The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-28
The ShOOting---The Pursuit
and Capture.
Stokes Confronted with His Victim
The Recognition Complete.
TESTIMONY OF HART, THE HALL BOY
Scenes and Incidents in
Court.
EIGHTH DAY OF THE TRIAL.

HixIdId LAY OF 1E1G xtt1Axs
The announcement that the trial OF Stokes had
been commenced In downright earnest had the
effect Of attracting immense crowd OF specta-
tors the new Court House yesterday morning
Long before the hour fixed for the opening OF the
proceedings had arrived the halls and corridors
leading to the court room In which 1t was known
the trial was to be held were literally packed with
crowd which pushed and tugged and struggled
Hereby with the other reach the entrance to
the court, though their very existence depended
npon the struggling. or course the presence OF
this crowd in the Railways naturally attracted the
ettention OF passersby, who in most instances, did
not even suspect the cause of the gathering, and
they quite as naturally stopped to learn what was
going on, many staying to try their chances with
THE CROWDS
that were hand before them In their efforts to
get into the court room. 1t was finally found neces-
sary to secure the services Of the police to regulate
things In the Railways, and q short time after
the court officers had sent for them q pre-
cautiOnary measure against noise and confusion
during the proceedings several policemen put
in an appearance They found, however, that.
II the crowd were SIMPLY to be controlled by
merely being pushed back, their presence would
be Of little avail and they at last hit upon the Idea
of placing one OF their number Just outside the
door In the hail. with long pole stretched across
The corridor. This barrier proved all that
necessary and, thus checked, the crowd finally got
Tired out, and only q SUFFICIENT number being al
lowed In to comfortably fill the benches the crush
soon ceased and the Railways became reasonably
clear Thanks to this arrangement, when Judge
Ingraham arrived there was not over a dozen per-
sons in the hallway and every available seat was
occupied within.
MRS. FISK IN COURT.
Just previous to the opening OF the Court quite
sensation was created among the audience by the
appearance OF exJudge Beach, accompanied by two
ladies' dressed In full mourning. They wore thick
black veils which efectually hid their faces from
view, and as they were conducted within the rail-
Ing whisper went round the room that one was
Mrs. Fisk and the other Josie Mansfield. The idea
of the association OF the widow OF the dead man
and the woman who had been SO prominent In the
disaster which brought Fisk to his death was 80
Rtrocious that but very few people put any
faith IN It, Speculation was rife, however,
as to who the ladies were, and for time consider
cradle confusion ensued in the Court by
son OF tie crowds in the back part OF the room
crowdng forward to get a glimpse ut them. II
finally became bruited about that one was really
Mrs. Fisk and the other Colonel Fisk's sister When
this fact became generally known quite change
seemed to come over the audience. When the two
ladies entered the Court first, and few OF that
kind OF Court hangerson who think they know
everything had led others to believe that OF the
two was Mansfield, there was an evident disposi-
tion all around to boot or hiss. One could
feel the inclination to disorder In the air. as 1t were.
Once, however, it was made certain that the two
were the mourning widow and the sister Of the
dead Colonel, a hush seemed to creep over the
whole room as the ladies took their seats and In
stead OF scowls that might have been there was
naught but looks OF sympathy and confederation
among the audience. . The ladies had taken their
seats but short time when the prisoners counsel
and finally
himself entered the Court, attlred with his usual
neatness He took his seat Immediately behind
Mr.. Tremain and Mr.. McKeon, and threw himself
back In his chair in a nonchalant manner. ap-
.parenty quite oblivious OF the fact that he
was the observed OF all observers, and
that every eye in the court room was
upon him. He looked rather flushed and excited,
but the only sign OF nervousness he gave while his
counsel were fixing their papers preparatory to the
opening OF the trial occasional biting OF his
finger nails, and every now and then running his
hand through his hair with a quick, jerky move
ment. The table at which his counsel sat alone
separated him from where Mrs. Fisk was seated.
AT first he did not seem to be aware OF her pres
ence, but after while his eyes fell upon the form
I'm black before him, and for moment or so he
stared vacantly at her with look OF blank amaze
ment or wonder on his face, as II he was not
quite certain who the person was. He,
however, soon became convinced OF her identity M
he had any doubt about 1t any time) when she
turned full round In her seat TO speak to Judge
Beach. AS she turned about he himself turned
round to speak TO his brother, who Sat behind him.
From that moment he apparently never allowed
his eyes TO wander In the direction OF the widow OF
his victim.
THE TRIAL OPENS.
When the Court was finally opened the scene was
exceedingly impressive. Everybody In the room
appeared To realize the solemnity OF the occasion,
and TO feel from the moment the cr1er's voice had
hushed and the Jury had taken their seats that
every word uttered by the witnesses, every question
put by counsel, every ruling made by the Judge
would add to the chances OF the prisoners deliver
Once the jury had taken their seats the clerk rose
and called out their names one by one. Each
answered In low, quiet tone, the audience mean
while maintaining silence OF death, as though
fearful that even a whisper might In some way be
followed by q something terrible, they knew not
what When the first witness tMr. Hill was called
and he rose from a seat In the back part OF the
room, where the crowd was thickly packed, even 70
the extent Of many being ranged against the walls
like so many statues huddled close together, there
was rush forward among the audience, those on
the back seats endeavoring to secure good posi-
ton in 'front.', whence they could hear the wit
nessea This created little confusion, which was
finally subdued BY the ofncers or the Court Az MI.
Hill took his seat
BUZZ OF EXPECTATION,
made manifest by the audible whsperings which
were INDUCED In all sides, swept over the room,
and questions like WHO Is hes what is he TO tes-
fily aboutr were passed from mouth TO mouth.
Even the lsdies OF whom there were but very
fer in the Court and who were seated In that por-
ton u the reserved for privileged characters
OF the and press, and which Is divided from the
seats o. he common herd Dy An iron railing moved