The New York herald., 1922-05-08
Blames Fathers Widow for
Surprising Estrangement
From His Children.
CALLS MIND .ENFEEBLED'
Litigation in Florida Prelude
to Bitter Legal Conflict
Lasting to 'Finality.'

Richard Croker, Jr., made public a
statement yesterday, the first he has
made since his father died in ireland
April 20, in which he ANNOUNCED his
determination to contest the will OF
the former Tammany chieftain. He
explained that the litigation in the
South several years ago was merely
an effort Of the Croker children to
protect their father, but the prospec-
tive suit. tie grounds for which have
fight to gain control of part of the
estate in which he personally believes
he has right to participate.
"My attitude is this, and have
been anxious to have it clearly under
stood as far as my activity toward my
father Is concerned Mr.. Croker said
supplenenting TIE statement 'sIt was
only after had found that my father
had transferred all of his property tc
his second wife that legal steps were
taken in Florida to protect him. The
action brought in the South was not
for tie purpose of getting anything
from him."
1t was Mr.. Croker's belief that hi.
fathers will would be made public to.
day or tomorrow. He said there woulc
snot be much property mentioned In the
instrument. as the bulk OF the real prop.
erty. was transferred to his father.
second wife some time after their mar.
riage. The parcels that will be men.
toned will be few and in this city. Mr.
Croker said they are of no great value
Hist statement follows in part:
After my mothers death In 1914 my
father lived with his children in the
family residence In this city. There ex.
listed between him and them at that time
the utmost affection and esteem. My
father was happy and contented anc
was largely occupied in making plans
for the future of his children. In les:
than two months after my mother.
death my father. who was then n mar
over 20 years of age, married his pres.
ent wife. He had known her for only 4
few weeks at the time OF his marriage
In that brief period II had not been pos
sible for him to acquaint himself FULLY
with respect TO her character or her
past life. lie accepted her repre- senta.
tions of herself as regards her age. mel
life and her Aspirations. When, some
years later, the real facts with reyar.
to these representations were made
known he was then too old and en-.
foebled to comprehend them, and $, Ear
committed that he could not then change
his position.
Nothing unpleasant or In any way
isagreeabie occurred between nv
father and his children until about two
years after his remarriage. At that
time he gave TO his present wife ccm-
plete control OF all his affairs. His at
t.tude toward his children had Under
gone radical change. Instead Of the
affection he formerly had for them and
tho confidence he had placed I'm them
HIS mind had become filled with sus-
picion and hostility towards them. This
change had arisen without any reason
therefor IN the conduct OF his children
The estrangement between him and
them was wholly without founda tion
and came az complete surprise to his
children and his friends. Only one per-
son had anything 10 gain by this
cStrangement. The result OF IL was that
In brief period OF time my father con-
veyed all his property to his second wife.
apparently believing that IN so doing
he was protecting himself against his
children. II was only after the chill
dren learned OF this transfer, which re-
suited In stripping their father OF all
his property, that II was decided TO
bring action in Florida. In order 10
protect him against himself. At shat
time Il became manifest that the Feel
ing of affection and esteem formerly
felt for me by my father had become
one of the utmost bitterness. The rea-
SON for arousing this anisnosity In him
was clear ! had handled many of my
fathers affairs In this country for years
during his absence. Without destroying
his confidence IN me II would have been
impossible to strip him of his property
In the manner In which this was finally
accomplished.
Regardless OF the terms os any will
that my father may have made shall.
refuse absolutely 20 acaulesce IN the
situation now existing with respect to
his property. Whatever rights have in
the premises shall enforce and am pre-
pared to lItigate the questions involved
to q finality."