Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-29
aDufjnsM NJ. rkll's Legislative days !,

tho California legislature tho members
were little elso than walking arscnals
Two.tl,if,ls Of them carried either bowio
knivcs OF pistols. When q n'onbcr cn-
tered The house ho nnstrnppcd his revolt
vera mud laid them on his desk. II was
done with as little concern ns hanging
up /, hat, and II excited neither surprise
nor comment. Ihoro was hot debate
over tho proposed impeachment Of Judge,
Turner. At tho conclusion osMr. Fields
nrsn,nenk y y. Moore, ofTaolumnc,
arosr 10 reply. lIc opened his drawer,
coeke,' ltis rcvolycrs and laid them on
hts desk. Then lto lauhc he'd himself on u
sca of ytulrration, Mr.. Field wash and
tcd without gloves. Tho most offensive
cpi,l,cts were used, and tho speaker
openly declared himsolf responsible for
hislonguagc ut any timc and place. Mr..
Field answered Mr.. Mooro's argument,
but made no alh,sion to his personal re-
mark. After the adjournment however,
ho asked .. A. Merritt 10 bcar II noto to
Mr.. Moore demanding IN apology or
satisfaction. Mr.. Merritt rciasc'l
through fear ot being disqualified for
office. Mr.. Richardson, another member,
aiSo declined. happening INTO the Senate
chamber, the jurist saw II stono.cnttcr
seated uta desk writing. lIc was David
G. Brodcrick, president Of tho state
senate, They were bowing acquaintan.
ccS, "Why Judge, you don't look we'll"
said Brodcrick, what is tho matter 7"
"Wcll, | don't feel wcll," responded
Field, ~ don't seem to have friend IN
the world'
"Wlat worries you" Inquired tho
stonc-cmttcr.
Tho .jnrist gave the particulars Of
Moores assault upon his character and
snid that ut ull hazards ho was dctcrmin-
to cnll him, to account. "Wcll, I'll be
your friend, y Brodcrck replied. "Wrtc
your note; will deliver it,"
Tho .lnrist wrote thc note nj M adion-
ing desk, Brodcrick placed IL IN Moorc's
hands. Tho latter gentleman crawiished.
tic said that hc expected to ''c candi.
date for congress, AMI that he could not
accept n challenge, bccnusc that act
would disqual(y him. have no objcc-
tion to II street fight, however," he
added. Tho stone cutter replied that u
street fight was not exactly tho thing
among gentlemen, but il Moore would do
no better, he should bo accommodated.
llusiigihwith named time aud place,
and Moore promised to be on hand.
Within an hour, however, he changed
his mind. Tie informed Brodcrick that
the Hon. Drury Baldwin would act Ms
his friend, and deliver u reply to tho
note Of Mr.. Field t' '.'.' at'. .'
On the next morning, the stonc-cutter
tested tho jurisCs skill in tho use Of u
pistol. With n navy revolver, Field
plnmpel knot on " tree nj u distance
Of thirty yards three times out Of 1--WE.
Frederick expressed hi1 satisfaction,
and urged thc9'eccssty Of bringing the
matter 10 q speedy iss,,c. "i'ring Il TO
an issue nt once" Mr.. Field responded.
Brodcrick quickly called upon Drury
Baldwin and asked Tor u reply to tho
note. Baldwin replied that his princi-
pal l,ad made up his mind to drop tho
matter. "lhcn,' said the stone cutter,
"us soon rs the House meets, Mr.. Fiold
will rise in his seat and repeat Moore's
language us to Ills Responsibility. llc
will state tl,at respect for tho dignity of
tho House prevented him from replying
TO the attack IN the terms that IL ,lc-
served when il was made, and after ,lc-
failing Moorc's refusal to give him sats-
faction, hc will dcnoullcc him ns liar
and u coward"
''rhc6," said Drnry Baldwin, Judge
Field will be shot in his seat"
'ln that case" reioincd Brodcrick,
"otlcrs will bc shot lit their seats"
At tho opening of tho House, Nh.
Field took his seat ut his desk as usual.
Bro,lcrick was seated near him with
eight or nine personal friends, armed to
tho teeth and ready for any emergency
When tho journal was read, both Moore
and Field slMang to their feet and shont-
cd "Mr. Speaker That officer rccog
nizcd ''tl,c gentleman from Tuolumnc,"
and NiE Field resumed his seat. Moore
read written apology, full, and salts
factory. ..,... r... r
Br0lcrick attcrward bctricndcd Mr.
Field on many occasions. They were at
the bar in San Francisco in 1852. when
l'rolcrick saw u man throw back his
Spanish cloak and level u revolver ut
his friend. III twinkling, he flung
h;,nurlc h,,i v.n.,v tl,o t,rn ,,,,, uu,l ,uu1,