The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-13
SON Of CROKER
DEAD ON TRAIN.
Believed to Have Been
Killed by Effects of
Some Drug
BOARDED TRAIN
AT KANSAS CITY
At That Time Was in Charge
Of a Negro Who, When Ar
rested, Told a Straight
Story Of His Con-
nection With
(By Associated Press.l !

KANSAS CITY. NO.. May 12.-Herbert
". Croker. son Of Richard Croker, the
New York political leader, was found
dead on south bound Atchison. Topeka.
and Santa re Railroad train between
Kansas City and Newton, Kansas. to-day.
He had died during the night evidently.
from the effects of some drug admins
tered at Kansas City, where he took the
train last night for Bliss, Okla.
The first news OF the death Of young
Croker was received in Kansas. City this
afternoon, when the local police were re-
5quested to hunt for a negro who placed
Croker on the train at Kansas City. Il.
According to a telephone message from
Newton. Croker was found dead In d
car seat just before the train reac ched
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 at
New York several hours later. asking
the authorities to hold the remains. and
stating that he would leave Immediately
for Newton.
The first clue to Croker 8 identity was
letter found in the dead mans pocket
This letter was addressed by Zach Nful-
hall. formerly Of Oklahoma, who Is now
holding Wild West show in New York
city. to Joseph shiller. manager Of the
fabous 10" ranch at Bliss, Oklahoma
Inquiry by telephone ELECTED the informa-
ton that Croker was not known at the
Bliss ranch Evidently he was on the
way to the ranch for an outing.
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 by
negro shortly after 10 o'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 before the train
peared. When the conductor came around
to collect Croker's fare the latter was
asleep. and the conductor did not disturb
the passenger Croker Was left to him
self all night until nearly 5 o'clock this
morning, when the conductor made an
other attempt TO collect the fare. He
was unable to arouse Croker, and upon
examination found that the young man
was dead.
The negro who put young Croker on the
train last night was Charles Woodson,
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 checking a small valise
at the hotel Croker, the negro said,
asked where there was a hop Joint"
Woodson says that after repeated re-
quests he agreed to accompany Croker to
such a resort Then they went together
to a Chinese resort in Sixth Street be-
tween Wyandotte and Delaware Streets
where they remained an hour. Woodson
says that he then took Croker directly
to the train at the Union Station.
Croker's valise Is still at the check
stand at the hotel. Croker did not regis
ter at the hotel, and It is not believed
that he went to any other hotel during
his brief stay in Kansas City, Woodson
tells a straight story, and the police
do not think that he was guilty OF rob-
bling Croker or otherwise abusing his
confidence. l5