Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-07-16
News From New York.

Sew York, -. The Mayor sent in las an
nual message to the Common Council to. day.
The city debt is Sl27. 900 600 The taxes to
be raised this year are $50, 437 600. besides
5000 900 for streets.
Gov Gra;z Brown is better day. he is
shle 10 sit up ard receive friends although
still confined to the house. Ii is thought that
he will be able to he OUT in few days.
Mayor Halls message puts the debt Of the
| city at not over Ss1 900, 900 after deducting
the sinking fund, money in the treasury and
taxes to he collected this year, or Sl27.-
900, 900 without these items.
| The press comments upon the result of the
| Stokes case as follows:
| rhe Express calls it farce and contempt
| for common sense. Hereafter, it says. muir
der is no crime. but a little time, disagree
ment at first and finally an acquittal.
| The Commercial blames the law, which
allows no intermediate verdict between muir
der in the first degree and manslaughter in
the third degree.
The Post says We are nearing if we
have not already reached that point where
the taking of life is not to he considered mar
der, except in the case of vulgar burglars
who have trespassed on the rights of others
and sacrificed life to reach their object.
The following particulars of the proceed
ings of the jury are given: On Saturday
evening when they retired to deliberate a
ballot was taken, which resulted in seven for
murder in the first degree, three tor acquittal
and two for manslaughter in the third degree.
This state of affairs remained till the jury
came into court and got Col, Fisk's clothes
The clothes were all tried on by one of the
Jurors and they arrived at the conclusion
= ,at EiSl ha1 bnth his n tho military
| cape at the time that Stokes fired. and conse-
quently that the theory of Fisk drawing a
pistol was humbug.
This Influenced the three for acquittai to
vecr around tor manslaughter in the third
degree The medical testimony was thrown
cut altogether, all believing the wound mortal
from the first, and the question of insanity
was barely referred to. There was a long
discussion as to premeditation. All the jurors
were of the opinion that Stokes never went to
the Grand Ce..tral Hotel with the premedi-
tated design of meeting and killing Fisk.
The seven jurors who were for murder be-
lieve that when Stokes met Fisk, in a moment
he formed IN his mind the design of killing
Fisk and that this second was sufficient time
tor reconciliation. Five jurors stoutly main
tanned that Stokes pulled the pistol in the
heat OF passion, being stirred to frenzy by
the sight of Fisk and that his CRIME was only
manslaughter in the third degree. The de-
bate on this point became quite excited and
some harsh words were used on both sides.
Time and again poll was taken all to no
purpose. Firm to their opinions they all re-
mained. and at last felt asleep, but woke up
in precisely the same state of mind. Finally
they gave up the dispute, seeing there was
no hope of altering their opinions. 1t is the
opinion of several jurors that if they were al
i Il l..~ ,l..,t -, ia,
second degree, or manslaughter in one OF the
higher degrees, they would have arrived at a
verdict, but this was not allowed them as the
judge charged that they either find verdict
of murder in the first degree, mans laughter
in the third degree acquittal.
An application for bait will be made in II
few days.
An application was made to- day for bail in
the case Of DIR. Lucius Is. Irish and Mrs
Sarah A. Anderson, under Indictment for al
legged poisoning of the late husband of the
latter. Afidavlts Of the accused were pre-
scented asserting their innocence.
An unusually heavy rain storm passed over
this city this afternoon, accompanied by heavy
thunder
The court Of impeachment will assemble
at Saratoga in a few days 10 try Judge Bar
naTd.
The ship Agra at this port rescued the crew
of the sinking ship Covinga of Glasgow, Il
| I'D dab has, CT u.ia