The Washington times., 1906-06-27
MURDER OF FISK
BY EDWIN STOKES
Another Famous Case That
Stirred New York
Years Ago.

NEW YORK. June 27.-To find
parallel in public interest for the White
Thaw tragedy it is necessary to 20
back third of a century. On Satur-
day. january 6. 1872 Edwin Stokes shot
James Fisk. jr.. on the stairway of the
old Grand Central Hotel. The trouble
in that instance arose over woman
The two men were famous in the annals
Of the town. as White an6 Thaw have
been. There. however. the similarity be-
tween the cases seems TO end If young
Thaw manages to escape tie penalty
Of his act. however. on some plea,
whether of insanity or self-dafense. he
will add another item 10 the likeness be-
tween his case and that of Stokes.
Jim Fisk. as he was always called.
had lived a strange life. He began by
running away with a circus. and for
seven years followed the fortunes Of a
lion tanner Then he became a peddler
and later got into business In Boston.
He sold a lot OF old blankets 10 the
Government at the outbreak OF the civil
war. receiving price that laid the
foundation Tor his fortune he also
made money on cotton.
Fisk came TO New York soon after the
war. where he won the confidence OF
old Dan Drew. Later. he broke into the
board OF the Erie where he soon be-
came a cOmrade OF Jav Gould. To-
gether they put down Erie stock. In
1853 Fisk cornered the gold market. run
ming gold up 10 leo. When President
Grant knocked the bottom out OF the
market Fisk repudiated all the bargains
he had made for the sale OF gold. He
escaped the penalty of this action
through his relations with the Tweed
ring. which was then in control Of the
city government. The depreciation Of
Erie stock and the action i the gold
affair did not increase the circle OF
Jim Fisk's admirers. Yet in spite OF
all this he always retained kind OF
popularity. He was OF the big magnetic
type, noted for a certain indlscriminat-
ing generosity that always commands a
certain liking
Warm Friends at First.
It was business that first brought Fisk
and Stokes together. Stokes was inter
ested in an oil company that furnished
oil TO the Erie. The tao men becar me
friends. and Fisk invited the yOunger
man 10 dine at the famous house 81
West Twenty-third street, where the
Prince OF Erie had set up an establish
ment for Josie Mansfield. a woman with
whom he was deeply infatuated Il was
not long before the woman began to
show a liking for Stokes Fisk realized
the situation, but he evidently still cared
Tor and tried TO win her back When
this proved impossible he wrote to her:
You went that road because IL looked
smooth and pleasant. and mine looked
ragged and worn I can see you now a 81
saw you last night, when you talked
OF this man Stokes. Do not deceive
yourself-you love him Leave me alone.
for in me You have nothing left
He prOphesied that she would treat
Stokes as she did him, but such was
the woman's hold upon him that within
month Fisk was sending her money
and writing 10 her. I'VE shall be happy
again
After that there came definite break
The fight was transferred 70 the bust
ness relations OF the two men. Fisk
withdrew the Erie's patronage OF the OIL
company, and Stokes lost heavily. Each
man had the other arrested IN turn
Josie Mansfield gave her new lover the
ole ones letters, which threatened TO
publish. Fisk bought EN- back for
$1,000. Then the Mansfield woman be-
gan a suit against Fisk