The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-30
WIFE AT BEDSIDE
 AS OLD POLITlC%s.
 CHIEFTAIN PASSES
(Continued from paee one.l

where he came in contact sNd deal ingS with many of the leading hnan- eiers and business men of the city.
 He was rewarded by the accumula- tion of great wealth, the source of which was never exactly known by the public. Where did he get it9" was once the question of the hour in New York, but Croker never an- swered it.
 Was Lavish Spender
 He spent his wealth Iavishly in maintaining magnlhcently furnished home in New York, stock farm in New York state and in purchasing half interest in the famous Belle Mead stock farm near Nashville. He ! invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in race horses and in main- taining a racing stable in England. While seeking and winning honors on the British turf he first occupied a fine home at Vantage, England. and afterward purchased his present home at Glencairn, near Dublin, Ireland. He also maintained an establishment at Palm Beach, Fla.
 Croker was born at Black Rock, near Cork, Ireland, November 24, 1S41. His father came to America when Richard was a child. For few years the family lived in Cincinnati, but soon returned to New York. 1 As youth he was employed as a machinist in locomotive building. Some of the physical strengA devel- 1 oped in this work he employed in a number of prize fights in which 1t was reported that he was principally victor He became a member and soon leader of q band of unemployed youths or political heelers known as the Fourth avenue tunnel gang. This leadership gave him his first political recognition and he quickly developed | into ward politician. soon becoming Tammany leader of one of the assem- bly districts of New York city.
 Murder Charge Dropped A charge of murder pfeferred against Groker in his early ventures into politics almost terminated his political career. Groker went to the polls in his district and protested | against the stuffing of the ballot boxes by another political leader While lie was arguing James Mc- Kenna, one of the henchmen of the other leader, was shot and killed. Croker was indicted and tried, the jury disagreed and the case was sub sequently thrown out of court. Croker denied that he did the shooting, and the man who did it afterwScd con- l fessed. It was characteristic of Croker that although he knew the name of the man who did the shoot ing, he would not reveal 1t.
 For nearly 20 years Croker was on the pay roll of New York city, either as alderman, coroner, fire commits sioner or city chamberlain. He was coroner when accused of shooting Me- Kenna. While running for election as alderman he clashed with the famous Boss Tweed and won the cleo tion despite the boss, but Tweed had him legislated out of office.
 Odd Phase of Career
 One of the odd phases of Croker's career, in view of his subsequent record as Tammany ohieftain. was his assertion that he went into pol itics 10 put stop to the robbery of the city by Boss Tweed and his band | If plunderers. Tt was a shocking state of things Croker declared. "I consulted honest John Kelly and went on the warpath against Tweed and we dewned him. We reformers and independent democrats took over Tammany and made the old sink of corruption the headquarters of reformH
 When Honest John Kelly died in 1885 the reins of Tammany hall were put into Crokers hands by agreement of the district leaders. His leader ship was described as z matchless, from political standpoint. He ruled Tammany with an iron hand and Drooked no interference. If his lead ershlp was questioned he called the leaders together and demanded to know which of them was dissatis- fled. None dared to brave his wrath. Then he ordered them out to win an- other victory for Tammany
 Controlled 100000 Votes As Tammanys chief he virtually controlled about 100000 votes and in- fluenced much greater number He exercised tremendous power. With other Tammany leaders he dictated nominations for every political office In New York from the mayor down to the lowest clerk. His orders went to city and district conventions and were rarely disobeyed. When judge failed 10 give obedience he was dis ciplined by Croker's refusal to re- nominate him.
 Under Croker's rule, it was esti- ] siiottA thetl OO1lSGNEu ilOAh city office holders. saloon keepers and others more than million dollars year as a campaign fund. Croker said no accounting of this fund was ever given. The finance committee kept no books. Large business houses seeking city contracts found it neces- sary to consult Croker.
 Within a few years after assuming
 the leadership of Tammany hall Croker showed evidence of possess ing great wealth. Ills conduct and its relation to city affairs was the subject of occasional investigation by
 legislative committees but resulted in no charge against him of violation of the law.
 ' As the result of one of these inves- I tigations Tammany was confronted In 1885 with inevitable defeat. De- spite criticism that he was abandon ing the organization to defeat, Croker resigned. A few years later he re- turned and resumed the leadership but soon relinquished it.
 Became Horse Beeder
 Meantime he had established a splendid home in New York city. He began to spend his accumulated wealth in establishing himself as a
 horse breeder and turrman. Hay ins purchased many fast American horses he went to England and estab- lshed himself at Vantage where he lived like a middle-class gentleman and sought honors on the British turf. 1t was estimated that he spent more than half a million dollars in this
 effort but he declared that his re- | turns eauaied his expenses Sub
 sequently he purchased a home at Glencairn, Ireland. where he con tinued to breed and race horses. AL though his famous horse OrbY won