Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-13
Verdict of Coroner's Jury
Over Croker's Death.
THE MEANS NOT KNOWN
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE MYs-
FERROUS CASE.
Negro Porter Who Placed Young Man
on Train Exonerated of Any
Completely.

Jury in the case of Herbert v. Croker
brought in the following verdict today:
I'VE find that said Herbert v. Croker
came to his death on May Il, 1903. on
Santa Fe train No. II. while between Kan
sas City, Mo-, and Newton. Kan. from the
effects of narcotic poisoning. taken into
his system at Kansas City, Mo-, before
boarding said train. by means and manner
unknown to this jury
Interest in the mysterious death of Gro
ker centered today around Charles Wilson,
the Coates House negro porter, who placed
the young New Yorker on the train for the
south Thursday night.
Wilson. who is thirty years old. was ar
rested after midnight, and held pending in
vestigat!on. To the police he had told the
story of meeting Croker in the bar room of
the Coates House, where Wilson was en-
ployed, of conducting Croker to an opium
Joint, and of later taking him to the train
Negro Frank in Admission.
Although Wilson was frank in all adj
missions to the police and told a connected
story that fit in closely with all they had
learned about the case from other sources,
1t was decided to put him through Sc
we're examination today. Chief of Police
John Hayes said that he would examine
Wilson at 10 o'clock
In the meantime dozen detectives con-
tinued. to work on the case in an endeavor
to get in any evidence that would throw
further light upon Cookers movements
while in Kansas City. At Newton KAN
where the body of Croker is being held, the
coroners jury which last night began an
inquiry into the case of his deatt contin-
ued its investigation today.
Last night the conductor brakeman and
porter of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe train on which Croker died had given
their testimony. This story tailed with
that already known. The conductor. how
ever, had testified that there was no smell
of liquor about Croker when he found him
dead In the chair car, and the coroner to-
day paid particular attention to this phase
IN an endeavor to determine whether or
the effects of being drugged.
Was Not intoxicated.
The police have traced Croker's move
ments In this city Thursday afternoon. On
his return from the Elm Ridge race track
he went to the Coates House and talked
with the bartender. giving his name and
saying he was on the way to Oklahoma.
The bartender says that Croker was not
intoxicated and drank nothing there In
the bar room he met Charles Wilson. the
negro porter. The negro SAYS they went
out TO have little fun" visiting a Chi
nese opium joint and two saloons, in one
or which Croker took drink. Croker
had a twenty-dollar bill and explained
that he never carried much money but
used a check book.
Wilson says that he and Croker rode to
the railroad station in a hack; that Croker
went into the chair car because he could
not get Pullman berth; that he gave
Croker all the money left after paying the
hackman-seventeen or eighteen dollars
Negroes Straightforward Story.
When Wilson was examined by Chief of
Police Hayes this morning nothing new was
1a..rr rr1x l.
nation, an officer was sent out to bring in
Charles All Lee, Chinaman, whose place
Wilson said he had visited with Croker on
Thursday night and where it was asserted
Croker had smoked opium
An Associated Press reporter was present
at the examination of Wilson. The negro
told straightforward story, detailing the
movements OF Croker and himself. al
ready given.
Later Chief Hayes said: II am convinced
that Wilson has told the truth and was not
connected in any criminal way with the
death of Croker We shall hold Wilson
however, for further investigation and to
be used as a witness against Lee"
Wilson told how he had met Croker in
the barroOm of the Coates House. The ne
gro was employed there as porter. Croker,
Wilson said, had asked him Thursday even
ing where he could have little fun.
Accompanied Negro to Saloon.
Wilson told him of an opium den In the
north end of town. and offered to conduct
him to the place after o'clock, when he
would be off duty at the hotel Croker
had waited until that time and then had
gone with the negro to Con Cronin's saloon,
at 4th street and Broadway. There Wilson
suggested that if Croker had any money it
had better be given to the bartender for
safekeeping before they started out. Croker
gave the bartender $50. saying it was all he
had except sorae change, and the bartender
placed the money in an envelope in the safe.
From the saloon the two men went to All
Lees place, above saloon in West 9th
street, four blocks away. There Lee con-
Quoted Croker to a couch and Wilson went
down stairs to wait until Croker had had
smoke.
Croker requested Wilson to be sure and
wait for him. Wilson played cards in the
saloon below with some negroes for about
an hour, when Croker reeled into the room.
HE was little unsteady" said Wilson,
but he talked we'll He told me that he
had to catch train for Oklahoma and that
we had better go. We went back to the sa-
loon and secured the $40 left with the bar
tender there. Croker bought a drink and
soon said he had but a few minutes in
which to catch his train. We got into a
hack and We're driven fast to the depot"
Wilson, continuing said that they had
reached the union station only few min
utes before time for the train to start.
After paying the carriage fare Wilson said
STOkST HAD between VA OF $IS leIt. croker
tried to get Pullman ticket, but was I'M
able to do so and the two went into the
chair car.
Croker gave me a dollar" said Wilson,
land two checks calling for a raincoat and
a cane which he had checked at the hotel.
The train started soon after and 1 jumped
Off"
Smoked Opium Too Fast.
After the examination of Wilson, Chief
Hayes gave 1t as his opinion that Croker
had died from the effect of smoking opium
too fast. HE had but short time before
train time said Chief Hayes. land evil
IDENTIFY in his endeavor to make It he took
the drug too fast"
All Lee, the Chinaman, was arrested and
brought to central station this morning.
He was questioned closely. ana told story
that bore out the statements made by Will
son regarding the visit of the two men to
his place Lee said that Croker had smoked
five pills OF opium, but Lee insisted that
Croker, though little unsteady when leav-
ing the place, was capable Of taking care
Of himself.
Both Wilson and Lee were placed In cells
The bartender at Cronin's saloon, ques-
toned by the police told the same story OF
Croker's visit to his place as related by
Wilson. The bartender was not arrested.
The coroner at Newton, Kan, today In
formed the Associated Press by telephOne