New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-23
MR.. CROKER AND HIS WEA LIN
EXTRACTS FROM OTTO KEMPNEE's BOG
RAPHY OF THE BOSS.

ALLEGED DEATHBED DEcLARAlloN'-
Several columns OF extracts from the 30
sheets OF Otto Kempner's forthconihs JON
Crol<er's Career; or. Review OF the r'"''.''
tyl,y Of BIZ Tweed's Pupi! and successor, W.
nrin.ed in The Neg-York World" yesterday M
.o,r,ner begins hts story with Richard Croker
blr.h 4, B;ackrock near Quartcrtowh Nou"''
Cork on November r. 1873. joan Dl"o" INV"
said 10 be an uncle Of the subject OF inc '"e'-'
was member Of Parliament from 'ou'iS w
and another alleged unc.e. Richard 'rohei' 10"
conta,n in the British Army and AZ one time gov
ernor Of bermuda. 1t was the supposed fe'"''on
Win thes, Crokers Mr. Kempner says, w1cA ciusrp
rho Toss OF to-day 70 study hera.Gry ana 20 d'oP.
the Croker coat-of-arms. wA!ch Is no" u'p''
unon Mr. Crokcrs family stationery ana equ'pl5'
with Ia suggestive motto Deus AM H'' wa
feeds them) .,,t,
Richards father Eyre Croot Croker. came to this
country with his wife and children in 1916 ana
tho family took up their abode ~ me o.H h'oo"'
lngdale Road. near Ninety -nnih-si. ihe h''o'y -
the future Millionaire Boss Of T2nmaHy nan -
traced from his schoo.days through his prZe-hSh'-
Ing period during watch T. is said that NJ tonsht
b,,.ies IN tho ring and became trainer Of puSHsS'
his leadership OF the Tunnel Gang Ms career d.
volunteer fireman. AMI his entrance in;o po"nca'
III, under the leadership OF James y br.'H' ai'''
ward Sheriff. .
lr,e- heinz made an officer in Judge Blrnarls
court through O'Brlen's Influence. he was elected
Nderman TO fiji A vacancy In December 1853 ana
rho ncyi year was reelected for full term. Inc
Tweed charter leglslatel him out OF ONCE anu
ORrlen refused consent to Ills re-eec'Ioh u''V'
the new charter Mr.. croker soon joined Tammany
Hall AID became superintendent OF Mirhe's'
Rents and Fees under Controller Richari T. Con-
molly. Tyecl's partner in the robbery Of the cry
When Reformed Tammany" was orgarzed, under
the lead of John Kelly Mr.. Croker became one OF
keJv's trusted ieuteuarts. secured the 1dnminy
nomination for Coroner in 1873. and was elected.
i,sr ha
% his second term after being elected an Alderman
from he OIL NVIlI,n District. he was appointed
Fire Commissioner by Mayor Elson. was reap
ron,ol by Mayor Hewitt; a1l was made C!ty Cnam-
berlain under the first administration Of Mayor
Grant
TIE MKENNA AFFAIR.
T. vas lur.n; Mr. croker's fra, term "a C,:onar
~ Election Day November 5. 1874 That a quarrel
took place between James O'Brisn. who was a
can Iila,e for Congress. and Richard Croker. who
was supporting Aoram :. Hewitt, aglias; O'Br!an.
Pistols were used on both sides. AMI John Nc
Kenna henchman Of OBrisn. was fatally shot
,fr croker was indicted and tried tor tie murder
~ vcKanna On the trial Two witnesses swore
that the murdered man declared before h. deI.
~p,cb Croker sho, mo" The jury disagreed after
sevsntecn hours deibcrl,!on. AMI was discharged.
II vas learned thai the jury equally divided
six for acgui;tal and ak for conviction. Three Of
the latter believed th-t Croker nix McKenna acct
iertally Judge Barrett. who tried the case. has
since frequently expressed his belief in Mr.. Cookers
innocence.
ON the death Of Kelly Mr. Croker became the
leader OF Tammany Hal and with the ED 90 w
r,nrke Cochran Hugh j. Grant and Thcmas +.
Gnro" known for sevrra. years az thn Big FOUR
succeeded IN capturing the city. NJ. CFoker has
src, fallen out With his tWo hrst-namei associates.
aal believed not to be on the best OF terms "'n
the last
Tn. rest Of the published extracts deal with Mr.
wealth The testimony Of he Fass'tt INVESTIGATING
Committee j.. literally quoted to snow ;hat at that
period. 1882 MI Croh was a poor man. Mayor
Grant snid. while on ~ wl;ncss-stanl Al eNpanA-
don 90 h. g.f of $1,000 while he was Sheriff -
"Floysir'' Croirr. the Hos,s daughter whose god
f.ihc- tAe Mayor wa: = understand that MI
Croker WAS very poor. indeed. that they were not
well OF ne had hrge family. and fe.i mat az
ihe enid / ought 10 10 something for 1t.
een,rsly Gnterst29,d thai he WIS gIi' poor a.
the wi'lcss-stand his evidence tended - show Ms
continued poverty.
TJNF INVESTMENTS
Mr. Kempner teli- oi the Boas'- ventures as
turfmln and horso-hr,cler in ;hs wIy:
II was early Ia lsqo that Mr.. Croker entered the
field as a turfman- to benefit his health. His frs;
Investment was at RichneI Springs, WHO'RE IN
company with Ed Murphy. he bought The old
Mather stock farm and several edjoin nc pieces OF
and ana turned IL an INFO "l-acre farm. lie
hu'it additions to ne Oil houses ana barns. erected
noX-stalls Of polished wood for MS boOiei trOtars,
constructed a training nursery FOR his colts and
shipped up $1,000 worth Of hor:efesh. quarter Of
a million about represented their Joint possessions
1T the springs.
About a year later Mr. Croker made the ArSos;
purchase contaminated IN the history Ot me
American turf. tie bought from General william ".
Jackson. ~ Tennessee half Interest In the ftu!
OF the famous Belle Meade stock Farm. for which
he paid $4,000
This purchase IL must be noticed. Included only
a hair interest IN the horsp". and did not s''ul"
Mr. Croker any interest in the farm Itself That
remained the sole property Of Genera! Jackson.
y add "a
which only very wealthy man could venture TO
assume t{Y the terms OF the sale. General Jack
son was 20 receive salary of SosN year for
managing the stud. and was To be- allowed so
month for the kF"p OF eacn mare ana sl2 month
for each stallion.
SOME VALUABLE HORSES
The historian gives a partial Est Of Mr.. Cookers
separate Investments in horsehosl but a complete
inventory OF his princely munihcence in this line
has not been obtalnable Some OF his noted horses
with their prices are said 10 be follows:
l"ngstrret $50 go
f0rfVi" Belle 2I.OOD
lpDhns 5000
Rel lann" lJOO
FAIRY IOoOO
p"muh iOnp
iroguois y Duchess colt $500 ,o
Inspector I'-I'rcrcnce colt ............... 20
lIrambe-Hosa iiuckden cola Observation-Disclosures. 700
Mir Kempncr continues:
These investments did not by any means ex-
haust Mr. Cookers spare cash. He visited Fair
View Stud Farm. and offered 10000 for the stallion
Thora. shortly after that ne offered T. j. Nc
Cafferty 10000 for the three -yesr-od fly Eeen
Nichols. lie buys everything that strikes his fancy
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