The New York herald., 1873-11-02
STOKES AT SING SING.
Stokes, the Stock Broker, and COusc, the
Bank Teller, Companions In
Crime and in Prison.
State Prison-A Quiet Removal-What Stokes
Says About His Trial and His Sentence
What He Said on Putting on the
Convict Suit-The Future 0ccu-
patton Of the Two Felons

patton Of the Two Felons
Yesterday morning Edward S. Stokes left the
Tombs Prison for Sing Sing alter confinement OF
twenty-five months. 1t was known only to few
that he would be removed so speedily after his
trial. and consequently there were not many TO
give to him the parting farewell, and but two or
three OF his outside friends TO say "goodby." "A
few minutes before ten O'Clock Deputy Sher1s
Shields and Cahill entered the prison; they pro-
cceded at once to cell No. 4, cell that is historic
and very memorable, because 1t is the cell occu-
pied by condemned criminals, and from which
many man has passed only to tread the platform
that has intervened between him and eternity.
Stokes was busily engaged preparing for his de-
parture. He had Just finished breakfast, and the
tray was brought out from the cell by Miss Foster,
the matron, with whom Stokes shook hands and
thanked her for all her kindness to hum. King,
who is awaiting his trial for murder, had sent his
coored servant "Joe, to assist Stokes to ''get his
things together,n and had just bid his fellow
prisoner hearty farewell The
altogether busy one, and indicated that prep
arations for a journey were going on with consld-
erable despatch. Stokes over his breakfast had
read the HERALD, and its editorial page was clearly
visible from the corridor as 1t lay On the turned
down bed clothing OF the prison cot.
TEE OTHER CONVICT.
While this was going on John ID. Couse joined the
little group around the cell, fully prepared for his
departure for Sing Sing where he has been SEN
fenced to an imprisonment OF two years and six
months for grand larceny embezzlement and
forgery on Lawrence Brothers. When Stokes had
completed mis- preparations in the cell, which con-
sisted OF the packing OF his valise which he handed
to Joen he stepped lightly to the stove and looked
round, quietly, andsaid he supposed it was cold out
side. He would not, however, put on an overcoat,
and would only wear the dark, neat checked busi-
ness suit he has worn during his trial. The Deputy
Sherns consulted their watches, looked at Stokes,
and in quiet. easy manner he Immediately said:-
''Are you ready7'' Shields said, Yes" and in say.
ing it displayed the handouts, which he slipped on
to the right hand Of Stokes and the left OF Couse.
There was no doubt that Stokes felt the degrade.
tion of this operation; for since the night OF the
murder, he has not worn the iron bracelets; he
gave, however. no sign OF disquietude.
''THR GooDBYES"
The corridors above the cells were dotted with a
few prisoners turnkeys and officers OF the prison.
and as both men left they were greeted with chorus
OF .goodbyes." From the yard to Centre street
there were further greetings from lawyers and
prison officials who met the group, and at
the corner of the street few moments
were occupied IN waiting for Fourth
",
cnct, who was on his way to Police Headquarters,
joined the party, and with little observation ana
reflected great credit on Deputy Sheriff Shields, by
whom Tie arrangements mad been made, the nota-
BILE prisoner took the first steps on his way to his
four years incarceration
AT THE DEPOT
At the Forty-second street depot there was
little more excitement. The loungers caught
sight OF nlm, and they made rush to get glimpse
oil him, but they only partially succeeded. When
he and Couse took their seats in the smoking car It
w ~ q m m n
manifested their strong desire to bid hlh "Good-
by" but whose only real object was to gaze on
his well known features and crafty their morbid
curiosity. The police arrangements prevented
this, and only a few friends who had known Stokes
in better days. and who were accidentally on
| board the train, were allowed to speak to him.
One gentleman was quite anectonate and hearty
and ..JIm'' had met together expressed his sor-
row at seeing stokes In the position he was, and
man" Stokes received ali this very good ataredly
smiled, and then the pair had a short converse
tion about '.stocks'' and the panic.
ON THE WAY UP THE RIVER.
On the journey Stokes smoked and conversed
with the HERALD reporter about his case. He
thinks the HERALD unkind It's remarks upon
the result OF the trial. lie still thinks he ought to
have been acquitted. He lays great stress upon
what he believes TO be the TACT that nine OF the
jurymen were Tor his acquttal and only one for
murder in the first degree lie regards the ver-
dict as compromise verdict; and declares very
bribed any OF the jurymen Is utterly without
truth or the slightest foundation in fact He
in talking about the case IN public places during
the trial, and that that has been disastrous to him
IN its effect upon the jury, who, he thinks, after
the publicity OF this fact, were prevented rom CIV
ing verdict of mot guilty." or continuing to the
end in disagreement. Tommy Hart. he says has
perJured himself, and he Is quite certain that II
Mrs. Benton could have been put on the stand and
would have stated M what she knew, It would have
he did was only in seli-deence.
AT SING SING.
Just before the arrival at Sing Sing Stokes said,
Ara unh harn nhnAv Aai1 q md nEn-
remarked TO the HERALD reporter, "Wel, I've been
past here many time but never thought
convicts and the party who accompanied them
had lett the train they went to the Phoenix
Hotel, near the depot, and over a glass Of cham,
to liberty. While this was going on the news of
Stokes arrival had spread throughout the lower
part OF the village and the hotel was surrounded
ON THE WAY TO THE PRISON.
To delay was only to pile on the agony, and
Deputy Sherir Shields gave the word set out for
the prison. When the two convicts got into the
crowd outside 1t was speedily found .out that
Stokes had few sympathlzers. One man shouted
''Shoot him. another said "Poor Jose,n and
several said 'srhat's the fellow who shot Jim Fish,
guard house on the railroad track the crowd was
ordered back and lett peaceaby.
All THE PRISON.
In the Office OF the prison was Warden Hubbell
and the chaplain with the usual staff OF convict
clerks. stokes looked at the men in their striped
suits with sort OF shudder and said that the men
looked physically well, and thought that the purer
air OF the state Prison and its breezy neighbor-
hood would greatly improve his health. Both men
had notes OF Introduction which they presented to
Warden Hubbel. who read them and said that he
and the officers of the prison would do all that
they could, legally, to mitigate the mis-
cry OF their condition. He said that the
object sought was not only to punish but to dis
cipline and possible improve the condition OF the
prisoners physically and morally. Much depended
upon the prisoners themselves whether this object
was accomplished. The men then went TO the desk
and give their names and description and also gave
up the lew valuabes ana jewery they had In their