NEWS BY THE MAIL

Evening Star, Issue 2811, 21 February 1872, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL

THR LATE JAMES FISK. James Fisk junior, whose assasination created a profomul sensation in America, was unquestionably a genius. He commenced the battle of life as a circus rider, but finding that occupation not sufficiently re munerative, he abandoned it to take to peddling. This he also gave up after a snort trial, and he returned to Hew York, v.hovc his address and energy procured him a situation in a Wall street broker’s office. “Here his talents found a congenial field, and he rose rapidly in the estimation of his employers But Fisk was not disposed to let others profit by the eEepdse of bis abilities, and he started as a'broker on his own account. His business career may be said to have been an uninterrupted success, and he rapidly accumulated wealth. He first came prominently into notice in connection w,th the Erie Railway swindle—probably the most gigantic and cleverest on record. He and an attorney named Jay Gould managed, by operating on the shares and purchasing the New York Legislature, to secure the sole management of the railway. When they accomplished this, although the railway paid excellently, the other shareholders never received any dividends—the whole proceeds being used by the pair of conspirators in speculating on their own private account. By this moans Fisk amassed a colossal fortune. Fislc was the leading spirit in the infamous coalition known as the New York Gold Bing, the machinations of which, however, proved unsuccessful—an opposition coalition, formed Under the auspices of the Ncctorof American speculators, “ Commodore” Vanderbilt, having won the financial battle. This affair created a monetary panic, and thousands wore ruined, Fisk speculated largely in theatres, and at the time of his death was proprietor of several in New York. Fisk’s style of life was magnificently ostentations, and he indulged in many extravagant whims. From the meagre information containcd in the telegrams, his assassination seems to have been Instigated by a discarded mistress. SuCh was the career of one of the im-st daring and nnscruplons, as well as one of flic most successful, speculators of modern limes. With much that is bad there will be some good associated with Fisk’s name. He was one of the largest contributors to tbs relief of Chicago. To expedite the sending of supplies to that unfortunate pity, ajl his lines of railway were cleared for the passage of the relief trains ; and lie hbuself drove a cart about New York collecting provisions. THE FISK-.MANSFIELD SUIT. Allusion is frequently made in the foregoing dispatch to the Fisk-Mansfield suit, out of which grerv the shots that may probably terminate the life and close the eventful career of James Fisk, Jr., and a brief insight into the suit will certainly interest the reader. Hel n Josephine Mansfield -was for years the mistress of the redoubtable fclolonel, the sharer of his joys, his great wealth, and, what was worst for Fisk, big business secrets. There appears to have been a complete infatuation on Fisk’s part fbr this woman, an infatuation which, as we have said, carried hijii to tlie greatest lengths. Having control of both his heart and purse, the whims of the fair Helen never wont migratified, and the stories of her exploits and brilliant extravagancies have rung the land. The gallant Colonel was lavish as a prince, and it is probable that he really entertained for this frail, erring woman a feeling deeper and more earnest than men usually bestow on their paramours. The snapping of this tie—how, when, or by what means it occurred does not much matter, but there came a time when the tie which bound these twain was snapped asunder, never to to be restored again evermore. There was a scandal, a separation, and then the matter died out and people ceased to gossip about the diff rences of the pair. It appears, however, that at the time of this separation Fisk had in his possession—so at least the fair Helen alleges-some 30,000 dollars or 40.000 dollars of his mistress’s money, deposited with him to be invested for her account. The refusal of Fisk to give up the amount brought about the now famous litigation- M rs Mansfield, forswearing the Colonel, took to her arms a certain Edwd. IS. Stokes, a broker of some sort in New York, and tire two made common cause against the recalcitrant Fisk. This suit has been in progress now fur near two months, and has attracted a great deal of attention. Mrs Mansfield’s appearance in the court-room as a witness created no end of a sensation, the reporters describin'' her beauty in glowing and rapturous terms. The suit possessed a peculiar, albeit adventitious, interest for the whole nation, because the beautiful Mansfield threatened constantly to startle the public with such revelations of Fisk’s affairs and operations as

should shake the count y to its very centre. In these threatened disclosures it was said that Tweed, Sweeny, Hall, and the Tammany Ivin", toger.h r with those concerned in the Erie corpora ion, would play the most conspicuous part.