Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-05-13
CR0KER'SSON
FOUND DEAD
In a Car Seat on Santa fe
Train Near Newton,
Kansas.
ON WAY TO IOI RANCH
Had Visited Opium Joint In Kansas
City and Was in Dazed Condition
When He Left

Kansas CITY, May l3.-LOcal lnterosl
In the mysterious death on train be-
tween Kansas City and Newton, Kan.
sas of Herbert v. Croker, son OF
Richard Croker of New York, centered
today around Charles Wilson, Coates
House negro porter, who placed the
young New Yorker on the train for
the south on Thursday night. Wilson
has been arrested and is held pending
investigation. He tells straight story
of meeting young Croker In the bar
room of the Coates House, where VII.
son Is employed; of conducting Crok-
or to an opium joint and later taking
him to the train. At Newton, where
| the body is being held, coroner's
jury has begun an investigation OF the
cause of death. The train officials as
sert that there was no smell of liquor
about Croker when he was found dead,
and the coroner today paid particular
attention to this phase, in the endeav.
or to determine whether or not Gro
ker died from poison or from the ef-
fects of being drugged.
Identified by a Letter From zaek Mui.
hall.
Newton, Kans, May 13.-Herbert
". Croker was found dead in a car seat
of a Santa Fe train just before the
train arrived In this city yesterday.
The body was taken from the train at
this point. His identity did not be-
come known until message was re-
ceived from Richard Croker, of New
York several hours later asking the
authorities to hold the remains and
stating that he would leave the east
Immediately for Newton.
The first clew to Croker's identity
was letter found in the dead mans
pocket addressed by Zach Mulhall, for
merly of Oklahoma, who Is now hold
Ing a wild west show in New York
City, to Joseph 8. Miller, manager OF
the famous "101" ranch, at Bliss Ok
lahoma. Inquiry by telephone ELECTED
the information that Croker was not
known at the Bliss ranch.
he was on the way to the ran,
louting.
Following reply to the
| inquiry sent to New York
oner took charge of the
panelled a jury. An inquest was be-
gun this afternoon.
Smoked Opium Too Fast.
Kansas City, May 1S.-Chief OF Po-
lice Hayes gives 1t as his opinion that
Croker died from too rapid smoking
of opium. "He smoked but short time
before train time," said the chief. "and
evidently, an endeavor to make the
best of 1t, took the drug too fast"
Ahlee, the Chinaman In charge OF the
Joint, says that Croker smoked hve
pills, but insists that when he left the
place Croker, although a little un-
steady, was capable Of taking care OF
himself. A dispatch from Newton
says that instructions have been re-
ceived from Richard Croker, Sr., to
embalm the body and an autopsy is
not likely, although 1t could be held
later.
| coroner's Jury Returns Verdict.
Newton, Kansas, May 13.-The cor
oner's verdict in the case of Herbert
v. Croker brought in a verdict today
as follows: I'VE find that Herbert v.
Croker came to his death on May IL.
1905, on Santa Fe train No. IL, while
between Kansas City and Newton.
from the effects of narcotic poisoning
taken into his system at Kansas City
before boarding the train. by means
and manner unknown to this jury"
Father May Not Come Back From
Europe.
New York, May 13.-No word has
been received at the Croker home here
today from Richard Croker, who had
been cabled of the sudden death OF his
son on q train in Kansas. 1t Is not
believed the former Tammany leader
will come to the funeral as mis- friends
say his last voyage, made less than
three months ago to attend the nun
eral of his son Frank, who was killed
In an automobile accident. was q Sc
we're strain on Croker's strength.