Connecticut western news., 1872-01-12
James Fisk Jr. Nrur,a9Re d.

NEW YORK, Dec. 7.-James Fisk Jr. was shot by Edward s. Stokes at twenty min utes past four yesterday afternoon in the Grand Central Hotel. Two shcts were fired, the first taking effect in the abdomen, and the second in the f1eshy part of the left arm above the elbow. Stokes had evidently been waiting for Fisk, as he was noticed walking up and down the yestibulc, and glancing furtively down the ladies' stair case. Fisk alighted from his carriage and had taken but two steps up the stairs from the ladies' entrance, when the fatal shots were fired.
 ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN STOKES
 AND FISK.
 Everybody is familiar with the Fisk Mansfield-Stokes litigation. Stokes had always asserted that Fisk had robbed him of fortune of $2OO,OOO accumulated in the oil refinery business, which was the joint property of Edward Stokes and his mother. He was arrested by Fisk last year and locked up to answer a charge which was made against him of fraud This charge fell to the ground, and Stokes has since sued Fisk for false imprisonment. The Fisk Stokes war has continued in the courts for nine months, and while MT. Fisk has had all the power of the Erie railway corporation at his back, the funds of Stokes have been decreasing day by day, owing to the fact that he had to pay heavy law yers' fees to carry on the suit. Stokes has expended in lawyers fees during the last twelve months nearly ,hirty-eight thousand dollars, and this contest has beggartd him and rendered hls desperate. Stokes first met Fisk in 1870 and was by him intro duced to Josephine Mansfield, the ci,devant wife of Frank Lawlor, an actor. He be- came intimate with Miss Mansfield, and it is said she greatly cmbittered tho iued be tween him and Fisk. The bitter feeling against the latter reached its Gu) minating point in consequence of Jud ye Brady's adverse decision on Friday CT Concerning the publication of Fisk's loveler ,ers the severe and humiliating cross-ey animation which Miss Mansfield and hiU self were subjected to yesterday, and h'.s rumored indictment by the grand pty for black-mailing on tisk's coinplai' .t, all three of which events followed e' ch other in rapid order. Per sons o. Pis acquaintance supposed that he mus,o b'Ave heard of the bench warrant for his ay rest while at Yorkville police court, and that he left that place infuriated with thu; prospect of being put in jail second u me through his adversarY's influence, - and determined to avenge his real or fan , cied wrongs in summary manner. They who best knew the relations between Fisk and Stokes state that the fatal fcud first arose from jealousy on the part of the for mer, who looked with disfavor on the , affectionate manner in which the celebrated Mrs. Helen Josephine Mansfield treated tleboro Vl., on Monday afternoon for } burial.
 James Fisk Jr., was born in Bennington Vt., April lst 1884. His father was ped lar, and the son when he became olt } enough engaged in the same business, ant : was very successful. He subsequently
 engaged in business with Boston firm and afterward set up in the dry good' business on his own account but failed F He thsn went 10 New York. became broker, entered upon the whirl of Wal ] street speculation, and was beggared. H. then enlisted the attention and favor o Daniel Drew, who took him under hi; care, and helped to develop him into tht , shrewd swindler he became.
 Mrs. Mansfield, was divorced iron
 man named Lawior, "became acquan
 ted with Fisk, and became his para
 mour. He furnished her house. and gave her what money she wanted. She gained some $l5,0O0 by n speculation in Eric
 which Fisk invested for her.
 Edward s. Stokes, the murderer is youns
 man 30 years of age. He became con nected with Fisk through petroleum trans
 actions, ln which he claimed that his victim
 had swindled him. He was quite intimate f with Mrs. Mansfield, and at the time of th
 tragedy was, it is stated, her lover.