The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-13

killed man because of q. woman, that
he was three times tried for murder,
and that the woman in the case, who
deserted him in his disgrace, still lives,
is yet comely and by no means exist
ing in oblivion, is recalled by friends
each time Stokes name is mentioned or
Josie Mansfield is referred to. The
story of Josephine Mansfield's treach-
cry, of James Fisk's weakness and dis
honor, and of Edward Stokes revenge,
is old enough to be new. 1t is 81 years
ago since Stokes in cold blood shot
Fisk, q man who was his predecessor
! in woman's favor. Fisk was a part
ner of Jay Gould, and known with
Gould, Drew and old Commodore Van
derbilt as one of the Erie kings" in
those days when that group of men
controlled the money interests of the
country. Fisk was Vermont Yankee
and started in life as a peddler. He
was shrewd and good natured and soon
set up several establishments. The be-
ginning of the war gave him a chance
ITO speculate, and, helped at the start
by a bigA army contract, he made
money.
He then turned to Wall street, and
his name was soon coupled with those
of Gould and Drew. He was called the
prince of Erie" He entertained Law
| ishly and was on friendly terms with
actors and actresses. About this time
he met Josephine Mansfield, a woman
whose beauty was calculated to attract
Fisk. He bought her a fine home on
West Twenty third street in New York
and installed her in it. During all his
business troubles it was his haven of
refuge And then Stokes came on the
scene. He was Fisk's friend Fisk had
helped him to make money in Wall
street Stokes became a constant Wis
itor at Miss Mansfield's house. For
nearly year the woman deceived Fish,
and then he began to have doubts. He
hired detectives to watch the pair. Con-
WINGED of their treachery, he deter
mined to ruin Stokes financially, know
ing that the woman would not cling to
him when he was no longer able to
support her in luxury.
On the night of Jan. Z, 1871, Stokes
was arrested on the charge of embez-
cling money from the Brooklyn Oil Re
fining company. The arrest was insti-
gated by Fisk, who was Stokes part
ner. Josephine Mansfield knew all
Fisk's secrets, and planned a counter
stroke. She threatened to publish let
tiers giving secrets Nof the Erie deals
and Tammany ring. She gave all the
! letters to Stokes to help him out
| threatening to publish the letters if the
money was not paid. Fisk got the let
| ters back at an immense cost, and Miss
| Mansfield then sued him for $50 0GC
which she said he owed her. She had
Fisk arrested. After an exciting scene
in court, Stokes and Miss Mansfield re-
turned to her house, which Fisk had
given her. They were about to sit
| down to luncheon when a messenger
/ q T.YsiU hat Vel :, Il
a warrant for Stokes arrest An hour
later, as Fisk was entering the Broad
| way Central hotel. Stokes. who had
! gone there, shot him. Fisk fingered
| long enough to make his will, and died.
9 8 o
The public clamored for the hanging
of Stokes. He was given a trial. The
, jury returned q verdict of guilty of
murder in the first degree, and. to
make a dramatic scene more so, Stokes
sprang to his feet. saying, Jay Gould
| has done this!" Stokes was sentenced
to be hanged, but got a new trial The
| first trial resulted in bankrupting his
father. who spent his all to clear his
son. At the second trial Cassius Reed.
! the owner of the Hoffman House. came
to the prisoners rescue with 81. 500.
The verdict was still adverse, but an
order for new trial was Won This
time Ed Stokes cousin William was
his angel. The cousin got his father
to bear the EXPENSES of the trial 1t
cost them 100000. Cousin Ed was
given four years for manslaughter.
And today the cousins do not speak.
When they talk of each other it is in
bitter terms, so bitter that libel suit
grew out of their enmity. Stokes was
treated well in prison, and in 1876
stepped from Sing Sing a free man.
He was without friend His acquain-
tances avoided him. To whom should
he go? Whittier should he turn? Cas-
sius Reed of the Hoffman House had
lost more of his admiration for his pro-
tege. He took him to his hotel. ad-
vanced him money for clothes. fed him
invested money in schemes with him
which came to naught. Stokes had al
most exhausted Reeds resources and
patience. He went west and met John
w. Mackay. the coast millionaire
Mackay helped him buy a mine. which
Stokes exploited in London. The stock
certificates are held there yet-as curl
osities. After his experience as a pro
moter in London, Stokes returned to
New York and to his friend, Cassius