Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-10-11
THE FISK MURDER.
INTERVIEW WITH STOKES-H S
TRIAL TO COME OFF THIS
MONTH.


A reporter of the New York Herald paid
a visit to the 1ombs prison on Saturday
and obtained an interview with Edward S.
Stokes.
The cell of Edward S. Stokes is very
clean and very neat, but there is total
absence of any gaudy display, and the
magnificent adornments that have been
illustrated in the weekly papers are totally
wanting in the cell of Stokes. The few
articles of the toilet that are scattered about
show that he is now, as he always has been,
scIupulOusly careful Of his personal clean
illness. Everything is val.able and of the
best material, Tut still the books aud Slip
pers are the only articles that may be called
luXurieS.
The terribly long confinement, though it
has told upon Stokes, has not affected his
constitution as much as might be expected.
His constitution is Of iron, and his manner
in conversation is as cheerful as ever. His
eyes are as bright as ever, and he has the
same fire and agility of movement that was
noticeable i'll him before his Imprisonment.
Stokes was dressed with his usual care and
neatness, but he did not wear lis dia-
monds, He wore loose, gray tweed sack,
pair of very handsomely cut gray trousers,
and a purple silk scarf with white spots
Stokes could not do without a cane, and he
| struck his legs with it and the table while
talking. The interview lasted for some
time and the good spirits of Stokes returned
| to him as he talked energetcaly of his
troubles and his prison experience.
| Reporter-How do you feel, Mr.. Stokes,
and how have you passed the last eight or
nine weary months?
Stokes-I don't feel very well, but ]
manage to endure it. suppose the loss of
exercise i'll the open air is the cause.
RepOrter-HoW do you feel about your
trial this time?
StOkes-I am impatient to have it.
will have to he tried some time or another,
and l can endure anything but suspense.
Still, if they are going to delay my trial any
longer, my counsel will demand that shall
be bailed.
Reporter-I suppose the prosecution will
develop something startling on the new
trial?
Stokes-I don't know that the prosecu-
ton can make any very new developments
unless they can hire some more boys who
have been concealed in coal closets and
wardrobes, who will spring out like mon
keys from handbook when the spring is
touched (here Stokes laughed) q la Thomas
Hart. (Stoke's eyes sparkled fercely.)
Reporter-DO you think it will be diff
cult to get jury this time, so that it may
be found necessary to change the venue to
another county?
Stokes-My counsel think that there will
| be but little difficulty in obtaining a jury
in fact, they think that a jury can be OBJ
| tanned in three or four days.
Reporter-Well, now, Mr.. Stokes, /
would like to ask you--that is, if you do
not think it wrong-if you have any
new evidence as to whether Fisk had a
pistol or not. The public by this time
you know time changes all things-seems
to be pretty well satisfied that your meet.
ing at the hotel was accidental.
Stokes, quite serv5d)-That is some
| thing that l must object to talk about, and
don't wish to be interviewed upon that
subject, Mr.. -. And | hope you will
not make me say anything that have not
told you, as l have seen good many
statements in newspapers that never came
from ME, (eXcitedly.)
There the interview ended, and Stokes
bid his interviewer gOod-by, shaking hands
with him heartily.
During his confinement Stokes has re-
ceived great number ofletters expressing
sympathy with him.
The trial will come off at the October
term of the Court of Oyer and Terminer.
MRS. LAURA FAIR ACQUITTED.
The Jury Deliberate for Sirly Hours and
Heh hetuTn q ' erQLct OF " Not GuiL-
ty "-Genefdt DISSATISFACTION acitt tie
Result Of the Trial.
Telegram to New York Herald
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. so, 1S72.-After
being out nearly sixty hours the jurs
in Mrs. Fairs case rendered a verditt
at nine O'Clock this morning of acquittal.-
Mrs. Fair, who was in Court, tainted on
the announcement. The verdict excites no
surprise, on account Of the inferior charac-
ter of the jury, who were selected under
the technicalities Of the law from among
men so ignorant as net to know enough
about this notorious case to have formed
any opinion favorable or unfavorable to the
defendant