Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-09
The Stokes-Fisk Tragedy.
Its Orisin-More Partic ulars.

HIS u-MOTc TdTtlCuluTSs
| The origin Of the difficulty dates back near
| ly two years. Col. Fisk and Stokes were in
| terested in an oil company, which furnished
| all the oil that was used by the Erie Railway
Company. Fisk and Stokes became intimate
| friends. Stokes seemed a smart energetic
young man, and grew rapidly in Fisk's favor.
The profits of the oil business were very
great. Stokes became frequent visitor at
Col Fisk's rooms in the Grand Opera House.
They were continually together. So init
mate were they that Stokes repeatedly dined
with Col Fisk at the house Of Mrs. Mans
| field Lawlor.
Mrs. Lswlor was Col. Fisk's mistress. The
Colonel became acquainted with her when
| she was in want, clothed her in silks and
satins, sprinkled her with diamonds and
other gems, gave her a rich mansion with
brown stone front, furnished it sumptuously
and placed carriages and servants at her dis.
posal. So infatuated did he become that he
repeatedly appeared in public with her, de-
spite the earnest protestations Of his friends.
He laughed at the newspaper exposure Of his
| shame, and was finally debarred from fash
| ionable society.
1t was at this time that Col Fisk became
intimate with Stokes, and invited him to dine
at Miss Mansfield's house. Stokes is about
five feet nine inches in hight His body is
well knit, his head is covered with glossy
| curls, his complexion is clear, his features
regular and his eyes dark blue. He dresses
in the hight of fashion, with tendency to
gaudiness, and generally wears large dia-
monds. He is fluent talker, and is very
quick of motion.
Col Fisk seems to have confded entirely
to Stokes,s sense of honor, and to Miss
Mansfields sense of gratitude. Apparently
he had not the least notion that Stokes would
endeavor to supplant him in her affections.
Stokes, however, seems to have fallen in love
with Miss Mansfield at first sight. His at
| tachment was apparently reciprocated, and
the readiness with which Miss Mansfield
transferred her affections from Col. Fisk to his
assassin gave all air of strong probability to
the rumor that she had deliberately trapped
Col. Fisk for his money. The attachment
between Stokes and Miss Mansfield was not
discovered by Col. Fisk until weeks had
elapsed.
Though warned by his friends of what was
occurring, he refused 10 believe it, and it was
not until he had assured himself from con-
versation with Miss Mansfield that the re-
ports were true, that his eyes were opened.
The Colonel moved with his usual energy.
He forbade Stokes's visits to the house. He
reasoned with Stokes, but to no purpose
| His protestations had no effect on Miss Mans
| field
| The next movement was startling one.
Stokes was arrested on Saturday night on a
charge of embezzling the oil company's
funds. He was kept in prison until Monday,
when released on bail. He retaliatei, and
Fisk was arrested on an accusation Of con-
spiracy and false Imprisonment.
| The fight was bitter one. 1t benefited no
I NH sL--.x IL. Al
verbal contracts by which the oil company
supplied Erie with oil. OF course this forced
the stock of the oil company down, and Fisk,
it is understood, bought in Stokes's interest
far 100000. Fisk and Stokes also had n
meeting at Delmonico's, and endeavored to
settle their difficulty, but in vain.
| Miss Mansfield now Joined her energies to
those of Stokes. She claimed that Fisk
owed her some $40, 900, and in proof of this
claim put in copies Of a batch OF love letters
written her BY Col. Fisk, which were said to
expose all the secret operations of the Erie
and the Tammany rings. Fisk secured an
injunction from Judge Pratt forbidding the
publication of the letters, as they were ruled
to be scandalous and irrelevant.
| On Friday Judge Brady rendered his de-
cision, continuing his injunction against the
publication of the letters. This was a bitter
blow to Stokes. On the following day Miss
Mansfield's charge of subornation of perjury
was continued in the Yorkville Police Court
Miss Mansfield and Stokes were both pres
ent Miss Mansfield was placed ON the
stand, and her cross-examination was very
severe
During this terrible cross-examination Miss
Mansfield, for the first time in her life, be-
came intensely agitated, and finally broke
down in flood OF tears. Stokes was terri
fully enraged. Jsdge Bradys decision and
Miss Mansfeld's DISCRIMINATION excited
him to a terrible pitch.
| Meanwhile the District Attorney had
brought the attempt to blackmail Col Fisk to
the attention of the Grand Jury. On Satur-
day it is said the Grand Jury brought in an
indictment agsinsH both Stokes and Miss
Mansfield. 1t was reported during the after
noon that bench warrant was out for the
arrest of Stokes and Miss Mansfield, and
sent to the Sheriff's office for service. We
are informed that on hearing this news
Stokes lost all control over himself, and de-
clared that Fisk had signed his death war;
rant or used words of similar import.
He was in raving passion, and left the
house determined to murder Col. Fisk at the
| first opportunity.
After leaving Miss Mansfeld's house he in
Quired for the Colonel at the Grand Opera