James Croggon Dies, Result of Paralysis
Was Veteran Newspaper Reporter, for Years Connected With the Star
Wrote Graphic Story of President Garfield's Assassination--
Funeral Services Thursday Afternoon

James Croggon, who for many years was a reporter for The Star, died at 8:40 o'clock this morning at his home, 108 C street northeast, as a result of several attacks of paralysis, the last two having occurred Tuesday and yesterday. Mr. Croggon, who was approaching eighty-one years of age, had expected the end for some time, and had made such preparations as indicating his wishes as to pallbearers, so as to include some of the representatives of The Star, with whom he had been closely associated; members of the order of the Sons of Jonadab and of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia and other organizations. Members of Mr. Croggon's family were with him at the time of his death as was Charles T. Smith.

An incident connected with the work with which he had been so long and faithfully identified was his habit of insisting during his last days, even when he lacked the strength, that The Star should be brought to him and placed in his hands each afternoon.

Funeral Services Thursday
The funeral will take place Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the family residence. In the absence of Rev. Francis M. McCoy of Waugh M.E. Church--of which church Mr. Croggon was a lifelong member--the officiating clergyman will be Rev. L.M. Chambers of McKendree M.E. Church. Interment will be in the Congressional cemetery. The pallbearers will be G.A. Lyon, Charles M. Shinn, C.P. Sudwarth, W.M. Hairston, S.H. Walker, Washington Topham, Charles T. Smith and Benjamin W. Reiss.

One of the most important pieces of work done by Mr. Croggon for The Star was the reporting of the assassination of President Garfield. Mr. Croggon was in the old Pennsylvania railroad station at the time Guiteau fired the shot which resulted in the President's death, having been assigned to report the departure of President Garfield from Washington, and as he was on the spot, in connection with that work, he sent to The Star, by chance-gathered messengers and in other ways through the enormous crowds, vivid, first-hand pictures of the scenes connected with the assassination.

Many young newspaper men and others eagerly listened to the reminiscences of "Uncle Jimmie," as he was familiarly known, of the reporting of the Garfield assassination, and how he got his reports to The Star by throwing them out of a window on the second floor of the Pennsylvania depot when the police lines prevented egress from the building.

Began Newspaper Work in 1862
Mr. Croggon was probably the oldest newspaper man in Washington. He entered the work in 1862, writing many stories of the civil war and coming into contact with many of the historic characters of that time. He continued in active newspaper work until 1894, at which time he retired. He wrote special articles, however, until July, 1915. Probably the best known of these were those in a series on "Old Washington." During his long service he met many prominent persons and had many interesting experiences. His memory for names, dates and other data was remarkable and stood him in excellent stead in his reminiscent work.

He was a native of Washington, having been born October 11, 1835, on the site now designated as 1315-1317 F street northwest. He attended Henshaw's public school, one of the earliest public schools established here. During his life he saw hundreds of acres converted from pasture lands and wood lots to business places and residence sites. He began his career as a clerk in the grocery establishment of the late B.W. Reed, which was located on the present site of the Ebbitt House, but he soon turned to journalism.

Was a Sole Surviving Founder
The veteran writer was one of the founders of the Order of Jonadab, of which he was the sole surviving founder at the time of his decease. His also took a keen interest in the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, of which he had been a member for many years. He also belonged to the Veteran Fireman's Association.

Mr. Croggon was the eldest of the family of Henry B. and Mary A. Croggon. Two sisters survive him, Mrs. Elizabeth Welch of Pelham, N.Y., and Mrs. Belle Langley of Decature, Neb. Two brothers, Henry and John Croggon, both of whom were for many years employed in the Treasury Department, are dead.

Mr. Croggon leaves one son, James H. Croggon, of Glenburnie, Md., and three daughters, Misses Louisa, Fannie and Josephine H. Croggon, all of this city.