Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-15
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
The Fisk Mansfield Correspon.
dence.

New York, IA. The Herald publishes the
Fisk Mansfield correspondence. 1t says
Fisk and Stokes first met in the summer of
1869 The latter was comparatively poor.
Fisk introduced to Miss Mansfield al
her own request, at the residence OF Anna
Wood on Saith street. She was poor and
told Miss Wood she hadn't decent article
OF clothing. Fisk took fancy to her and
She became his mistress. The intimacy
ripened into strong affection on his side. At
this juncture Fisk and Stokes became init
mate. The oil refinery belonging to the lat
ters mother was put in working order at
Fisk expense. and company was formed
Stokes WAS first made treasurer. but having
drawn out over So, 600 in four months, the
company was reorganiZed and he was ap-
pointed secretary From the new company
he drew over So 900 in Sin months, and in
January 1871, he collected in one day ST.
600 of the company's money, no part of
which Fisk claimed was due him, and put it
in his pocket telling some friends that he had
got $4,000 of Fisks money and meant to
keep it. For this he was arrested, but upon
his discharge from arrest compromise was
entered into by which he was allowed to keep
what money was in his possession, and was
paid ST., 900 more for him and $4,000 for his
mother, in order TO induce him to sell out his
entire interest and retire from the company
In one way or another Stokes managed to
leave the company with 100000 more than
he had when he went into it.
Stokes in the meantime had been intro
| duced to Miss Mansfield, at whose house he
spent his days and nights. Fisk grew jealous
and Stokes swore he had no cause. but Fisk
was not satisfied and sought to break connec-
ton with the woman, even though he did
| love her. He wrote farewell letters to Josie
and she would write a sweet reply, when
Fisk would repent and send her present,
and often money. While she was thick with
| Stokes, Fisk was all the time sending her
money. Soon Fisk wrote parting letter,
and told her she must look to Stokes for her
support This made Josie mad She showed
all of Fisks letters to Stokes. Stokes saw at
once that these letters were not letters mar
ried man should write to a woman other than
his wife. He saw an opportunity to hold
! Fisk in his power. Stokes gathered together
all the notes, kilograms, scraps or cards, and
every word Fisk had written to Miss Mans
field, and then made out a claim for $500 600
| against Fisk. He said that unless the claim
was paid the letters would be published.
This demand for $500 600 was made through
his attorney, Ira Shatfer, Mr.. Beach decin-
ing to be connected with the matter. These
were the letters which cansed Fisk to get
cut an injunction to prevent their publica-
ton. They are extraordinary letters, but
they are such letters rs a man would write to
a woman he would love and whose nfltua-
ton lie had resolved to cast off absolutely.
Nothing about Erie or Tammany appears
in those published by the Herald which are
said to be the whole correspondence now in
! existence.
On Oct. LIST, 1870, Fisk in long letter to
Miss Mansfield says: But what think You OF
a woman who would veil my eyes, first by a
gentle kiss, and night and day, for weeks,
months ard years by deceit and fraud to lead
me through the dark valley of trouble, when
she could have made my pathway one OF
roses, committing crimes which devil in
carnatc would shrink from, while all this
time | showed to her as 10 YOU, nothing but
Kindness, both in words and III action laying
at your feet SOUL heart, a fortune and a
reputation which had cost by night and by
day 25 years of perpetual struggle, and which
but Tor the black blot of having in an evil
hour linked it elf with you would stand out
to-day brighter than was ever seen upon
earth. But the mist has fallen and you ap-
pear in your true light. l borrow your own
words to describe you, "a snake in the grass
and verify have found you out, and you
have the audacity to call your sainted mother
to witness your advice to me, "a dog that
bites" SC, &c. You accuse her OF lead
ing you on and OF ever standing ready to
make appointments for you. The tone OF
your letter is such that you seem willing to
shoulder the load of guilt, under which an
ordinary criminal would struggle. believe
that you have arrived at that state when nc
amount of guilt would disturb your serenity
or prevent your having sweet dreams, and
we still shall see you crawl, ga snake in the
grass" How l worship the night said
sect thee behind me Satan" The few weeks
that have elapsed since that blessed hour,
how | bless them for the peace OF mind they
have brought me- Again the world grows
bright and l have being. You imagine
that l would pursue you agar, and you
thought would endeavor to tear down the
castle you had obtained by robbery. God
knows if am an element so lost to every
feeling of decency as to be willing to link it.
self with you. will assist and foster it sc
Nm Ii IL III knnn rnn from crawling town I'd