Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-16
ED. STOKES AND MACKAY.
A Court Case May Reveal Their Relations
IN Anxious Claimants.

Millionaire John W. Mackay appeared in
the United States Circuit Court on Wed
nesday, says the New York Rtcoroler, as
complainant in suit brought against Ed.
Stokes to recover 100000. Not loag since
Mr.. Mackay and Mr.. Stokes were warm
personal friends. Yesterday the distance
If the courtroom was between them. At
no time during the session did either look
Al the other. Ex-Judge William u. Choate
and Joseph Larocque appeared for Mr.;
Mackay and Joseph ii. Choate and
Esek Cowen for Mr.. Stokes. Prominent
ATTORNEYS were interested listeners III the
courtroom. They hoped that the testl-
monv would solve a mystery that has long
puzzled tinanclers as TO the exact felAIlous
of Mackay and Stokes. 1t was well I'M
derstood thatgfOr long time before 1850
Nackay was the hacker of Stokes Reed,
prOprietors Of the Hoffman House. IL was
Mackay's money that procured the hand
some furnishings of the hotel and aided
its management. The amounts loaned
bv Mackay at various times were
credited 10 him on the hOtel-bOOks.
His connection with the Holman
House created some comment which
was dstasteful 10 the millionaire. On July
q, 1885, Mr., Mackay told Stokes ana hec-
tor de Castro, who was then clerk OF
agent for Mackay, that he did not care 10
the Hoffman House. He proposed that
the amount of the indebtedness 10 hun be
placed in the form Of a note 70 De Castro.
The next day the three met at the Nevada
Bank in Wall street. Stokes had the ac-
counts made up. and note FOR NjOO, OOJ was
given TO DE Castro. 1t was Endorsed by HIM
and placed in charge Mr.. Platt. clerk Tor
Mr. Mackay. sFrOm 1885 10 1889 STOKES
was largely engaged in various telegraphic
enterprises. Among these were the BANK
ers and Merchants, the Postal, and the
Commercial Telegraph companies. IL was
believed that he acted IN some capacity
tor Mackay. Stokes claims that IN 1852 he
and Mackay had a settlement; that ne
then turned over TO the millionaire all tine
stock and securities which he had accumu-
lated. and that from that time he did not
owe Mackay anything. Mackay claims
that the note has never been satisfied.
Hector De Castro failed TO remember
great many things called up by Joseph IL:
Choate. He did recall that on the 25th Oh
July note was given 10 him by Mr.. Stokes
and that Mr.. Mackay objected very strong
ly 10 having his name longer on the books
of the Hoffman House. On cross-eXaml-
nation he said he could not recollect
whether Mr.. Mackav had said that he
(Alackay) wanted To be in position 10
state that Stokes did not owe him any
thing, nor could be remember that Mr..
Mackay had said he did not want 70 APP
pear as connected with the Holman House
or liable for any Of its proprietors ooNga-
tons. Ar,
Mr.. Cowan made a motion that Mr..
Mackay's complaint be dismissed on the
ground that note appeared IN the name
of DeCastro and not in the name or the
complainant. He contended that the SUIT
was upon the note itself. Counsel for Mr..
Mackay claimed that the suit was not
brought upon the note, but upon the
original indebtedness. Judge wallace
said he would grant leave to amend the
plea in the direction suggested oy
Maekay's counsel. Then" SAID Mr.
Cowan, I'VE will make O defence under
the statute of limitations" Adjournment
was taken to allow Of the amendment be-
ing made.
Disappointment was evident among a
number Of attorneys. IF the case closes
up tomorrow said one, "as It may, the
interesting inside history that Stokes ean
tell may never be known. While engaged
in what were supposed to be Maekay en-
terprises Stokes engaged the services OF
number of persons and made contracts
with them which Mackay was expected 70
fulfil. Mackay has now possession OF the
properties and declines 70 fulhI tue COZ
tracts, so that number Of suits are now
pending against Mackay arising out OF
these Geographic transactions. Exactly
what Mr.. Mackay's position may be IN ro-
lation to them is of interest TO NUMBER
of claimautsn