Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-24
Plaintiff in Damage Suit Against City Falls
Into Trap.
GIVES TESTIMONY AGAINST HIMSELF
swears this He Lived in Third ward,
whereas RecOrd shows that
He Voted in the sixth
ward.

clear case Of illegal registration and voting
and one which would be less dificult for
the county attorney to get action on than
those manipulated and accomplished under
the direct supervision and direction Of
the corporate machine.
J The suit is that of Harry Croker against
the city for $4,000 because Of injuries al
legged to have been sustained June 21, 1901,
when a loaded wagon on which Croker
was seated 'chucked' into a hole in the
paving on North Sixteenth street and
caused him to be thrown of, run over and
the tendons of his right groin ruptured.
with the result that he spent nineteen
days In a hospital. The defense alleges
that he got under the wagons wheel
through his own carelessness.
THE apparent illegal registration was
disclosed" said Mr.. Connell, when the
legal department sought to prepare its de-
Tense in this suit. Under my direction
Judge Cockrell of this department has en-
deayored to find Croker for the past year
(his summons on us was served in July,
1901, to have an examination made OF his
pretended injuries. Neither Cockrell nor l
could ascertain anything concerning Crock
er's whereabouts except that he was living
in Randolph, la. l was therefore very much
surprised when / CHANGED to note his name
on the registration books of the Sixth
ward of Omaha and learned that he had
not only registered there, but voted there
at the recent election. I knew that he
was in the city only for the purpose Of at
tending the trial Of his suit against the
city and was stopping temporarily at the
Thurstou hotel. l thereupon caused further
investigation and ascertained that he had
registered at the hotel a few days before
the last registration day as from Randolph,
Ia, but had subsequently secured the hotel
register and with a knife had scratched
OF the name Randolph and written over the
place the word Omaha. The hotels clerk
informed Judge Cockrell that he saw
Crocker do this and the marks on the
books are still readable.
Voted in sixth Ward.
But the registration books showed that
he had voted in the Sixth ward, whereas
the Thurston is many blocks away, in the
Third ward. Becoming interested we In
vestigated further and ascertained that he
claimed to have made his home at 946
North Twenty-fourth. Since then l have
secured afhdavits In denial Of this, 80 that
even II he were a resident of the city,
which he is not, he was guilty Of false
registration in that he voted in a ward
| where ne 0dQ uOL DNcu AT al Nv "hClS
he presented no affdavit Of removal. His
action in, changing the hotel records in
dicates very clarly that he realized he
was getting on dangerous ground, notwith-
standing the fact that his counsel, 1. r.
Andrews, a strong Mercer follower and
antaRonistic to the city administration
now tries to make light Of It and keep IT
out of the records as having no bearing
on the present case.
'In examining the witness I sought only
to find out where he had been and II Omaha
really is his home. 1t is not my purpose to
take any action with regard to criminal
proceedings, for II is no part OF my duties
to prosecute in cases Of this nature. That
is a matter resting entirely with the
county attorney. l am advised by Judge
CockreII, however, that Deputy County At
torney Dunn has heard OF the nature OF
the testimony and evidence in the damage
suit, and has asked for the records for
the purpose Of investigating the case and
considering what action II any should De
taken against Croker"
COnnen Sets the Trap.
The attempt OF Attorney Connell to get
Crocker to state his place OF residence
was made in the course Of the cross-exam-
ination of the witness Friday and resulted
in these questions and answers:'
Question-where are you stopping? An
swer-At the present stopping at the
Thurston hotel.
Q.-How long have you been stopping
there? Alright after election; the next
day after election. / held forth there
three days before election. ! took a room
there and | was away about seven days,
something similar to that, and been stop
ufn. cInra that Tina have 0een out OF
town.
Q.-Are you stopping there permanently
or temporarily? A.-Temporarily.
Q.-Have you been during the present
year stopping there any time permanently
or temporarily? Al have been stopping
there at the Thurston hotel on and on
since John NJ. Ball stopped housekeeping
the latter part OF July.
O.-And you have not been living with
him since last July? Ale stopped
housekeeping, as I said.
Q.-Answer my question. You have not
been living with him since last July? A
No, sir.
Q.-Then, II I understand you correctly
at such times as you may have been In
Omaha during the year 1902 you have
stopped at the Thurston hotel? Is that
correct? Ayes, a part OF the time. Not
all the time while have been In Omaha.
Q.-Have you stopped or made your resi-
dence at any time during the year 1902 al
any place other than the Thurston hotelI
Ayes, sir.
Q.-Where? A.-North Twenty-fourth
street.
Q.-Who were you with when at North
Twenty-fourth street? AIRS. Borin.
"a daughter of John Ball? Ayes
sir.
Q.-What number on North Twenty
fourth street? A.-946.
Q.-When did you stop there during the
year 1902? A.-Of and on. along, ever
since Mr.. Ball left there. I would go VI
and TAX my meals II she did not have Z
room for ne. l would be in town a day
or two, principally Friday and Saturday
} and 1 would come in and stay over Sun.
day.
Q.-when. II at all. did you stay Their,
one night in the year 1902? Al told you
3 l took my meals there.
OIL am not asking where you took you
= meals. / am asking when during 1902 yor
0 staid one night at the place that you refe
b to on North Twenty-fourth, viz: at tn
I daughter OF Mr.. Balls. Al made tn
o explanation that / did not stay a night wit
= Mrs. BORN. Although she did not haV
e rooms. l took my meals at her place.
e n MI A. A. 49, A.. A. - -