Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-08
Comments Of the Press Upon
the Murder,

New ork, g. James Fisk, Dr., was shot
twice in the breast by Edward Stokes at the
Grand Central Hotel at twenty minutes past
four o'clock this afternoon. The affair took
place in the vestibule, and Fisk was assisted
to chair. 1t is thought that he cannot sur
vive. Stokes wa& arrested and carried to
the 10Th precinct station house. Fisk had
just aighted from his carriage and entered
the hotel when shot.
Fisk identified Stokes as his assassin, at
the anter-mortem examination before the
Coroner. He is fully sensible, and after
consulting several eminent ply sicians he fell
asleep comfortably. The physicians give
hope of his recovery.
New York, Z. j. Fisk, Jr., died this A.
NJ. at 10; AS o'clock.
New York, I. few minutes before II
O'Clock this A. M. James Fisk, Jr.. expired.
Unremitting medical skill and attention were
of no avail All night Erie employees of all
grades thronged the corridors adjoining
Fisk's room, and with mournful faces awaited
voluntarily to protler aid. The medical at
PENDANTS were studiously cheerful in their
looks, and specially when the PROSTATE man
showed signs of consciousness. He lay upon
hin side breathing heavily. His face was
pale, but before eight O'Clock had not any
alarming expressi'n only around the eyes,
where dusky ring ssemed to show some little
danger. In the ante chamber few of Fisk's
most intimate friends remained all night, bat
the lower halls of the hotel were entirely de-
serted. At six o'clock the first ominous
change appeared in the patient, although
perhaps not the first indication of his final
end. lie grew little restless, his face had
a greater pallor and he breathed less easy
and regular. His pulse was more rapid,
very nearly 100. AT half-past six Fisk said
something in broken tone and then closed
his eyes. The change in his face had become
more apparent, the pallor more deathlike and
moisture appeared on his forehead, his pulse
being over one hundred. The doctors stood
by the bedside watching the patient atten-
lively. At seven o'clock it was first an
nounced that he was fast sinking, and the
danger of sudden death very great. His
pulse were l30
DR.. Fisher went down stairs in q hurried
manner and asked something of the night
clerk, and then went back looking very anx-
ious. At quarter to seven o'clock a carriage
drove rapidly up, stopped at the door and the
coachman helped out lady in dark travel
ling dress, who walked quickly into the
portico. This was Mrs. Fisk. She looked
worn and haggard. Following her was her
father, Mr.. Morse, and then younger lady,
apparently relative. The carriage was
Fisk's, the same from which he stepped when
shot. The party were admitted first into the
ante chamber, and afterwards into the bed
room. Mrs. Fisk was terribly agitated, and
the scene was heart-rending. At half-past
seven o'clock, his friends collected in the
ante room had been joined by others, who
asked anxiously after the condition of Fisk.
Lawyer Sherman and Jay Gould stood near
The latter was completely overcome. The
doctors were appealed to by his wife to give
some little hope, but it was gently indicated
that they dare not say there was any change
of life. Fisk was not much moved. He
seemed never to be deserted Ivy the fortitude
displayed when first shot.
AS the morning advanced his pulse grew
still more alarming, and he became more and
more feversh and exhausted. Morphine
which had been given him in large quantities
only kept him from terrible agony, and as it
was his tortures were excruciating. At
o clock there was little change. At half-past
eight the doctors consulted again, and at nine
o'clock the suppressed excitement about the
bed was almost to intense to bear At half
past nine his friends were permitted to go to
his bedside. He thanked them simply for
coming. The rapidity of his decline showed
itself more strongly than ever. At ten
o'clock there were eager and hushed whispers
ly drawing nigh. At half-past ten o'clock he
lay scarcely knowing there were any minis
tering to him. He looked at the opposite
wall and noticed no one. At 10 As o'clock
death put an end to his sufferjngs.
Jay Gould was an attendance from early
morning His face wore, while yet there
was hope his friend might recover, its usual
calm expression. No sooner had Fisk ex-
PRED, however, than Gould's fortitude gave
way, and his grief found vent in tears. He
moved about silently, giving orders now and
again in reference to arrangements for the
removal of the body to Fisk's late residence
in 23d street, and in relation to the funeral.
The news of Fisk's death spread rapidly and
here produced a profound sensation,
The scene around the room where the body
lay was touching.
At two o'clock tomorrow afternoon the
body will be removed from Fisk's late resi-
dence to the Harlem Railroad depot and taken
thence for interment to Brattleboro, VT.
Stokes was taken to the tombs this morn
ing and placed in cell No 10. His counsel
is with him as also his brothers. He said
that he did the deed iii state of frenzy.
His face has apparently undergone no
change and appears to retain the same color
as in life. The Grand Central Hotel con-
tnues to be visited by large crowds. Mem
bers are constantly passing around the ladies
entrance gazing through the glass doors at
the stairs on which he was killed. The in
dignation of the public finds vent in gen.
eral wish that the criminal be tried, convicted
and hung within week. Some were heard
to say that Stokes is worth $3.50 900 and
''you never remember man worth that
much that was hanged in this country" An
inquest was held this afternoon at the late
residence of the deceased. The officers of
the 9th regiment held meeting this evening
in their armory. Those who know Stokes
express establishment at the audacity with
which he committed the crime.
The Journals comment upon the Fisk muir
der. The Herald says cowardlness of act
reaped its first fruit in the public mind by
awakening for Fisk the greatest sympathy.
There is nothing in the case to distinguish it
from murder, for which death on the gallows
is the penalty of conviction. The Times pro-
nounces the murderous deed brutal and cow
ardly and will attract towards Fisk an amount
Of sympathy to which no part of his career
entitled him to- The World says: In the
act may be seen its most accurate type of the
spirit of these martial murders which dis