The Tombs’ authorities have always been indulgent to the men who lived on “Murderers’ Row.” The foolish idea that comes down through the ages, which pictures the murderer resting on a pallet of straw with a chain around his neck, has certainly never been experienced in the Tombs. Twenty years ago and even later, nearly all the cells on Murderers’ Row received bouquets of flowers almost every morning. And some of them had bird cages, swinging shelves, lace curtains, carpets and draperies. When you entered such a cell, your feet did not touch the stone floor, but a rug or a Kidderminister. And the prisoner—he usually wore an elegant dressing gown, silk slippers and beautiful clothing; he is shaved and groomed daily; when he sleeps it is on a real bed of comfort. When the old prison was yet standing, every afternoon after he had made his toilet and was booted and gloved he walked into the yard for a stroll. Between four and five o’clock he dines; he never ate prison fare. His food came from the outside and consisted of a variety of dishes, such as oysters, quail, clams, fish, fowl, roast beef and vegetables—the best the market could provide, that is, for rich prisoners. The poor crooks had to be content with prison fare and take “pot luck.” On January 6th, 1872, at 4:30 p. m., Edward S. Stokes shot and killed James Fisk, Jr., in the Broadway Central Hotel. After the coroner had committed Stokes to the Tombs, he was assigned to Cell 43 on “Murderers’ Row,” which was situated on the western side of the second tier. Soon after coming to the City Prison he was allowed to fix up his cell in a most lavish manner; for example, he was permitted to put a hard finish on the walls of his cell, fit it with several fine pieces of furniture, pictures on the walls, damask curtains and Turkish rugs galore! He was permitted to build a walnut toilet stand in his cell. He was also allowed the use of the yard whenever he desired and to walk about unmolested. The graft paid in those days for such liberties, must have been enormous as he had more privileges than any ten men. It is also said that Stokes had a large room on the Centre Street side of the old prison where he received his friends who called on him daily. It was here that he ate the choicest cuts, the best turkeys the market could furnish, and where he and his friends regaled themselves with the best champagne and claret, and smoked the finest cigars. It is also said by men now living that Stokes often attended the Bowery theatre accompanied, of course, by a couple of keepers, who danced attendance on him—all of which cost money. Stokes was tried for murder three times. At the close of the first two trials he was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to be hanged. At the close of the last trial he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to Sing Sing for four years.