Connecticut western news., 1872-01-19
The Shooting of James Fisk, Jr,


 Central Hotel, in New York, by Edward s. Stokes, with whom Fisk has for some months been in litigation in the city courts. Fisk drove up to the private en, trance of the Hotel, and upon entering, asked if Mrs. Morse, his sister, was in. The boy said she was not within, but that her oldest daughter was. Fisk, after asking the boy to tell the lady he was there, proceeded to go up stairs and had ascended two or three steps of the stair way when Stokes. who had been lying in wait at the head of the stairs, made his appearance, and, saying "I have got you now," levelled four barrelled Sharp's repeating pistol at Fisk and fired. The ball missed. Again Stokes fired, this time with effect, for the ball entered Fisk's abdomen. Fisk staggering, at tempted to open the door, but seeing a crowd outside again turned and faced the stairs, to be again fired on by Stokes. This time the ball struck him in the arm and he fell, Stokes fled. The crowd who had gathered around the door burst in and carried the wounded man up stairs to the parlor, where he was laid upon the lounge and medical aid summoned. Stokes leisurely descended the main stairs of the hotel, and went into the bar room. He had thrown the revolver on the sofa in the ladies parlor as he pass ed it by. He sauntered to the news stand, and bending over the counter, said to MT. Davidson, the gentleman in charge: "I have been insulted; there's man shot above stairs; you had better send for a doctor" He was very pale, but did not show any agitation or fear. He then left the newsstand and walked across to the bar as if to take drink, but apparently changed his mind, for he Sat down in chair. MT. Davidson imagined that Stokes was joking, and did not pay any attention to his remarks, but, in moment afterwards, the door, boy, came rushing down stairs, and run ming over to the office, said: "Oh! Mir. Powers, Colonel Fisk has been shot by 8 man up stairs.
 Then the alarm was given and the police notified. Stokes did not attempt to leave the hotel. Officers came in and arrested Stokes. He said nothing. Captain Byrne said, "Your name is Stokes ?' and Stokes bowed and said "Yes." The captain said "where is the pistol'' and Stokes told the captain where 1t was. A crowd had gathered around, and Stokes was taken up stairs.
 Captain Byrne, on taking Stokes up stairs, brought him to the room in which Fisk lay on lounge, and the two en- emies, even to the death, were face to face. Captain Byrne said, "Colonel Fisk, you see this man; was it he who shot you ?'' and Fisk, raising himself on his elbow, said, ss Yes, that is the man who shot me h1s name IS Edward s. Stokes, and I fully identify him as the man." Stokes, during this scene had nervously twitched his trowsers leg with the cane he carried in his hand. At the conclusion of the identification Captain Byrne clapped Stokes on the shoulder and said, You will come with me now." Stokes bowed and said noth- ing, but went with the captain to the Fifteenth Precinct station-house.
 An anti-naortem examination was held, it being declared by the surgeons that Fisk's injuries were fatal. The jury at once returned the following verdict
 That James Fisk, Jr., received his in juries by pistol shot at the hand of Edward s. Stokes, at the Grand Central AAOCCA1 4Ct tA.
 A rumor circulated is supposed to have led B. s. Stokes to the ast. It was asserted that the Oyer and Terminer Grand Jury had found an indictment against Stokes and Josephine Mansfield for a conspiracy to obtain money. The latter had that very day been beaten in 8 suit against Fisk for libel.
 By a strange coincidence, it happened that Stokes was interrogated at this very trial, as to whether he had ever threat ened Fisk 1n any way. He seemed some what embarrassed by the question, but finally said that he had never threatened him otherwise than with legal proceed ings. During all the time he was in the Courtroom Stokes was entirely self-pos- sessed, with this one exception, and did not in any way betray the deadly pur- pose which he executed two hours after leaving the Courtroom with Mrs. Mans field.
 It may not be out of place here to give the origin of the difficulty which has terminated so seriously, between Fisk and Stokes.
 Stokes was born in Philadelphia in 1841 and moved to New York with his family some years ago. He married 8 lady of good fanlly some ten years ago, and has by her one child, girl of nine years of age. nJune of last year, Mrs. Stokes, who was in bad health, visited Europe to seek some benefit from the springs of Central Germany, and when last heard from, as late as December 3, was in Paris. Nearly a year and half ago MT. Stokes became acquainted with MT. Fisk, and through the introduction of the latter he made the acquaintance of Helen Josephine Mansfield, the ci-devant wife of Frank Lawlor, an actor. An intimacy sprung up between the two which has resulted in the shooting. This fatal intimacy was the cause of serious trouble between Edward Stokes and his wife, and every one who reads the papers is familiar with the suits and counter suits of the three ipals-Fisk, Mansfield and Stokes which have burdened the Courts and the newspaper columns for year past. Stokes has always asserted that Fisk had robbed him of fortune of $2OO,OOO &C., in the oil refinery business, which was the joint property of Edward Stokes and his mother. He was arrest ed by Fisk last year and locked up to answer charge which was made against him of fraud. This charge fell to the ground, and Stokes has since sued Fisk for false imprisonment. The Fisk Stokes war has continued in the Courts for nine months Stocks has expended in lawyers fees during the last twelve months nearly thirty eight thousand dollars, and this contest has beggared him. The quarrel between the two men has been very much embittered by tho woman Mansfield, who has served to fan the embers of the feud whenever it was dying out. It eliminated upon the decision of the Court given above, n the libel suit, and when it was stated that the Grand Jury had found an in- dctment against Stokes for conspiracy.
 MIR. FIsK's WILL.
 During his illness MT. Fisk made a will fha GIT hcfonno of xubiob 1uoe n. fol