The New York herald., 1876-10-29
EDWARD S. STOKES.
Fisk'S Slayer Released from Au-
burn Yesterday.
HIS RECEPTION BY THE PEOPLE.
lie Lays His Fathers Death to Governor
Tilden's Charge.


At Sing Sing and the State Prison at Auburn. Horace
Stokes, his brother was permitted TO see him Tor
few moments Friday afternoon, but no other per.
son was admitted TO talk with him until tho moment
Of his departure from inside OF the casteatcd building
II Is usual when prisoner leaves Auburn that no
shall receive suit OF clothing from the State OF New
York and a small sum OF money, the money being
derived from the admission fee OF twenty-five cents
charged 10 each visitor the person who is q
ident OF Csyuga caun,y When stokes went to sign
his name on the journal on leaving the prison he
ceived SO 80 from the general fund, but declined
to takc tho suit OF clothing lie said In convcrsa-
ton with the HERALD reporter after leaving tho
prison. 81 took tho SO - SIMPLY because / don't
think owe the State OF New York anything for |
have paid for everything tnat have got aud ask
favors gong out, nor have any need 10 ask any,
fe did take the prison breakfast, but driven
to tho Gaylord House, lew blocks distant and there
had something TO cat with his brother Horace and Col
onol Nutiman who is partner OF his IN tho lmpcr.
shable Stono Block Pavement Company, and who
emigratod 10 California In 1886 and was aftcrward
officer in Aaxmill,ans army in Mexico. There was
also present tho hurried breakfast Josiah Colgate
a cousin OF Stokes, aud tow friends who had arrived
aud who accompanied the released man TO New York.
Stokes before leaving tho prison. was marched around
the prison gard the last tmc and lnaly taken
buie TO change his clothing When he signed his naGe
on tho book his hand was as steady as a crowbar
and be showed none o tho nervousness which is usual
with q convict on leaving State Prison. During tho
day large number OF people collected at the prison
10 got look at Stokes for tho st time and tho depot
OF the New York Central Railroad was crowded with
and WOMEN when the carriage arrived which
contained Stokes and his friends. Tho crowd pressed
closely him that the police wero obliged 10 gvc
them tho order to move on, but no unkindy
said to him aud whom he got on the rail
ROAD car a number Of people came in shake hands
W
xcd and soft felt hat with narrow brim
b,ck cutaway coat and over all these nts
was u black overcoat lined with silk and faced with
back silk velvet HIS costume wns completed by n
black silk necktlc and u small diamond stud in an
immaculate white shirt bosom Stokes looked very well
and though his hair was quite gray his mustachc and
| imperial goatec uero trimmed to nicely He has
quito recovered from hs late sickness and looked as
glad nj being free boy let Of school But tho
accu events OF the past SIX have changed
the man, and on ms way down 10 Albany ne rsapsed
number OF times into MOODY sadness, and questioned
his companions about things which have ranspred since
| the fatal day, January g. 1872. At Syracuse there
big crowd to gaze AT Stokes and when he left the
| cars a solid mass OF people followed him, but
lcstaton was offered him IN any sense. An old man
named McLean who keeps saloon near the depot
| at Syracuse, asked Stokes TO into his
| place ana take drink, taking Mr.. Colgate
ior stokes TIE party entered the saloon and the old
| mao said TO Colgate, whom he mistook Tor Stokes,
.You stood up for your rights like man. and honor
| you for IT, You cant pay Tor drink in my house.
| Stokes endeavorcd to pay for drink, but Mclean
| would not receivo any money, and he followed the
4
upon stokes receiving / box OF cigars which
| ne had purchased for him. stokes had secured
places IN dining room car, and the crowd came in
and looked 1T him, and jamned up tho passageways
so that they became rapassabic. Az Utica and Pala-
tine Bridge tho same tang was repeated, and crowds
OF mon and women juinlcd into the cars and spoke
\ Stokes many Of them shaking his hands and telling
,i<m that they wore glad that he roo ut
this display Of feeling. aud thanted a number
OF persons for tnor kindly EXPRESSIONS OF feeling Al
twenty-five minutes past two o'clsck tho train reached
1,anv Slnko ,iv
TO tho DeIavan House to take dinnw and to lay
for tram, AZ TO escape the crowds OF people, who
! were becoming oppressive Hundreda or women on
| deavored to get a glimpse OF tho released prisoner
at tho different depois en- roseS but Stokes
| did not manifest any desire 20 talk, and
kept himself aloof from those who wishedSo talk with
him At the table the Dolavan House Stoeos said
ut seems 90 strange once more TO be eating at de-
cent ,ablo and to be among friends feel queer and
do not yet quito realize H." While at tho Ds!avan
House, in Albany, Stokes made statement 10 tho
HERALD reporter in regard to his Imprisonment that
OF rather an Interesting nature Stokes seems be
very bitterly opposed to Governor rilden, and be cid
not hesitate state yesterday number OF ties tha
he caused his a.ners death by deceving him in 70.
