Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-10
THE HOUSE ADJOURNED
Tribute to Memory Of Repre-
tative Croft.
DIED THIS MORNING
BLOOD POISONING CAUSED BY
SPLINTER IN HIS THUMB.
Remains Will Be Taken to Aiken, S. c.,
Tonight-Committee of the
House Appointed.

In the House of Representatives today
Representative Finley of South Carolina an
nounced the death of Representative Geo.
W. Croft of the second South Carolina dis
trict. After an arrangement had been made
to continue tomorrow the debate on the
Hay resolution relating to the connection
of members of the House with the Post
Office Department, and for the considera-
ton of pension bills Saturday, Representa-
tive Finley presented a series of resolu-
tons reciting the sorrow of the House at
the news of the death of the gentleman
from South Carolina and providing for an
immediate adjournment out of respect to
his memory.
Speaker Cannon appointed a committee
of fourteen members to attend the funeral,
as follows: Representatives D. E. Finley,
Wyatt Aiken. ]. 7. Johnson, George s. Lee
care, r. B. Scarborough and A. F. Lever,
all of South Carolina: Henry c. Loudensla-
ger, New Jersey: George r. Patterson,
Pennsylvania; William Richardson. Ala
bama; Frank A. McLain. Mississippi; Henry
A. Houston. Delaware; Charles III. WeiSSe
Wisconsin; Amos II. Jackson. Ohio, and
Joseph c. Sibley of Pennsylvania
The funeral train bearing the remains of
Representative Croft and the committee of
his colleagues in the House designated to
conduct the funeral will leave Washington
at $50 o'clock tonight for Aiken S. c. The
train will reach Aiken at 1 o'clock tomor-
row afternoon. The hour of the funeral
Will not be fixed until the. party arrives I
the late nome of Representative Croft.
Died This Morning.
Representative Croft. whose home was at
Aiken, S. c., died a his home in this citv.
9th street northeast, at an early hour this
morning. Mr.. Croft was desperately ill
during all of yesterday, and all hope for his
recovery was abandoned by the attending
physicians. Mr. Croft's two sons, Theodore
Croft of Aiken and Randall Croft of Provl-
dence, r, l., were summoned A niece
Floride Croft, and two cousins, Mary and
Matilda Croft of this city. were with the
representative throughout his Illness
AS long as eight weeks ago Mr.. Croft
complained of sharp pains in his right
hand, which subsequently became inf1amed.
The inflammation was due primarily, it is
believed, to splinter which was removed
from the palm several days after illness
had set in. For a time the Inflammation
decreased but later the hand became badly
swollen, and it was seen an abscess had
formed. Despite all efforts TO check it the
abscess spread and soon developed into
blood poisoning.
Mr. Croft was fifty seven years of age, a
well-known lawyer and leading counsel for
the defense in the Tillnlan trial last year.
Mr. Croft's Career.
Mr. Croft was serving his first term in
Congress. He was born in Newbern coun-
ty. S. c.. December 30, 1916 His early ed
ucation was obtained in the common
schools of Greenville. In 1868 he entered
the South Carolina Military Academy at
Columbia. In 1864 the cadets of that in
stitution were placed In the confederate
army. and served until the close of the
civil war. During the years 1856 and ls6I
Mr.. Croft attended the University of Vir-
giniu. Subsequently he studied law under
Gov. B. F. Perry. at Greenville, S. c., ard
was admitted to the bar i'll 1869. The fol-
lowing year. 1870 he located at Aiken and
continued the practice of law in that city.
Mr.. Croft had been member of the state
senate and Served two terms in the state
house of representatives.
Mr. Croft twice elected president of
the South Carolina State Bar Association.
He was elected to the present Congress by
a vote of J.134 to 24I for w s. Dixon, re-
publican