The Van Buren press., 1873-02-04
Badget Of Scissorings.
A Ruined Family.

most prominent representatives Of th
wealth and berc6cence of that city, re
tired from business with handsom
competency Eight years previously h
had married Miss Stiles, daughter 0
leading Philadelphian, and seeking
home OF case and elegance, MIR Stoke
chose Philadelphia as his future resi-
dence. There his eldest son was bori
in 1889. aud named Edward Stiles, afte
maternal relative, The lad was boy
Of unusual beauty and promise, a quick
active mind. generous and loving dis
position-thes- traits being remembered
well after the lapse OF years by thoss
who knew him at that time. Two daugh
ters and two other sons We're born in tht
period between 1910 AMI 1850 The
family 10 recalled as being rarely endowed
with al thai seemed needed to insure the
happiness ofa household. The Lom,
vas one Of wealth ard luxury, the cul
ture OF the best
Edward was educated at the university,
aud took high rank 20 a scholar. lie
went TO New York st the age of IL, to
enter into tho store of Samuel Perry, On
South Water street, an extensive cheese
dealer. Perry failod three years later,
anil young Stokes made a new partner
ship with ajunior, Of the collapsed house,
and they, IS Stokes & Budlong, opened
u cheese store on vesey street They
had excellent success, their foreign ship
ping tradc being very large, calling
Stokes TO visit Europe several times
within the next few seasons. About this
time, the senior Stokes was induced to
remove to New York, where ho made his
Office with his son, though not originally
intending to become catauglcd in bust
ness Such was the result, however. and
not only was the father, but other and
promiRant wealthy relatives, gradually
but heavily involved in tie extended ven
lures OF Stokes 4 Bullong The failure
Of the firm followed, and father and son
were thrown into bankruptcy.
With the wreck of his fortune, young
Stokes embarked next in tho enterprise
of establishing an oil refinery at Hunter.
Point Three hundred thousand dollars
were expended in the works, which were
10 be OF the best class, when the company
fell into difficulties, and. at this junsture
the baleful light OF Jim Fisk's couats.
nance comes inte tho story. Jim was in
full tide OF his operations witi Eric. He
held the advantage 1--WE wish it were less
employed by even more strupulous rui!.
way mansger, than he J, supp Ell By his
corporation, in transport; ton and c1n-
troll OF market, as tho Erie was the gres,
thorou2hflre to the OIL regions. A com.
pac. was stru:k. Fisk entered the re.
fincry company, reinforced its capita, and
with change OF nsmo and heavy
drawbacks on the Erie freight bills,
the Hunters Point refinery sailed strong
ly into successful competition. Stokes
was Secretary, az well as partner. AT
one time, his profits from tho refinery
gave him 81, 900 per week.
In 1864, Stokes married The daughter
oofJ. W. Seuthwick, q prominent furni
turc dealer in New York one Of the old.
est In hls line in that city. The wedding
of Stokes with Miss Southwick seemed
to lack nothing that wealth, position and
social surroundings could bring to insure
Happiness. They made their sumptuous
home in tho Hoffman House, and moved
among the most brilliant life of The me
tropolis.
The next scene In the drama brings
the Infamous woman Mansfield into the
plot. Solomon described her many cen.
turies ago, and We fear Solomon knew
what he was talking about. But his paint.
ing has never been surpassed. and Il
somebody could have sl ppe into Stokes
mind this little pen. portrait, made two
thousand years ago, ofJesephine Mans.
field and hcr infamous sisters, il might
have spared community the fruits st the
new acquaintance Hero are some of the
wiso mans colorings OF bis subject:
She lieth In wait 40 for prey. and in.
creascth tho transgressions among men.
Her fcet 90 down TO death her stsps
take hold on hell
Her hoasc incinsth unto death, and
her paths inso the dead. None tina: go
unto her return again.
He gocth after her straightway, as an
OK gocth TO tho slaughter.
She has cast down many wounded, zen
many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is the way to hell, going
down 10 tho chambers of death.
The dead are there. Her guests are in
the depths OF he'll
Aud just precisely thathappencd which
the Son ef David predicted; from the
house Of tho harlotthe path turned down.
ward. A quarrel between Fisk and
Stokes followed 1t was carried into az.
fairs OF business. Fisk refused 70 allow
the Hunters Point concern TO mske a
dividend, and this cut on Stokes sup
plies. The disgrscefdl relation with
Mansfield became more shameless, and
the father inlaw, Seuthwick, seat hi'
daughter AMI child to Europe early il
1871, 10 remove her from the scene OF the
scandsl. Stokes, enragcd at Fisk, used
his position as secretary, to collect $50,
zoo from Devoe, an oil merchant, which
Aum hs held openly and defian,!y rs his
share OF the profits. Fisk caused his ar
rest on . criminal charge. Stokes turned
10 he wealthy relatives. No one OF theni
would bail him, and he was forced ia
make terms and submit. and refund
,hs money, His relations to Fisk wcrs
bitter. and out Of the intensity OF She
evil passioas and oriminalities OF his
position with Mansfield, grew murder
Turn to Solomon again, and there is nc
mystery n the chain efseqncnces. 1t il
said that tho same steamer that took on,
EuvAv,n a. H.