New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-04
STILL PRACTISING Law At EIGHTY.

DAVID DUDLEY FIELDS Long CAREER AT THE BAR.
In honor of the cightieth birthday of David
Dudley Field his brother Cyrus W. Field will give
pton at his home. No 1913 East Twenty rst-st
February 49, my brother" said Cyrus ". Field. yes
terday believe, tie oldest practising lawyer the
city lie has been at the bar about sixty year. MANY
eminent will attend the reception to DO given at my
house on his eghtleth birthday. The Judges Of the
suprem" Court at Washington and the leading Senators
and Congressman. II they get away will lie pres
ent."
David Dudley Field, who distinctly remembers the
declaration OF war against England In 1872. and the
reception OF the of the battle of Waterloo born
at Haddam. Conn. In 1908. and Is tho eldest OF ten
children. OF whom. besides himself throe-Stephen J.,
Judge o. the United States Supreme Court, Cyrus W.
and Henry NJ Editor OF The Epangsiiiare still living.
He entered Williams College In 1921 and in 1895 became
law student In the Office OF Harnanus Bleeckor. In
Albany. Three months later be came 10 New-York and
continued his studies In the Office Henry and Robert
sedgwok. and admitted to the bar and became their
partner In 1928 la one of his first causes hs defended
the right freedom OF slave who had escaped from his
master. lie was counsel In the Erie snits when James
Fisk and Jay Gould controlled the railroad and EN-
pl0yed In the Mgan AMI other test oath arising
under the reconstruction acts aud amendments to the
Constitution. In the controversy between Fernando
Woods Municipal Police and the Metropolitan Police he
appeared for the latter He took part the suit In, diving
enormous interests connected with the title OF Mary
the lands In the old Chelsea village ana In
Greenwich ST., "a part OF which the General Thcp-
logical Seminary now stands. Another famous case IN
which he Appeared was that OF tile State OF Georgia
against General Grant and other Generals. when smith
Ey, j ran for Mayor In 1875 he resigned his seat IN
Congress ana Mr.. Field elected Ia nil the vacancy
He TOOK an active part the Democratic side In the cor"
troyersy over the title TO the Presidency. The work la
which Ar Field takes greatest pride his part In cou
billing the codes OF this State lie was one OF the three
Commissioners appointed under the Constitution OF tsto
10 OF COLES, aud did the chief part Oi he
work The Code or Procedure which regulated practice
in civil courts was eary adopted aud continued "
opsration until s77, when II was snperceded by MI
Throops Code OF Civil Procedure Four or ye years ago
the Code OF Criminal Procedure providing for ilo
methods criminal practcc) and tho Penal Code cOd
ncatiop of the common law concerning crimes) were
adopted But IL his CIVIL Code that Mr. Field is most
proud Of This attempts to codify the common law u
las come up many times Ia the Legislature. Twice IL
,assed both Houses but 10 was vetoed BY Governors
T,ldsn and Cornell. Last year IL killed In the sen
ate. n WAS again introduced few days ago In spite OF
Ma great age Mr. Fields form Is still unbent, and no
walks with speed There apparently failing either
OF his phy steal or mental powers.