Year: 1873

manly and popular murderer" is to


have new trial. If ever there was


clear and unmistakeable mockery of


justice, it is embOdiedin the proceedings


of the New York Judiciary with refer


ence to this celebrated case. Though


the Court of Appeals, which yesterday


distinguished itself by granting the in


teresting prisoner another chance for


his life, We're to present a string of


technical reasons twice as long as that


which it does present, the public would


still entertained this opinion, and public
estimate in matters so easily understood


is usually very correct. The point As
signed as the basis for the decision will


be found in our telegraphic columns.
They are trivial enough, any one may
preoeive at a glance; but when man
is drowning he will grasp readily at a
straw, and the straw that Stokes grasp
ed at and caught, singular to say, has
carried him,a least temporarily, out of
the shadow of Death. 5A f-di los. :,


The probabilities are now that the
prisoner will be acquitted by the next
jury. OF course such result should be
eminently comforting to the public.
The crime ridden community of New
York has relieved itself in q summary


way of several assassins within the past
six months; but these unfortunate ones


were of the lower order. True, some of
them had friends, and all of them able
counsel, but they lacked the influence
requesite to securing loop-holes in the
forms Of legal practice,or leniency from
Governor Dix. Mr.. Stokes possessed


the influence, and so found himself mas
ter of the situation. 1t no longer sur


prises us when we remember that


through the dreary winter days when
the dread sentence was written against
his name, he still preserved an easy and
composure 1t no longer seems
strange that though the clink of the
tradesmen's tools at work on the gal
lows for Foster, threw more vulgar muir
derers into commissions Of cowardice
and fright, this one was little diseoneer-
ted. He sat in his cushioned chair res.
ted his slippered feet upon the mantel
piece, above genial; cracking fire;
the choice cigars and slipped the
sparkling champagne that sympathingt
friends had sent him and went ON coun-
ting, not in horror the circles of the
clock that interviewed between him and
the strong rope and black cap, but rath-
er with pleasant anticipation the days
that were to elapse before he might
again appear in society, Of which he
had but lately been conspicuous orna-
ment. I3Ger1u-y IEli-z anifra s9fHt-l


Still the public have now not 10 do
with Stokes so much as with the judi
ciary to which he is indebted for his
illegal longevity. So far as the man is
if there was only assurance
that the awful drama in which he was
principal actor left an impress upon
him, he might be more a subject of pity
than Ofanger. Let US hope for the best.
Stokes,i it is tolreably likely, will soon be
free again and, in that contingency, it
is much more agreeable to fancy him
rather than encourage to fur.
ther crime by his strange escape. Sim
with announcement Of the
decision Of the Court Of Appeals comes
a telegram to the effect that he has sub
scribed one hundred volumes to libra
ry for the prisoners in Ludlow street
jail, which is praiseworthy evidence Of
a newborn spirit of benevolence in
this interesting young man. But when
he is released he should not omit to add
another volumn. And that ought to
be a history Of his own case; how he
murder in daylight; laughed
at the law, and emerged from prison a
lion of society. No work we can con-
ceive of would have more inspiring ef-
feet upon the hopeful birds in the Lud-
low street cage.-Pittsbarg Dispatch.