The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-06-17
Former Chief Of Tammany Hall
Returns from Ireland to
Face Litigation Pressed by
Children.
BY Newspaper Enterprise.

BY Newspaper Enterprise.
New York, June l7.-Richard Crok-
err, mightiest political boss New York
ever had and for II years the crowned
chieftain of Tammany Hall, is back
from ireland. II am here" he says,
ito fight those boys Of mine to dead
cinder." v.... &
Croker and his Cherokee Indian
princess bride, Sequoyah, are defend
ants in six suits brought by CrOker'3
sons, Richard, Jr., and his brother
Howard
One of them is for an accounting;
two others are Tor moneys alleged to
have, been snsa4lvan1eds by son to father.
the amounts being $l25,O0O and $780,
900; two more are for the recovery
of Westinghouse and Wabash Railroad
stock, alleged to be owned and loaned
by Richard to his father, and the sixth
is for alleged libel. ~. ..
Croker says that the family trouble
is OF 30 years'standing, but that his sons
began bringing IT. to public attention
only after his marriage to the Indian
princess, when he suddenly withdrew
a power of attorney from Howard so
that he and his wife could manage
their own affairs. He says:
Il withdrew this power OF attorney
only after l had been convinced that
Howard was using It contrary to the
best interests of all concerned. We did
not blame Howard SO much," he adds,
"as we did Richard"
In Eightieth Year.
The present litigation, In Croker's
eightieth year, is the aftermath of an
unsuccessful attempt in April, 1920, to
have him declared incompetent. His
children were the c0mplainants. In
sworn affidavits they charged that he
was incapable OF managing his own
affairs, and completely under the dom.
inatiOn OF his wife, who he married In
1914.
The circuit court Of Florida, In
which these afiidavits were filed, grant,
ed an immediate Injunction which re-
strained him from (disp0sing of any
money, securities or real estate In
Florida, and his wife was enjOined
from disposing OF his property.
Cr0ker's son, Howard, made appli-
cation as next friend" for the appoint
ment of conservator, guardian or
committee to take full charge OF his
fathers $1O,OOO,0OO estate, including
the show place Glencairn, at Sandy
ford County, Ireland, and his vast
properties, valued alone at $2,00O,00O,
at West Palm Beach.
According to the childrens story,
their warm-hearted father changed In
a few months after his marriage to the
Indian girl, to "morose, Indifferent,
feeble old man, with dyed hair, an alb
solute dependence on his new wife,
and practically with hatred for all his
blood kin "They accused Mrs CrOke:
of trying to ALLEVIATE their fathers af-
fection so that she might be the re-
cipient OF his fortune.
Charges Denied.
ALI of these allegations were denied
by Croker and his wife. At the first
hearing he introduced evidence 10
prove that bis wife was Miss Beulah
Benton Edmonson, born near Table
auah, Cherokee Nation, in 1885. Her
father was a Scotchman, he said, and
her mother was the daughter Of an
Irishman and a Cherokee. On the ISi-
dams rolls Mrs. Croker's number was
1928. She had studied music in Bos-
ton and become teacher of music in
New York when Croker met her at a
dinner and reception.
After temporary injunction had
been, granted the children, the circuit
court appointed DR.. Ralph N. Green.
formerly in charge OF the medical staff
of the Florida State Hospital for the
Insane, as chairman Of a commission
to test Croker The specialists made
an examination Of his blood and other
specimens, studied and cOnversed with
Croker for eight consecutive hours,
and rendered technical report that
they found no evidences OF mental de-
teri0ration. ......
"On the contrary" said Dr., Green,
I'VE found wealth OF maturity and
CONTINUED on Page Seven)