Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-11-11
.FISK'S SLAYER DEAD
EDWARD S. STOKES EXPIRES
YEARS AFTER HIS CRIME.
SUPPOSED WlFElS SHUT OUT
A Famous New York Murder Recalled
by the Passing of the Assassin
Principals Were Jay Goud's Init
mate Associates-Josie Mansfield
Love Led to the Tragedy.

Love Led to the Tragedy.
Edward S. Stokes, the slayer Of Jim
Fisk, died in New York at the home
of his sister, Mrs. Howard McNutt,
Nov. 2. When the end came his mead
was pillowed on the shoulder of his
faithful negro valet, Harry DENTIST.
Mrs McNutt, kneeling at the bedside,
was the only relative present Stokes
was born in Philadelphia, and came to
New York in 1860.
At the same hour that death
claimed Stokes, Rosamond Barclay,
who had been his companion for years,
who says she is his wife, though she
was denied admission to the sick
room, left the Stokes residence at 209
West Seventy ninth street, New York,
She left it dismantled and untenanted
and hurried away with her mother and
maid, refusing to reveal her future
plans. Whether she will claim a wild
ow's share in the millions which
Stokes is believed to have left is not
known.
For week Miss Barclay nursed
Stokes at his house and then he was
removed to his sisters house. Miss
Barclay says that Stokes was taken
away while he was in a weakened con-
dition, against his will. She says that
admission to his presence after that
was repeatedly refused her. Her
maiden name was Rosamond Langdon
Barclay, and she claims to have
known Stokes since she was a little
girl. Her father, Charles Barclay Of
England, was Stokes friend for years.
She asserts that she was Stokes law
fully welded wife; that she was mar
ried to him Aug. IS, 1900, at Ship
mans Point, Canada, by an Episcopal
Minister.
Fisk's Rise to Power.
Stokes murder of Fisk, the partner
of Jay Gould, was one of The most
startling tragedies in the history OF
New York. Millions and millionaires
were concerned.
Jim" Fisk was the son of Yer
mont horse trader and peddler. He
inherited from his father cunning.
shrewdness, daring unscrupulousness.
He was scarcely of age when he made
Boston his home, where he devoted
himself to the business of buying up
legislatures, debauching judges, put
ting highwaymen in office, running
women, driving rivals to desperation,
drink and suicide, swindling thou
sands and stealing millions.
When General Lee was driven back
from Petersburg Fisk foresaw the fall
of the confederacy. With some asso-
ciates he chartered a swift steamer:
put a trusty man on board with let
ter of credit, and stationed the boat
at Halifax. No Atlantic cable existed
then and Fisk's calculation was that
his agent could reach London twenty
four hours before the news by regular
steamer. Day after day Fisk's boat
lay at Halifax with steam up, ready to
fly. At last the agent received a tel
egram-"Go.''
Fisk's agent reached London 48
hours before Lees surrender was
known. He sold short against that
event 100000 worth of confederate
bonds. He sold what he had not, but
the next day he pocketed through the
London brokers 100000 clear profit,
of which Fisk's share was 100000.
Fisk then moved to New York. He
started a line of sound steamers in OPP
position to those running, then re-
signed from the line, let it fail, bought
it back for 40 cents on the dollar
and then made it pay. He entered
Wall street on Monday morning with
100000, and Saturday night was
penniless. He kept his courage and
became the intimate of Jay Gould and
William M. Tweed. He swindled
Commodore Vanderbilt out of 100000
in railroad and cattle deal, saying:
"'The commodore got the cows, but I
got the cream"
Josie Mansfield Entraps Fisk.
II 1Sh USCdIuc 1uLSA CoCCu Ill La ~
stocks, was elected colonel of the
ninth New York, was the most con-
spicuous figure in hotel Hobbies and
theaters, was idolized by women and
feared by men. He easily took the
front from every prominent man in
New York in the early '70's and de-
spite his corruption was on the high
road to Success" Then came "Josie"
Mansfield. Her full name, she
claimed, was Helen Josephine Mans
field. 1t is more probable her real last
name was Warren. She first made
public appearance in California in
1859, when she was married to Frank
Lawler, the actor. She was Is, ex-
beautiful. but ignorant.
From 1860 to 1867 the Mansfield
woman lived in Boston-in good So
ciety, she always claimed. In 1867
Il Z