The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-13
HERBERT CROKER
DRUG POISONED
Son of Former Leader of Tam
many Dies on Train After
Strange Circumstances.
New York Sun Special Service.

e Kansas City, NO., MAY l5.-Hefpert
y Croker, son Of f. Richard ,e,n 1 Croker,
New York city, has been found dead,
evidently from drugs, on southbound
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe train,
between this place and Newton, Kan.
The Young man boarded the train here
shortly before 10 o 'clock at night and
was in an apparently helpless condl-
ton. He was put aboard the enalrcar
by negro. who handed him a railway
ticket to Bliss, Okla, and purse con-
tanning $40. :,
/, II Want you to send me the rest, =
Young Croker mumbled to the negro.
The negro asked him his address and
requested him to write it.. The young
man apparently. paid no attention to
this question but +o Thef tine re9uSSi s
address would be "Bliss, Okla, care OF
the 101 ranch. ~-@
~. Sought Opium Joint.
The police learned that Charles
Woodson, d porter at the Coates house,
assisted the young man to his tram;
He told a straightforward story ana
the police do not believe he robbed the
Young man or in any way abused MS
confidence. <-
Woodson said the young man had
been drinking some when he reached
the Coates house. After checking
small valise at the hotel the negro says
Croker. asked him where there III; r. w was as
chop joint:n The porter a+ saId re ne aia
he agreed to pilot Croker to such
place. He SAYS they went to Chi
nese resort, where they remained an
| hour. Woodson says he took Croker
direct to the train from the resort.
Fell into Deep Sleep.
Passengers who saw the negro putting
Croker on the train thought the young
man was intoxicated. After seeing
Young Croker comfortably seated on a
chair, the negro left the train. Croker
| Immediately fell into a deep sleep,
| breathing heavily and in labored man
ner. Later he grew quieter. The con-
| ductor made no attempt to take up
Croker s ticket on his FIRST tour of the
train, believing him to be asleep. The
Young man was left to himself all night
and 50 far as can be learned did not
once wake up. Passengers were seated
all about him in the same car, and con
stantly passed and repassed where he
was sitting.
AS the train approached Newton, the
conductor made an attempt to collect
fare from Croker. He spoke to him
and shook him, but could not arouse
| III.
ton he found that the young man was
dead. This was at 5 clock in the
morning, Just before the train reached
Newton There the body was removed
to an undertaken S.
Letters Reveals Identity.
When the coroner began his investi,
cation, he learned the identity of the
Young man. He had in his pockets a
| of ir4r O
lack Mulhall to Joe Miller, the owner
of the famous "1O1' ranch, and also
a letter from J. D. Carroll of New York
to Mr.. Miller. There was letter
signed HCarter,' and another Of an
affectionate nature from woman in
West Twenty second street, New York
city. :. The coroner declined to make
public either the Carter letter or the
lone from the woman.
Investigation by the police shows
that young Croker arrived here Thurs
day and spent the afternoon at the Elm
Ridge race track. At the track hi
expenditures, bets and manner were no
such as to attract attention. Too
Sloan, the jockey, who formerly rode
all his sons, was at the track the en-
tire afternoon, mingling freely will
. horsemen and bettors, and he did no
even hear that Herbert Croker was il
town.
While the young man does not seen
to have made a secret of his visit, it i
5 certain that he did not go ABOUT telling
who he was.
Croker's Movements Traced.
i, The police have traced Herber
! Croker s, movements in this city Thurs
i day afternoon. On his return from tn
Q Elm Ridge racetrack he went to tn
Coates house and talked WIFI the bal