The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-14
CROKER HELD HIS PEACE.


RKD 1EAL STORY OF TIE MURDER OF
WHICH HE WAS ACCUSED
ne Ts1nssy Leader Might Have Been
Acquitted nghtesa Years Ago HAD He
said The Word that Would Have
Brssght the Zeal ORsaaer 10 the Bar
New, Patrick Craig. One or Hts Accus.
srs. s.a Burke. the Rioter who Refused
- TESTIFY, Have Sought Forgiveness
frsn HI. Croker. ana Perhaps the
Slayer win Confess Before He Dies.
The story Of the killing Of John McKenna on
election day. 1874. was brought to the surface
again last Monday by the visit OF Peter Burke
30 Richard Croker. Burke the Rioter." as no
u Familiarity known. asked for and obtained
mon Mr.. Croker forgiveness for failing to
appear at Croker's trial for the murder Of Nc
Kenna and testify for the defence.
The true story Of the events leading up to
NcKenna's death is here set forth for the first
ime. 1t contains many facts that heretofore
have been carefully concealed and. at this
late date. were obtained with much DIM
Guilty Tho story as 1t Is printed here was
shown to Mr. Croker and he was asked to say
II the narrative was incomplete in any impor-
tant particular. He replied that he deemed it
unwise for him to pass judgment upon It.
All he knew OF the actual shooting Of No
Xsnna. he said had been told him by others.
He was asked to designate some gentleman
q prominence who was In position to pass
upon the accuracy OF this story. and he re-
tsfred tho reporter to Michael Il. DAILY. Com
missioner Of Accounts. At the time OF the
shooting OF McKenna Mr.. DAILY was opposed to
Mr.. Croker and was a supporter OF James
OBrien. He read this story carefully. and
Then said:
"when this is printed It will be the FIRST time
that anything like truthful straightforward
FUport OF circumstances surrounding McKen-
Aa's death has been given to the public"
Local politicians are not only convinced Of
n. 0rcker's entire innocence Of Mckenzie
death. but nearly every one OF them can put
his hand upon the man who shot McKenna.
Mr.. Croker learned the name Of the guilty man
while ON his way to tho station house where he
himself was aiterwsrd charged with the crime.
Other men who were mixed up In the election
day fight who appeared against Mr. Croker.
not only knew who had shot McKennA. but
were close enough to him to see his weapon.
THE STORY.
The Tammany Congress Convention. held
early in the fall OF 1874. in the Tenth district,
nominated Abram 8. Hewitt. and the eight to
elect him began Immediately. The task OF
winning the Twenty first ward. . part OF the
Tenth district, was intrusted to Croker.
who was then . Coroner. Ex-Sherin James
O'Brien. popularity known as Jimmy O'Brien.
and Croker had been friends up to the
time d the charter election. In the spring Of
1870. They had been playmates In boyhood.
and when they became young men they were
still very intimate. O'Brien Joined the old
Volunteer Fire Engine No IL. in East Thirty
third street, while Mr.. Croker ran with Engine
No. %. O'Brien first began dabblnG
in politics in 1865. and his interest in 1t was
soon shared by Croker. who gave up his place
Is mschinist In the old railroad roundhouse in
Fourth avenue and made it his business to
support his brother aremen in all their polit-
lcal affairs.
In the fall Of 1867. o'Brien. having been
chosen Sheriff. resigned his place as Alder
man of the Fifteenth district. and in the fol-
lowing year he aided Croker in securing the
vacant seat There was difficulty about
Croker getting the salary. and Q slight cold
ness sprang up between the two mon. 1t was
finally adjusted when Croker received war
rant for his salary as Alderman. which
amounted to $4,000. In order to get the war
rant cashed he had to pay 81. 900 discount
o'BR1EN AND CROKER QUARREL.
Croker was elected Alderman for Q new
term in the fall of 1860. but he held the place
for i've minutes only. being legislsted out Of
once by Tweed. He expected to get the nomi-
nation when the new Board was elected in
May under the Tweed charter. He wanted
OBrien to help him get the nomination. but 1t
appears that O'Brien went to Dick Connolly.
who controlled the nomination. and told him
70 give 1t to Bernard O'Neill. q deputy sheriff.
It II said that O Brien had promised to support
Croker. and that the bad faith he showed
turned the latter against him.
Croker then began a fight to Gust OBrlen
from leadership in the Twenty first ward. He
started the Tammany Association in East
Thirty-frst street as rival to the Jackson
Club, O'Brien's organization. In Lexington
avenue. When O'Brien ran as the Reform
candidate for Senate in 1870. Croker strove to
defeat him. Once Croker was attacked at
Third avenue and Thirty first street by q gang
Of O,grien's men headed by an ex-depnty
sheriff named Moore. Croker whipped the
whole gang. Then John l. Davenport was ap-
arrest OF the most active OF Cookers friends.
and they were locked up on charge Of violat-
Croker was finally made tho Tammany
leader q the ward; and later he was made
held this place until he was elected Coroner.
The proeress that Croker was making IN poll;
G sss saa%Ry R sh 5
Democrat and he had no difficulty in finding
In the ward q number OF men as independent
- himself The jackson Club. Of which lie
was member. was powerful political organ
izstion. that numbered among its members
jenkins Van schaick. Lawrence =. Herman.
James McGreEor. b: H. Bixby. +. NJ. Bixby.
worth. William c. Barrett. Henry l. Clinton.
George w. Wingate Abraham II. Lawrence.
prominent men in Apollo Hall. 1t was under
stood that all these men were behind O'Brien
candidates. The ranks Of the independents
grew. and In 1874 they nominated O'Brien as
the opponent Of Mr.. Hewitt
wARLIKE TIMES THEN.
OBrien's personal followers wore hustlers.
From morning until late at night they went
singly and in parties throughout the district
canyassing for votes, OBrien was popular. and
as election day drew near, It looked as though
his prospects were excellent, This urged the
Tammany men to increasing efforts. and
angry collisions were not ,infrequent, There
had been pretty hard fights in that district
TammanY man and q successful Retter OF