Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-12
The Career Of Edward 5. stokes.

The career OF Edward >. Stokes now under
sentence of death for the murder OF james Fisk,
* given below, illustrates how deeply great
,rim, strikes among innocent victims, and that
wealth., culture and standing are no sure safe
yuarls against the Saddc3t viclsstudes OF human
experience
In the year 1888, Edward H. Stokes, a sue
cas,iul cloth merchant Of New York, and near
t. connected with some of the most prominent
representatives of the wealth and bene6cence Of
,,a. city, retired from business with hand
some competency Eight years previous he had
married Miss Stiles, daughter of leading
philadelpnian, and seeking home OF ease and
elegance, Mr. Stokes chose Philadelphia as
his future residence There his eldest son was
born ia 1899 and named Edward Stiles, after
! maternal relative. The lad was boy OF
promise quick, active, generous and loving
'i,s,.o>ition these traits being remembered we'll
after the lapse of years by those " ho knew him
=, thar time Two daughters and two other
sons were born In the period between 1870 and
$50. The family is recalled as being really
endowed with all that seemed needed to insure
,hr harpjuyss ofa household. The home was
ooc Of wyal;h and luxury; the culture OF the
best.
Edward was educated at the University, and
tpn
York NJ the aye of seventeen to enter Into the
store Of Samuel Perry, on South Water street,
an extensive cheese dealer. Perry failed three
years later aud young Stokes made new part
ncrship with junior OF the collapsed house,
and they. as Stokes & Budlong, opened a
cheese store on Vessy street. They had excel
lent success, their foreign shipping trade be,
ING very large, calling Stokes TO visit Europe
,;,,,, ,,,tbip tho poyt tau SaacanS
ABOUT this time the senior Stokes was induced
% remove to New York, where he made his
oiicc with his sou, though not originally in
tending TO bccome cotonged in business. Such
was the result, however, and not only VISA the
father, but other aud prominent relatives,
gradually but heavily Involved in the extend
lny ventures of Stokes L. Budloug The failure
oflbc firm followed, and father aud son were
THROWN iuto bankruptcy.
With the wreck Of his fortunes young Stokes
embarked next III the enterprise OF establishing
an oil refinery al Hunters Point. Three hun
drcd thousand dollars were expended in the
work. which we're to be of the best class, when
the company trli into difficulties, and at this
uncure the balctui light of Jim Fisk s coun
tcnancc cunlcs into the story. Jim was In the
tuIl tide ui bis operations with Erie. lie held
tIrc advantage I've wish it were less employed
BY even more scrupulous railway managers
than hc) supplied by his corporation, in traus-
rortaou aud control of nlarket,a as the Erie was
The great thoroughtare to the oil regions. A COM
lr'ct was struck Fisk entered the refinery COM
ny,rc-cniorccd its capital ,and with achange OF
name and heavy "drawbacks' on the Erie
freight bills the Hunters Point refinery sailed
strongly into successful competition. Stokes
Nls secretary as well as partner. AT one tluic
ll> profits from the refinery gave him one
Iirusaud dollars per week.
In loG4 Stokes married the daughter oil }.
u. Southwick, u prominent furniture dealer
IN New York, one Of the oldest in his line In
that city. n short time since one OF our oldest
residents showed US set ot furniture, we'd
ding outfit brought to Chicago in 1886, bought
Of Mr. Suuthwck, who is now man of I'M
menSe wealth aud still 10 active business in
great Broadway establishment. The wedding
o'Stokcs with Miss Southwick seemed to lack
nothing that wealth, position and social sur
rdlrdugS could bring to insure happiness.
They made their Suulptuous home In the Hott-
nan House. and moved among the most bril-
amt hie Of the Metropolis
The next scene in the drama brings the in
'mou> woman Mansfield into the plot, and
from the house Of the harlot the path turned
eastward. y quarrel between Fisk and Stokes
i'tIowcl. Ii was carried into affairs OF busi-
,~. Fix refused to allow the Hunters
FONT concern to declare dividend and thus
,y'H oil Stokes supplies. The disgracetul re-
t"on with Mansfield became more shame
e>>, and the tathcr-iu-law, Southwick, sent
h'> laughter and her child to Europe early
III i>', to remove her from the scene of
,'an.!al. Stokes, enraged at Fisk, used his
io>V1n as Secretary to collect $780,
t"u' ,','I lsy"e, an oil merchant, which sum he
"SN. .Ns vi why and dcfanty as his share of the
r"u'>' fl>N caused his arrest on criminal
i y."'S'' Stokes !urncd to his wealthy relatives
q ..G :" o;c Of Them would ball him and he was
,,," 10 make terms and submit, aud refund
=, LIS relations to Fisk were bitter, and out Of
w;.L - passion and crmlnality of his position
''a" ,," Nai!'>lleNl grew murder. Turn to Solo
,sa;, a" "Saln and there is no mystery in the
sl ".'n u Sentcuces 1t is said that the same
,.r.i .:r.Nif that took out to Europe the murder
,ri ii'>A oy Stokes carried a divorce procured
! ,l,sI "sr family for his wife, who still remains
q, A! .AS story of family grief and revcrses is not
~,,;u :" ,V," lhc senior Stokes, after 80 years of
;riSn'ent aud enjoyment of luxurious home, is
,}I,i. UPLAND homeless in his old age. One of the
TT%Sn'er> TIT"Sn'er> died two weeks after marriage =.
a..oS -. Sc,1d daughter. the wife of Mr.. Sutton,
IiI''S" herself so strongly to the fortunes of
ma m; 'lh"'9er ,her that her husband discarded her,
s ,Ss n sue Is 10 refuge with her aged and penni-
yr>, w Parents. The second son, young man Of
pras ;T promise, died two months ago of
MAJ oi ana shame at the family revcrses; and the
r ',lS ,E tale Of the innocent and suffering victims
n l., '''s &c Gomrlleaion of crime and shame is not
h., - ,,oE told without including some Of the
''>' Known aud esteemed Of New York families.
rt3.;h OIL the characters in work of George
,,,,i ,G' Is made to say: Its poor work allays
al ln, VII ue dead above the living. We shall
,,,n VI US Ge dead some time I reckon-it I'D be
l,ni l,it VI l9lkS I'D make much on us before
lu, IT. "iS'a o beglnuin when we're gone. 1t s
year crop" "' 10y '''''