Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-02-03
Fisk'S Murderer.

Edward =. Stokes was born in Phlla-
delphia in the year lS4l, and is now in
his thirty first year. His parents were
people in very comfortable circum.
stances and moved in the best society
in the Quaker City When quite a
young lad he came to this city with his
family, and many of our oldest citizens
will remember the firm of Stokes &
Budlong, the principal member of the
firm being the father of Edward S.
Stokes. Stokes was always in early life
fond of athletic sports, and until lately
was considered good gvmnast by those
who knew him best. He was educated
at the High School in Philadelphia. and
received frst-class English and Latin
education. He was quick to learn and
very proficient in his studies. He was
with his fathers firm in the provision
business in Chambers street, in this city,
at an early age, and manifested great
energy and business tact. He had one
great fault, however. His blood was
hot, and being of nervous, sanguine
temperament, he was liable at any mo-
ment to break out when he deemed
himself imposed upon or outraged. He
has always been sensitive to an insult
and quick to resent an injury Stokes
is feet inches high, and weighs about
40 pounds. He is slightly built, but is
very wiry and active on his feet. In
conversation he talks quickly and to
| the point, and hurries his affairs through
as rapidly as possible Stokes is a man
of fine personal appearance, of dark
| complexion, with piercing black eyes
and regular features. His hair, which
was jet black a couple of years ago, is
now partly gray, and were it not for his
active movements he would pass for n
man of As years Mr.. Stokes married a
| lady of good family some ten years ago,
and has by her one child, very beau
| tiful girl Of 9 years of a ,e, In June of
| last year, Mrs. Stokes, who was in bad
| health, visited Europe to seek some
benefit from the mineral springs of
Central Germany, and when last heard
from, as late as Dec. 3. was in Paris
| The family, while in New York, had
an elegant suite of apartments at the
Worth House, corner of Fifth avenue
and Twenty sixth street. These apart
ments We're furnished with every article
of luxury and refinement that taste
could devise, or that money could buy.
| Stokes has always asserted that Fisk
| had robbed him of fortune of 100000,
| accumulated in the oil refinery bust
ness, 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
| Els for f,lca ,rricop,art Tho E;cl-
| Stokes war has continued in the courts
| for nine months, and, while Mr.. Fisk
has had all the power OF the Erie rail
way corporation at his back, the funds
of Stokes have been decreasing day by
day, owing to the fact that he had to
pay heavy lawyers fees to carry on the
suits. Stokes has expended in lawyers
fees during the last twelve months
nearly $3S,000, and this contest has
beggared him and rendered him des-
perate. He has often said to the writer
of this article, This is fearful fight
that | am carrying on, and | have no
one to help me; but | will never give
up until | am righted. Fisk, through
his lawyers, has endeavored to make
me appear dishonest in the eyes of the
people of New York, and | will not
yield one inch of my rights, or one dol
lar of the money which belongs to me-"
He also has frequently stated that he
was afraid of being assassinated by some
of Mr.. Fisl's employees, and has shown
the writer pistol which he carried in
his pocket to defend himselfif attacked.
In addition he has always, night and
day, had some friend in his company to
prevent attack, as he said that he did
not wish to be taken by surprise as
Samuel Bowles was some time since in
this city. The quarrel between the two
men has been very much embittered by
the woman Mansfield, who has served
to fan the embers of the feud whenever
it was dying out.