The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-07
EDWARD S. STOKES.
The Slayer of Colonel Fisk Breaking
Down in Prison.
Els GROWING BLINDNESS
Efforts Being Made for His Release by
Legal Process.


forgotten the fate of Edward Stokes, who stnl
mains prisoner In the dreary looking stone building
ahat overlooks the Hudson al this place But 70 the
unhappy man himself there is an present reality
and he has grown pallid with long confinement and
gray with anxiety and hope deferred rumor
gained ground few days since that the
counsel Of stokes, Mr.. Ira Shafer, OF your
city about TO apply for of habeas corpus
bring before Justice OF the Supreme Court on
the ground OF illegal sentence by Judge Noah Davis
Mr. Shaler believes that Governor Tnden is willing to
mete out the same equality of justice Stokes that
does 10 other prisoners in Wow OF the that the
accused has served one year in the Tombs and that
The rule has been to make allowance for this prepare
tory confinement all kindred sentences Mr.
Shafer does not ask for the discharge Of
his client grounds OF sympathy, favor
or mercy, but the ground Of what no
thinks Is rigid justice, Mr.. Shafer claiming that the
Court OF Appeals the sentence trial
and ordered after Stokes bad been
demned death. And Mr.. Shafer furthermore claims
thai on this day Stokes has exceeded the limit OF
legal Imprisonment one year. Mr. Shafer does not
propose believe the prison TO day to procure
writ of habeas corpus in the until is laid with all
Its legal bearings before Governor Tilden who, it is
believed, Will act in the matter aud give
his long delayed decision Immediately. The
points in the for Governor Tldens consid-
Grafton will be forwarded tomorrow TO Albany
by Mr. Shafer and the latter will await answer
before taking any further proceedings, but he
quite sangume that Governor Tden's decision, a
lawyer well Chief Magistrate OF the State will be
most favorable to the prisoner.
/ called to-day at the State Prison and found IL in
great turmoil, owing the fact that officials OF
The gloomy institution, from Warden down,
pected TO be removed, the Board Of State
Prison Inspectors in session, including
lhe member OF the Board, Mr. Rodney
Crowley, and heads said to be falling in the
basket every few moments the Board being in secret
session. ! sent my card to Warden Walker, and he
out from the closed and informed that
n knew Stokes well might him. but not other
wise The card sent into the prison, and was
Eited to descend and walk back stone causeway
md under overnangng porch from whence l en-
erred the prison, and was asked to sit down chair
tOr . few moments A number OF convicts in
THEIR CHASTITY STRIPED UNIFORMS,
we're busy IN the attending various duties and
Inc horribly faces, the dead silence and their
aoiseess movements struck me forcbly. A smothered
exclamation OF surprise and giadness behind me- and
yoso turned quickly and Edward s Stokes stood be-
fore me but so changed that had I met him in a
crowded street | would have passed him by as
stranger All the elasticity and dash and
gone and 10 he looked q broken in
every respect but one and that in the eve
Stokes hair is perfect gray, not one black
hair left and il is slowly turning from gray white
His features rmmed with black whiskers and
above his upper lip Is heavy black mustache This
oontradction is explained by the fact that no more
teVerIsh and tormented brain beaten IN the world
for four years past than that which located under the
uniform PRISON cap Of Edward STOKES HIS has been
q sad fate indeed His brother Clinton and his father
both
pEAD oP BROKEN HEARTS;
hts wife divorced and living in foreign land and his
beautiful daughter, now in the very budding Of maiden.
hood also strange land All these things have
made wreck Of the dashing Broadway dandy OF FIVE
years ago, who paid yearly OF 81 O0O a Union
square fashionable tailor 10 keep hun dressed and
send him all the new things IN coats, vests and
trousers.
walked up stairs into the hospital wards at the in
vaton Of Stokes who keeps the books Of tins depart
nent and who has already learned TO write Prescrip
hons and doctor the prisoners little when business
srowding the regular practitioner
well, answered Stokes, with weary smile, "ths
Hn't Delmonco's by half mile They say have Ink
nnes here gorgeous a Sultan" with laugh quite
netslcl
Dos'r SIZE ANT LuxURIEs
do your This IL the bed sleep on and II is nothing
but straw" Here Stokes lined up the coverd Of coarse
check stuff and wanted TO sound the straw bed
which did ''The Doctor allows me an easy chair
when have ut Of the asthma and by
have treated me as kindly they we're
allowed / have the of books You
What they do all the reading can, for Il is good
company, and have read great deal OF poetry Thai
= iayorite book Of mine taking ny Charles a Danas
T. You should read il yourself But am
have cataract IN my left eye, and can hardly see
my hand before my face. It's hard here. have lost
70 many OF my family, and could not see them"
swell the District Attorney who secured my capital
conviction has been 70 see the Governor, and Lyman
fremain, John X Dos Passes and the Rev Dr. Armit-
ge Of the Fifth avenue Baptist church, to which my
knily belong have all been 70 the Governor and
be has promised into tho legal as
poets OF my case, which # he would lawyers OF good
handns believe that should have been DISCHARGED ere
hts Ny poor father died OF a broken heart He went
20 the Governor ten times al Albany and him
six and Governor Tilden promised last June
h. AZ
10 attend to such matters n mother also called on
The Governor three times and asked my father
sease going Albany favor 10 me- because knew
was breaking MIN down slowly but surely. Senator
Bpriggs Of Utica also called the Governor In regard
10 my case and am awaiting ms action as promised
70 the Senator. When 10 comes IL may be too late.
In conversng with Stokes he mentioned the fact that
petitions had been drawn NJ for the state Prison In
spectors 70 sign IN favor Of Stokes and despatched TO
Governor rden. After considerable effort succeeded
IN getting copy Of the petton Of the inspectors,
winch has been approved by the President of the
Eng board Moss X Paa | also succeeded In getting
copy OF the Recommendation in favor Of stokes 70 the
Governor signed by the Chaplain OF the prison. Rev
J. K Canheld Methodist who highly praises the
behavior and manly conduct Of Stokes during his
confinement The commu icasions subjoined:-
IN rAuFKRis
siSe sISe Jan G. 1879
TO nav HosoEAHlA BoARp lSsrscToEs OF srArz
GEsTLESEs-FOr the pas, year I have, through
'HS . s ss1. oa re sa aa '
sHas. and excessive iTprisOu%en,h Ny petition was
npOn which sought for coneuey werehrsi innocence %
promise the Of the jury she majority o. whom AZ hi
absolute acquttal second. " guilty. had
then suffered impnsonmeni that In point Of duration
equaed The limitation Of the satute for the offence
81 adj udcea guilty Upon receipt Of sAid petit
Governor admitted shat there equities in the
worthy ~ c7underaton aud the etb o. January
he kindly. through hs private secretary. M Chsres
R,sbbiRs ooeiAily notified my father hA, the
pettion should have his attention since which
lime my parents and gentlemen Of distinction have ire
auently imporsuncd him the and render
decision; but owing . he enormous pres
Of business under which he has been labor
Inc nv auplicaton deferred By hifn from
fme 70 time Without any decision having been
rendered nv object thus addrcssing 4 bring
rscy your notice that have, this day January
u imprisonment that the Law,
eth any degree Of ipstpess prnprety
nnIrt upon mo am nov entering upon
sToeeds IN point Of time the extreme limitation Of The
natuto exactly year In addition q this unprece
tented imprisonment I subjected three
gtals for HE; once Illegally and outrageousy
~r~.d ~ death IN January thereby 70