Crime Classics: The Checkered Life and Sudden Death of Colonel James Fisk, Jr

Good evening. This is crime classics. I am Thomas Highland. I'm going to tell you another true crime story Listen the man who just fell down the stairs is Colonel James Fisk Jr Although the Colonel is a man given to the consumption of dozens of blue point oysters and bottles of heady wine at a sitting

His friends were given to pointing him out as a man inordinately steady on his feet So why did he tumble down the stairs? And in New York's Grand Central Hotel, no less, where stair tumbling was frowned upon.

The Colonel didn't slip. He wasn't pushed. He was shot. The sudden presence of two bullets in him had upset his equilibrium. The man who was running away is the man who just shot the Colonel.

His name, Edward S. Stokes. Until recently the Colonel's very dear friend. There he goes. And tonight my report to you on the checkered life and sudden death of Colonel James Fisk Union. Crime Classics A series of true crime stories taken from the records and newspapers of every land from every time.

Your host each week, Mr. Thomas Island, connoisseur of crime, student of violence, and teller of murders. Now once again Thomas Island. General Fisk lay at the bottom of the stairs, a few minutes before four o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, January the 6th, 1872. He was dying, his life was coming to an end, and he would

be sorely missed. By his family Mrs. Fisk and the children, and whom were J. Gould, Boss tweed and the heavier stockholders of the day. A man dying, and I know the precise instant when his dying began. It started some months ago in a rather ornate house in Washington Square. Two women were talking, and the younger one said,

adding, how can I meet Colonel Fisk? That was the instant, and the older one said, but the younger one was not young enough to take Derry for an answer. I mean it, Annie. I want to meet him. He's so wealthy, isn't he? And all I have is a black and white silk dress and an empty purse. So very empty, dear

Annie. O'offens in the rain, an empty purse has saddened me so dear Josie. And I've heard he's coming here tonight to visit with you. The dear Colonel says I set such a good table. Oh dear Josie, yeah, walk over there to that cabinet dear Josie. In the very bottom drawer you will find two candlesticks given to me by the Minister from Egypt. Get them. Yes,

now put them on the table. Mm-hmm, and light them. Good. Now blow them out gently. Well, Annie. Dear Josie, will you join the dear Colonel and me for dinner tonight? So nice of you to ask. I'd be delighted dear Annie.

So it was the Colonel Fisk and Josie Mansfield Met. I kiss your hand Josie. You're a very sweet man. Isn't she a dear?

So lovely. And so poor. So sad. The Colonel was a man easily touched. And this was the era for young widows, beautiful and penniless. It was the era for weeping at the mere thought of such a situation.

It was a decade of compassion and champagne. And this night, the meeting night was one of the most poignant of the decade. Tomorrow, Josie, I jeweled a lie against the throat. Oh, Colonel. I carriage will call for you at noon and bring you to me.

The next is counting? Of course my dear. More wine. Look at it dear. You like it? It's very nice. And it all yours. Oh thank you. I've always wanted a home of my own.

And servants of my own. Six. Kiss me Colonel. Good evening Colonel. Evening, will be. This is Mr. Stokes. May I take your cane, sir? Thank you, Columbia. This is in the drawing room. She's waiting for you. This way, Stokes.

Oh, Colonel. And you must be Colonel's best friend, Mr. Stokes. I hope this is no imposition, ma'am. Preparing dinner, certainly not. Roger, sat here all day, listening to the new president, the Colonel sent me, while the servants made ready.

Do you like the new music box, my dear? It reminds me of you when you're away from the house. Such a pretty speech. How fortunate you are, Colonel. Oh, wait till you taste her present, Ala Esther.

I can hardly wait. Excuse me for a moment. Where are you going, Colonel? I left a small package for you out in the carriage, my dear. Oh, of course. We'll accuse you. So, you're Mr. Stoke. I must say he was right. You are Elegant.

He was right. You are very lovely. And you... you're... What? You helped me light the candle. Josie. Will you help me with the fire plate? Josie. The music box is run down. Will you? Josie.

You won't help me with anything. You're with me. You're very wicked. Mr. Edward Stokes was five feet nine inches high. His head was covered with glossy curls, his complexion clear, his features regular, and his eyes.

