Smyrna times., 1873-02-26
MiSceILU 10 e o IL s.
The Career of Stokes.

The career of Edward Stiles Stokes, now
under sentence OF death for the murder of
James Fisk, fOrcibly illustrates how deeply a
great crime strikes among the innocent victims,
and that wealth, culture and standing are no
sure safeguards against the saddest vlcsstudes
of human experience. 1t Is rare that
reference of this kind includes sufferers of like |
high prominence, for there are no better
names in New York or Philadelphia than
those borne by persons stricken i'll this catas
trOphe
Ia the year 1888, Edward H. Stokes, a
successful cloth merchant in New York, and
nearly connected with some of the most prOml-
nent representatives of the wealth and beneh-
cence of that city, retired from business with
a handsome competency. Eight years pre-
viousy he had married Miss Stiles, daugh
ter of leading Phiadelphian, and seeking a
home of ease aud elegance, Mr.. Stokes chose
| Philadelphia as his future residence. There
his eldest son was born, in 1882 and named
Edward Stiles, after maternal relative. The
lad was a boy Of unusual beauty and promise,
! a quick active mind, generous and loving
( disposition-these traits being remembered
well after the lapse of years by those who
knew him well at that time. Two daughters
and two other sons were born in the period
$ between lS4O and 1850. The family is recalled
e as being rarely endowed with all that seemed
. needed to insure the happiness of the house
/ hold The home was one of wealth and luxury,
1. the culture of the best.
Edward was educated at the University, and
took high rank as a scholar. He went to New
n York at the age of seventeen, to enter into the
store of Samuel Perry an extensive cheese
:" dealer. Perry failed three years later anC
;e young Stokes made new partnership with 9
:. junior Of the collapsed house, and they, a
nd Stokes & BudlOng, opened store on NeSey st
= They had excellent success, their foreign shiI
il trade being very large, calling Stokes to visi
%. Europe several times within the next few sea
-, sons About this time the senior Stokes wa
~ induced to remove to New York, where h.
nd Sdi made his Office with his son, though not origi
nally intending to become entanged in bust
ew ness Such was the result, however, and no
IT. IT. only were the father. but other and prOminen
wealthy relatives, gradually, but heavily III
IL" vOlved in the extended ventures of Stokes
o99 Budlong. The failure of the firm followed
and father and son were thrown into bank
ol. ruptcy.
With the wreck of his fortune young Stoke
co. embarked next in the enterprise OF establish
.v ing an oil refinery at Hunters Point. Thre
hundred thousand dollars we're expended
'"d the works, which were to be of the best clas
'er, when the company fell into difficulties and q
ON this iuncture the baleful light of Jim Fisk
lew countenance comes into the story. Jim W;
the in the full tide of his operations with Fri
ioI. He held the advantage two wish it were le
~. employed by even more scrupulOus railws
~" managers tl.an he) supplied by his corporation
9e s6 in transportation and control of the market,
int the Erie was the great thoroughfare OF the {
in regions. A compact was struck. Fisk enterC
ano the refinery company, reinforced capital, al
at with a change OF name and heavy drawbacks
airs on the Erie freight bills, the Hunters Poi
and refinery sailed strongly into successful compe
nth ton. Stokes was secretary as well as partne
afS W " At one time his profits from the refinery ga
ard ard him 81 900 per week.
,nds In 1864, Stokes married the daughter of
,n.s w. Southwick, a prominent furniture dealer
ton New York one of the oldest in his line in tn
two two city, who is now man of immense wealt
. and still in active business in great Broadw
oE ioE establishment The wedding of Stokes wi
soue Miss Southwick seemed to lack nothing tn
wealth, position and social surroundings cou
ten bring to insure happiness. They made th
-. sumptuous home in the Hoffman House, a
plus moved among the brilliant life OF the metro
iebi. oils.
teen The next scene in the drama brings t
Lake Infamous woman Mansfield into the pl
,.h,. Solomon described her many centuries ago, a
four we fear Solomon knew what he was writ
rand about. But his painting has never been s
....n passed, and if somebody could have sipr
,cua' into Stokes mind the little pen portrait ma
=, ou more than two thousand years ago,
sand Josephine Mansfield and her infamous siste
min it might have spared the community the fru
,oD. Of the new acquaintance. Here are some
the wise man colorings Of his subject:
hous She lieth in wait as for prey, and increas
c.u. the transgressions among men.
"@" Her feet go down to DEATH her steps Il
i sta hold on hell
J. ten Her house inclineth into death, and
artel pains into the dead. None that go unto
F'h'e returns gain.
And just precisely that happened which