The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-17

bitter, and. what made it worse my
first child was born while | was under
arrest on that charge. | felt il very
much. and so did my poor wife
The case came on for trial before
judge who was very prejudiced against
nae q. the time They swore all they
coIld against me. and he charged the
jury for a conviction. | do not want to
say anything about him now, for he has
long since seen what a cruel mistake he
made and has done all he could, pub
licly and privately. to make atoncment
for IL. He is still "A judge Of the supreme
court. and many times he tells me that
the only object he has left i'm life is To
make atonement for the injury he did
me at that trial
the jury, however, were not unani-
nous. They hopelessly disagreed and
had TO he discharged. / was released on
bail, being held i'm bonds To come up at
any time for a new trial. But. notwith-
standing the malice of my enemies and
the charge of the judge, the people saw
that | was innocent and instead OF be-
ing crushed | became an object Of pop
ular sympathy. / continued i'm my office
as coroner, and no effort was made to
bring me again to trial John Kelly.
TO compel them to send the case before
another jury and take steps To force on
another trial. Then the district attorney
entered a nolle pros. and admitted that
he had no case. and SO the matter drop,
ped, So far as the courts are concerned"
Years afterward Richard Croker, as
chairman Of "a Tammany Hall delega-
tion, gave to the judge who had tried
him for murder the nomination TO the
supreme court bench. No word was
spoken of the past, but two men that
day appreciated one of the dramatic
situations of life.
Twenty odd years ago I reported an
inquest held by Coroner Croker in the
case ot a little Italian child who had
died in a charitable institution after
brutal treatment by the acting super
intendent. Among tne trustees OF the
institution were several OF the most
prominent citizens OF New York, who
were extremely anxious for the exon
Grafton of the actins superintendent.
whom Croker had placed under arrest
and who was present at the inquest as
a prisoner. Under the lax methods OF
the coroner's court these citizens were
very dcmonstrative and so impressed
the jury that the latter against the
weight of evidence, brought in a verdict
clearing the prisoner from blame. Cro-
ker received the verdict without COM
ment and. giving il to his clerk. said
The prisoner is committed 10 the
Tombs without bail"
Instantly there was a hubbub in the
room. The phianthropic millionaires
crowded up and denounced the action
vigorously, but Croker sat perfectly ST.
lent and TO all appearance unmoved.
When the crowd had had its say to the
last word. he turned his head and in
dicating the prisoner by n nod said
Officer take him away"
In all Mr.. Croker's career I never
knew him 10 be swerved more than he
was then by any influence whatever
after he had decided as 10 his course
That is one trait that makes him what
he is
Apparently he is never hasty in such
decision. I never heard any man
complain that Richard Croker had re-
fused 60 give him a hearing, or that he
had not listened attentively. Listening
i'm fact. seems TO be a fine art as Rich
ard Croker practices IL. when want
60 know public sentiment" ne once
said. II don't go To district leaders or
20 representative men. / 60 around
town alone and talk with workingmen
who don't know me. The front platform
Of a horse car is a good place to find
ont wha. the people think.
III" best analysis of Richard Croker
seems 10 indicate that his Influence a.
the result OF hs Judgment and his
knowledge of New York men ana con
1itious How hs has obtained HE kpc -
-ige must be- judged by what has been
said already. As to his Judgment, "a
single instance is fairly illustrative.
When John Kelly died. Tammsny