The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-11
STOKES AFTER TIE SENTENCE.
In the Condemned CeIl-The sherif's
Vain Efforts TO Return him to his
Old Cell-PainfuI Meeting with his
Father-The Prisoner Dependent.


Stokes to prison after sentence had been
passed upon him, says:
The scene outside of the Tombs was an ami
mated one. Every window, every door step,
| and even the house tops commanding view
of the side entrance OF the city prison was
crowded with male and female spectators. A
crowd of not less than Lwo thousand persons
| surrounded the entrance, all anxious TO catch
O. glimpse of the condemned murderer as he
alghted from the carriage. And even as 1t
drove up to the door swarm OF men, women,
and children, almost out of breath. ran uo and
defed the authority OF the few police officers
who 10 vain tried to keep the entrance 10 the
| prison clear.
At ll.45 A. MIStokes re-entered tha Tombs,
where the sentence of The court had con-
demned him 10 be kept
UNTIL HIS EXECUTION.
Immediately the massive oak doors of the
prison were closed, and for some time no one
was admitted. Horace Stokes, tho brother
Of the condemned man had arrived
there in advance Of the carriage, and he and
the reporter joined the procession which so
sadly filed into the court yard OF the prison,
where Warden Mark Finley and several keep
ers were awaiting the arrival OF the prisoner.
Not word was spoken as the small party
paesed into the male prison where Mr.. David
ODwyer stood sentinel at the door, but when
inside, and while standing In the lower CORR,
dor. Warden Finley said, In low tone Of
voice. to the sheriff:
'l'll give him No. H."
"Oh, no." quickly responded the sheriff,
"you must put Ed back In his own CELL"
II cannot do It," said Mr.. Finley, politely
but firmly, "he Ia condemned man and must
be put into condemned cell. 1 am sorry,
| but I have only one duty to perform, and
| must do 1t without fear or favor"
But" replied Sheriff Brennan with anima.
tion, The is IN my custody, and alone am
responsible for bis safe.keeping. want him
put In his own CELL"
"Mr. Sheriff." answered Warden Finley,
please you or Mr.. Stokes either, but tell you,
sir, that I have baen ia this prison twenty
three years and never knew of similar
request being made or even expected. am
governed by the rules of this institution
which are made by the commissioners OF
charity and correction, 10 whom alone am
responsible for any violation of my duty. 30
that II you turn over this prisoner to me,
much as regret 1t the necessity for 80 doing,
will have to
PLACE HIM IN NO l."
Here Deputy Sheriff Shields spoke up and
asked the warden 10 allow the prisoner to be
placed In bis old cell on the second tier lor
one hour or until the commissioners could be
communicated with. but Mr.. Finley was im-
movable from what he considered bis bonnden
duty. Then the sheriff directed Mr.. Shields
to retain possession Of the prisoner, aud not
give him up to the warden OF the Tombs for
one hour. and he lett promising to communl.
cate with the Hon. Isaac Bell durlDg that
time.
Then, Mr.. Shields, Edward 8. Stokes and
Horace Stokes made several circuits OF the
courtyard, but the prisoner was client. He
appeared to be wrapt up In his thoughts, and.
hoAa of
his whole features. there was peculiarly sar-
donIc expression about the lips which told OF
latent Ares Of smothered hatred. The walk
around the yard had been traversed several
times, when Mr.. Stokes, ST., the father Of the
prisoner, entered. 2a
sToKEss INTERVIEW WITH HIS FATHER.
"Hilloa, father" said the condemned mur-
derer, as he grasped the extended hand Of hls
aged parent. But the almost broken.hearted
Gid man, whose gray hairs are being dragged
In sorrow to the grave, was too much over
come 10 reply, and the tears flowed from bis
eyes unbdden and unresralned. Horace
Stokes dropped behnd and placed his POCKET
handkerchief to his eyes 10 hide his emotion,
when suddenly the aged parent seemed TO
have recovered his seli-possession, and, amid
copious flow OF tears, he almost cried out:
"God bless you, Edward, but never
thought would live to see this day."
The walk around the yard was then re-
sumed, but not another word was spoken be.
tween the father and son for several moments,
but after that quite an animated conversation
was kept up In subdued tone.
At one O'Clock Warden Finley re.entered the
court yard and informed Mr.. Stokes that no
message having arrived from the commission
ers in relation TO any alteration Of the standing
rules of the prison, he would have to be placed
In the condemned cell, which had been pre-.
pared lor him.
''aooD-BY, FATHER"
said the condemned man, and he walked
aWay toward the entrance 10 the male prison.
As the father passed out OF the yard toward
the gate the son entered the prison toward his
cell. and as he was about to enter 1t he sud-
denly stopped, grasped his brother py the
haud and saying, 'Good-by, Horace" turned
bis back on his only brother, and stepped over
the portal of his small cell. Horace cried Dlt-
terly, and with his head hanging on bis breast
he slowly and silently passed out OF the prison.
The cell 10 which Edward g. Stokes will re-
main until the day Of his eXeculion-Fe0 rnary
28-is known as Condemned Cell Number
Four. 1t Is located on the east side of the
ground floor, and was last occupied ny John
Thomas, the negro who was hanged for muir
der and previously to that by John Real, the
political rough, who also expiated his crime
On the yallows. II Ia small apartment With
two iron doors, each OF which hts Into the
other. When Stokes took possession OF 1t
the only article of furniture IL contained was
small, low
IRON BEDsTEAD
with canvas bottom. The walls were scru-
pulously white, and the door was paragon OF
cleanliness, but the interior had dull, cheer
less appearance, which evidently struck ter
ror TO the heart of the prisoner when he en-
tered 1t. After he had been there alone Tor
some time, his bedding and clothing were
taken down from the cell be formerly occu-
pied. but none OF the ornaments or little lux
urIes which he formerly had about him were
transferred to his new quarters.
At2P. NJ. the prison was closed. At that
time the keepers made tour of the cells and
tried all the doors to see tnst they were
securely locked. When keeper McCanerty
tried SIokes's cell door he found the con-
demned murderer
WEEPING As THOUGH HIS HEART WOULD
BREAK.
"Cheer up, Mr.. Stokes" said the KIND
hearted KEEPER, .'It will do you no good 10
give way to your feelings and will only make
you Sick"
.Oh, Mac" responded Stokes In tone OF
sepuchral sadness, as the tears trickled down
hIs face, ''Neither you nor l ever tnoughI
1t would come TO this" ~
At4P. NJ. MISS Fosters restaurant furnished
Stokes with q tempting dinner, but the dishes
we're returned almost untouched. Stokess
appetite seemed to have departed with his
soirts, and hope having also gone, the con-
demned msn was left to his own mediations.