The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-10-21
EDWARD STOKES is DYING
ACHIEVED NoTORlETY BY KILLING
JIM FISK THIRTY YEARS AGO
Made Sensational Threats Against Jay
Gould and the Managers Of the
Erie Road.

Especial Correspondence OF The PostO
New York October 1T.-Edward Stokes Is
dying slowly of old age His life has been
one Of the most remarkable and strenuous
Of ans passed in New York In his sixty
years he has lived more than o century
Mr.. Stokes is barely able to recognize his
nearest relatlyes ana friends. and now ia
pain and semi-consciousness. is ending the
career Of the man who killed Jim Fisk, and
whose sensational threats against Jay
Gould and the other Erie railroad managers
were a worldwide topic Of discussion thirty
years ago.
Stokes Is best known 10 the present gen
er1Hon as the proprietor Of the Hoffman
House. his interest in which he sold OUT to
Grahams Polly Of Brooklyn for 100000
Stokes first became prominent in 1870
when he attracted attention 10 Wall street
through the friendship OF Jim Fisk and
Jay Gould. He came into Wall street as a
clerk in a brokers' office. fresh from grad
uaron In a Philadelphia high school Fisk
was attracted by his remarkably handsome
personality and used him In his stock
deals. The great SPECTATOR had Just in.
stalled the famous Josie Mansfield in a
brown stone palace at 359 West Twenty.
thiru street Fisk gave splendid receptions
at the Mansfield house, Stokes always being
/ q guest
/ Finally Fisk became insaney jealous He
/ cast on the Mansfield woman He bought
up all Stokes money debts and pressed him
/ for payment suing him and threatening
him with arrest. He manipulated the
/ stocks in which Stokes was Interested, cut
ting on millions from the Stokes fortune
| Although Stokes maintained a demeanor
/ Of outward calm, he planned fearful re.
venge It seems that the Mansfield woman
had secured possession Of mauy letters
written by Fisk IN connection with the
Erie frauds These she turned over TO
Stokes Stokes sued FISK for 100000.
and. II was alleged, threatened to publish
the letters unless the money was paid
Fisk is said to have secured possession
for Stokes was Issued Then Miss Mans
field sued Fisk for $4,000 aud Stokes ac
companled her to court on June 3, 1872
N was a day of awful revelations for al
concerned and the city was shocked with
the scandal
From the court room Stokes and Mis-.
Mansfield went to The house FISK hac
bought for her In Twentystnird street
They were Just sitting down TO luncheon
when man dashed IN saying FISK had Sc
/ cured a bench warrant for the arrest OF
stokes An hour later Stokes shot anc
killed Fisk on the stairway leading frou
the office Of the Grand Central hotel, nov
: the Broadway Central. on BroadWa,.
Public dcnunciation hurried Stokes go
speedy trial. He was quickly found guilty
Of murder in the hrst degree. As the Yer
d
cried OUT Jay Gould has done this
, During his confinement In the Iombs h
, had continued his operations In Wall street
using his cell as an Office. Cassius Ncel
/ serN ed as his agent in the street VAN III
money he got a new trial, but when tn
day Of trial came he was pennilesS Rec
, let him have $500 10 use for the trial. II
was convicted and sentenced again. Agat
, a new trial was secured, and this tim
, W. r. u Stokes, a cousin, came forwr
for the family honor, and after spendin
4 $4,000 a verdict of manslaughter was wo
aud a sentence Of -four years IN Sing sin
was Imposed. His wife, Inundated by th
= scandals, went abroad, and her daughte
: | died there.
When stokes came out Of Sing Sing b
u was a whte-haired man, hut he hsd los
| none of his good looks, health or energy
!. Hut he was bankrupt aud besides owed
y He met John w. Mackay. who, attracte
II by his personality, lent him considerable
, money. with this he again becam
wealthy.
}. stokes quarreled with Read aud W. +, I
n Stokes who had befrended him. and Il
IS years has spent much Of his time In Law
r yers' ofhces and the courts. dling suit
q brought against him or suing them.
Four months ago Stokes returned frol
"A Canada and went to his home In We,
Al Seventy.ninth street lie became IN an
n dellrlous and frightened his attendants \
NJ his rawlings. At his request his sister. Mr.
v Mary McNutt was sent for, and she toe
him TO her own home. 1871 St Nlcholl
h. avenue, where he now lies dying