Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-19
Stokes Trip to Sing Sing.
From the New York Tribune, Nov. 3.

Stokes Trip to Sing Sing.
From the New York Tribune, Nov. 8.
Edward S. Stokes was conveyed from
the Tombs, on Saturday morning, to the
State Prison at Sing Sing, and, con-
trary to expectation, without any no.
ticeable partially Oh the part Of the
officers who had him in charge So
carefully did the officers keep the
news from all except the representa-
lives of the press and Warden John
son, that Oh Saturday morning even
the Tombs officials we're ignorant of
what was about to happen. At about
10 O'Clock Deputy Sheriff Shields and
his assistant, Mr.. Cahill. entered the
prison ard told Stokes to get ready for
the journey. When Stokes appeared
in the corridor, dressed in the dark
checked suit and black felt hat so IA
m1liar to those who attended the last
trial, he looked pale and anxious, and
taking place pear the stove, re-
marked that it must be chilly in the
open air, and, drawing a handker-
chief from his pocket, tied it around
his neck, buttoned his coat up to the
throat, lighted a cigar, placed his
hands in his coat pockets, and looked
complacent while he awaited the end
Of the preparations in progress by the
Deputy Sheriffs. John D. Couse, who
was sentenced on October 81, in the
Court of General Sessions, to an i'm
prisonment of two and half years,
for forgery in the third degree upon
Lawrence Bros, bankers, for whom be
was Cashier, completed his toilet and
joined Stokes. Couse was neatly and
indeed comfortably dressed, and had
antic pated the attentions of the State
Prison barber by shaving off his Dun
dreary whiskers and moustache So
expeditiously was everything done
that the convicts, manacled by single
bracelet, and attended by the
Deputy Sherifs. left the Tombs a few
minutes after 10 o'clock. A Fourth
avenue car was hailed, and seats were
taken. the prisoners sitting in a corner
near the front platform The prison
ers sat SO close to each other that the
hand cuffs could not be SEEN While
passing from one car to another at the
Thirty second street depot, Stokes was
recognized. "Many dollar [ got
from him at the Hoffman House, a
fresh-looking youth was heard to say.
"He looks we'll, 5oo,'' was a general
remark. At 20 minutes past 10 O'Clock
the convicts were seated in the smok-
ing car of the 1915 train. Mr.. Shields
who is well known to the railroad en-
ployes, attracted their notice, and it
required no time for them to find ont
who were the men in custody. Like
wild fire the news spread through all
the cars of the train, and police officers
laid aside their dignity, elderly ladies
and gentlemen forgot their anxiety to
obtain seats, employees forsooh their
work, and all joined the newsboys in
their rush to see Stokes.
On the way up the river Stokes con-
versed freely with his companion in
irons and the Deputy Sheriffs. When
ever he spoke of the trial, he affected
to feel that he was badly treated, but a
close observer could detect heartfelt
rejoicing that he had escaped even
another trial and much a severer iudg-
ment, 81 would have died." said he,
eff had been confined another twelve
month in the Tombs" On arriving at
Sing Sing, Mr.. Shields allowed Stokes
and Couse to eat lunch before they
entered the prison. In the Office of the
prison the convicts were received by
Warden Hubbell, who told them that
he would do all that he could legally to
mitigate the misery of their condition.
In response to the usual inquiries of
the prison clerk Stokes said he was a
native Of Pennsylvania, 80 years of
age, and was broker when he com
mitted the offense of which he was con
victed. Couse said that he was born
in Jersey City, was 80 years of age, by
occupation bank teller, and was con-
victed on his own confession of forgery.
The two were then taken charge of by
the prison doctor. When Stokes saw
his striped suit he INDUCED in little
pleasantly, saying that he had
worn something similar when play
ing base ball; he never had a
pair of pantaloons fit him SO we'll. He
noticed the absence Of a pistol pocket.
They were then measured j; Stokes
stood feet 10, and Couse 5 feet 81 :;
then weighed, Stokes turning the bal
ance at 1873 pounds and Couse at 1913
pounds.
The regulation towel and comb
were then given to the convicts, and
they were assigned their cells, Stokes's
being No. l73, on the second tier. A
parting scene followed between the
convicts and the deputy sheriffs, and
the farewell between Stokes and
Deputy Sheriff Shields, who had been
his constant custodian during the
twenty nine months of his confinement