Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-01-14
STOKES!
Sentenced to Death /!

On the 9th inst, precisely one
year from the date of the murder of
Col, Fisk, Edward S. Stokes, who
slew him, was sentenced to be hanged.
Since the execution Of Prof. Web
ster, there have been few criminals.
who lave excited the public interests
as much as Stokes. Public opinion
had come to doubt, as to whether q
man of culture, money, and friends,
could be hanged in New York Hap
PLY the public danger seems to have
awakened a sense Of public justice,
and the belief is now entertained that
Stokes will be hanged. \ more in
solent. confident and brazen crimI-
nal. has seldom come before the pub
lie gaze, and We belive that if he be
hanged as he ought to be, that
his swinging of will be one Of those
public benefits, which we hope will
leave society improved by the shock
ing spectacle of all which wealth and
opportunity could bestow. having
been squandered on that lustful and
prodigal road, which begins in roses,
and ends in the halter.
Here is his speech, and the SEN
tence of the Court,
The clerk arose and called the pris-
oner also to his feet, where he stood
intent and calm without visible trem-
or, looking straight before him. ed
" ard s. Stokes. what have you now
to say why the sentence of death
should not be passed upon you?"
The prisoner raised his eyes, and his
lips moved, but the murmuring of the
crowd half drowned the low answer.
His voice was at length raised and dis
tinctly heard in the last words of de-
| fence.
Stokes Defence OF HIMSELF.
l can only say that / am innocent of
the crime of which | now stand con-
victed. l did not Intentionally viO-
late any of the laws of the land. I
would also like to say that | notice in
one of tO-day's papers an interview
with one of the jury. Mr.. Bolles |
think it is, in which he stated that
probably it would have been better
that l should not have gone on the
stand. for the reason that / testified
that the pistol through which Fisk
met his death | had never fired off,
when the jury all knew l had fired it
off repeatedly at Saratoga with Colo
mel Fellows, / have only TO say-if that
interview was true-that / never fired
that pistol off at Saratoga, and ii new
er has been discharged by me but
twice. know that all the testimony
which was given for the defence was
viewed lightly by the jury; feel con-
vinced of that. | know that public
clamor has been aroused on account of
the frequency of murder in New
YorkCity.-(Here he paused for seve-
raj seconds | know the evidence of
homicide on which was convicted. is
false from beginning to end, and is
manufactured; and believe the pros
ecution know it, and the District-At-
torney knew il, and the counsel for
the prosecution knew it when he sum-
med up the case. l hope your honor
Will make the sentence as brief as
possible.
Stokes spoke deliberately, with a
hesitation now and then as of collect
ing his thoughts-not by any means
as if delivering set and prepared
speech His eyes were fixed on the
desk in front, but sometimes were Hf-
ted and wandered around, resting for
n few seconds on each face within
their easy range.
Without a moments pause Judge
Boardman gave sentence.
THE DEATH SENTENCE.
You have been defended by most
eminent counsel with extraordinary