Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-23
CRoKER COMING BACK.
Says He Is Going to Smash John c.
 Sheehan's Face.


 Says He Is Going to Smash John c. Sheehan's Face. New York, June Richard Croker I is coming back to New York in August for the purpose of thrashing John c. Sheehan. At least this is the state ment made by we'll known turfman, who has just returned from the Moat house, Vantage, where he saw the former Tammany leader aEr Croker plans to arrive here August g and re- turn to England on September 10.
 When MT Croker's guest asked the former chief why his stay here was to pc so brief he set his jaw and thumped the table before which he was stand ing with his fist and replied:
 I'm going back just long enough to smash John Sheehan's face"
 MT Croker's visitor says he has no doubt that that is the Tammany chiefs serious intention. He describes Croker's resentment against Sheehan as intense. even violent, for man of his impassive temperament and self control Croker talked a long time to him about Sheehan's course in Tammany politics, recurring constant ly to Sheehan's recent statement that he, Croker, got $1,500,OO0 out of the Third avenue railroad wreck through his reputed connection with Naughton & Co.
 'lts lie, and Sheehan has got to answer for it to me-" Croker declared. I'm going back to make him eat his words. l won't do anything in poli- tics at all. That's why I'm going to get away before the primaries. But I'll make Sheehan take back whaf he said''
 Croker's friends of the "Old Guard.'' who are ill constant communication with him, say that he is mad all through and that he is bound to take his revenge. His temper. they de- clare. has not been improved by the statements current in Tammany Hall that he is tied up with Charles F. Murphy, Daniel F. McMahon and other contractors in the dock department scandals, nor by the threats of Tam many men to force an accounting of last years campaign fund.
 His bitterness against Sheehan has been steadily increasing ever since Sheehan quarreled with him in Sep tember of 1897. Croker then accused Sheehan of trying to break his power in Tammany by the nomination of William Sohmer for mayor. Sheehan. he said, was charged with acts of po- | litical treachery by twenty-two of the Tammany leaders. who manded his retirement from the leadership. I As the head of the Greater New York Democracy, Sheehan has har- assed the former Tamm any chief by frequent allusions to affairs more or less personal of which both he and Croker had private knowledge. Croker, it is now said, intends to force Shee- han to keep still, even if 1t requires a trip to New York and fight in the open to do it.
 What Croker knows about Sheehan becomes important in the view of the politicians at this juncture. One man who is in the confidence of Croker said yesterday that Croker intends to make it clear that Sheehan left Tam many Hall because he was not made the official Tammany contractor of the Van Wyck administration, instead of Daniel F. McMahon. Sheehan did not get any of the dock board treasur- er's orders, nor did he receive any fa- vors, political or otherwise, after his row with Croker. This much Is a part of the records.
 1t is believed that Croker intends to amplify the public information on the subject, to show what he believes to be Sheehan's motive in attacking both himself and Daniel F. McMahon in connection with the wreck of the Third avenue railroad.
 He believes also, it is said that Sheehan is behind the move of Con- missioner of Accounts William Hep burn Russell to expose the real rela- tons between the Tammany contrac- ltors and former Dock Commissioners Murphy, Meyer and Cram.
 MT Croker will not miss any of the important English racing events by his four weeks absence at the time he has chosen. He will be here to attend. the Futurity, on August 3O and may, if he wants to, remain for the Twin City handicap, on September l. It is believed. however, that after he has attended to his business with MT ESheehan he will go at once to Sara toga and stay there until he starts back to England
 Great interest is manifested by Mir Croker in discovery recently made by lworkmen who were digging some ex- cavations to extend the moat around the house at Vantage. They dug up an ancient piece of Dutch pottery decorated with pictures of soldiers in arlnor and on horseback, and a large number of old coins.