Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-01-26
E, IOWA, FRIDAY, JANUARY &c, 1872.
Fix and Stokes, and Their Woman.

Flax and Stokes, and Their Woman.
The following items gathered
from the New York press will give
an idea of the relationship existing
between the late Jim Fisk, Stokes,
and the Mansfield woman who seems
to have been the evil spirit Of both
of them: ut 4 4st
A special correspondent states
that one of tho stories af1oat as to
the cause of the shooting is that
Josephine Mansfield, after Satur-
days examination at Yorkville,
said to Stokes: "IfI were man,
Fisk would not live to see another
sun set. i'll had a true friend he
would right my wrongs. Such q
scoundrel as Fisk ought to be killed
like mad dog" This is said to
have been the cue ON which Stokes
acted. Another report is that
Stokes had heard that Fisk had
boasted that he would send Stokes
to Sing Sing for perjury, and that
he had intended to have Stokes ar
rested on such -4Archarge. Stokes
friends declare he was in great
dread lest Fisk would, by his in
flnence with corrupt judges, have
him thrown into prison, or attempt
his assassination by hired bravos,
as in D. B. Eaton's case, and for
that reason Stokes constantly went
armed.
A story is current that two years
ago, when Fisk first had reason to
believe Stokes was his rival in the
affections OF Mansfield, he told her
Erie was going up on certain day,
believing she would inform her
other lover (Stokes,) and that
he would attempt to profit by the
information. Fisk was right in
his surmisc. Stokes purchased Erie
heavily, borrowing largely. Erie
went down, and Stokes lost over
100000. This was Fisk's financial
revenge, and it is said he often
boasted Of it.
AT the post-mortem examination
it was demonstrated that the kidneys
liver, heart and lungs of the de-
ceased were in a normal condition,
and hadno accident happened him
Mr.. Fisk would have lived to a
green old age. His heart weighed
sixteen ounces and his brain fifty
eight ounces.
Miss Helen Josephine Mansfield
is described as an ex-actress, about
twenty -four or five years Of age a
handsome brunette, and of great
personal attractions. While in
professional life she was married
to Frank Lawlor, the actor, but
they were divorced after living
together a very few years.
Stokes is pictured as a man five
feet nine inches high. He is slight
ly 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 rapid
ly as possible. He is man of fine
personal appearance, of dark COM
plexion, with piercing black eyes
and regular features. His hair,
which was jet, black couple OF
years ago, is now partly grey, and
were it not for his active movements
he would pass for man Of forty
five years. Mr.. Stokes married a
lady of good family some ten yeas
ago, and has by her one child, a
very beautiful girl of nine years OF
age. In June of last year, Mrs.
Stokes, whs, was in bad health,
visited Europe to seek some bene-
fit from the mineral springs OF Cen
trail Germany, and when last heard
from, as late as December 3, was
in Paris. The family while in New
York had an elegant suite of apart
ments at the Worth House, corner
Of Fifth avenue and Twentysixth
street.
Of the probable line of defense
for Stokes, New York paper says;
From all that can be ascertained
respecting the line of defense to be
adopted by the counsel for the de-
fcnse, it appears that the full history
of Fisk's relations with Stokes will
be called up. and an attempt made
to convince. the jury that the pris.
oner has for long time been a
martyr to Fisk's selfish, overbearing
spirit. Finally, they will relate
how Stokes came from the court
room after day of adversities only
to meet face to face with tho
Judge who had just issued
an order of his arrest-and that
Judge 4 warm friend of his hated
antagonist-and how he became
suddenly exaspcrated from the ad
versary to the assassin.
Here is a brie, sketch of Fisk
life: james Fisk, Jr., was born ii
Bennington, VT, in 1882, and began
his business as an attendant of Van
Amburgh's menagerie. He after
WdIuS DcCtiuS u PSuoASi3 'A"N w
tained so valuable a trade in Yer
mont, Massachusetts and Connccti
cut that the Boston firm of Jordan
Marsh & Co. were glad to receive
him as a partner. Subsequently, in
1888 they !.saggAss aas. Ais interest
and he came to New York. whcr.
he was employed by Daniel Drew
to negotiate the sale of the Stoping
ton line Of steamers. Under The
patronage of Mr.. Drew he went in
to Wall street speculations with va
ried success, and formed in 1865
the stock broking firm Of Fisk 4
Belden. In 1867 he entered into
the directory Of the Erie Railwa.
Company with Jay Gould, and his
career almost ever since has been
perhaps, the most notorious in tho
United States.
Warwick Castle.
The destruction of Warwick