New-York tribune., 1911-12-29
CROKER A DEFENDANT IN
SUIT Of HIS SON-|N-LAW
John ]. Breen Wants 100000
for Alienation of His WIfe'S
Affections.
TWO SONS NAMED WITH HIM
Groom in Riding Academy Here
Married Boss's Daughter
Ethel in Hoboken Sc
cretly Last Year.

Richard Croker former boss of Tam
many Hall. and his sons Richard Croker
! ir.. and Howard Croker. are the de-
| PENDANTS in an action for 100000 dam
ages brought by John J. Breen, who
bases his suit on the allegation that the
/ three defendants have alienated from
him the affections of his wife, who was
Miss Ethel Croker, daughter Of the
Squire of Vantage. Breen was secretly
married to Miss Croker on April y. 1910.
| i'm Hoboken The marriage greatly dis
pleased the Croker family. He used to
be employed in Durland's Riding Acad-
emy here, and is now in charge of
stable in Ontario, Canada.
Croker knew before he left this city
for Palm Beach for his annual winter
stay there that Breen contemplated the
suit. and arranged with Ncoll, Anable,
Lindsay & Fuller, his attorneys. to ac-
cept the service of the summons and
complaint.
Breen was a groom at the Durland
Riding Academy when he met Miss
Ethel Croker, who is the youngest
daughter of the former Tammany chief
tain. When the marriage took place her
mother was in Paris and her father was
in Vantage, Ireland, which has been his
home since he quit New York. The
young couple crossed the North River
10 Hoboken and there were married by
@ ,.ft h..
DeniaIs After Runaway Match.
match leaked out. but all persons con-
nected with il made vigorous denial that
Miss Croker had married Breen. even
Justice Engler insisting that it was all
mistake. However, when there was no
further use to deny IL Breen declared
that Miss Croker had become his wife.
and having learned of the strong oppo-
stion Of the Croker family announced
that he would fight to keep his wife.
Breen added that his father-in-law had
known about the attachment between
his daughter and himself and had not
been averse 10 the union, but that other
influences overcame the acquiescence OF
Croker. There is now pending a suit
against Breen for the annulment Of the
marriage, and ne has made Up HIS mind
to oppose il.
Breen says in his complaint, which was
filed yesterday in the County Clerks
office. that he and his wife lived together
"peaceably. happily and harmoniOusly"
until Mrs. Breen's father and two broth
ers came between them and induced her
to leave her husband. He adds that
the defendants succeeded in destroying
and alternating from him the affections
Of his wife" The complaint says
further: The defendants, wrongfully
contriving to injure him and deprive him
of the love and affections of his wife, in
fiuenced and induced her, his wife, to
abandon him"
Was Employed in Riding Academy.
When Breen married Miss Croker he
had charge of the horses Of Milton
Schwartz and A. c. Schwartz, which
were stabbed at Durland's. The Croker
and Schwartz families were friends. and
Miss Croker used TO ride in the park
with a daughter of the Schwartz family.
In that way she came 10 see the young
Irish horseman often. Breen was also
captain of Durland's polo team which
won the championship of the Indoor Polo
Association.
\ few days before the secret marriage
took place Miss Croker was told by a
member of the family that she would
n .e 70 sail the following week for u
rope Then il was that the young couple
decided on an immediate ceremony, and
Miss Croker, or, as she was then, Mrs.
Breen. sailed on the Adriatic, as had
been arranged. but both announcemc mt
and denials Of her marriage were made
before she went.
Breen set up a riding academy at
Spring Lake, y. J., and in telling about
his troubles he spoke about a rival. who,
he said, had tried to prevent him from
marrying Miss Croker.
Mrs. Breen went TO live at the home of
her brother Howard, at No. > East 14th
street. after her return from Europe.
The,suit for the annulment Of the mar
riage was brought just year after the
ceremony was performed. Then came a
dispatch from Ogdensburg. y. Y, where
Breen then was in charge of horses
owned by J. X. Stratton, member Of
the Canadian Parliament. that Mrs.
Breen had brought an action for divorce
from him. but there is no record Of this
suit in this county.