Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-11
STOKES LAST HOURS.
Relatives Say His Mind Gave
Way Months Ago.
AN EVENTFUL CAREER IS ENDED.

Woman Who Says She Was His
Widow Recently Refused Brilliant
Oner of MarrfaEe-Owed Miss Bar
clay a Debt of Gratitude-The Incl
dent of killing of Fisk Recalled.
When Edward S. Stokes died at the
home of his sister, in New York, few
days ago, strangely eventful career
was ended.
Poor Ed was literally out Of his
mind for the last six months of his
life said one of Mr.. Stokes relatives
He did not rave, but talked iLces-
sanity. telling the secrets of his life,
lit was to keep guard upon the dy.
ing mans lips that his faithful body
servant never left his side day or night.
LAS to this Barclay woman, who
claims that Stokes married her. l and
others of the family arc very much in
doubt
"Stokes owed her a mighty debt of
gratitude. He may have married her
Nine weeks ago Stokes was given up to
die by several of the leading physicians
of this city in consultation at his Sew
enty ninth street home.
Their unanimous verdict was that
Stokes could not live twelve hours.
The Barclay woman urged them to
make one more effort for his life.
When they shook their heads hopeless
ly, she begged to be permitted to try a
home remedy of her own.
He is as good as dead they said.
| DO what you choose
".The woman completely covered the
unconscious and apparently dying man
with bottles of hot water The patient
rallied from Inconsistencies and fell
into restful sleep.
within twenty-four hours Stokes
was able to leave his bed and go driv-
! ing.
| Il am in a position to state positively
/ that the woman's hand was sought in
marriage by a rich and well known
| New Yorker. He lives in splendid style
| on Fifth avenue and is prominent in
social and club life. He knew Miss
/ Barclays history and did not conceal
/ his wooing from Stokes. 1t was a bril-
/ liant opportunity.
| But Stokes was then in the grip of
/ the malady destined to kill him. So she
refused the man who would have given
4 her his name and chung to the dying
/ man who needed her most. For Stokes
1 to marry her after that test of her
/ loyalty would not have been strange"
! Edward Stokes killing of his partner,
4 James Fisk, was the most tragic incl
dent of his life and seemed to cast a
gloom over his subsequent career. This
occurred on Jan. &, 1872. the crime be
/ ing supposedly melted by Josephine
/ Mansfield. Stokes went to the Grand
! Central hotel. where he stationed him
| self in the corridor of the parlor floor.
/ carelessly walking up and down and
| not appearing to be interested in any
| thing In particular. The main stair
| case was in front of him. He could
see any one entering from Broadway.
Thus stationed he saw Fisk enter and
| start up the stairs. The latter was
seven steps up when he saw Stokes
| his right arm resting on the standard
! at the head of the stairs. pistol in his
/ hand. Without speaking Stokes fired
\ twice. The first bullet took effect in
/ the abdomen. the second in the left
/ arm Fisk fell to the floor. Stokes
! walked away. but was captured before
/ lie could leave the hotel
/ Colonel Jim Fisk was buried with
! honors such as New York has bestowed
/ upon few men. Stokes remained in
+ prison. He hired the best counsel IL
! the land and was tried three times. the
! last time being convicted of manslaugh
/ ter in the third degree. Grover Cleve-
I land pardoned him from prison in 1877
I after be had served four years
I'll a
+ after Fisk's death. From there she re
/ moved 10 Paris. In 1891 she married
4 Robert L Reade. formerly OF Mime
apolis and New York Since then she
{ has lived in comparative obscurity.
A.1sr Stokes killed Fisk the relations