The San Francisco call., 1905-05-13
DRUG KILLS
YOUNG son
Of CROKER
Found Dead on Train
by a Santa Fe
Conductor.
Mystery Surrounds Passing
Of Gay Youth From
New York City.
Opium Administered in Kansas City
Is Believed to Have Caused
His Demise.

yhANSAS CITY, May 1z.-t1erbert v.
Croker, son of sRichard Croker. the
former Tammany leader OF New York.
was found dead on southbound Santa
Fe train near Newton. Kans, early
this morning, and it is supposed that
he died Of opium poisoning. The body
was taken from the train at Newton,
where an inquest is being held and
where it is expected an utopsy will be
performed to determine the cause of
death.
From papers foune ., the dead man
it appears that he was on the way from
New York to spend a vacation at the
10l ranch, Bliss, O. T. He stopped in
Kansas City on his way West yester-
day, but did not register at a hotel, or,
so far as known, make his identity
known to any one. He visited the Elm
Ridge races in the afternoon. but his
conduct was not unusual
At 10 o'clock last night Croker. In a
condition Of stupor, was put on board
a chair car on a Santa Fe train by a
negro, who gave HIM purse contain
Ing $19 In money ard ticket to Bl.ss
O.. T. Croker Immediately lapsed into
a heavy sleep. His fellow passengers
noticed his sleep become quieter No
attention was paid to his condition,
however, until Newton had nearly
been reached, when the conductor.
seeking to arouse him to collect his
ticket, found him dead
The Coroner at Newton began an in
quest tonight, at which trainmen tes-
titled that Croker did not smell of
liquor. The inquest was adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
The police of this city found the ne
II, YY
was a porter at the Coates House.
named Woodson. He said that Croker
when at the hotel asked to be taken
to an opium joint, that he took him to
such a place kept by a Chinese and
that Croker stayed there for an hour,
and that then at his request Woodson
took Croker to the train and helped
him on board.
IN CHARGE OF NEGRO.
According to stories of passengers
and the conductor on the train upon
which Croker died, the young New
Yorker was placed on the train at
Kansas City shortly after 10 o'clock
last night by a negro. Croker appeared
to be under the influence of some drug
The negro was seen to hand him sum
of money and railroad ticket just
before the train started, when he
jumped off and disappeared. When the
ker's fare the latter was asleep and he
did not disturb the passenger. Croker
was left to himself all night until near
ly 5 o'clock this morning, when the
conductor made another attempt to
collect his ticket. He was unable to
arouse Croker, and upon examination
found that he was dead.
by wire. and when the train reached
that city the body was removed to an
underta king establishment. It was
several hours before the young mans
identity was suspected
AS far as can be learned Croker ar
rived in Kansas City early on Thurs
day and spent the afternoon at the
have been in the company of several
patrons Of the racetrack before he
boarded the train for the south. Pas
senRers on the train took particular
notice when young Croker was assisted
into a chair car at the Union station
In Kansas City by young negro, be-
cause the white man was helpless, as
If from LIQUOR. The negro assisted
Croker into a seat and then gave him
purse containing a railroad ticket and
s1e counting the money out to Croker
The passengers heard Croker say,
Now. I want you to send me the rest
of It,"
ASKS FOR ADDRESS.
The negro asked Croker to write his
address. but Croker refused and final
" the negro wrote while Croker die
tated. The address was Bliss. Okla
homa. care 101 Ranch
Immed ately after the train started
Croker fell into deep sleep, snoring
loudly. Later he grew quieter. AS the
train neared Newton, the conductor.
who wished to take up Crokers ticket.
shook him to arouse him and found
him dead. There are no marks of
violence on the young mans body and
the officers here do not believe he died
of heart troable, as he was of fine
physical development.
Pes;des the letter from Zick Mulhau
introducfng Croker to Joseph Miller Of
1o1 Ranch. Croker's papers contained
a letter of introduction from ]. d.
rarroll of New York to Miller. a LEFT
tsr signed Garter" from New York
and an affectionate letter from a wo-s
man on West Twenty second street
New York The two latter letters were
not made public.
At the racetrack Croker's manner
was not such as to excite notice. Todd
Sloan, the jockey who rode for Rich
ard Croker. and who was well ac-
uuainted with Herbert's brother, was
at the track all afternoon and he did
Continued on Page 2, Column S.