RICHARD CROKER PRAISED BY ASSOCIATES WHO HELPED HIM RULE CITY Former Tammany Chief Dead in Ireland | Croker's Death Is Kept CROKER AND HIS CHILDREN CROKER LIVED DOWN CROKER RULED CITY j From O'Brien on Birthday CHIEFTAIN MOURNED ESTRANGED BY LAWSUITS went last night WITH DESPOT'S ROD! to the home of Morgan J. BY OLD ASSOCIATES Hite Indian Vindicated in ACHARGEOPMURDER ReportersO'Brien at 729 Park avenue Tammany Chief and Wife to ask him what he had to say of Action So Far Terminated.Father and Richard, the death of Richard Croker, whose in Was Fought Way With Fists close friend he was. They were New York Can Be Proud of in 1917 Over Latter's Rights. Accused Early Life, met by Mrs. O'Brien. She said that Jr., Split Tried and and Brains to Gain Con¬ Judgo O'Brien was celebrating his Richard Croker, Says Jury Split seventieth birthday and that he had The last years of Richard Croker's case consumed several months. Finally on 1920, Judge E. B. Donnell Six to Six. trol of Tammany. not been told of Mr. Croker's death. Nathan Straus. life were embittered by alienation from July 12, members of the and a dissolved the temporary injunction, af¬ Only family his children, who conducted a long series firmed the mental competency of the few friends were at the dinner. of legal actions against him. The one-time leader and decided his wife had "We have kept the news from estrangement dated from Mr, Croker's not fraudulently gained possession of his HE KNEW THE DEFEATED ONLY TWICE, him," explained Mrs. O'Brien. "He PRAISE FROM VOORHIS marriage to his second wife, Bula, who property. SLAYER will not know of Mr. Croker's death represented herself as of American In¬ The senior Croker's sons, Richard, Jr., until he reads the Sunday papers. dian stock. and Howard, seemingly accepted the and then it will be too late to spoil His sons and daughters, in March, Florida verdict as conclusive. Richard, obtained from the court In West however, has been much in evidence Dared Defy Tweed as Ward the party we have ar¬ of 1919, Jr., Refused to Take Easy Way birthday Superior Man Rugged Palm Beach, Fla., a temporary injunc¬ In the New York city courts .since then. Brooked Xo ranged for him." tion restraining the old chieftain "from He and his brother and sisters began to Clear Himself Re¬ Leader, but V / and Avers further dissipating his estate." In the Ave lawsuits against their father. Rich¬ by Honesty Courage, he dollar dinner was held at the Metropol¬ supporting papers It was alleged that ard, Jr., it appeared, had been appointed Defiance Himself. was and incompetent his father In 1912 and con¬ vealing Culprit. was attended more Thomas F. Smith. mentally unsound agent by itan House. It by to handle his extensive afTairs and that tinued to manage the father's affairs for than 1.000 and <vas supposed to set a he was being unduly influenced by his him until 1917, when they had a dis¬ record for «urnptuous banquets. At this second wife, who by means of gifts and agreement. .RETIRED TO IRISH HOME: feast Croker received the homage of all deeds, was rapidly taking possession of The actions arose from the questlpn RESULT OF A GANG FIGHT NEWS A SHOCK TO NIXON the major part of his fortune. whether during that period the son In those whom he had set once more on The issue went to trial in the spring certain business transactions was act¬ the road to wealth and public emolu¬ of 1920 in the West Palm Beach Circuit ing solely as agent for his father or as ments. Court. Both Mr. and Mrs. Croker came trustee under a trust ercated by the Then Devoted Life to Horses at his first Gen. Winjrnte, Lawyer for De¬ This memorable feast occurred in 1896. James A. O'Gorman Remem¬ from Ireland to defend the case, which elder Croker for the benefit ha<i enlisted galaxies of counsel on each wife and his children. Some of the is¬ and and The Mazet committee v/as even then Tells of Politician Cattle Forgot New bers Boss's Work in Devel¬ side. Karold Nathan was senior counsel sues Involved have been determined In fense, conducting: Its Investigations into Tam¬ for former boss. Repre¬ favor for the most part of Richard rule of the The next the Tammany Near Gallows. York Polities. many's city. very Groat senting the sons and daughters in a like Croker, Sr. Justice McAvoy gave a de¬ Bein/r day Croker took the stand and defiantly oping1 City. New York firm of Mc- cision last November against the son In answered position were the the