The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-05-13
SON OF RICHARD CROKER
 FOUND DEAD lN TRAIN
EXPIRED DURING THE NIGHT FROM THE EFFECTS OF
 4 DRUG. ~.I ::

On His Way to Bliss, 0kla.-0piate
 Thought to Have Been Administered
 at Kansas City-Police of Latter
 Place Asked to Look for Negro Who
 k Said to Have Placed Victim on the
 Train-stories of Passengers.
 Kansas City. May 12.-Herbert ". Croker, son of Richard Croker, the New York political leader, was found dead on a southbound Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway train between Kansas City and Newton, Kan, to- day. He died during the night evil dently from the effects of some drug administered at Kansas City, where he took the train last night for Bliss. OK lahoma.
 The first news of the death of young Croker was received in Kansas City this afternoon when the local police were requested to hunt up negro who is said to have placed Croker in the train at Kansas City.
 According to a telephone message from Newton, Croker was found dead in a car seat just before the train reached Newton to-day. The body was taken from the train at Newton His identity did not become known until message was. received from Richard Croker, jr., at New York several hours later asking the authorities to hold the remains and stating that he would leave the east immediately for Kansas City
 The first clew of Croker's identity was a letter found in the dead mans pocket. This letter was addressed by s Zach Mulhall, formerly of Oklahoma, who is now holding wild west show in New York city, to Joseph shiller, manager of the famous '1olo ranch at Bliss, Oklahoma
 Inquiry by telephone elicited the in formation that Croker was not known at the Bliss ranch. Evidently he was on the way to the ranch for an outing.
 Following a message of inquiry sent to New York city the coroner took charge of the body and ernpanneled d jury. An inquest was begun last even- ing
 According to stories of passengers and the conductor on the train upon which Groker died, the young New Yorker was placed on the train at Kan sas City by 3 negro shortly after 10 clock last night. Croker appeared to be under the influence of some drug. The negro was seen to hand him a sum of money and a railroad ticket just be- fore the train started, when he jumped off and disappeared. When the con ductor came around to collect Croker's s fare the latter was asleep and the con- ductor did not disturb the passenger. Croker was left to himself all night until nearly 5 o'clock this morning, when the conductor made another at tempt to collect the fare. He was un- able to arouse Croker and upon exam } ination found that the young man was dead.
 The coroner of Newton was tele- graphed of the fact and when the train reached that city the body was remov- ed to an undertaking establishment.
 Passengers on the train noticed when young Croker was assisted into a chair car by the young negro that he seemed helpless. The negro gave him the purse containing $19, counting the money out < to Croker. The passengers heard Crok- CT 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. Immediately after the train started Croker fell ino a deep sleep, snoring loudly Later he grew quieter. There are no marks of violence on the young mans body and the police do not be- 1ieve he died of heart trouble, as he was of fine physical development.
 The entire detective force of Kansas City is working on the case, endeavor- $ ing to trace Croker's movements. Crok- CT did not register at any hotel in Kan sas City, and at the race-traek his ex- x pGHulluFSS #dilu $IllHIlleT# were IOL Sucn as to attract attention. Tod Sloan, a jockey, who formerly rode for Richard Croker and was we'll acquainted with < Herbert's brother, was at the track all afternoon, mingling freely with the horsemen and bettors, and he did not even hear that Croker was in town. It appears that Croker did not make his identity known anywhere in Kansas City.
 The negro who put young Croker on E the train last night was Charles Wood son, a porter at the Coates hotel. Woodson says that Croker had been drinking when he arrived at the hotel about s o'clock last night After check ing a small valise at the hotel Croker, the negro says, asked where there was an opium joint.
 After repeated requests Woodson says that he agreed to accompany Croker to such resort, Then they went together to a Chinese resort on Sixth street, between Wyandotte and Delaware streets, where they remained an hour. Woodson says that he then took Croker directly to the train at the s Union station. Crokers yalise is still at the check stand at the hotel. Crok- CT did not register at the hotel, and it is not believed that he went to any