Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-17
TO ESCAPE HER HUSBAND.
Mrs. Stokes OF Philadelphia Leaps From q
Third-Story Window.


The usually quiet and respectable neigh.
borhood Of Francis street, near Ridge avenue
Philadelphia, was on Saturday afternoon rudely
disturbed by piercing shrieks Of Murder y
Help. help" apparently in a woman's voice
and shortly after a woman was seen to dash
ont OF the third-story window Of No. 17l8, and
to the horror of the spectators leap into the
street below. The woman was hrs. Alice
Stokes, aged thirty years, and her terrible leap
was taken, she says, to escape the wrath Of her
angry husband.
Mrs. Stokes was removed to the German Hos
pital, where it was ascertalned she had sus-
tanned a severe injury to her back. Her hus-
band, Nj. b. Stokes, aged forty-five years, was
Immediately arrested by Officer Ralston of the
ninth district and locked up in the twenty
third and Brown streets station house to await
the result OF his wife's injuries
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Stokes are natives of Lon
don, England, and came to this country about
two years ago. They first lived on Marshall
street. but removed to No. 17l8 Francis street
about eight months ago. Mr.. Stokes Is book
keeper in the employ Of a large Filbert street
Arm and has always borne a good reputation.
credited by her neighbors with being peace
able and Of reserved disposition. They have
one child.
The house No. 171s is a large one, and Mrs.
Stokes has, consequently, sublet part OF it to
help pay the rent BY the other occupants OF
the house the Stokes are also said to be very
quiet people. Saturday afternoon, though, Mr.
Stokes came home from business slightly under
the influence Of liquor-ncighbors said he had
a .'skate"-and shortly after quarrel was
heard, followed by Mrs. Stokes shrieks and
then her leap out Of the third-story window.
The woman says her husband was chasing her
with large butcher knife and she was forced
to Jump out of the window to escape him.
Mr. Stokes. on the other hand, emphatically
denies having had any weapon, and says that
he only threatened to beat his wife because he
found her intoxicated on his return from bust.
ness and no supper prepared for him. Nc
sooner had he threatened this, he says, than
his wife rushed upstairs screaming at the TOP
| OF her voice. Mr., Stokes followed endeavoring
| to quiet her. Arriving on the third floor he
says lac was Mortified to see his wife rush to q
window, raise it and throw herself out. He
endeavored to hold her, but only managed tc
catch piece of her dress, and this gave way in
his hands and he saw his wife dashed on the
street below.
The event created tremendous excitement In
| the nelghborhood, especially az Dir. and Mrs
Stokes were considered such very quiet ant
| respectable couple. By the spectators Of thu
occurrence Mr.. Stokes version OF the story, a
FAR as his endeavoring to save his wife and hav
| ing no weapon in his hand 10 concerned, Il
| verified. As the woman struck the pavement
the horrihed on-lookers rushed to her assistance
fully expecting to find her dead. She was
however, quite conscious, although unable h
move, and related her side Of the story. Shs
was at once taken to tho German Hospital, ani
| on inquiry there last night ii was said Oh,
| would recover.