Dark blue. He was dressed in the height of the fashion, and his diamond studs gleamed brilliantly. And after the Colonel returned with a forgotten package... Oh, a ruby pendant! Thank you, Colonel. You're very welcome.

And after the wine was drunk and venison devoured, and the fingers dipped in the lemon water, after that evening of old friends anew, after that there was a new day. And there was this. Good morning, Mr. Stokes.

Good morning, Quimley. Is the mistress in the sitting room? She's waiting for you. Thank you, my man. Josie. Edward. Oh, wait, Edward. I was out this morning early shopping. Here, I bought something for you.

Okay. Josie. Well, stick, then. There was no need for you to... Oh, yes, there was. I'll be quiet. Old storm-tossed lovers, you might care to eavesdrop upon. since they'll give you a better understanding of the current sweeping these two upon violent shores like this one. The best champagne in New York. Now take off your little shoe. Here, use my maladir.

This croquet is brought to your cheeks. Make your shot. As is always the case in skulldugary of this sort, there is an in the meanwhile. In the Park Avenue of Home of Colonel James Fisk, Jr.

The Colonel and his lady. The children have been tucked away for the night. The servants snug in their quarters, as were the animals. A quiet hour. An hour for a man for family discussion. A dear, the children, you'll awaken them.

A woman like that. Have you no compassion in your heart? She's a widow. Ha ha! Alone in the world. I am but her advisor. Now that's all you are. What are you talking about? What all of New York is saying?

And that is? Ha ha! And that is? The most concerned is the last to know. No what? Your precious widow and Edward Snokes. What? Ha ha Colonel! Now you know what I've been through. The aggravation, the shame, the heartache, the sorrow.

Where is the mistress in her Boudoir? Go away, Gwen. Where is it, Twimby? It's not Mr. Stokes, ma'am. Well, good evening, Colonel. What's this eye here about you and that... that scam? Edward Stokes?

Why, what have you heard? That you and he... Who told you that? My wife. But you know, then it's true. I love him very much. Chosey. Go back to your wife. I warn you. You.

Raw me. You, Colonel. And listen to me. I'll ruin you. Please. Go home. You and Edward Stokes mark my word. I'll ruin the both of you. My promise to you if it takes the rest of my life.

The Colonel left. The Colonel was driven to his club where the Colonel spent the night, and the next morning, early, the Colonel began the final week of his life. You are listening to Crime Classics and your host, Thomas Highland.

A dead man's coat is the key to a killing. Its disappearance starts Mr. and Mrs. North off on a merry, mysterious manhunt tomorrow night. Don't miss coat of arms, a matter of murder confronting Pam and Jerry North.

Listen to for John Lund is yours truly Johnny Dollar, the insurance sleuth with the action-packed expense account, and now once again Thomas Highland and the second act of crime classics, and his report to you on the checkered life and sudden death of Colonel James Bisk Jr.

I'd like to set the coordinates for you again. Take a reading of exactly where we are in time. The year is 1872. The place is New York City. Now 1872 was a vintage year for pearls in the bottom of champagne glasses of fat and railroad stocks, and the diamond harvest was spectacular.

The term rags to riches was coined on a day in this year when a raggedy sewing machine girl was summoned from her chores, taken by the hand, dressed in silk, then released into a gilded cage.

New York City at this time was a center for many similar dramas, one of which we're concerning ourselves with. Colonel James Fisk Jr. had compassion for a widow named Josie Mansfield. Josie Mansfield had compassion for the colonel's friend, Edward Stokes. The colonel, upon hearing of this arrangement, immediately went into action in a colonel-like

manner. Your Honor, I want to swear out a warrant for the arrest of Edward S. Stokes for investment. Why certainly Colonel, we'll have the culprit in jail in no time at all. Inside with you Mr. Stokes.

Gailer? Yes sir Mr. Stokes. Do you have the list? Yes sir. Your living room furniture, the portraits and the bed. I have them here in no time at all. Edward Stokes was a model prisoner for two days. He was then released when the charge against him was dropped. Not to be outdone, he went into action in a manner which gained the

plovits of his cronies. Your Honor, I want to swear out a warrant for the arrest of Colonel James Bisk Jr. for false impressions. Why, certainly Mr. Stokes, we'll have the culprit in jail in no time at all.

