Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-09
IRE STOKES TRIAL.
The Prisoner on the Stand.

1 ASA1 IA OAAA-fS = AsAAAAAs
The Prisoner ON the Stand.
Helen Josephine Creates Sensation.
She Swears that FISK Threatened
Stokes Life.
NEW YOIlK, July 8.-This sras a most
interesting day in the Stokes trial The
presence of Josie Mansfield attracted many
to court. The Judge admitted the testimo
ny of Mr.. Baily as to the words used by
! Stokes just before he entered the Grand
Central Hotel. Stokes said he saw a lady
whom he met al Saratoga and wanted to
see her. 9T or {
| The prisoner, Stokes, was then placed on
the stand. He testified he was 81 years OF
age. Lived In Philadelphia 20 years, then
came to New York. First became acquain-
ted with Fisk in July, 1869. 500 +
The defence then undertook to elicit from
witness what business transactions he had
with Fisk, claiming in response to the Dis
trict Attorneys objections that this evidence
was admissible Under the plea of insanity.
McKeon held that the prisoners mind
was affected by his losses with Fisk, and
which be could not regain owing to the cor
rupt Judiciary. .-,..s, =, ~
Beach, for the prosecution, said there had
been no foundation laid for bringing in the
plea of insanity; defended his position as
private counsel, and referred TO good points
about the deceased Fisk. r.r1 ts
After heated denunciatory controversy
between the counsel, the Judge excluded
tie testimony bearing on the halluciation
theory. gvFF
Stokes then resumed his statement.
Was witness the sixthof January in
case of Mansfield against Fisk. Left the court
with Mansfield and his cousin. Went to
Delmonic'os where they had some oysters
! and ale. After lunch witness went to
lawyer to ask about the Indictment ques-
| ton.
What did you say?
Prosecution objected.
McKeop then retorted on the district at
torney, saying that if Stokes had been tried
six months ago, he would be hanged in ten
hours.
Witness was told there was no possibility
of an Indictment against him. He then
took coupe from the City Hall and drove
to the Hoffman House, [StOkes then de-
tailed his proceedings during the afternoon
substantially as is already narrated, and
said that after finding the lady he visited at
the hotel wasn't the person he knew,l l
started to go down stairs when | saw Fisk
coming up stairs. He made a rush and
when he got to the platform be pulled out
his pistol. could not by any possibility
be mistaken. l saw it as plain as any thing
l ever saw. 1t was silver mounted pistol.
was on line with him. jumped aside
and said don't fire, and pulled out my own
| pistol and fred. had it in my outside coat
pocket, or l couldn't have time to draw. l
| leaned on the rail, cooked with one hand and
| fired. He held his pisto: in both hands. As
| fired, he cried, "Oh!" BE didn't stagger
much at the first shot, and fred again. /
knew he would shoot me if didn't fire. l
was three or four steps down. He dropped
| his pistol on the stairs after the second shot.
| think Redmond was there when l fired
| the first shot, but saw the door open, and
am pretty sure he was outside when the
second shot was fired. Thomas Hart was
not there. dropped the pistol in the hall.
met Hill, as be has said, and said "There
| is a man shot" l went down and said,
'sGet a doctor, there is a man shot," Some
one followed out was wanted, and turn
ed right around. hardly remember any
thing more. l did not deny shooting Fisk.
| remember whenI was taken before Fisk,
he looked up quickly and said, "That is
Stokes" and dropped his eyes. He did not
accuse me of anything. exected him to
exonerate me.
Q. Had you made up your mind that If
he charged you with shooting you would
ask him if be did not draw pistol.
Question excluded.
l did not go near the ladies' parlor at all,
nor throw my pistol on a sofa. The boy,
| Hart, was not near the shooting al all.
Fisk did not say "Ch, Oh, oh," but "hoid."
! [ did not mean to kill Fisk. / believed his
pistol was loaded or he wouldn't have
drawn it.
@. For what purpose did you purchase
that pistol?
Question excluded.
Witnf ss-Oh, had that pistol long
time. l did not expect to meet Fisk at the
| Hotel. did not see his carriage coming.
| had cane in my hand, and very con-
spicuous oyereoat for driving on the road.
| also wore driving gloves. Before meeting
| him that day, l received numerous warn
ings that he had threatened to have my
life, and the last threat heard of was on
the 10Th of December, and L think that was
the first time had seen him since that
! threat.
Court here took recess.
Hiss Mansfield
sat with fan in one handand smelling
bottle in the other, listening to advice.
| When Stokes entered the court in the fore
noon, he bowed and she returned the salu-
tation. Then she, turning to Miss VIII
liams, remarked: "Poor fellow, how grey
he is" She wore large gold cross on her
breast and heavy gold bracelets on her arms.
She was all gold, jewels and lace. The
| iury sat immovable, leaning forward with
ewes fixed on the prisoner while he told his
| story, and during the examination the
courtroom was packed to the doors. At
ter recess Josie stood up, and, followed by
her companion, sailed ont Of the room with
| the air of the
Grand Duchess De GerCIsteIn.
Her appearance excited the most extra
ordinary sensation, and the crowd rushed
after her to see her down the stairs.
| After recess the defendant again took
the stand and in answer 70 question by
Tremaine said: | knew what the character
of the deceased was. ] knew him to be a
very vindictive, desperate, INSCRIPTIONS
character; oGe who would stop at nothing
in carrying out his designs at all hazards.
Question-Did you for a long time, day
and night, travel ia covered carriages from
| fear of attacks by persons who you were
told were put on your track by Fisk.
A long discussion took place and finally
| the question was allowed.
Another Sensation
was created by the return of Mansfield,
smiling and bowling to gentlemen who stood
up to make way for her.
The counsel then repeated the question.
| I olr Ia1 in arriar