Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-01-19
From NEW YORK SUM-
COLONEL FISK DEAD!
His Assassin Committed to tire
TOmOS.
An Accomplish Arrested.
= Circumstantial Account eff the
Murder.
The Origin Of the Difficulty.
The body Of Col. Fisk 80 lie isi
State To-Day.
The Origin Of the Difficulty.

The trouble between Col. James
Fisk and Mr.. Z. s. Stokes has culmi-
mated i'm the assinatiCn of Col. Fisk.
The origin of the difficulty dates ba k
nearly two years. Col. Fisk and
Stokes were interested in an oil COM
Dany which furnished all the oil that
was used by the Erie Railroad Compa
pany. Fisk and Stokes became init
mate friends. Stokes seemed a smart,
energetic man, and grew rapidly in
Fish's favor. The profits of the oil
business were very great. Stokes be-
came a frequent visitor at Col. Fisk's
rooms in the Grand Opera House.
They were continually together. SO
intimate were they that Stokes repeat
edlv dined with Col. Fisk at the house
of Mrs. Mansfield-LawlOr. Mrs. Law
Tor was Col. Fisk's mistress. The
Colonel became acquainted with her
accidentally when she was in want,
clothed her in silks and satins, sprink-
led her with diamonds and other gems,
gave her a rich mansion with brown
stone front, furnished it sumptuOusly,
and placed carriages and servants at
her disposal. So infatuated did he be-
come that he repeatedly appeared in
public with her, despite the earnest
protestatiOns of his friends. He laugh
ed at the newspaper exposures of his
shame, and was finally debarred from
fashionable society. Col. Fisk's
friends were deeply grieved, but they
remained true 10 him; for whatever
may have been his faults, he always
stood to his friends to the last. They
repeatedly endeavOred to eXtricate
him from the tolls of Circe, but in
vain. His genial nature, rolicking hu-
NOR, open-handed generosity. and en-
ergetic business qualities endeared him
to all who were intimate with him,
aud they finally resolved to endure
what they could not cure-the Colo
nel's open attachment TO Mrs. Mans
field.
THE RUPTURE.
1t was at this time that Col. Fisk
became intimate with Stokes, and in
vited him to dine at Mrs. Mansfield's
house Stokes is about five feet nire
inches in height. His body is well
/ knit Ills head is covered with glossy
| curls. His complexion is clear, his
! features regular, and his eyes dark
! blue. His forehead is white, but not
high. lie dresses in the height of
fashion, with q tendency to gaudiness,
aud generally wears large diamonds.
He is fluent talker, and is Very quick
of motion. He speaks rapidly, and
uses many gestures. Col. Fisk seems
TO have confided entirely to Stokes's
sense of honor and to Mrs Mansfield's
sense of gratitude. Apparently he
had not the least notion that Stokes
would endeavor to supplant him in
her affections. Stof es however, APP
pears to have fallen in love with Mrs.
Mansfield at first sight. His attach
ment was apparently reciprocated, and
the readiness with which Mrs. Mans
field transferred Der affections from
Col. Fisk to his assassin gives an air
of strong probability 10 the rumOr that
she had deliberately trapped Col. Fisk
for his money The attachment be-
tween Stokes and Mrs. Mansfield was
not discovered by Col. Fisk until
weeks had elapsed. Meanwhile the
Colonel was paying for the very din-
ners at Mrs. Manfield's house to which
he had invited his friend Stokes.
Though warned by his friends of what
was occurring, he refused To believe
ii, and il was not until he had assured
himself from conversations with Mrs.
Mansfield that the reports were true,
that his eyes were opened.
THE FIRST MOVE.
The Colonel moved with his usual
energy. He forbade Stokes's visits to
the house. He reasoned with Stokes,
but TO no purpose. His protestations
had no effect on Mrs. Mansfield. The