questions of Frank Moss & the senior member of one case, but appointed Ashbel P. Fitch on his methods of Combs Ryan, ruling Tammany and which was late William F. McCombs, referee to take testimony concerning his own business. the Richard Croker was the leader of private chairman of the Democratic National other Issues. Richard Croker went to his death, to Men prominent in politics and the Tammany Hall when that pub¬ Committee In 1912 and one of the pio¬ The Tammany chief coolly left his deep sorrow, with the stigma of position Admitted Srlflnh Eudn. lic life who had known Richard Croker Wilson. whole muddle In care of his attorneys carried with it the neer champions of Woodrow murder attached to his name, although virtually political It was on the stand that day that and dealt with him in the days of his Celebrated alienists also were sum¬ and sailed for Ireland aboard the Cedrlc of New A he knew from the moment of the crlmo mastery York city. poli¬ Croker delivered his famous utterance activity expressed deep regret last moned by each side and the trial of the last November. tician of uncommon and about working for his own pocket. of which he wa« accused the name of sagacity he night at the news of his death, and keenness, he united the warring ele¬ Asked If had not obtained the nom¬ the man who was guilty and that at ination of men who would see that he united in praising him as a man of time he could his own inno¬ ments in Tammany and ruled it with and his partner, Peter F. then EX-CHIEF any prove .Meyer, unusual qualities and superior abilities RICHARD CROKER, a In the real estate cence beyond question of a doubt a more absolute sway than it had business, would not for ever under want for profits. Croker said that they leadership. by telling that name. known his predecessors. to be DIES expected permitted to make a Nathan Straus, who for forty years OF TAMMANY There are a few New Yorkers who "Bill" Tweed and John Kelly. living. HALL, was a friend of Mr. Croker, said: know the In full. There are Croker's rule over Tammany lasted "Then you are working for your own story "Richard Croker was a loyal friend but men seventeen years, counting in the brief pocket?" Frank Moss flung at him. Continued from First Page. Mr. Croker outlived by many years some, not many, Tammany "All the time, every day in the week. and a born leader of men, and under most of the oldtlme Tammany figures who know it. It has never been told period when, with Croker abroad, John the same Just as you are," retorted a stern exterior was of an unusual Dail Eireann over the Irish peace treaty. ancl the "reformers" as well with whom because Croker absolutely C. Sheehan was its titular head. In Croker, and the see he b;ittled his seventeen of generally Tammanyites present friendliness and kindness of heart. He His fondest hope, he said, was to in years forbade It. Those .tfho have heard It those seventeen years Croker yelled, "That's the stuff!" Ireland free. He approved of the Irish leadership in Fourteenth street. The Richard Croker. Croker's one essay in was slow in his but once few of hlfl aids who are left have heard It in confidence and were only two defeats in the city.thesuffered Stato politics giving word, Republic. former met with disaster. DeparfWfc from the given, nothing could made him deviate Perhaps the lant interview Mr. Joined last night In expressing their men who would keep confidences, else election of William L. Strong in 1894 traditional of fie conviction that he was a o a element of It was the U'°rks tw° ypa'a pre. theory Tammany since from it. Croker ever gave was obtained by capta.n never would been told. It and that of Seth Low in 1901. The portlug the city. the (lays of 1879, when his of Thk New Yohk polities whose like will not be seen they have vioueSK°fT,PUb"Cviousiy. It was also testified that Grant predecessor Dublin corre-sponcent was Cro- stepping stone to political power. bolted a State ticket and thereafter de¬ "When I was nominated for Mayor Herald on 15. A*, that time Is at once the story of what fealty Croker demanded from his fol¬ had given to Croker's little daughter he February Charmed by his fistic, ability, the Much o' clared would let the State alone, he made only one request of me.to the invalid was able to leave his alcU UKFor some time after his final retire¬ ker's deepest sorrow and the story of lowers and the discipline he enforced afrKr°sat|ng *2T,.000.