Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-04
a COURT SENSATION.
JUSTICE FIELD CHARGED by MRS.
TERRY WITH BRIBERY.
Her Husband Resists Her Arrest
With a Drawn Dagger-Desperate
Struggie-Terry Oyerpowered.
IS. F. BulIetin. september d.

%. T. bIAltNlu. september
The curtain was rung up on new AID
sensational act in the famous Sharon
Terry drama this forenoon in the United
States Circuit Court. The occasion was the
rendering Of the decision in the matter Of
Fred. W. sharons application for bill of
reviyor as executor Of the estate of VIM.
Sharon, and the application Of F. G. New
lands ct al. as trustees, for a bill in equity,
in the nature of bill of reviyor and sup
plement, and to carry decree into execu-
ton.
The decision was rendered by United
States Supreme Judge Field, and beside
him on the bench sat Judges Sawyer, Sabin
and Hoffman, each OF when concurred in
the decision.
The Courtroom was crowded almost to
snfocaiion with interested persons and al
tOneys. At table just in front of the
Clerk desk sat Althea Sharon Terry, ac-
companied by her husband, David S Terry.
and an acquaintance. For five minutes be-
fore the Judges took their seats, she chatted
pleasantly with her husband and appeared
to be in The best Of spirits.
At another table, some distance away,
oat tLS Chdi OI pScpit-OeutId DdfNtS,
judge Evans, tire elder Newlands, Fred.
Sharon and several others.
PREsENTMENT.
A hush came over the room when The
four judges came in and TOOK their seats
under the canopy. Judge Field immedi-
ateiy began in low and distinct voice 10
read the decision.
Mr.. and Mrs. Terry leaned forward and
listened with the utmost attention. She.
however, was the center of all ewes in the
Couri-room. aud there seemed 10 be kind
OF presentment hanging over all that some
thing extraordinary was going to happen.
Mrs. Terry listened for fully fifteen min
utes without change Of countenance or
the slightest indication of any dissatisiac.
ton on her part. But, finally, when The
Judges language began TO indicate that The
decision was going against her, she moved
restlessly in her chair, heaved deep sigh
and was apparently endeayoring 10 COM
pose herself. 1t was evident, though. that
she WIS not equal to the task. and then
Judge Terry whispered somethinz ID her,
which seemed to ease her somewua,. and
she once more settled down to listen at-
tentively.
MRS. TERRY IArEEEUPTs THE COURT.
Judge Field bad inst reached point in
his remarks where lie necessity of cancel
ing and destroying such a marriage CON
tract rs that possessed by Mrs. Terry was
suggested, when she jumped to her feet and
with flashing eyes said 10 the Supreme
Justice
Judge Field, do you intend to take the
responsibility Of ordering me TO surrender
my contract"
Sit down, madam, was Justice Fields
peremptory order.
Judge Terry took hold of his wife's arm
and bade her keep cool and resume her
seat.
will speak, she cried, breaking away
from her husband. Then, turning to Judge
Field, she screamed:
Judge Field, you have been bought!
How much have they paid you?"
Marshal, take that woman out of the
room ordered the Judge with wave of
his hand.
SCENE OF CONFUSION.
In moment everything was confusion.
The Marshal rushed toward the now thor.
oughly infuriated woman to carry out the
order OF the Court, when he was confronted
by the massive form of Judge Terry.
Don't put your hands on her" hissed
the latter through his clenched teeth, DO
you hear?"
For moment Marshal Franks hesitated
Then he daEted pest the Judge and seized
Mrs. Terry in his arms. Terry started after
him. but before he had taken three steps
he was seized on all sides by Deputy Mar
shals, lawyers and miscellaneous spectators.
The first one TO approach him received the
furious Judges clenched fist full in the
face, and was staggered. The next instant.
though, the crowd had Terry on thefioor.
be all the time fighting ike s. madman. He
was picked up and carried bodily out of the
COURTROOM, but as soon as the corridor was
reached he seemed to be gifted with the
strength OF dozen men, for he shook off
his asssilanLs like so many rats
TERRY DRAWS KNIFE
The next instant Terry whipped ont a
dagger about seven inches long and started
IN the direction of the Maishal's Office,
where Mrs. Terry had been carried a few
moments before by Marshal Franks.
The crowd whicn had followed them ont
evidently nis-ook the knife for revolver.
and we'll knowing Terry 5 familiarity with
that weapon, stampeded, yelling Ike a LOT
OF crazS people.
Terry was simply boiling over with rage
and trembled like a leaf With the knife
upraised, he rushed into the Marshal's
quarters, crying out tnat ne would make
mlDcemeat OF the person who laid violent
hands upon his wife He had not gone
far, however, before five or SIX revoivers
we're staring him III the fgCe, being in the
hands OF the Marshal and his Deputies.
Bot this only seemed to anger linn the
more, for he ragged and famed ike an in
furiated lion and dared them to shoot.
He was seized upon by the deputies and,
after a terrible struggle the weapon was
finally wrenched from his hand.
He WAS then carried into one Of the Mar
shal's rooms and locked up while his wife
was put into another room. For some
time after Mrs. rerry's voice could be
heard crying in the room that judge Field
had been bought and was monster, a
devil. ct :.
As soon as quiet could be restored in the
Courtroom Judge Field resumed his read
ing Of the decision without the least show
of excitement, and read continuously Tor
Lysr an hour aiier9ard.
THE rERRYs IN JAIL.
judge Field ordered that David S Terry
be confined in the Alameda Jail for the
term Of six months, and that Mrs Terry
be confined in the same institution for the
period Of thirty days.
THE DECISION
Tie case was one of .wo brought 20 Sc
cure decree of the Court declaring the
IL Va ihatiiatS (VAtidCl iBNdilU, Il
fraud. and TO authorize the executor of them
10 carry said decree into execution. Judges
Sawyer and Ssbin sat with Mr.. Justice
Field, and Judge Hoffman occupied the
bench also by courtesy Mr.. Justice Field
delivered the opinion of The Court II re-
cited the history Of the case and the final
judgmeat and the order that the so-calied
marriage contract should be delivered to
he Clerk of the Court and be stamped
Cancelled aud that no one should claim
to have any interest in the estate of Sharon
under it, Incidentally the C0ur; reviewed
tie TACT that State Court had held that
there was Il marriage between Sarah Althea
Hill and William Sharon, ard considered
the apparent conflict between these TWO
authorities. 1t said
The principal grounds Of the demursr in
each case are that the Court bias no jurisdiction
OF the subject matter of the suits, or to grant
the relief prayed that the plaintiffs 60 not
show any right or title to maintain their re-
spectiye suits. The doctrine for which the
learned counsel contends, if successfully main
tanned, would strip the Federal Courts of the