Yes, sir Colonel, the living room furniture, your easy chair of the library, and the bed. I'll have them here in no time at all. tactics and strategies and reprisals.

And the real victors, the gatherers of the loot, the lawyers. So they Colonel and Mr. Stokes called a truce. Wave Dwight Naptons at each other across a gleaming table at Delmonico's. Stokes, I think we both acted like children.

I agree with you Colonel. Let me fill you glass. Yeah, a toast. To a friendship. Our friendship, Colonel. Never jails and lawyers and arguments. Life is too short. I'll drink to that too. Colonel? And we can settle our affairs like men.

I'll drink to that too. No way. Let's settle our affairs first. Delighted. There is only one thing which stands in our way. Obviously. Josie Mansfield, you're right. Stokes? You're not ever to see her again.

Colonel? You agree? Colonel, you're a fat stupid fool. I accept that. But... you're never to see Josie Mansfield again. Josie told me that if I saw you, I was to tell you you are a fat, stupid fool.

And you are! I want you one stoke's. I'm not going to warn you again then. I warn you, if you make any trouble, Colonel, you won't live to enjoy it. My promise to you. Evening, Mr. Stokes. Mr. Sit in the palm.

Josie. Josie, wake up. Edward. How nice Edward. Dearest, listen. It's important. Are you awake? Well, of course, I just dropped off. I was reading, waiting for you, and now you're here. Josie, listen, it's about Colonel Fiss.

Oh, please don't talk about him, not now. He's ruined me. What are you talking about? I am a pauper. You? Well, you're one of the wealthiest young men in the world. No, no, not now. I don't have a penny.

What happened? The stocks I had, all my assets. Well... The Colonel forced down the value of the Erie Railroad stocks wiped me out. Oh, Edward. I'm so sorry. Josie. Yes. I'm poor now. Do you want me to leave?

Never come back. Darling Edward. Darling Dierstedt. Josie. Will Beaten. Will destroy the Colonel. You and I together. That's impossible. He's too powerful. He's a weakling. What? I can prove he's a weakling. He writes letters.

Letters? I saved them. And that's not all. What do you mean? Dealing sees hats. Dishonored business dealings. Did you like to look at them? There is, Josie. I love you so much. So that's why I thought it more discreet to hire a cab colonel.

Surely you understand. I must tell you, Stokes, when I agreed to meet you, who ride with you in a hired hat, get nine. I explained the necessity of secrecy. You did not. You merely said secrecy. That is why I must tell you I am confused.

Have you made another decision about Juse? A tentative decision, Colonel. Yes, it depends on you. Oh, I need money. I know. Badly. I know. Colonel? Yes. You love Juse very much, don't you? I understand you now, Stokes.

I thought you were. Do you want me to reimburse you for the money you've lost? A quarter of a million dollars. I know. In return for which? You'll give up, Jose. That's right. I'm sure there must be a name for you, Mr. Stokes.

I'm sure of it. I had an experience last night. I had dinner at home with my wife. The children were with us. After dinner, I played on the floor with my children. I heard them laugh.

I hurt my wife laugh too, and I laugh too. And there was no other meaning behind my laughter except enjoyment of my family. Very touching and rewarding. Then you are not interested in my proposal.

I'll get off at the next corner, Mr. Stokes. Tell the driver, of course. Next corner, Gabby. Well, Mr. Stokes, give my regards to Josie. Tell her I'm truly sorry for what's going to become of her. Goodbye, Mr. Stokes.

A Colonel, wait, I'm sorry we have nothing else to talk about. Except the letters. What letters? You have a rich way with words Colonel, I congratulate you. I don't understand. Oh, of course you do. The letters you wrote to Josie.

I see all of them. I see. They could ruin you. Perhaps. I remember one of the letters opened with, dearest Josie, my poor little widow, your sad tears still on my show. Ten thousand dollars.

And another, dear Josie, this morning, I was at Tammany Hall, and with boss tweet arrangements were made to relieve the city. Ten thousand dollars. A quarter of a million for the letters, Colonel. Ten thousand, or you may publish them or do what you want with them.

