Year: 1872


Of money and is yet but half finished 1t is nine
O'Clock only, and the doors Of the court room will
not be thrown open before halfpast ten O'Clock,
and yet the halls on the ground floor of the build
lng the passageways and byways are filed with
noisy people. There is an incessant hum and q
confusion of voices.


A long, struggling mass of men and women hang
to each others garments on the stairs, and are
thick1y Jammed together ON the landing, twenty
feet distant from the outer doors of the Court of
Oyer and Terminer. The jabber Of the people in
different languages Is frightful on this moist ex-
haustive day.


"Let me In offlcer; am witness; know Fisk
didn't have no pistol" cries one to the policemen
who guard the passageways with long poles
stretched across to prevent q rush. The policemen
are patient enough, that is certain. One OF them
who is spoken to-a mere framework of flesh,
from which perspiration teens in streams-takes q
quick look at the last man and at his rOwdy face
and hashy velvet coat, and asking his name goes
back into the court to ask question. No witness
with name like the velvet coat brigand has been
called and when the indignant flannel policeman
comes out he makes a wicked dash at the fellow,
who quickly nes down stairs and is heard of no
more


The women, many Of whom are elegantly dressed
and many of whom are belonging to the class which





Edward s. Stokes shine and push each other VI
ciously, and these Mabile ladies occasionally lose
fragments Of their rich silks, which drop on the
Iron staircases, to be picked up and eered at by
howllng and sweating boys, who regard the trial
as show gotten up for their special delectation.


The hour draws near for the doors to open and
discussion is rife among this mongrei swarm of
curiosity seekers. The merits and demerts of the
prisoner on trial for his life are discussed with
the freedom OF ignorance, prejudice or par
tlsanship, as the case may be. The man
who regards Fisk as an angel of light
Inevitably denounces Stokes as fiend of darkness;
and on the contrary there are many who say to
each other, "Well 1t was long tight between the
two men and one was to be killedn But the wo-
men are in favor of Stokes He is so handsome:
they say 1t would be q pity to hang him, but then
again Josephine Mansfield is bitterly scathed by
the same women who would be glad to get lock
of the hair which grows so thickly on the head of
Stokes.


One standing on the stairs and listening to the
hubbub OF the populace is apt TO think of other
great trials and of those who have been held to
await the judgment of their peers when life and
death hung In the balance.


The mind conjures up Stafford, with oil the
splendOr OF his name and fame, before the Parlia
ment, with the proudest women in Europe and
royal sympathy to give him countenance Pro-
fessor Webster OF Boston, who slew Parkman and
calcned his bones; Colt, who killed Adams and
made corned meat OF his remains; Richard P. Rob-
tnson, who was said to have s'ain his mis- tress
Helen Jewett; John Wilkes Booth dying in the
burning barn at Port Tobacco Charlotte Corday
ascending the scaffold and Robespierre, dying
with broken jaw amid the hows OF 100000 mad
human beings


All these images pass before the mans mind who
,tnx
sticky, sicky morning beside OF others rele-
want and irreIevant to the issue in hand OF this
memorable seventeenth day OF the trial of stokes
for the killing OF Fisk.


Inside of the Sherir's Office there is a group of
persons intimately connected with this great trial
Tor 1t has proven to be such trial was never
before known In America. The whole nation is
anxious for the verdict OF the jury. For there are
now but two issues-freedom death TO Edward
Stokes. In the Sherifrs Office are the prisoner
and his family awaiting the hour when the
Court shall open. Stokes himself, is in good
spirits, but anxious to hear the final result Six
teen sickening hot days passed between the prison
one of the most unhealthy in the known globe
and the court room, going to and fro, immured
night and day, no fresh air. his family only allowed
to see him at intervals, and the SIX long weary
months OF imprisonment all these things, to which
must be added the ceascess babble Of the lawyers;
the fact that he had to undergo medical testimony
which was of use only to those who were compelled
to walk the hospitals for living; and yet this man
mas not lost his nerve or his heart. He is dressed
neatly and quietly in suit OF gray, and seems
little rested after the previous days dreary discus
sion


Mrs. stokes, the mother OF the prisoner is always
py MS SIDE whenever the law permits It. Her solci-
Iuue Is what might be expected only from a
thq
votedly attached TO her brother


And now the business OF the day onens sberiG
Brennan notifies his principal deputy. Mr.. Shields.
fhat Court is about to open, and the family rroup
stand up and look at each other longingly Stokes
feeling the heat OF the day, wipes his forehead with
q white handkerchief and SAYS he is ready Tho
procession OF three four persons walks ont and
In few moments the doorman admits them by a
private entrance to the court room.


A select hundred persons stand up and gaze at
the sprsoner, and he throws mis- eyes languidly
around the room in search OF friends. Several per.
sons nod their heads to him and he returns
their bows. few inside Of the sacred
ring in which the counsel and their fash
ionable client sit stand up and shake hands
warmly with Stokes, and he is followed by others,
who shake hands with him. When shaking hands
MS eyes brighten up and there Is q smile his lips
and light In his dark eyes for all who remember
him In his troubles.


And now the jury begin to pour in to the Court
and the ofilcials cluster thickly around them to
escort them to their seats First drops in the FORE
man Of the jury. He is gentleman OF q great deal
OF good nature and has blond mustache and
imperial In the style OF Phil Kearney. He is,
perhaps, of Jewish blood, and his mustache lifts
itself In sheer incredulity occasionally. as 1t did on
Tuesday, when Fullerton attempted to show that he
was bigger "medicine mar than the great Ger
man Jacob, and that he knew more about the
tissnAs of the brain. 1t is said that