Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-10
CROKER TURF KING.
He MAY RETIRE FROM POLITICS
FOR The RACE-TRAck.
His Fortune Ia 10 Politics Can
Give Him No More aad Racing
Delights Him.
New York Press)


II his friends are to be believed, Rich
ard Croker. the virile and silent leader OK
Tammany Hal. has about decided upon
radical departure. which will involve MS
retirement from active politics. and will
also enable him to realize what from boy
hood has been one OF his most Cherished
ambitions. Tammany has given Mr.. croker
all that II can ever bestow. Under MS
leadership II has reached degree or pow
er unsurpassed IN his history, ana lot SIX
years has enjoyed continued and unbrokeh
success In this city-a record OF WHICH
even John Kelly could never boast On
the other hand Tammany has given br.
Croker a national reputation as q polt-
zeal organizer. and has also enabled MIN
TO amass fortune that consloeraoiy eA-
ceeds a million. With the money thus ac-
quired 1t Is now said he intends TO go INTO
horse racing ana breeding, pursuit.
which has long had an especial charm
for him. and from which he is pursuaded
that under careful management large anu
steady profits will accrue.
His career on the turf has mus Iar
been In every way profitable ana sue
cessful. His winnings in a single gay
have several times exceeded SiV'JIO' I hu
thus far this season his horses nave
earned him nearly $4,000. His friends fay
that he looks for earnings before he &ea-
son ends Of between 10000 ana NoVto'
aside from his gains from backing hlS
horses, which may be nearly as large
Mr.. Croker has already invested more
than hale a million in racing horses, ana
his MANS for next season are said to be
still more daring and ambitious tic IN
tends to purchase several horses, TOT
which enormous prices ara no" dsheu,
and Is perfecting his plans to capture az
least one of the great stakes a sun
more ambitious project OF Mr. CROKER -
Il is believed, IL by-and-by 70 ioiloW IN
the footsteps Of Jim Keene. and capture
one of the great prizes IN races upon 'he
other side of the water.
Prompted by his wife, who 10 very
ambitious as well as a very clever Wo-
man. Mr. Croker IL also said TO nave pc
come ambitious for social honors HIS
house on East Seventy-fourth street VIII
be a model OF comfort and luxury.
For the decorations and furnishings Mr..
Croker has employed Fifth avenue urn
which makes speciality OF "high art III
its line. and whose services command sucn
sums that only the wealthy can anord
10 engage them. Mr.. Croker proved fas-
tidious. and the firm was put upon lts
rnettle to please him. The wood carving,
the frescoing, the painting and all that
having been settled, the firm Is now Try
ing to please Mr.. Croker In the matter Oh
furniture. Its artists are at work MAKING
special designs, which are to be suomltteu
10 Mr.. Croker Electric light delivered III
many artistic shapes Is 10 be the hluihlla'
ton, and inasmuch as the very large eA-
tension is to be the dining room--"heie
the llgt are TO be especially numerous
tg n
belief that Mr.. Croker intends being gen
erous entertainer.
RACES BETTER THAN POLITICS.
Mr.. Croker has been seen more often
This season at Monmouth and the other
race tracks than at the headquarters Oh
Tammany Hall in Fourteenth street In
bis visits to the differnt tracks he Is
often accompanied by Edward S. Stokes,
Who has been one of his boon companions
for many years. In any gathering MT
Croker IS a striking and notable inquire
His dress Is always severely PLAIN IN
build he IS short and stout, ana stuDoy
black beard and mustache eonceal
mouth and chin, the lines or which de-
note great resolution and abundant iofce
of character. In manner he Is quiet anu
reserved and never becomes e&clteu, even
under the most trying conditions. Ohiihe
I'm his dealings with others, he Is easily
unavoidable by everybody and patient
listener. He frequents hotels, cafes ana
other public places, Is fond OF a good
story. a good dinner and good cigar
but never drinks liquor in any form.
Mr. Croker's life, since he came rom
Ireland 3 moor boy and found livelihood
as an engineer on the New York Central
has been a most interesting one, ana the
manner in which he came 10 succeed
Kelly as the leader of Tammany lu7rlsiles
the theme for a novel. Twenty years ago ne
was the leader of Kelly's ward, and al
though totally dissimilar in makeup they
never ouarreled. One clustering election
day when the ballots were falling as th)ek
es snowfakes, Croker walked into the
nolling place and in some manner became
involved In a row with one or the "aio
workers named McKenna. Croker chargeo
McKenna with selling out the regular
candidate. There was a bitter war o.
words and blows. Suddenly pistol snct
was heard, and Mckenna fell the moor
MORALLY wounded. Croker was arrested
and charged with murder. HIS Iilai at
tracted great interest. Two OF his stanch-
est friends in his time or need were Jonh
Kelly and Mayor Hewitt Neili e. o,
them believed that ne hred the Iatal
shot. and they furnished funds Tor the
payment Of his lawyers and showed their
belief in his innocence by sitting beside
him in court Croker was acquitted ana
Kelly was satisfied that the pistol shot
WAS fired by one Of Mckennas lrlends'
with the intention of killing Croker. For
n long time Croker was under cloud
Then, when people had forgotten aboCt
the murder he was nominated for aldel-
man, and was triumphanty vindicatei at
Il To- rnn
iority. Kelly's friendship ior him grew
and he was brought more nearly into the
council chambers of Tammany Hail.
lie developed such extraordinary 'poiit-
ical power that when Kelly died he was
elected TO his place without opposition.
He paid his debt of gratitude to Kelly by
always being loyal to him. Nothlng could
induce him TO speak jisrespectfully or
Kelly, even when he made the most stupid
blunders. He paid his debt OF gratitude
10 Hewitt by making him mayor of Ne"
York. Gratitude, in fact. is one or Mr.
Crokers cardinal virtues. There Is only
one thing in politics" said he, not long
ago, only one quality a man now has
got TO have to be successful. and that Is
gratitude. Never forget a man who has
done you a favor, and always stick 70 the
fellow who has stuck to you.
IF you do that, nothing can beat yea.
4 have some men who have stuck 10 the
ever since / was twenty-one years ola. /
don't think you will easily find one OF
them In want"
Mr.. Croker is n man Of strong domestic
tastes, and wholly devoted to his wife
and children. His wife has had much 10
do with Mr.. Croker. She is Il lady OF re-
markably strong character, as well as OF
lovely disposition. She was Miss Mar
- # w.H.ll 10
Irish family. and it was after she nad
graduated with honor at one OF the con-
vents here that she met Dir. Croker. Be
Ing girl of strong character and refined
tastes. II was a matter OF wonder to his
many friends that she would take fancy
TO a man OF Cookers stamp, who was tho
rudest of ward politicians when he aeci-
iently became acquainted with Miss Fra
zler. However, the shrewd girl was not
long discovering that beneath Dick Crok-
er's rough exterior there was excellent
stuff Then she fell in love with him.