The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-04
A COURTROOM SENSATION
Judge David s. Terry Sent to Jail for
Six Months for Contempt of Court,
And His Wife, Once the Notorious Sarah
Althea Hill, Will Bear Him Company for
Thirty Days for Insulting Justice Field.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3.-Ths celebrated
Sharon divorce case. which has occupied the at
tentiou OF the Pacific coast for q number Of
dent which resulted in placing Sarah Althea
Sharon. now Mrs. David s. Terry. in jail for
thirty days. and her husband, Judge Terry. for
SIX months. The Supreme Court Of California
q Few months ago announced its decision in the
case. sustaining the decision of the State Supe-
rior Court, which declared that Mrs. Terry had
been legally married to the late ex-senator
William Sharon. aud that she was entitled to a
portion of Sharon's estate. A short time after
the announceme ut of this decision by the State
Supreme Court the executors Of the will Of
the late William Sharon made application to
the United States Circuit Court for a bill
to revive and carry into execution the
decree Of the Circuit Court, entered Septem-
Der, 1855, in the suit of William Sharon against
Sarah Althea Hill, to obtain its decree adjudg-
ing certain papers in her possession purporting
to be a marriage contract between them to be a
forgery, aud directing its cancellation and en-
joining its use in any manner. The decree
entered by the Circuit Court in this case was in
favor Of the plaintiff, and declared that the al
legged marriage contract was q forgery, but in
the meantime the Sharon divorce suit was
pending in the State courts, and William
Sharon had died. When the executors recently
applied to the Circuit Court for a bill of re-
vision Sarah Althea Hill, who has since be-
come Mrs. Terry, entered q demurrer, and the
decision today was rendered upon thar demurrer.
which tho court overruled. The decision, which
was very lengthy. was read Nv Associate Justice
Field, of the United States. Supreme Court, and
was concurre d in by Judge Sawyer, Of the Cir
cult Court, and judge Sabin, Of the District
Court. The former decision of Judge Sawyer,
declaring the alleged marriage contract a forgery
and ordering the defendant to deliver it up for
cancellation. is sustained, and the executors are
given the right to handle the Sharon property
untrammeled by any action on the part OF Mrs.
Terry. The announcement, made several davs
ago, that a decision in the Sharon case would
be rendered to-day drew q large crowd
to the United States courtroom. About
two hundred lawyers, besides all parties
directly interested in the case. occupied the en-
closure Immediately in front of the Judge.
Judge David S. Terry, who has been the chief
counsel for his wife during the entire litigation.
sat along side bis wife to-day, and both paid
close attention to the reading of the decision
HAAos GIL oppCdtC4 v u bOh fSa6 NJ hO AS
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.
The Judge quietly told her to sit down. 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 uu-
less 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 graspsd
her by the arm. and in an instant Judge Terry
arose, and exclaimed that no living man should
touch his wife. With this he dealt Franks q
terrible blow on the neck with his fist which
sent the marshal rolling across the floor. Franks
| regained his feet, and, with several deputies and
6ystanders, rushed upon Terry and quickly re-
moved him. Mrs. Terry was also taken from
the room, and locked in the marshalis Office. A
deputy was placed at the door, when Terry ad-
vsnced upon him, and demanded ad-
mission. which the deputy refused. Terry
. dsngerous-lookinR dirk, with q blade eight
inches long, and with q curse held it above his
head and declared he would stab any man who
tried TO keep him away. Several persons at
l once Jumped upon him ana tried TO take the
| knife away. A desperate struggle followed, 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 courtroom during the excite
msnt was found to contain an English bulldog
revolver. with all six chambers loaded. Marshal
Frank states that she was trying to open the
satcbel just before she was put out of the court
room. Marshal Franks entered the room where
the two were confined, and Mrs. Terry at once
made q violent attack upon him and beat him
about the face and head. She was soon Quoted,
however, and . ctrong guard placed in the room.
The widest excitement had prevailed in the
courtroom and corridors during the disturbance,
bat as coon IS quiet was restored Judge Field
resumed the reading of the decision. When he
had concluded, the court took a recess and the
judges retired to their chambers. Two hours
later they again appeared in the courtroom and
announced the penalty they had TO infict upon
Judge Terry and his wife. Neither of the par.
ties was allowed in court while sentence was
pronounced. Judge Field ordered that Terry
be imprisoned in the county jail Of Alamada for
six months, and that Mrs. Terry be imprisoned
thirty days. No alternative in the way Of a fine
was allowed, and the prisoners were taken to
Jail this afternoon.
David s. Terry was formerly a Judge OF the
Supreme Court Of this State, and while holding
that position. in 1856, became involved in a
quarrel with David c. Broderick. who was then
United States Senator from California. A duel
followed and Broderick was killed.