The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-13
THE PUBLIC SHOCKED.

The fact that Stokes, after committing
so dastardly crime had been restored
to citizenship was OF itself a painful sur.
prise to the public, but that the present
President OF the United States should
be the discovered author OF such re.
storation shocked public sentiment in
an unusual way. None OF the anointed
anti.snappers who were seen cared to
talk about the case, and few had ex-
cuses even OF the himsiest kind to offer.
The Tammany men generally chuckled
at the discovery because they thought
that 1t would give Mr.. Cleveland black
eye to start off with in his scheme to
seize the Democratic state committee
through the use OF federal patronage.
Nobody need try to maintain" said
one OF them, that Cleveland was actua-
ted by any but the basest political mo-
tives in alIordipg this relief to Stokes.
What had this convicted murderer done
to warrant an exercise Of power on
Cleveland's part in the view OF honora.
BILE men? Between his release from
prison and restoration by Cleveland
we're eight years. During this time he
was engaged in selling vile quality OF
rum at an exorbitant price, but what
has he done either before or since to
rehabilitate his character in the eyes OF
decent people?"
The accepted reason for MIR. Cleve.
lands act was that L. S. Stokes had
placed him under personal and politi.
cal obligations during the campaign OF
1884, and that in restoring Stokes to
citizenship he was fulfilling an ante.
election promise. Stokes asserted that
he possessed q certain influence over
John Kelly, then the boss OF Tammany
Hall, and declared that he was largely
instrumental in bringing Kelly aud tho
wigwam to solid support OF Cleveland
at the last moment, aud Just before the
election of 1884. The pardon OF De.
cember /, 1884, was in payment OF this
alleged service. But for the lawsuit be.
tween Stokes and his cousin, it was be.
loved that tho record OF Cleveland's
barter with him might have remained
buried in the archives at Albany.
STORY or STOKES oowARDLY DEED.
Stokes murdered James Fisk, jr., on
January 9. 1872. in most cold-blooded
fashion. The hotel in Broadway now
known as the Broadway Central was
the scene Of the crime. Fisk was com.
ing down the stairs leading to the
women's entrance OF the hotel, and
Stokes was waiting for him at the door.
Without warning, Stokes shot him. On
January 10 Stokes was indicted for muir.
der in tho first degree. The first trial
ended on January 10, 1872, the jury dis.
agreeing. On January 4, 1873, Stokes
was convicted OF murder in the first de-
gree in tho court OF oyer aud terminer.
He was sentenced to DO hanged on Fri.
day, February 2S, 1873.
Stokes' life was saved by the court Of
appeals, which reversed tho conviction
on tho ground that collateral issue
had been tried. An unimportant wit
ness for the defense had been asked by
the district attorney II she mad ever
robbed hor mistress. She said she had
not, and tho Judge permitted the intro.
duction OF evidence showing that she
had. For this trivial REASON new trial
was granted. This time the verdict
was manslaughtcr In tho third degree.
It was found October 20, 1879. Stokes
was sentenced to four years impriBon.
mont, but was freed three years later on
account OF his good behavior.
1T HELPED cARlY NEW YORK.
Tho Tribune says; II Ia we'll known
that Mr.. Stokes for many years has boon
ono Of tho leaders OF Tammany hall,
In 1884 the attitude Of Tammany hall at
first was untricndly TO Mr. Cleveland.
Bourkc Cochran and Thomas II Grady
denounced Mr.. Cleveland in bittor
terms In tho hall Of tho Democratic MI.
tlonal convention. This they did with
tho acqulOsCence ol John Kelly, tho
"bosS" OF Tammany hall, MIR, Kelly,
until late In the campaign for tho presi.
doncy, did not lift n finger to aid Mr..
Cleveland but thon othor leading mon
OF Tammany hall wore brought over TO
Mr.. ClovOland's support, and finally Mr..
Kolly reluctantly and In u pUriunctory
manner announced hls support OF Mr..
Cleveland. in those movements to
bring lnmmany hall over TO the sup.
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