Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-01-15
ASSASSINATION OF JIM FISK.

ASSASSIN ALTON OF JIM FISK.
New York is in another whirlpool
of excitement. She has n new MUIR
derer for her courts to fight over for a
time, and then Of course they will cut
their apron strings and let him loose
again to shout victory and kill some
body else. New York is indeed a
lively little town. If anybody wants
to be shot, stabbed and murdered, or
killed no matter how, let them go to
New York, and, unless they lie low,
keep quiet and mind their own bust
ness, will stand more than an even
chance to have that wish gratified in
Il very short time. The Richardson
Mcfarland tragedy over and forgot
ten: the tumbling down of the old
Tammany castle excitement having
become somewhat stale; new trag-
edy is introduced upon the stage
which excites more than it surprises,
for by some it has been expected that
the man in question would meet with
some such tragic end. On the 18th
instant the notorious Jim Fisk, king
Of the Erie railroad company, was
shot and mortally wounded, assassin
ated in broad day light. He stepped
from his carriage to the pavement, then
into hotel and commenced to ascend
the stairs was met by rival in the
affections of woman, who had MUIR
der in his eye and pistols in his hands.
A shot was fired. Fisk fell with the
exclamation: "Oh, DON'T" but the
cowardly assassin gave no quarter and
fired the second time and his victim
was shot through the bowels. Fisk
then went down to the foot Of the
stairs and fell into the arms of some
friends who carried him to the recep-
ton rooms Of the hotel and after
wards to his home wherehe died next
day. His murderer attempted an es-
cape, but the arm Of an officer laid
its strong fingers upon his shoulder,
and he was led off to prison. Jim Fisk
was by no means the best man in the
world. He had some good qualities
No man so bad but there is some GOOD
in him; no hog so lean bat there is
some fat streaks. While perhaps he
was as fit subject for the states prison
as any man ever was; apest upon SO
ciety; . hidden monster, weighing
down upon its morals, no man in all
New York had more sympathy for
or gave more to thepoor than he. He
was not Of quarrelsome disposition
but a great lover of fun, and man
that never would have thought Of
committing murder He was a Green
Mountain baby, and said to be fat
and chubby little sucker Was a ma
tive Of BrattIeboro, and commenc
ed his career with his father, peddline
buttons, six for a cent, when he was
ten years old. When he became OF
age, he bought out his father, drove
splendid team and done good bust
ness selling silks, threa'ls, &C.
He was what is called "a sharper
and went up like rocket, to million
aire. Hardly a merchant in the state
that has been in business fifteen years
but knew Jim Fisk, well. Fisk's muir
derer is man by the name of Stokes
They met accidentally a few years
ago, and attracted by his appearance
Fisk made his acquaintance; liked
him very much, lent him money, set
him up in business, and befriendeC
him in many ways. Miss Helen Jos
ephine Mansfield, the Sd party ant
the cause of all the trouble, was alsC
taken by Fisk from poyerty's hungry
door, and provided with good clothes
house and money too. Stokes'becam'
infatuated with Mansfield, Mansfield
left her old love for the new; a rival
ry sprang up between the two mel
which ended in the assassination.-
Stokes and Fisk were both married
men and neither had any business t.
bestow their affections upon another
but New Y ork is a queer place.
Mrs. Fisk was Immediately sent 70
and arrived a few hours before tb,
death Of her husband The seen
is said to have been an affecting one
Almost crazed with grief, and witt
arms around the dying man, she crie'
as if her heart would break.
If there ever was a clear case Q
murder this seems to be one, and a
hanging is the penalty, we hop
Stokes will have to swing. Blu
New York is hard place to hang
man with a white shirt.
Illinois has instructed her senator
to vote for Mr.. Summers oneterr
amendment.
The next national republican COZ
vention will be held at Philadelphi;
June 5.