The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-07
STOKES AND HIS FATE.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


Though my home Is in O distant portion OF the
country-in the Future Great City Of the World"
a temporary sojourn In this metropolis has afforded
scant opportunity to visit many places Of amuse-
ment and public interest calculated TO awaken re-
nections relating to individual and social life.
Here, perhaps, more than in any other portion OF
America, are to be found greater combination
OF diverse and antagonistic elements Of society.
Here the social and moral elements are at work on
grander scale than in any other part Of our broad
land. Here is the great centre of finance and COM
merce; here the stronghold OF crime ana
OF liberal ideas. Taken altogether this
metropolis furnishes greater lessons on the various
questions OF modern civilization than can
be found In any other city in the country, and it
has been my privilege to look hastily into many of
the more prominent phases OF public life found
here In active operation. On last Wednesday, In
company with Miss Linda Gilbert, well known
throughout the country as an efficient worker in
establishing libraries for prisons, l visited the
T0mbs that Newgate Of America. Among the sad
pictures of unfortunate humanity there to be seen,
and the one on whose late most eyes are now
turned, is Stokes charged as the slayer of Colonel
Fisk. No picture more sad to look upon can be
found In any American prison. At best prison
for living, reasonable human beings, in o land Of
law and religion, is a sad commentary on the gov
eminent OF any people living n state OF peace
anu prlVlleke. Anu wien we come TO COnSucr Tile
criminal wherever ne may be. no matter what his
crime may have been, we cannot dismiss his case
without word IN his favor.
In the case OF Stokes there is much OF principle
and humanity to palliate for his supposed mis-.
guided act. His careworn, emaciated and
Responding appearance are striking evidences Of
more than brutal, OF more than dangerous
man. And 1t may well De argued, In his trial for
life, that although Colonel Fisk may have come to
centive-a cause that Is recognized among civilized
men and women as q motive to action even to the
SSaKng o. human ne NO people In any nation,
ideal OF lie as not to recognize the apparent just
fcatlon OF an act OF resentment to personal
offence, even to the taking OF life. Stokes, like
many other men, was actuated by such motive
and the crininality OF his act Is not found IN the
pssSer G Wesn nor ne m tiny
OF crime IN the lace OF the law; the cause alone
is the measure Of guilt.
and were he turned loose to-day III New York city
no man or woman would Ieel his or her life
more In danger than yesterday. On the other hand,
Colonel Fisk was q man OF widely different char.
acter from that Of Stokes. He was the prosecutor
and the cause OF the financial rum OF Stokes and
In the face OF these acts for the State to execute
Stokes would be to administer vengeance accord
ing to that rule That might makes right''-the
rule OF savages and barbarians.
Again. what will this great city and State gain
by taking in turn the life OF Stokes After the
de-, deed Is done will the Law be stronger Will human
vanced in this great metropolis Who can say
that it VIII For myself see nothing to be
gained, no honor to be achieved to the living, by
suspending Stokes to the gaows between heaven
and earth. II 1t be assumed that he Is not fit to
i've how can he be suited to heaven "Mercy
to him that shows 1t, IS the rule" and II State
or nation is not magnanimous enough to show
mercy how can the individual be encouraged
do SO Then be it my prayer that the
great state OF New York extend that mercy to
Stokes that Is justly due from kind and indugent
parent to an erring child by thus dong, More
honor will be gained and more moral strength
born to society than can possibly come from the
taking of human life. CHARLOTTE SMITH.
Aston HOUSE, Sept. 6, 1873.