The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-13
CROKER FOUND DEAD
SON OF THE FAMOUS POLITICAL
 LEADER.
Said to Have Gone in rntoxicated Cen- dition to Opium Joint and Later Boarded Train, Where He
 was Discovered.

Kansas City, May 12.-Herbert Croker, a son of Richard Croker, .ns New York political leader, was iouhu dead on e southbound Atchison. Ia- peka 6 Santa Fe Railway train oe- tween Kansas City and Newtoa' rs' today. He had died during the nisnt, evidently from the effects of some orus administered at Kansas City, where ne took the train last night for Biiss' oh.,
 The first news of the death of young Croker was received in Kansas SiSy e { o'clock this afternoon when the iocaI police were requested to hunt TOT negro who is said to have piaceo Croker on a train at Kansas City' AZ cording to telephone message rom Newton, Croker was found dead n car seat just before the train reacheo Newton early today. The body was taken from the train at Newton. HIS Identity did not become known until message was received from hicnaro Croker at New York several nours lat CT asking the authorities to hold the remains and stating that ne would leave at once for Newton.
 The first clew to Croker's identity was a letter found in the dead man pocket addressed to Zach Muihali, formerly of Oklahoma, who Is now holding a wild west show in New fork City, to Joseph Shiller, manager of the famous "101" ranch at Bliss. OK. ln- quiry by telephone elicited the infor- nation that Croker was not xnown 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, the coroner took charge of the body and empaneled a jury.
 An inquest was begun this evening. 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 De under the influence of some drug. The negro was seen to hand him a sum of money and a railroad ticket just before the train started, when he jumped off and disappeared. When the conductor came around to collect Croker's fare the latter was asleep and he did not disturb the passenger.
 Croker was left to himself all night until nearly 5 o'clock this morning when the conductor made another att tempt to collect his ticket. He was unable to arouse Croker and upon ex- animation found that he was dead. The coroner at Newton was notified by tell egraph of the fact and when the train reached that city the body was re- moved to an undertaking establish
 
 young mans identity was established. As far as can be learned. Croker ar rived in Kansas City early on Thurs day and spent the afternoon at,the Elm Ridge race track. He is known to have been in the company of several patrons of the race track before he boarded the train for the south. After several hours search city detectives located the negro who put Croker on the train. He Is Charles Woodson, a porter at the Coates Hotel. Woodson says Croker arrived at the hotel about o'clock last night in an intoxicated condition and after repeated requests the negro. according to his story, ac- companied Croker to a Chinese opium resort on Sixth Street, where they re- mained for an hour, going thence to the train. Croker was at the race track all afternoon but his manner was not such as to attract attention.