its discovery was de-
layed. with diversion 10 explain that
never before has any regular investigation
OF the office affairs been held, the reader
Twill coincide with the chief that robbery
was easy.) Saltmarsh had a small blank
receipt book which he used in turning
over amounts, collected on mittimuses, to
President Iladden. He filed out the fnce
OF the blank and on the reverse side made
an itemized statement, giving name Of the
party who paid and amount This he
sent to President IIadden, who signed the
receipt without once questioning its cor.
rcctness, or taking any steps TO verify II.
But the strangcst fact Is, according 10 the
chief and Sergeant Ilackett, that on the
regular mittimus book the entries are
properly and fully made. Thus Il stands
that there were two books there, almost
side by side, even casual comparison OF
which Mt any time would have re-
vealcd how things were going. Con-
fronted daily by man living
away beyond his means, sporting
the most valuable diamonds, and squander-
ing money with class oi people, associa-
ton with whom, ordinarily, Is but 10 draw
. the eye OF suspicion upon the guilty party,
the Memphis police authorities now con-
tent themselves with the plea, I'VE never
dreamed he was dishonest" Ex-Turnkey
Turbeville, as a sample Of the blind. foolish
confidence rposed in saltmarh, stated
that he and Turnkey Burdck would,
whenever they took In money on init
tmuses after night, issue their receipts,
seal the money In an envelope and place
Il In the Office safe, and think no moro
about III Well, IL is consoling TO reflect
that these trusting officials are only re.
auired 10 keep n register Of prisoners
brought In and turn the key on them be-
tween o'clock p. m. and o'clock n. m.
"What has been done toward capturing
:. salimauh7" the reporter inquired Of Chiel
II Davis. "llaye YOU sent out tclegraphic
warnings to the police OF other ciiiesf'
''Noh
Have you communicated with them in
any waya' r.,
spondence by mail. You see, have very
little information as 10 where he has gone
or what direction he took. ] wanted e
learn more definitely on that point befor,
sending out anything, 40 that when | dc
A can bc an accurate description"
''some one told me he saw saltmarsi
near tho corner Of Bcale aud Main street,
Saturday morning." volunteered the re
porter.
was seen going out certain road Friday
with bundle under his arm"
''lt caused me 90 take rough ride on
that way too" said Special officer lloan
"Do you not suppose he was walking on
20 n neighboring railroad station 10 taxi
the train7" inquired the reporter.
"Ycs, | suppose 10, said the Chiei
'but hc might not take the train for sey
cral DAYS, or until the tnt skirmish 10
him was over" From present indica
tIons that will be long way OF, for tina
''rkifmish" has not yet bcgun.)
"Do YOU suppose the report that rcachc
you concerning his pedeslrianism va
IueT
''Oh, yes; he was seen out there, pos
lively replied the Chief.
I'll he should De making ior Canadf
Mexico, or any other country lac would b
able 20 reach there before you made an
special effort 20 have him apprehcnde
and arrested, would he not9 You see, h
left Friday, this is Sunday and trains go 4
great speed these days"
"Yos," admitted the chief with hes
fancy, III guess he would"
III don't believe he had any none
..h.., Ia laff lara Ia fa xaFt fuF - iufa
ruptcd Ilomn. IL tried to borrow 90 cen
from him last week aud he told Inc !
didn't have Il. lie spent that mono
about as fast 10 lac took IT,"
"Why did you let him get away at al