The New York herald., 1872-12-07

shooting. and saw me as reached the head OF thd
stairs. Mr.. Hill felt that it was me who fred
because there was no one else around.
REPoRTER-Was Thomas Hart present when MI
Hill charged you with the shOOtingf
SToKEs-Yes, certainly; but Hart knew nothing
about 1t then. He had not been seen; bur after
few hours he was prepared to prove cold -bloOdeJ
and deliberate murder.
REpoRTEa-Did Mr.. Powers, the proprietor OF tho
Grand Central Hotel, take any particular action ID
the matter OF the shooting
IN THE yEsTIBuLE OF THE HOTEL.
STOKES had but litte 70 say to him. lie sail
thst he did not like me to come into his house aud
ma make this disturbance" replied that knowing
In that way; that only came TO visit q party and
tnen 20 leave the hotel did not IN any sense ex.
REroRrgR-How did they come to confront you
with Mr. FISK after he shot
STONES Mr. Hin. the gentleman Just spoke Of
thOught, as there was no one there that had wit.
messed the shooting, that should be confronted
with Mr. FISK, and | coincided with him ex,
actly. thought II FISK wanted to make any cont
piaint wanted TO hear him make 1t once SO a. ia
vindicate myself; but Fisk made no charge against
me and when the officer asked him II 1 was tie one
VINO shot him, he merely recognized me as being
Mr.. Mr.. stokes lie would not answer If had shot
heart . to say ANYTHING against him, yet l had no
idea That he was going to die as he sat IN the mid
die Vi Che SOFA without being supported.
THAT MYSTERIOUS PISTOL.
REPoRrER-Well, to tel you the truth Mr.!
Stokes the great trouble with YOU on the last trial
was that you failed to show what became Of Ftsk's
pistol, while the prosecution proved that ne did
not nave pistol and never carried one.
but next time Will show more about that pistol !
REroRTER.Ihen, suppose, If you prove posi-
lively that Fisk had pistol you may have nothing
to fear your next trial for its nnal result :
SToKEs-Of course, you understand that ! cannot
say anything about that, but think will be able
RRposTKR-Do you Not think the present time
for your trial particularly unfortunate one, the
public mind being excited from frequent murders
"GIvE ME TRIAL OR RELEASE Mr."
SToKEs-I cannot help 1t. The public are rightly
honest
that re as0n Will sacrifice the innocent have
been begging and entreating for trial ever since
last July and II Is great outrage upon the public
laws and a still greater one upon myself that
have not had It: II am guilty, the laws should be
famous. My case is peremptorily set down for the
9Th OF Decemoer and when that day arrives shall
ponement on some pretext He knows that the
state has honestly no case against me- and for that
reason prefers to turn the whole matter over to
elect.
REroRrER-well, think that it is gross wrong
that trial has been refused you so long. sup
pose Judge Brady will preside, and If the jury do
not agree on verdict it is said by some OF the
principal lawyers OF the city that he Will then be-
asked to hold you on bail.
sToKEs-I much prefer trial now, because am
prepared with witnesses. sun, If trial Is to bo
refused me, want to be released on bail.
STOKES REcEIyES THREArENING LETTERS.
REPoRrER-ln the event of your acquittal or re-
lease ball, do you fear that tsS's friends would
make any assault on your
sToKEs-From the quantity of threatening letters
which have received, one might suppose that
there was danger St, am naturally very
peaceful man and quiet, and win avoid al dim.
no hesitation in protecting myself.
REroRrER-Do you suppose that your presumed
knowledge OF FSk'S misTnanagemcnt OF Erie haI
anything to do with his designs on you
SToKEs-ies; my knowledge OF those matters
made Fisk as antagonist!c TO me as he was to Mr..
Dorman d. Eaton, ut the time he was my bail.
Fisk went for me In every respect the same as he
did for poor Mr. Eaton. FISK nrst attacked my
character and then hired men to waylay me.
AN OLD STORY RETOLD.
REPoRTER-What is that story about Fisk AMI
Eaton; it was not allowed to come out at your
sroKEs-Mr. Eaton was opposing Fisk's mts-
management OF the Erie road. Fisk endeayored
to deter him by a threatened publication OF false
afrdavits calculated to injure MI. Eat0n's char.
acter, but, falling in this way to effect compro-
mise, he had Mr. Eaton one night knocked down
ana almost killed. For many months he lay in an
almost critical condition told Luther X. Marsh
Fisk about his assault on Eaton months previous
TO this affair, aud then hearing how ! was con.
Tor my safety. did not dare to walk single
block without body guard. Fisk was indeed
desperate ana dangerous man. and believe he did
more to bring about a lawless and reckless state
of affairs than any man who ever lived in New
norS cty & no man III tnat opposed elsS % was & safe n
cold and clammy," and ! believe that he told this
truth.
STOKES GIVES HIS REASONS roR SHOOTING FISK.
am not relating this IN any palliation Or shO0t<
ing man because h" was dangerous or wicked
Not Ut all. shot Fisk because I could not avoid
it, and in preference TO being shot myself.
REpoRrER-Do yon know anything about that
den3it OF Geo charged TO JAY Could ia this
management Of Erie?
THE ERIE PLCSDER
SroHFs-Fiy millions OF dollars will not eovcf
the stealings IA Erie. knew every Inan VINO was
implicated in the piunder Of the road, and was
going beforc the Legislature to tell all know, and
that is tie reason they Keep me here aud delay my
trial. They wan 70 get me ont OF the way.
Here another OF the counsel Of stokes entered
the grim apartment, and the HERALD reporter badU
stokes goodby. And this is his story the last hc
VIII tell before he goes To his final trial And AZ
the law prepares lor ITS encounter Helen To-
sophine Mansfield Is studying lor the French stage
PARIS.