Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-08
The NtOkes Trial.

l
After much delay jury was obtained in
the second trial of Edward S. Stokes on the
2lst of December. The testimony for the
prosecution began on the 23d, and closed on
the Goth. 1t was substantially like that on
the trial had some months ago; perhaps the
most additional important evidence being that
of Andrew Parker, who testified that some six
weeks before Fisk was murdered he was in
troduced to Stokes, and, in the conversation
which ensued relative to the trial then pend
ing, Stokes said that Fisk was d black
Stokes said Fisk carried pistol, and repeat
ed that Fisk was black mailer twice. At
this point Stokes was very much excited, and
rese up, saying, " That is false, all false. "
On the nation, witness stated that
he had been removed from running hotel at
Meadyille, owned by the Erie railway, by
Fisk, and, on stating the fact to Stokes, the
latter made the remarks about Fisk's black
mailing him. and made the threat to shoot
Fisk
The defence began putting in evidence on
the 9th, and occupied nearly week. The
substance of Stokes own testimony is as fol-
lows;
He is thirty-one years old, having been
born in Philadelphia In 1911. After spend
ing twenty years of his lie there and obtain
ing his education, he came to this city and
resided with his uncle, Mr. Gilbert, for few
years. He engaged i'll the produce business
IN Water ST., but abandoned it and went into
the oil business at Hunters Point. 1t was
in 1868, while engaged in this, that he became
acquainted with Fisk, who sent for him to
secure an interest in the business. In August,
1869, the two became connected in the bust
ness, and from this date began a series OF
intrlgues and bitternesses, caused by the
entrance of woman on the scene. Stokes
was removed ANONYMOUSLY from the firm in
the early part OF January, 1870. Lawsuit
upon lawsuit hampered him at every point,
and counter suits surrounded his rival, Fisk.
Stokes declared positively that he did not
know that Fisk was to visit the Grand Central
Hotel that day, and he did not 50 there to
meet him IN TACT, did not know that be was
accustomed to visit there. lie met a Mr..
Bailey (who testified to the fact) on the cor
and walked down the street block with
him. Seeing lady in one of the windows
of the Grand Central he lifted his hat to her.
With considerable hesitation, Stokes said, in
reply to MIR. Beach, that the name of this
| lady was Mrs. Henry, a resident of Balti-
more, whom he had met in Saratoga. lie
determined to 90 0, er and visit her before he
went to the Metropolitan Hotel, where he
and Bailey We're intending to purchase tick
cts for the - Black Crook As Mr.. Bailey
did not care to go up he went alone, but did
not find he lady, and turned to walk away.
! 1t was lust as he reached the ladies entrance
that the burly form OF his rival entered the
| lower door, and, impeled by the fear of
bodily injury to himself, which he had been
! led to believe from rumorcd threats that Fisk
medtated be drew his pistol quick as light
ming and fired the fatal shot, springlng at the
same time to the left to get out OF range OF
Fisk's pistol, which was already drawn and
aimed at him.
Stokes utterly denied the evidence as to his
crouching, and exclalming, " Now | have
you " ard insisted that 1t was impossible
Tor him to retreat, because he had already
descended three or four stairs when Fisk
came in. He also denied the story Of his
TIL catching to shoot Fisk, and said that he
had never known Parker. He also brought
up that cold blooded sentence the authorship
of which is attributed to Fisk: My touch
is cold and clammy when people cross my
oath they faint; " and also the remark sand
to have been made by Fisk, - Dorman b.
Eaton attempted to have brush with me,
out don't TANK he will trouble me again.
| Henry T. Chester, carpenter, testified
that he was passing the ladies entrance TO
the Grand Central Hotel when Fisk was shot
aud went in and saw lady pick up d pistol,
which was silver plated. tie denied that
tie pistol shown hmm YVES the one he saw
licked up. Horace f. Clark testified re
gard to Fisk S character, saying that lie was
considered man OF desperate expedlents.
Commodore Vanderbilt gave similar lestImo-
nv, tut said his knowledge Of Fisk Was based
Oh hearray.
! jenny Turner, a waiting maid OF the
Morse family, whom Fisk used to visit, tes-
titled that, when EIsk was carried up stars,
lady followed VITA pistol IN her hand,
witch she gave 10 a gentleman, saying she
/ found il on the stars.
Adelne Barker testified that she washed
for the Morse family IN December. Sac saw
F SIX at the Grand Central hotel. He was
sitting on a sofa with the Morse girls. She
saw Fisk Jump of the sofa, and strike his
hand violently on the cushion, at the same
time putting his hand 10 the rear pocket OF
his paptaloons MIR Townsend then offered
to prove by tue witness that, on the occasion
referred to, Fisk said he would kill Stokes
ami ruin him That Miss Morse I'D =" Do
you not see the gallows looming up before
you?" And that Fax answered - The
gallows is not built in NewYOrk to hang me.
This testimony was also excluded by the
judge.
There was on the part Of the prosecution
plenty of evidence in rebuttal of Stokes
claim that Fisk carried pistol.
Henry l. Powers, proprietor of the Grand
Central hotel. denied that Stokes told him
when arrested, that he came there to see q
person: he thought Stokes made no distinct
reply. Witness passed close by rom 2l9,
outside of which Stokes swears he dropped his
nistol in few minutes alter, and saw none.
David Crockett, the hotel clerk, gave similar
evidence. Frank Curtis, the gentleman who
assisted Fisk up stairs, testhed that he saw
no pistol on the landing, and that he saw no
lady there, and did not see any gentleman at
the head of the stairs to whom she might
have handed pistol, This was in rebuttal
of Jennie Turner evidence. August Schm-
mel testified that he was IN charge OF the
voucher department of the Erie railway, was
with Fisk every day, often slept with him,
and never saw him carry or knew of his car
rying pistol.
Louis Burrell was called to the stand to
testify that Stokes had taken him to the
Fifth Avenue hotel under the expectation OF
meeting and killing Fisk there, but Judge
Boardman excluded the testimony. Mrs.
Morse, the last witness, was then called and
testified that, during twelve years acquain-
lance with Fisk, she never saw him have a
pistol, and she denied the evidence that Fisk
took out pistol ln her room in the hotel
and laid it on the piano.
Mr.. Tremaine, who began his argument
for the defense on Friday last, asked Judge