New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
FLIGHT rs CONFESSION.

II cannot be n mere coincidence that for the
third time Mr. Richard Croker who as chair
man Of its Finance Committee and titular Lead
or is more familiar with the machinery Of Tam
many Hall the men who run IL and the methods
they pursue than any other living person
has with suddenncSs and uncxpectcdncSS sur
prSing to his intimate friends. skipped ont OF
the reach Of a legislative committee engaged in
investigating the municipal government for
which Tammany Hall is responsible. When the
Fassett Committee began its work in 1890 II
was the general expectation that Mr. Croker
would be called as a witness, and that his tcsti-
mony would throw great deal Of light upon
the subjects of their inquiry But 10. sudden
w. before he could be summoned, he went
plunging through the Narrows in an ocean
steamer. and for many months thereafter East
Fourteenth-st. sighed in vain for him. Europe
enjoyed his beaming presence and the Fassett
Committee worried along without him. His
health had broken down, his friends said and
nothing short OF the climate Of Europe could
restore 1t. Again last winter, when the
IeXow Committee was about 10 enter
upon the same field of inquiry, and Mr..
Cookers name was on cverybodyS lips as
most important witness that gcnilcmans health
broke down. and II was given out that nothing
could restore 1t except long journey through
the South and Southwest and across the CONT
ncnt He went And he did not return until
after the Lcxow Committee had completed the
first branch Of its inquiry and made lis report
These may have been condolences Remark
able 10 be sure, but possibly only casual and
accidental. 1t was not unnatural In the cir
cumstanccs that many persons connected these
sudden physical breakdowns with the mpend-
ing subpoenas, bat II was possible for himself
and his friends TO deny the connection and
charge all such uncharitable insinuations 10 the
malignity OF political opponents. II was not
impossible that Mr.. Cookers sudden departure
upop two separate and marked occasions
from the Jurisdiction Of n committee before
whom he was certain 10 be called as one OF its
most important witnesses Just in time 10 escape
the service Of a subpoena, was wholly accl-
dental. There was just the fainieat sort OF mar
gin for offering that theory for the satisfaction
of the credulous. II might 90 twice. Only
twice at the outside Now that this remarkable
coincidence has happened for the third time II
has ceased 10 he O coincidence and lost entirely
its character as an accident. For the third
time Mr.. Richard Croker has fed out Of the
Jurisdiction Of n committee who want him. and
want him. as he knows and everybody knows,
excuses: no explanation explains; no subtcrfuGc
or evasion prevaricatiOn can veil the char
acter or mitigate the significance Of this last
precipitate flight. For this is fight beyond any
question And fight Is confession Twecd's
successor has followed Tweed's example and
fed the country. More cunning and farsceing
than Tweed he has not waited for the coils 10
tighten round him 10 take the chances Of escape
from prison walls. but has availed himself Of
the opportunity while liberty was lef; him.
The whole cdifice OF Tammany misrule and
corruption Is crumbling. and the rats are on the
run. The prccptatc fight Of Croker is only ono
indication Of the CONSERVATION which has over
taken the corrupt men who have so long plum
dered this town, and who only n few weeks ago
were either cOntempmously dcrdng or au-
daciously defying the effort TO dslodge them.
Unless we greatly mistake, the coming week
will bring new revelations and developments
which will increase their discomftur and send
more Of them whirlng, perhaps out Of The coun-
try, perhaps up the river, at any rate out Of
public life and into the obscurity OF disgrace.