Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-10-28
THE MAN WHO SHOT FISK.
siokes' Loss OF Tenlth.. severance Of Fam
tiy Ttcs-speculRtionsi In Prison.

iiy Tics-speculasions In Prison.
Edward 8. Stokes is discharged from
the Auburn State prison. One year ha.
been taken from his sentence for goot
behavior. A Herald correspondent who
visited him in prison gives the following
interesting facts concerning him:
was passing through rapidly when
heard my name called, and, turning
around, saw Edward s. Stokes, tho so
disant Broadway elegant, who five years
ago paid $2,0OOa year to his tailor ia
keep him attired in the latest fashions oi
the day. But, on, how changed the
man was saw middle nged man
Stokes is now thirty. eight years of age
bent in chair over n steam heater,
the hospital beds all around him, the
sheets bleached to n snowy whiteness,
his face unshayed, his hair prematurely
gray, his figure stooped-the whole man
broken with sickness and irritability at
what he believes firmly to be long term
of persecution and conspiracy. / walked
over to where he stood and shook hands
with Stokes. and he smiled pleasantly,
but l noticed his face wna very white and
full of lines of caro- and suffering. His
sickness ia asthma, and he bore every
trace and indication of victim to pull.
monary disease whose days were num-
bered. Since the fatal day when Fisk
fell at the foot of the Grand Central
hotel staircase the worst enemy of
Stokes might be satisfied with the mis-
fortunes that have befallen him. His
brother Clinton is dead OF consumption,
old Mr.. Stokes died year ago, worried
to death by grief for his sons disgrace,
and he has hal various domestic aff1ic.
tions which need not be enumerated.
On the Sing Sing prison register three
years ago Stokes answt red to the ques-
tion, "Are you married or singIe?" tho
brief word "Single." None but few
friends-near and intimate friends-can
fathom the mingled romance and de-
spair that lies concealed by that one
word descriptive of his civil status.
Stokes had blanket shawl around his
shoulders, although he sat by the heater,
and was reading book. The man is
entirely changed in nearly everything.
Five years ago, although we'll informed
man, he hardly ever took up book to
read, for the gay life of man about
town did not permit of studying or
reading, but during the last two years of
his life Stokes has received and pur-
chased great many books, and though
his people are Baptists believe Stokes
has read during that time principally
books treating of the ubjects of phi
losophy. history and science.
l saw that the man was quite ill, and
yet heard that he was discharged from
The hospital as being convalescent the
very next day after l saw him, but with
permission to walk around in another
hospital. Stokes health ia more broken
vt present than even is known to himself,
md DR.. James r. Wood, who was his
private physician, has been astonished,
t is said, that Stokes system has lasted
IN 1orv ---1-- Lo~a n f~+~ ~ loo
lad for the past five years. Stokes has
lot as yet determined what he will do
when he comes out of prison, but it may
,e understood that he is not any longer
married man, though his wife lives,
md he has daughter, beautiful and
accomplished girl of eighteen years.
That he will be comparatively rich
nan when he is released it may be here
tated, as his oil refinery works, which
we're carefully looked after by Mrs.
stokes, his mother, who has been very
levoted to her unfortunate son while he
las been imprisoned, will be returned to
lim. It was about these very same oil
works. at Hunters Point that Stokes had
ONE of his dercest legal contests with
he late James Fisk. Stokes has specu-
ated also since he has been in prison,
nd is now the owner of very valuable
'atent, which he purchased while in Sing
ling from convict. for paving streets.
he pavement is in long oblong blocks,
nd is of some kind Of composition
7hose ingredients cannot specify.
tokes stated to me before he left Sing
ling for Auburn that he might go to
Europe for short time on his release,
ut it would only be for short time, as {
Q would be compelled to look after his 5
fairs at once. But it is more than
robable owl. G to the present state of
is lungs that Stokes may have to take a :
Zip to Havana this winter if he wishes ,
, prolong his life, for his constitution :
! completely broken and needs patch /
lg up. I