New-York tribune., 1920-04-03
Will Be Let OFF To-day
10 Attend Meeting of
Bank Directors; Many
Friends Come TO Aid
Will Take Stand
I'm Own Defense
Former Tammany Chief.
tain's Secrets May Be
Barred in Court Hearing
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


PALM BEACH, Fla, April 2.-After
putting in a fairly good days work for
q man Of seventy-nine. Richard Croker
retired in his home, "The Wigwam, ="
to-night under the eye of an alienist
who will examine him as to his sanity,
but who has promised to let him off
long enough tomorrow to call on his
lawyers and attend a meeting at the
First National Bank, of which he is a
director.
formerly in charge Of the medical staff
of the Florida State Hospital for the
Insane, and during the war specialist
on neuro- -psychiatry for the Southern
Department Of the Army, said he would
be through with his observations by
Monday.
Friends of the former Tammany
chieftain are rallying to his support.
Among those from whom affidavits will
be accepted are Norman T., Mack. Of
Buffalo, aqd james ". Gerard. Of New
York. who this afternoon called on Mr..
Croker and said they would like the
privilege OF tcstifying to their belief
that he is mentally robust and sound.
A development to-day was the ar
rival from New Norl Of S. A. Adamson,
lawyer from the Office Of William f.
McCombs, and Frederick R. Ryan, coun-
SCI tor Howard and Richard Croker, ir
Their local attorney, NJ. D. Carmichael,
who prepared the bill OF complaint al
leging that Richard Croker is of un-
4
New York with the Croker sons.
DO Not Seek Institution Care
AIr. Adamson tonight made this
statement:
"W e have no desire to place Richard
Croker IN an asylum. His children
don't want him in an institution. 1t is
not our contention that. he is crazy,
but that he is mentally unable to take
care of his business and should be
protected. am authorized to say that
Richard Croker ir. would. if necessary
be Nlllinm TO waive whatever rights
he might have to every cent OF his
fathers fortune if this would bring
about a proper adjustment OF their
family difficulties. The children are
bringing the suit because of certain &C
cusations MADE by the father. We be-
l;cve that these accusations were in
Npiitu ny Nis Nlic IOi lic purpose OIL
bringing about an estrangement be-
tween him and his children The
children propose 20 clear the good
name of the family before their
fathers demise. They want their
father to know during his lifetime that
he is falsely accusing them"
Mr.. AGamson said his clients would
have liked to nave their own alienist
present at the examination of Mr.
Croker now in progress. but had not
been asked to. He laughed at Mrs
Crokers affirmation Of her age ycster-
day as twcNty-ninc, and said he would
prove she is forty-onc. When asked
why this was material. Mr.. Adamson
said it had been very material to MIR.
Croker, who believed in 1914 that he
was marrying mirl of twenty three.
Suit to Protect Croker
"'This suit is to protect Mr.. Croker"
he said. 81 think the handling of the
estate ought to be in competent hands,
He already has decided to Mrs. Croker
his estate in Ireland. we hear, which
is rcputcd to be worth at least ST ,000,-
600. About the estate in Florida we do
not know dehnitely.'
Ii. l.. Busscy, attorney for Mr.. and
Mrs. Croker. filed a motion to day ask
ing for dismissal of the suit on the
technical grounds that Mr.. Croker had
never given his son Howard the right
to sue as his next friend, Howard hav-
Continued last oaoo