Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-05-13
Death ofHerbert Croker.


Croker, the New York political leader,
was found dead on the southbound
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
way train between Kansas City and
Newton, Kansas, yesterday. He had
died during the night, evidently from
the effects of some drug administered at
Kansas City, where he took the train on
Thursday night for Bliss, Okla.
The first news of the death of young
Croker was received in Kansas City yes
terday afternoon, when the local police
were requested to hunt for negro who
placed Croker on the train at Kansas
City. He was located last night He
is Charles Woodson, porter at the
Coates Hotel. Woo1son says that Croker
had been drinking When he arrived at
the hotel about O. clock Thursday night.
After checking a small valse at the hO-
tel, Croker, the negro says, asked where
there was chop joint" After repeat
ed requests, Woodson says that he agreed
to accompany Croker to such resort.
Then they went together TO a Chinese
resort, where they remained for an
hour, Woodson says that he then
took Croker directly TO the train
OF the Union Station. Young Cookers
yalise is still at the check stand at the
hotel. Croker did not register at the
hotel, and it is rot believed that he went
to any other hotel during his brief stay
in Kansas City. Woodson tells straight
story, and the police do not think that
he was guilty of robbing Croker or other
wise abusing his confidence.
Passengers on the train took parhcu-
lar notice when young Croker was assist
ed into a chair car at the Union station
in Kansas City by the negro, because
the white man was helpless, as if from
liquor. The negro assisted Croker into
a seat and then gave him a purse con-
tanning a railroad ticket and $40, count
ing the money out to Croker. The pas
sengers heard Croker say; "Now |
want YOU to send me the rest of it"
The negro asked Croker TO write his
address, but Croker refused, and finally
the negro wrote as Croker dictated. The
address was "Bliss, Ok, care Of 10l
Ranch"
Immediately after the train started
Croker TelI into deep sleep, snoring
loudly. Later he grew quieter. As the
train neared Newton the conductor, who
wished to take up Cookers ticket, shook |
him to arouse him and found him dead.
There are no marks of violence on the |
young mans body.
Further investigation made today |
leads to the belief that young Cookers
death was due, to an over Indulgence in |
opium, he, it is believed, having eaten
some of the drugs after smoking the |
pipe.
Wilson, the porter, was examined to-
day. He says that on the way to the
chop Joint" Croker met two colored |
women and entered saloon with them
where they had bottle of beer. Croker
wanted the women to accompany him to
the joint, but they refused.
Newton, Ks, May lathe verdict
in the coroner's jury in the case of Her
bert Croker is that death resulted from
narcotic poisoning administered in Kan
sas City in an unknown manner. The
remains will be held here pending the
arrival of Richard Croker, jr., who tele-
graphed that he expects to get in Sun
day. No marks OF violence were found
on the body. The coroner states it was
simply case of narcotic poisoning, that
no autopsy was necessary.
New York, May ia pathetic feat
ure of the death OF Herbert Y. Croker
was the fact that the young man had left
New York for the purpose of building
himself up so that he could resist tenn
tation to dissipa;e that had proved too
strong for him. Facing long period of
abstinence on an Oklahoma ranch he
concluded to have his last fling in Kan
sas City; and it proved to be his last
fling.