The morning call., 1891-08-09
EDWARD S. STOKES.
Queer Experiences and Good Luck Of The Man
Who Slew Fisk,

On view here for several days past has
been Edward S. Stokes. proprietor of the
| Hoffman House, New York, who now
| figures as u great financier and plutocrat
among the sachems of Tammany, although
not of them. He has developed large
money interests in telegraphs and hotels.
| and has secured city paying contracts and
other good things known as Tammany
| pie" Stokes was gay social swell when /
! first met him here in the SOS. ere he FLASHED
with Colonel Jim" Fisk and was taken in
| hand by the State.
1t was Saturday afternoon. January 6,
1872; scene, Broadway, New York. The
air was clear and bracing and the sky wore
its purest blue. The ladies were out in full
force. rustlng by in their coquettish winter
costumes. All around was the hum and roar
of the great city. a little after o'clock a
carriage drove up TO the ladies' entrance OF
the Grand Central Hotel, ard stout gentle
man, elegantly dressed, a heavy military
cloak over his massive shoulders, his blonde
mustaehe deliberately waxed, alighted. 1t
was Colonel James Fisk Jr., Comptroller Of
the Erie Railway, Colonel of the Ninth
Regiment n. g. s. n. Y, Admiral OF the
Narragansett Steamship Line, SPECTATOR
in everything with money in it-frOm a
paper OF pins to grand opera house. at the
same moment handsome young man, at
tired as fauitieSSly as the Partisan swell who
floats along the Boulevard des IIaiens at the
aasinthe hour, young man with clear corr
plexion and glossy black mustache, was
walking in a careless and listless manner
aleBg tile hotel corridors toward the head of
the staircase. the gentleman was Edward
5. Stokes, Fi5k's former friend, but now
his bitter enemy-a man of fashion and
shrewd business operator generally. Colonel
Fisk entered the street door and started up
Fafr han, l,nr oh. H.
part way up he saw Stokes coming down.
Their eyes met. just for a moment
the men who hated each other stood
irresolute. Then there was a mutual move
men. Stokes drew four barreled revolver
and fired, quick as thought, at Fisk. The
ball struck the Colonel in the abdomen and
he staggered against the wall, making the
single exclamation, "OhP' Another shot,
and his left arm fell useless at his side.
He staggered and fell to the bottom of the
stairs. The doorman called for help anu
FISK was carried into room at the head of
the stairs. Stokes dropped his pistol,
walked lelsurely past the ladies' parlor ana
down the main staircase and surrendered
himself to MIR. Powers, the proprietor, WHO
delivered him into the hands of the police,
who took HIM into FiSk's presence for iden-
LITIGATION. When Stokes entered the room
they were undressing the Colonel, removing
his diamonds from his shrt-fr0nt and cuffs
His velvet coat had to be cut from him.
When Fisk was asked the usual question he
looked up and said: Yes, that is tile man
who shot me-" Stokes was taken 70 the
TombS. Fisk died next morning, His OBJ
S"quieS were extraordinary, his body lying
IN state in the magnificent veStibue OF the
Erie Hallway Offices iu the Grand Opera
House building, viewed by thousands, and
huge line OF military escorting the
caShet to the depot to be conveyed to Brat
tleboro, VT. While Stokes was in the Tombs
there was rumOr that the Ninth Regiment
was going to take him from his cell and
hang him in the corridor The Superint-n-
dent OF Police placed 500 policemen in the
halls. The rumOr was a canard. On Stokes
first trial In 1873 the jury was unable to
agree upon verdict On his second trial
lie was found guilty, and on January 6th
Just one year from the day of the fatal en-
counter. he received his sentence to be
hanged February 2Sth. An application for
new trial was denied, and Stokes last
chance for his life was the Appellate Court,
which ordered a new trial, and Stokes was
almost Snatehed from under the black beam
OF the CHASTITY gallows. The verdict of the
third trial was manSlaughter in the third
degree, and ne was sentenced to Sing Sing
at hard labor for four years. Ed 5. Stokes
was born in Philadelphia IN 1871, but moved
to New ork about twelve years previous
to the scene upon the staircase of the Grand
Central Hotel. His grandparents came from
England 100 years ago, and soon after pur-
chased farm at Sing Sing, near wgere the
prison now stands. The prison is built OF
,.
was brought up luxuriously and well edu-
Gated. He was fond of horses and outdoor
sports. he was first produce broker in
New York, and later the proprietor of a
Brooklyn oil refinery. Fisk determined TO
get control of the latter, and Gid get into
partnership. About now Helen Josephine
Mansfield, the young wife of Frank Law
lOr, the actor, well remembered in San
francisco, Troy and Albany, fioated on the
scene. Stokes and Fisk became acquainted
with her about the time that she received Il
divorce from Lawlor. Fisk became in
fatuated with her, and established her in a
luxurious home. at which Stokes was ire
quent visitor. Fisk's jealousy and alleged
wronging of Stokes in business matters led
to the hatred Of the men of each other
Stokes is now President of the company
owning the Hoffman Rouse-valued at
S1,250,000. There was story that the com
pany was going to buy the Grand Union
Hotel here or build a new one, but nothing
came of ii. Fenwlek Hall, Say brook, Conn,
is owned by Stokes anu others The prop
erty is valued at $4,000. and was bought
under foreclosure at auction for S16500
Saratoga correspondence Troy Times.