The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-16
A RUINED FAMILY.
TIE CAREER OF EDWARD s. STOKES
his RELATIVES IND VICTIMS.

TIE CAREER OF EDWARD s. STOKES
BIS REALITIES AND VICTIMS.
A Sad Tale OF Domestic Shame and
Sorrow. .=
In the year 1888, Edward H. Stokes, a sue
cessful cloth merchant of New York, and
nearly connected with some Of the most
prominent representatives of the wealth and
benehcence of that city, retiDd from busi-
ness with handsome competency. Eight
years previously he had married 9 Miss
and, seeking home Of ease and elegance,
Mr.. Stokes chose Philadelphia as his future
residence. There his eldest son was born In
1889, and named Edward Stiles, after 9 ma
rernal relative. The lad was boy Of un-
usual beauty and promise, quick, active
these traits being remembered we'll after 9
lapse of years by those who knew him at that
time. Two daughters and two other sons
were born In the period between 1910 and
1850. The family Is recalled as being rarely
endowed with all that seemed needed TO In
sure the happiness of household. The home
was one of wealth and luxury. the culture OF
the best.
Edward was educated at the university, and
took high rank as scholar. He went to
New York at the age Of seventeen to enter
into the store of Samuel Perry, on South
Water street, an extensive cheese dealer.
Perry failed three years later, and young
Stokes made new partnership with 9 junior
of the collapsed house, aud they, as Stokes d
BudloDg, opened a cheese store on Vesey
street. They had excellent success, their
foreign shipping trade being very large,
calling Stokes to visit Europe several times
within the next few seasons. About this
time the senior Stokes was Induced to re-
move to New York, where he made hls
Office with his son, though not originally In
tending to become entangled 10 business.
Such was the result, however, and not only
was The father, but other and prominent rela-
tlyes gradually but heavily involved In The
extended ventures of Stokes & Budlong. The.
failure OF the firm followed, and father and
son we're thrown Into bankruptcy.
With the wreck OF his fortunes young Stokes
embarked next In the enterprise OF establish.
iug an oil refinery at Hunters Point. Three
hundred thousand dollars were expended In
the works. which were to be Of the best class.
when the company fell info difficulties, and at
this Iuncture the baleful light Of Jim Fisk's
conntenance comes into tho story. Jim was
in full tide of his operations with Erie. He
held the advantage 1--WE Wish II were less @ em-
ayers than he,) supplied by bis corporation, IN
transportation and control Of market, aa the
Erie was the great thoroughfsre TO the oil re.
gions. compact was Struck. FlaK entelea
the refinery company, reinforced lts capitaI,
aud with change OF Dame and neaVy Draw
backs" on the Erie freight ollis me hunters tefs
Point refinery sailed strongly into Gucceesiu
competition. Stokes was secretary as well as
partner. At one time his profits nom the re-
lnery gave him one thousand dollars per
week.
W. Southwlck, q prominent furniture oeaiel
In New York, one Of the oldest IN his line 10
that citv. A short time since one OF our old
est residents showed us set OF furniture.
wedding outfit brought to Chicago IN 1855,
bought of Mr.. southWick, who is now man
OF Immense wealth, and still 10 active busl.
ness In great Broadway establishment. Tne
wedding of Stokes with Miss SouLhwick seem,
ed to lack nothing that wealth, position aad
social surroundings could bring TO insure
happiness. Thev made their sumptuous home
| in the Hoffman House, and moved among the
| most brilliant life of the metropolis.
| The next scene In the drama brings the IN
famous woman Mansfield into the plot. Solo,
mon described her many centuries ago, and
| we fear Solomon knew what he was writing
about. But his painting has never been sur
passed, and II somebody could have slipped
into stokes's mind this little pen-portrait,
made two thousand years ago. OF Josephine
Mansfield and her Infamous sisters, 1t might
have spared the community the fruits OF the
new acquaintance. Here are some OF the
wise man's colorings of his subject:
She le,h in walt as fer prey, and increasesh
| the transgressions among men.
Her feet 60 down to death; ner steps take hold
| on hill
| into the dead. None that go unto her return
again.
lie goeth after her straightWsy, as an OK goeth
| to the slaughter.
she hath cast down many wounded, yea many
strong men have be n slain BY her.
Her house Is the way TO hell, going down to
| the chambers OF death.
The dead are there. Her guests are In the
depths Of he'll.
And Just precisely that happened which the
son of David predcted; from The house Of the
| harlot the path turned downward. A quarrel
carried into affairs OF business. Fisk refused
to allow the Bunter's Point concern to make
| a dividend, and thus cut of stokes's supplies.
| The disgraceiul relation with Mansfield be-
came more shameless, and the tsCner-in.law,
Southwick, sent his daughter and her child 70
| Europe early In 1871, to remove her from the
scene OF the scandal. Stokes, enrsgrd at Fisk.
| used bis position as secretary TO collect thirty
| thousand dollars from Devoe, an OH merchant,
| which sum he held openly and deflantly az his
share of the profits. Fiak caused his arrest on
q criminal charge. Stokes turned to MS
wealthy relatives. No one OF them would ball
him, and be was forced TO make terms and
submit, and refund the money. Bis relations
| to Fisk were bitter, and out OF the Intensity
of the evil passions and criminalities OF hlH
| position with Mansfield grew MURDER. Turn
10 Solomon again, and there is no mystery In
the chain of sequences. It is said that the
| same steamer that took out to Europe the
murder of Fisk by Stokes carried divorce
procured by her family for his wife, who Still
remains abroad. =.
The story OF family grief and reverses IL
not all told. The senior Stokes, after thirtJ
wears of retirement and enjoyment OF lux 9,s
nriant home, Ia bankrupt and homeless In hls
old ace. One of the daughters dled CWo
weeks after marriage. Tbs second daugnter,
the wife of Mr.. Sutton, attached herseH 10
strangely to the fortunes of her brother, thaf
her husband discarded her, and che Ia IN
refuge with her aged and pennilees parents.
The second SOD, o young man OF great prom
ise, died two months ago OF grief and sname
at The family reverses, and the whole TALE OF
The Innocent and suffering victims by thie
complication OF crime and shame is not to oe
fully told without including some OF the
best known and esteemed OF New York famt'
lies. -
Ifyouug men in our communities could only
ride on express trains to the devil, and take no
one with them, there would be less to be said,
sine. aside from these considerations, 1t is
every mans individual right to barter away
his life and fortunes and sacred honor AZ NE LIE
own price. Satan buys a great many OF tnese
poor fellows very cheap, and at snort oPtlohI.
for seller. But every car is part OF ns .s%y ~