Surely you're not serious. Good night, Mr. Stokes. Ten thousand. Bring your letters to me tomorrow, and you shall get your money. Good night. The Almanac I have occasion to call on now and then, says that Saturday, 6 January, in the year 1872, is the 66th anniversary of the Volunteer Fire Department of Roanoke, Virginia.

Also it predicts the day will be cold and clear with high westerly winds. So, we'll make an assumption. On a cold, clear Saturday morning, buffeted by the high westerly winds, Mr. Edward Stokes made his way to the Wall Street office of Colonel Fisk.

Here he received more coldness and ten thousand dollars. Here he deposited with the Colonel a stack of letters, wrapped in blue ribbon and sashay. Then Edward Stokes called on Josie Mansfield. He told her of the transaction. We must imagine that Josie's reaction went something like this.

You idiot! You bumbling, spineless idiot! But Josie... I should have known better than to trust you without letters. But $10,000 is better than nothing. If you'd had the courage... You told me $10,000 or not.

If you'd had the courage, he would have given you everything he owns. Why the mere possession of the letter dated June 16th, 1871 would have been a fortune ten times the amount you got. What?

You have your jewels, this house. Surely you must be worth merely a million yourself. I love you, dear Edward, but that's my money. You'll just have to... what is it, Quimby? Miss Annie Wood, which is to speak with you.

Tell her I'm busy. She said it's extremely urgent. Extremely urgent. Hello, Annie. Yeah. Josie, dear Josie, and dear, Mr. Stoke. Hello. The judge came to see me for lunch a little while ago. Judge. What are you talking about?

A judge, Trippler. Well, I don't think he just come from court. He just signed a warrant. Yeah. For the arrest of dear Mr. Stokes. On the charge of blackmail. Colonel Fisk. Yes. The dear judge told me that the colonel asked him to sign such a warrant.

Josie. Yeah. We'll be seeing each other more often. Won't we, dear Josie? publication of the time, I quote. The next that was seen of Edward Stokes as far as is known was at a few minutes before four o'clock, when he was walking carelessly up and down the main corridor of the Grand Central Hotel on the Parler floor. This corridor is one story above the street,

is parallel with Broadway, and at its northern end is reached by a staircase from the street. Passing and repassing the head of the staircase, stokes glanced furtively down the stairs. It was nearly four o'clock when Colonel James Fisk, Jr., drove up in a carriage to the door.

Stepping out of his carriage and walking briskly across the pavement, he passed through the outer door of the hotel. When he had done so, he was heard to inquire for a certain Annette Lattour. He was told she was in and started up the state.

Good afternoon, Colonel. Stokeship! Don't you ruin me for the love of Heaven! Someone help me! Edward Stokes was restrained a block away. The Colonel didn't die immediately.

He was lifted by three bellhops and taken to chambers supplied by the management. Doctors were called, and the Colonel joked with them, as he joked with his many friends who came to visit him. He joked with everybody.

The next day, in the middle of a joke, he died. Thomas Stokes pleaded self-defense. He was convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Josie Mansfield spent her remaining days with her aunt, Miss Annie Wood.

In just a moment, Thomas Highland will tell you about next week's crime classics. This Wednesday night, Screen Hero Jeff Chandler plays a young man hired for an important job, a job of guarding the very much alive body of a notorious gangster.

Here are the exciting details in the story entitled The Web, on your Playhouse on Broadway. It's presented by CBS Radio this Wednesday night on most of these same stations. And here again is Thomas Highland.

week long Melford in the County of Suffolk in England. The year 1739. My report to you will be on the shrapnel body of Charles Grew Sr. Thank you. Good night. James Bisk Jr. tonight's crime classic was adapted from the original court reports and newspaper accounts by Martin Fine and David Friedkin.

The music was composed and conducted by Bernard Herman, and the program is produced and directed by Elliot Lewis. Thomas Highland is portrayed on radio by Lou Merrill. James Fisk Jr. was played by William Johnstone.

Featured in the cast were Mary Jane Cropp, Martha Wentworth, Steve Roberts, Harry Bartell, Paula Winslow, and Charles Kalman. Bob LeMann speaking. Stay tuned now for Gary Moore with Arthur Godfrey's Talbot Scouts, which follows immediately over most of these same stations.

And remember, your news is always accurately reported when it comes from the CBS Radio Network.