Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-04
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Judge Terry and Wife Create
a Scene.
SARAH SHOWS HER CHOLER.
She TOngue-Lashes Justice Field
and Assaults Marshal Franks.
Both in Jail.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
SAN Francisco, September 3.-The
announcement made several days ago
that decision in the Sharon case would
be rendered to-day, drew large crowd
to the United States courtroom. About
two hundred lawyers, besides also the
parties directly interested in the case,
occupied the enclosure Immediately
in front of the judges. Judge David
S. Terry, who has been chief
counsel for his wife during the entire
litigation sat alongside of his wife to-day,
and both paid close attention to the
reading Of the decision. Mrs. Terry ap-
peared very nervous at the outset and as
the reading progressed her agitation in
creased. Finally when Judge Field was
about half through reading Mrs. Terry
jumped to her feet and asked the Judge
if he was going to order her to give up
her marriage contract. Judge Field
quietly told her to sit down.
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Mrs. Terry's face turned white with
passion and she cried:
''Justice Field, we hear that you have
been bought. We would like to know if
that is so, and what figures you hold
yourself at. 1t seems that no person can
get Justice in this court unless he has a
sack"
Judge Field turned to Marshal Franks
and said: marshal, remove that woman
from this courtroom"
The Marshal advanced towards Mrs.
Terry, but she took no notice of him,
but broke out with oaths and vulgar
language.
Franks grasped Ter arm and in an
instant Judge Terry arose and exclaimed
"By God she is my wife and no living
man shall touch her."
With this he dealt Franks terrible
blow on the neck with his fist which sent
the Marshal reclining against the floor.
Franks regained himself and with sew
eral deputys and bystanders rushed upon
Terry and quickly removed him.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
Mrs. Terry was also taken from the
room and locked in the Marshal's office.
A deputy was placed at the door when
Terry advanced upon him and demanded
admission, which the deputy refused.
Terry put his hand in his pocket and
drew forth dangerous looking dirk with
a blade eight inches long, and with
curse held it above his head and declared
he would stab any man who tried to keep
him away from his wife. Marshal
Franks and several others at once
jumped upon him and tried to take the
knife away. A desperate struggle fol-
lowed. All the men fell to the floor and
the knife was finally taken away from
Terry without any one being injured.
Terry was then locked in the room
with his wife. A satchel which Mrs.
Terry had dropped in the court room
during the excitement, was found to con-
tain an English bulldog revolver, with
all six chambers loaded.
Marshal Franks entered the room
where the two were confined and Mrs.
Terry at once made violent attack upon
him and beat him about the face and
head. She was soon quieted, however,
and strong guard placed in the room.
SIX MONTHS IN JAIL.
The widest excitement had prevailed
in the courtroom and corridors during
the disturbance, but as soon as quiet was
restored Judge Field resumed the read
ing of the decision. When he had con-
cluded the court took a recess and the
judges retired to their chambers.
Two hours later they again appeared in
the courtroom and announced the pen
atty they had decided to inf1ict upon
Judge Terry and his wife. Neither OF the
parties were allowed in the courtroom
while sentence was pronounced. Judge
Field ordered that Terry be imprisoned
in the County Jail of Alameda county
six months, and that Mrs. Terry be i'm
prisoned thirty days. No alternative in
the way of fine was allowed, and the
prisoners were taken to Jail this after
noon.
THE DECISION.
The decision which Justice Field rem
dered on the bill OF revivor in the Sharon
case is very lengthy. The opinion is
concurred in by Judges Sawyer and Sabin.
Judge Sawyer's previous decision, de-
claring the marriage contract forgery,
is sustained and the trustees under the
deed of trust executed by William
Sharon, are given the right to handle
the property untrammeled by the actions
on the part of Sarah Althea.