The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-01
HIGH BORN
TRAIN R0BBER
Polk, Partner Of Jesse
James, Well Connect
ed in Delaware.

Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 81 1t trnnsp1res
that two descendants Of famous sires were
concerned in the recent Leeds train rob-
berry. Not only was the chief bandit i'm.
plicnt ID, tho son aud namesake of Jesse
james, but Charles NJ. Polk. friend Of
Jesse, Jr., aud one Of the five men indict-
ed for completely in the robbery, is the
grandson and namesake Of ex.Govenor
Charles Polk, Of Delaware, and direct
dnscan1'ut of James X. Polk the eleventh
President of the United States
Nhi.e Polk is in the jail here in default
OF 5000 bail, his wife lies dying of con-
sumption at her little homo, near by, and
the prisoner tells the following story of
himself, although he refuses to refer to his
crime:
Eyes, it's true that am grandson of
Governor Polk, of Delaware, and relative
OF President Polk and Tru,ten Polk, Of
st Louis My father, Charles G. Polk,
who lives at No. 2!l9 Ca herine street,
Philadelphia, Is o physician and surgeon.
He has been there for years. Now,
through my grandfather, the Governor OF
Delaware. am related to General Will
liam Polk of Revolutionary fame, and to
Commodore Polk, and also to General
Leouidas Polk who was missionary bishop
of Arkansas and tho Indian Territory for
the Episcopal Church just previous to the
war. When tie rebellion broke out he
entered the Confederate service and dis
tlnguished himself 1t was his father,
William, who served in ho Revolutionary
war; so, You see. he came naturally OF
fighting stock, II he was churchinan.
IAN uncle of mine John Purncll Polk,
was employed in the State Department at
Washington for nearly 40 years. He died
An 1850 at Brldgeville, Del
Another OF my fathers brothers, Will
liam Polk, is Register of Deeds ut George
town, Sussex County Del. Theodore an
uncle OF mine, is II druggist and doctor at
Georgetown. My grandfather, the Cover
nor, was cousin of President Polk.
Grandfa' hers homestead Is about nine
miles below Milford, on Delaware Bay.
I've speut many u happy hour huLtin
and fishing there. The old house still
stands, but tho heirs have rented II out.
my grandfather WIS wealthy, and,
through the death Of an uncle, came into
possession Of II lot of slaves yet he was
not believer in lavery. l remember one
story they tell Of him which indicates his
goodness OF heart. 1t meant grea, deal
Tor man to do il slave u favor In those
days. He owned II darby named Robert
Scott. Scott foil in love with dueky
maiden namsd Eliza. who belonged to II
neighbor Grandfather found it out, and
one day he said to Scott: Robert, how
would you like to have me buy 'Liza:'
I'D like 1t very much, sah' replied the
darby. promptly, shifting on his feet,
We'll, grandfather bought El!zn." con.
tinued Polk. and he told Scott that if no
wanted to marry tho girl and go 10 farm.
ing he'd give him II cabin and five or six
acres OF ground on Cabin Ridge. Scott
married double. quick, and my grandfather
not only did rs he promised but threw in
horse and Il yoke of oxen to boot, and
then gave them their freedom. Anybody
in Su sox County can tell you ABOUT old
Robert scott. His son, Robert, Jr., nursVd
ns when | was child"