The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-29
STOKES AND BLACK FRIDAY.

The Statement OF Edward y. S!oG %
ms to Fsis Fast Career. and an 0piu-
Ion OF the Piece at Eiblo's GARDEN.
Edward S. Stokes, the murderer Of James Fisk,
was interviewed by n reporter yesterday, and after
short conversation, he expressed desire to make
astatement to the public, and to which he append.
Cd his signature. II is only Justice to his oounsc to
state that he admits having giving this interview
without their knowledge.
The facts in the former part OF the statement are
Familiar TO the public having been published at tho
tme OF the assassination but The natural indgna ton
Of Stokes towards the management at Nlblo's has
not been reduced before to writing, and win no
doubt be read with interest b. those who are con-
serned in watching the nightly degradation OF one
OF the city theatres.
To THE public
Ever since my commitment TO this prison, at the
request OF my counsel have refrained from making
q statement OF any kind to the public.
l have suffered physically from unnecessarily
close confinement by order-of the Commissioners,
hut the seal OF silence placed upon my lips has been
even more CALLING to me than my Imprisonment. /
have suffered more mentally from the repeated and
gross misrepresentation in newspapers under the
control end influence OF my enemies than from my
confinement.
silently and painfully have listened to the accu
sation that was in league with Miss Mansfield to
exJoFt money from Fisk, and to gross misrepresen
ta.lons Of my relations ,tI with ner; a., ,,
IN the prosecution OF n.y. suits against Fisk Miss
NansAeid's affidavit was deemed necessary by my
her whatever; neither was interested in any suit
with her, except through the Vaccinations OF Fisk,
who compelled mo to act as q defendant
In regard TO the idea that ever desired to extort
money from FISK, | viii say that | have been in
legitimate business Tor the past ten years. Win
ME exception ora reverse IN 1906 had been gcner-
ally successful until vas Induced 10 take James
Fisk J partner In my oil business IN Brooklyn.
by him was iagrantly robbed and outraged--my
refinery was seized m midnight on Sunday by
lawless gang OF fulans without any process oflaw,
while was thiowlf~eat prison and there njoined
nom even attempting to proceed TO regain my own
property.
After considerable litigation q satisfactory CON-
promise was made, bat an Elle lawyer adroitly
eptr9nped me into his confidence, ana induced Inc
70 wave satisfactory settlement then made aud
Dn the verge OF being signed or closed. After IN
hucing TO abandon tho settlement Which would
have stopped all litigation between Fisk ana my.
SELF he obtained all the papers which they much
Desired and then betrayed my confidence by max
ting an award In the interest OF Fisk The same day
the lawyer left Tor Europe. This breach OF con-
Hdence victimized me out of over 100000, which
II was previously stipulated should receive.
have alao been accused Of threatening TO publish
FYpk,s letter to Miss Manaleld
This is absolutely and unqnailfedly false The
greater portion Of ,1se puo ,nnf, since nee r
urint. These letters were procured and published
without my knowledge and conniyance. / have
never seen Miss Mansfield since my commitment.
Ishond have remained silent IN regard TO all
those accusations II ! had not lately benn grossly
ibclied on the stage at Nibc'a managers so lost
10 an sense OF decency as to prostitute the arama
by Mbeiing person IN my unfortunate and helpless
condition would receive silence from me had ne
not to make that drama still more impressive come
out In card denying its vile Determinations aDt
ycuchiug for ita untruthfulness.
The Incidents or thia libelous play require no de
NAL with those who know me. but 5000 person
who knew nothing Of my anteceaents or chaiactc
nightly witness the Misrepresentation al me as
gambler, r0u6, forger and assassin, and Possipi.
may accept 1t for truth.
No man can honestly assert that knowingly eve
wronged any one, and as for being an adept q
cards, hardly know one card from another, an
have scarcely played game in many years.
In this monstrous play Fisk IS represented q
being prosecuted by me and as having eVidehc
that ! committed forgery upon him. rms -
charge, and one SO ridiculous that nbrul
know how TO reply 10 II. But VIII say Una.
never signed my name TO any document more ot
creditable 10 myself than when put my slgnatui
30 the oil lease IN consideration OF receiving certsi
rebates whereby the Erie Railroad was robbed
benefit himself ana his colleagues.
AS regards my being an assassin II IA naru y
me to refrain at present from making statemeh
Tor have duty TO perform TO my counsel. mus
follow their advice and direction. These rev stat
ments which ! do make are made without the
knowledge and entirely upon my own respoi
gibility.
will only add that when all tho facts OF this II
fortunate affair are developed, and when u shall
proved how iDfamousy the witnesses perlurf
themselves at the Coroner's inquest then publ
opinion, which has been based upon false stat
ments, viii set IN 10 my favor.
am anxious. and always have been ANXIOUS
. specify trial Wy an honest jury o. my fellow lne
EDWARD s. STOKES.
TOMS, April 20, 1872.