4" x 2-1/2" Cartes-de-Visite of Fisk, Stokes and Mansfield

1870. Rare Images of James Fisk, The Man Who Murdered Him And the Woman Who Drove Him to Murder [Murder]. Fisk, James, Jr. [1835-1872] Stokes, Edward [1841-1901]. Mansfield, Helen Josephine, "Josie" [1847-1931]. [3-1/2" x 2-1/4" Cartes-de-Visite of Fisk, Stokes and Mansfield Mounted on 4" x 2-1/2" Cards]. [New York?, c.1870]. Light toning and soiling to edges of cards a few minor finger smudges outside of images, light wear to corners. $750. * These images relate to a sensational event that occurred in New York in 1872: the murder of the financier Fisk, also known as "Diamond Jim" and "Jubilee Jim," by his former business associate Stokes. McDade's summary of the case: "Stokes [and Fisk] become engaged in a bitter legal battle which originated when Stokes stole Fisk's mistress, Josie Mansfield. In retaliation Fisk had charged Stokes with embezzling oil company funds; Stokes replied with a charge of false imprisonment. Then Mansfield threatened to publish letters from Fisk revealing some of his transactions. On January 5 an injunction was issued restraining the publication of the letters; on the next day Josie Mansfield was exposed to a humiliating cross-examination in police court on her relations with Fisk. Stokes, in a rage, followed Fisk to the Broadway Central Hotel where he shot him on the stairs. After two trials the state could only convict Stokes of third-degree manslaughter." No copies of any of these cartes on OCLC; no sale records in RareBookHub since 1919. McDade, The Annals of Murder, annotation to entry 917. (Inventory #: 75625)