New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-11
THE STOKES CASE AGAIN.
AN IMPORTANT WITNESS.
THE DIsTRIcT-ArToRyEY ARRESTS WITNESS RE-
FUSED BY sroKEs-A SINGULAR HISTORY.

foohD bf SlOhEs-A SlNoOlAAh hf5lOhis
Superintendent Matsell received letter
from DistricAttorney Phelps, on Friday last asking
him to arrest q known as Mrs. Minnie Benton,
who. 1t was alleged. had witnessed the
murder OF James Fisk, IT., by Edward 8.
Stokes. Enclosed in the letter was warrant
for the arrest OF Mrs Benton and paper containing
her description and also the site of house In which she
has resided for two past superintendent Matsei
summoned Detectives Tuly and Dilks and assigned
them TO the duty OF arresting the woman The detec
tives nc once went 10 the house IN Lexington-sye.
wherein the woman lived and after careful inspection
OF the neghborhoOd dscOyereda place from which they
could, unseen observe every person who might appear
its windows or depart from its doors. Many hours
passed before any person answering the description
given OF the woman they had been ordered
arrest passed before the front windows. and then
woman who bore slight likeness to the description re-
manned only a moment at Of the windows. Satur-
day and Sunday passed without any satisfac
tory result OF the constant surveillance which
was kept on the house. The detectives became eI-
hausted and were compelled to ask help OF the
Nineteenth Precinct Police Several policemen were
detailed to the duty Of watching the house during The
night with orders to report TO the detectives
any woman left the house. On Monday morning the
ceaseless watchfulness was at last rewarded.
A woman perfectly answering the description
given Of Mrs. Benton to OF the windows OF the
second story and for half hour gazed down into
the street. Tbs detectives had been accompanied that
day by person who in former years had
known Mrs. Benton. and he at once declared
that the woman within the house was indeed she.
for whom the long watch had been kept. Several pa
trolmen were placed upon duty in the vaciuty OF the
house until evening" with orders to arrest Mrs Benton
II she left the house. About 10 D. M the detectives
informed by the coiored servant that Mrs. Bon
ton was not at home Nevertheless the
IN second the and arrested
her On Tuesday morning Mrs Benton was taken
before Superintendent Mitsell Police Headquarters
He at ordered the officers to her the Office
OF the Dlsrct-Atorney VINO had equested her arrest
which had led to her being suspected If having wit
messed the Fisk murder. Assistant District Attorney
Allen received Mrs. Benton IN his room and after
long conversation with her, ordered the de-
teetiyes " take her to the House OF Detehu 9
said that would have to 5000 bail appear
witness on the trial OF stokes Inc detecuVes tooh
the prisoner 10 the House OF Detention where she re-
NAMED during Tuesday night ,
The detectives under from Assistant District
Attorney Allen again brought Mrs. Benton before him
toned Mrs Benton for several hours In the AFTERNOON
she was allowed TO leave the DistnctAttorneys
office in company with an officer TO
seek for bail Bail undoubtedly secured nasmueh
as the officers Of the House of Detention had not 10
late hour last night again received their prisoner.
did Mrs Benton return 10 her home IN lieu OF That
city, not intending TO return for week. .
The history OF the witness thus secured by the Dsct
Attorney will doubtless be the subject OF inquiry IOr ene
defense at the coming trial. Her maiden name was
Minnie White and she was 0orn IN Lexington n.y. III
1886 being At s the tta present seacbpe womab6ood
went TO NewOreans and In that city remained IOr
Is She there lived the lie OF an
being especially notorious during the war In the year
1868 sine married Gen. benton OF the United states
Army. who died very suddenly three months alter Tue
remained there three years, aud then came 70 thls
city, she has since resided In the year ISL u s
ged sue became acquainted with James Fisk, IT,,
and Edward s. Stokes. lew days after the murder "
Fisk visited Stokes at the IonOs Prison anu tOld nn
ms favor Stokes told her TO tell what she
knew lawy III relation to what passed at that
se on the first trial made the following statDent Mrs
b prOfessed 10 Mr.. John No Keen that she eoulu
be acquitted. For this service she asked
$1,000. Mr.. MeKeOn replied that sue ought TO be
Wiling to give evidence winch might save mans life
without asking pay. He would not give her penny
for her evidence, ana was oonndent nom her asking
such a prepOsterous amount as $4,000, that she
knew nothing whatever about the murder. Mr..
McKeen therefore dd not subpoena her 10 appear
at the ria declaring her profession Oh knoweaSe OF
the murder falsebood. Inc prosecution were APP
parenty aware Of Mrs Bentons existence at the hrst
trial Also Distrct-Attorne{ Allen asSing one OF tne
that evidently not desirous OF nearing her as
The friends Of Mrs Benton alleged that the evidence
which would give would be the following; she had
been visiting friend IN the Grand central hoei nai
an hour before the commission OF he nur
der. Happening accidentally TO look out or
the parlor window, she say on the opposite ste
side OF the way Edward 5. stokes. sue mao
beckoned to him, and he had crossed Broadway ana
entered the hotel He had then come up to the pafos
and cOnversed with her for over is minutes. sue had
then left him in the parlor descended the ladies' starr
way, and just going out OF the street 1oor,
when Fisk drove up in his carriage FISK ieaped0nt
OF his carriage, met her on the sde"aIk,
and talked her then front OF the hotel Tor rev
Fisk then entered the hotel aDh sne started
walk up Broadway. She had walked only lew ieet
when she heard the report Of pistol and saw SSy
run out OF the hotel in evident Hlght; She
went back TO the ladies' entrance, ana had
again entered the hotel when looking up the stairway
she two men carrying Fisk up tho stars; AS sue
going up the stairs she found on one Oh me owef
steps revolver aud from its position Thought tna
must have belonged TO Fisk She had concealed
tie revolver and had gone up the stars
to her friends That friend mad persuaded ner
not reveal her finding the pistol aud she nad con
sented suppress her discovery Since the day Of the
murder she had said nythng TO the authorizes con-
cernng Fisks revolver, fearing 1t might lnlure the
chance OF StOkes's acquttaL