gard his sons pardon Tho substance Of ths stato
ment of Stokes is as folows:-
STATEMENT EDWARD g. sToKEa
In regard to my unreasonable removal from Sing
Sing Prison to Auburn Prison will simply say that 1t
was a remarkable thing for Tilden to do. My trcat-
mcnt In this case has beon very exceptional Gov
crnor Tden evidently at tho bottom Of It all. In
ali the prisons IN the State, and has
to day tho supreme control OF these prisons.
You know George Wagner was elected State
Prison inspector the same ticket with Governor
Tildcn In 1874 Rodney q. Crowley, backsliding re-
publican, also elected on Tllden's reform ckot in
1873 and the time the death OF Moss X. Patt
who republican, gave Tilden the opportunity,
which, OF course, ho did not slip ny, OF appointing his
personal fricnd and servle contrerc. b. W. Y Clark
IN The place OF Piatt Tiiden's coadjuicr. Crowley
took charge OF Sing Sing Prison in May last Upon
Crowley taxing charge. one OF his avorlte nppoinees,
whose name | will not mention to-day, requested
an interview with mo lie said TO me that had moro
privileges In Sing sing under the democratic party
than had ever been accorded To under the republ
can party lie also that Clark, opponent OF
Governor Tiiden was bitterly opposed to me and had
urged tho Board OF State Prison inspectors 10
take extreme measures in my ease As
friend have sought this intcrviow, SAID
he, and advise you 10 SEQ Rodney Crowley and Tor
you place IN his hands So 500 to carry the cleo
ton in the coming vass TINS interview occurred
In May OF this year. At the time OF the mceeg OF tho
full Board OF State Prison Inspectors ut Sing Sing.
told him that was bitterly opposed to Tden not be-
cause he had refused 10 pardon me- but because no
had practised duplicty and had deceived my aged
father and caused his death. He replied that VI
was not willing to put up the 81, 800 he would bc
satisfied II would give letter OF introduction to
James Stokes, an uncle OF mine and member OF the
hrm OF Phelps Dodge Co., and also personal friend
Of Governor Tildon TO the effect that had received
and who represented Tlden at ST. Louis alter
ward This letter was intended to procure 81 500 from
James stokes for the use Of the democratic party.
no being democrat himself told this man that was
already under great obligations TO Phelps Dodge
Co, and that would not ask any more iavors OF my
relatives, and, further, that would not ask favor
from samuel J. Tden to save mis- liie for no had
killed my father bv his ncxcusabie deception. Tho
Invcstizat Committee on Prisons know the name Of
tuis man, and can give II " they wish TO do Now
mark the cunning OF this man Crowley. lie did not
dare to draft no to Auburn alter TINS, but in order
to pacify matters he came to me in n low days aud
asked mo to give him bottle OF Congress water, and
no took mo up In the top oor OF the hospital at Sing
Sing and spoke to me In the dsscctng room evadcd
conversation on tho subject, but General James u.
SwayDc whose contract was working a; said time,
nominay at the time paper called tie Hudson R,rer
Chronics was started and published at sing Sing,
In which appeared an expost OF Governor Tdcns
ragcous ardons To professional criminals for political
purposes These articles all charged mo as
their author, aud WAS also accused oi having fur
nished he capital to the piper In the interest OF
the republican party. had nothing to do whatever
with the paper, and II merely prctext 10 send
me 10 Auburn. In regard TO my treatment at Auburn
Prison VIII say that 1t was positively inhuman.
] was taken from sing Sina manaclcd
hands and feet and ankles in irons
10 notorious criminal named jimmy tho Kid. Tho
irons nd an ali Iv lint