Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-04
SECRET NO LONGER
Ethel Croker's Marriage Con-
.firmed by Magistrate.
MAKES SWORN Statement
John J. Breen, Riding Academy
Groom, Husband Of Former Tam
many's Chiefs Daughter.

NEW YORK. May samuel Engler,
the Hoboken, n. j., justice Of the peace
who performed the marriage between
Miss Ethel Croker and John ]. Breen,
made a sworn statement last night that
| the two persons concerned were the
daughter Of former Tammany Chief
Richard Croker and a groom at Dur
lands riding academy. The marriage
has been stubbornly denied by Miss
Croker and her friends and relatives,
and by Breen himself. Even Justice
Engler persisted in denying until last
night that Breen was the man he had
married. and refused to identity. pic
lures Of Miss Croker as the bride.
In his statement Justice Engler gives
this reason for denying what he now
admits is true:
| Il held this information from the pub
Breen at the time arrangements were
made for the ceremony. promised
him ! would not do SO until the record
| tfstics. But the information has leaked
out through no fault Of mine, and feel
In justice to myself and the parties
concerned that the facts Of the marriage
| should be revealed"
Marriage Previously Arranged.
The day Engler married the pair is
not the first time he saw Breen, for
Breen had visited him previously and
had' made arrangements for the mar
riage. Tuesday afternoon q week ago
Breen went to Hoboken to sec Engler,
and asked him if he would perform the
ceremony the next afternoon. The next
day passed without the couple appear
ing. and the justice thought they had
changed their minds. Then Thursday
| R$nr nso
arrived at the Office Of Justice Engler
in the Second National Bank building,
| opposite the Hudson tunnel entrance,
and stated he was ready to have the
| rived.
| Engler had been informed at the first
interview that the bride was Miss Ethel
Croker. and while awaiting for her ar
rival Breen told him the plan had been
| for Miss Croker to meet him at the
ferry. but she had failed to do 50. Halt
an hour later Miss Croker arrived. and
explained that she had taken the Twenty
ty-third street ferry instead OF the tubes
and 80 had been delayed.
Replies With a Smile.
Engler took the names of the contract
ing parties. their addresses and their
parents names. and after asking sew
. eral other questions required each to
sign an afidavit that they had answered
the questions truthfully.
when 1 asked Miss Croker her fathers
name she replied: Richard
"'Do you mean the former Tammany
boss2" I asked.
Ives, I think he was she replied
with a smile. Then l performed the
ceremony. Miss Croker held one Pome-
ranian dog under her arm while did 20.
and the bridegroom held another similar
dog in like manner. go.
The couple were married without ring.
They went Immediately to New York by
way of the tunnel.
"Mr Breen called at my house sun.
Iday." the Justice states, land said that
later in the day he would return accom-
named by another man. He asked me
not to identify him as the man had
married on Thursday, giving az his rea-
son that IL the marriage became pubic
he would lose his Job.
IT consented to do as he asked ana
did deny his identity, and have until now
done so, because I did not wish to get
him out of a position and because the
bride was 50 anxious that no account OF
the marriage appear in the newspapers"
Wife to Sail for Europe.
Breen told Engier his wife would sail
for Europe and he would remain here.
He did not know whether his wife would
see her father while abroad.
! when l was shown q picture of Miss