The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-11-07

was hOb vi 81 q ShOA llAAAC " - 'tANo
positively determined that he had
Bright's disease. He went to the va
rious springs and baths supposed to
be beneficial in such cases, but showed
no improvement.
His Career.
The name of Edward S. Stokes WIS I'M
separately connected with the tragic kill
ing of James Fisk, Jr., who was shot by
him in 1879 after a famous quarrel involving
large financial interests and the favor Of
Josie Mansfield a beautiful Californian.
Stokes was born in Philadelphia on April
q, 1871. He was educated in Pennsylvania
and won fame as a sportsman and athlete
In his college days. He came to New York
in 1860 and organized the firm of Budlorg
& Stokes, which quickly won attention for
its kSid and successful operations on the
Produce exchange. The firm dissolved in
1865 and Stokes began the erection of the
Brooklyn oil refinery. 1t was while organ
iZing the project that Stokes met Fisk,
whom he shot later. Reverses IN oil and a
fire at his refinery ruined Stokes, but when
he emerged from bankruptcy he promptly
formed another company and rebuilt the
refinery. With Fisk, Jay Gould and the
others who operated the Erie railroad, he
made an agreement as to oil rates that
proved lucrative.
Stokes and Fisk Quarrel.
After few years of close intimacy Stokes
and Fisk quarreled. Josie Mansfield was
under the protection of the latter and there
was a belief that Fisk resented Stokes at
tentions to her. Stokes always asserted
that Fisk tried to ruin him by manipulating
oil rates on the Erie railroad, which Fisk
controlled. The quarrel was fierce one
and was carried into Wall street, where the
men matched their skill and nerve with
financial ruin as the trophy. In 1871
Stokes was arrested on the charge
that he had embezzled $4,000 from the
oil company. The charge was eventually
disprOved and Fisk and Stokes were fol
time recOnciled Then followed a final
break which eliminated in the shooting
Josie Mansfield left Fisk and passed I'M
der the protection of Stokes. Litigation
was resumed between the two men, who
made charges and counter charges of
startling nature as to financial tranactions
Threats of personal violence were ex-
changed and their final meeting was not
unanticipaeed.
Murder of Fisk.
The met on the stairway of the old Grand
Central hotel, now the Broadway Central,
on January g. 1872 ard Stokes shot Fisk.
Fisk lived until the next morning and
Stokes gave himself up a few minutes after
the shooting. He was detained in the
Tombs and had three trials. The first re-
suited in a disagree ment and the second
in conviction of murder in the first de-
gree. Stokes was sentenced to be hanged.
He was given a new trial and convicted
of manslaughter in the third degree. He
was sentenced to four years in the penI-
Tertiary. Stokes defense for the killing Of
Fisk was that he had shot in self-defense
after Fisk had drawn a revolver from his
pocket. There was some evidence to bear
this out, though it was vigorously contra
dicted.
Restored to CitizenshIp.
Stokes served the four years, 1S73-ls77, and
then returned to this city. He was
restored to citizenship by Grover Cleve-
land, then governor. He again embarked
in business and became interested, among
other enterprises, in the Hoffman house
He became involved IN a serious dispute
with his cousin, w. E. D. Stokes, over the
Hoffman house, and the case was fought
through the law courts for several years.
He finally sold his interest and in the last
few years of life was not actively In
business. He was a man of splendid per-
sonal appearance and at the high tide of
his power had a large personal following.
While in prison after shooting Fisk he met
Richard Croker and John J. Scannell, who
were awaiting trial on charges similar to
his own, and the trio formed q friendship
which lasted to the end.