National Republican., 1873-01-08

An Interview With the Condemned MUIR,
derer Of Fisk-He Hopes TO Obtain .
New Trial.
tFrom the N. y Times, JanuaryT.l
Yesterday reporter Of the Tinrs visited thu
Tombs and had a conversation with Stokes, who
after his return from court, was locked up In on,
OF the condemned cells on the ground tler-lr
cell No. 4, on the left-hand side Of the entrance
and so near q large stove a. TO be unpleasant,
warm. The cell Ia cheerless, and Ia the one Ii
which several murderers have spent their las
few days on earth before going to the gallows
In the next cell to the right Matthew Busy, con
yicted OF murderons assault, In confined, and OF
the other side Is an empty condemned cell walt
Ing an occupant.
Stokes was walking backward amt forward
within the narrow limits Of his cell, with hli
hands behind him and his head lowered, when
our reporter visited him. but any Impression Of
deapondency which his attitude might have suR
geated was quickly dlspelled by the irst word,
he uttered. lie spoke In light, cheerful, care.
less tone. He laughed as though he were free
aud was as carefully dressed as though he had
nothing else 70 think Of The terrible words o.
the death sentence were still ringing In the can
OF the visitor, hut Stokes was as cool and nm
concerned AZ Ia possible TO imagine.
1he reporter asked: "Haye you anything "a
say MI. Stokes, further than you said In court7'
hNo, don't know as / have, tmaslngiy., ;,
Money was used against me. don't mean "a
say that the Judge was bought or the Jury; hut
~, ,S~ slrt the witnesses and me private coun:
me. They were cowarIis, and public opinion dli
Il. They convicted me because Of my respccta,
sllity, gsughlngl T. was my social position
INF" '''' WV '''"''' '""'
''surprise Is not the word for. II. That DOM
describe H. Why, II, when l came out OF the
courtroom, had found the whole city OF New
YORK laid In ashes In an hour, couldn't have
been more surprised. ] couldn't believe II, by
nv &C.. Tnen came home here to the TomSs g
woke up yesterday morning thought 1t was d
dream. ] asked myself; rs that Jury out YETI
and ,ssG had to pick up Lhe morning papers and
from the nrst."
The manner Of the man showed Indifference,
and u u was assumed the effort was perfect.
"From your manner judge that you have no,
given up hope" said the Times reporter. "Have
your counsel taken any steps towards a stay Of
iessly,l Il don't know Is they have vel. hui BV
am TO have new trial or something Of the sort
They're going 10 get stay Of proceedings from
ns SsSs General nsn ,rlS Term on YES q course shall
dict have public opinion on my side now,
and IT'S an Outrage, by I'D, (exoitellyJ Look al
me, do look like man who would go out OF his
way To commit murder IL II likely that went
10 such a public place 20 shoot jim Fiskf i
always avoided him. II he were In one place,
was sure 10 be IN hnother."
Stokes conversation WaA rather disconnected
and he always wandered back TO the bitter feel
ing toward the Jury and Mr.: Beach, whom he Is
presumed 70 have meant by "pryate counsel
His visitor repeated the question he had left un-
answered, and asked what his counsel had done
toward procuring new trial, explaining that
they must get stay Of proceedings from a Su.
rsme Court CO.. Judge and tlls bin Of exceptions
"Ah, well !" the prisoner answered, impa.
tiently, 81 don't Know what they're going 10 lo,
but they must get me new trial. I don't Ike
temporary, you know. In soon be back upstairs p S
In my other cell, when get the stay Of proceed
ings, {eonadentlyl liked 1t up there, ! used
20 @ Wan nal, hour every day In the court-yardi
The reporter remarked that bis complexion
was quite ruddy, and he looked as though he
GSd hSd outdoor exercise why said he,
assure you. But that id verdict" dnter-
SW6St witnesses did you mean were bribed
OF course, you do not mean them all 2"
"Well, take those boys from the House OF De-
Acknowledgment aud Hart, for instance.
They both perlured themselves. Al the rest
say that Hart wasn't there at the time II hap
Pened at ALI and how that Jury could believe his
testimony, by G-d-why lt'S an outrage, He
teetined that was only three steps above Fisk,
vss sst ans AZ pSnnH e aa sR e GWs
was seven steps above him, and the ball entered
In the other side That's the way he talked.
suppose ! were 10 pat Dullet thfough YOUR head
lust here" (And he raised his hand with the
nngeT extended as though he held q pistol. In
the gloom OF the cell, alone with the man, whose
eyes flashed wickedly, the Illustration was dra-
matte, and for moment staTtliDg.) "Then sup
pose some one should he hired to swear that I
came behind you and nred, instead Of In front,
what would you say 10 Jury that would believe
such testimony by Cd, Sir, IL was that boys
testimony that convicted met ~
Mr.. stokes then proceeded TO give his account
o. the shooting which was merely repetition
face, and said;
Twould have avoided Fisk and gone quietly
BY him when ] saw him II he'd let me alone
Yet HaIt says ! cried Out; u have You n0wp and
nred. Would l be likely to say that u was
going 70 I'LL you, with you only three feet from
met But there was premedltatlOn TO be proved,
don't you see7 FISK was In the dark, and was
exposed to the light, He saw me first"
Gould you see him draw before you dii II he
was In the dArk9"
"Why, yes, d-n 1t; ampatientlO OF course
DID, 0f wouldn't have Killed him, would II"
"What do you think became Of Fiska plstOlg"
"honey, sir, money hid IL. Then there was
another Wltness-a nice man to swear a mans