The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-10
JUDGE TERRYS CAREER.
THE DUEL IN WHICH HE KILLED
SENATOR Frederick.

on Monday in the United States circuit
court in San Francisco, while Justice Field
was reading his decision in the long-pend-
ing suit of the late Senator William Sharon
against Sarah Althea Hill Terry, a report
of which appeared in yesterdays Sun, adds
another page to the history of remark
able man.
Ex-Judge David S. Terry, the husband
and counsel of the woman who endeavored,
through long litigation, marked by several
scenes as remarkable as that of Monday, to
prove herself the legal wife of ex-senator
Sharon, is in every way fitted to be her
consort, Like her, he has shown indomita-
bic perS sverance, the firmest courage under
trying circumstances, and perfect indiffer
ence to the opinions of others. He has be-n
conspicuous figure in California since the
days of 49, and at one time
he had more personal enemies than
any other three mon in the
state, owing to the result of his
duel with United States Senator David c.
Broderick. for whose death tho entire state
OF California went into mourning. 1t caused
such intense feeling throughout the country
at that time that it is of interest now to re-
call the circumstances. In the minds of
many old residents of California who have
taken up their abode in New York the be-
lief is grounded that the enmity which
Terry is known to bear Justice Field is due
to the latter's intimate frien ship for Brod-
erick before the latte s death.
David S. Terry was native of the south,
and early became an orphan. He went to
Texas while still a young man, and joined
in the war of that state for independence
from Mexico. He afterward read law and
admitted RI the hsv Fl a tn Itof
fornia during the gold days and plunged
into politics almost before he knew the
names of the counties. He was elect d
chief justice of the supreme court of Cali
fornia at the age of 49, His place was no
sinecure. He was opposed to the
vigilants, who practically ruled the
state at the time, and was active
August, 1855, Terry stabbed Sterling A.
Hopkins, one of thh vigilantes, in resisting
the illegal arrest of Reuben Maloney. The
vigilante' became greatly incensed. They
arrested Terry and Kept him in close CON
finement until September. Everybody an
ticipated that he would be hanged. His
discharge was offered him if he would re-
sign his place, but he defied the vigilantes
despite the entreaties of his wife, and is
sued an address to the people of California,
i'll which he declared he would never leave
they had elected him.
David c. Broderick was Terry's equal in
courage, and surpassed him in the knowl-
edge of political maneuvering. He way a
native of Washington. His father, an
Irishman, was a stonecutter, and rad sew
eral contracts for work on the capitol. He
moved to New York, and settled in the
Ninth ward, where he died shortly after
ward. Young Broderick was bound an APP
fO q GlyilIfIl
served his time faithfully. Ever after
ward he was known to his ascot
ates as the Stonecutter. He became
the foreman of Howard Fire En-
CINE Company No. 81, and acquired great
political influence in the Ninth ward He
secured control of the sOftest berths in the
custom house under President Tyler in
1916, and i'll the same year he was nomi-
mated by Tammany Hall for congress from
the Fifth district He seemed to be sure of
victory over his Wing opponent, f. A. Tai
madge, but some of his enemies put up an
Independent candidate and gave the victory
to Talmadge by a few votes In l849.
disguised with his loss of political
power, he went to California He
was then 30 years old. He was
cool, shrewd, and yet full of dash He went
into the gold smelling and assaying bns-
ness, but that was a mere incident. His
whole life was bound up in politics, and he
was in the swim as soon as the convention
to form a constitution was assembled. To
this convention he was q delegate. He be-
came president of the state Senate, and was
for time acting governor. He wanted to
go to the United State,
senate and in 1858 he advanced
the novel idea that a state legisla-
ture could elect United States senators in
advance of the vacancies they were to fill
He had control of the legislature at the
time. and if his friends had agreed with him
he might have been elected then. As it
was his ambition produced bitter strife
between his friends and the opponents of
his plan, W ich resulted in many fights and
much bitterness. HIS most inplacable
enemy was the acting United States sena-
tor, DIR. Gwin. They hated each other cor
daily.
In 1856 Broderick was elected United
States senator for six years. He had gained
absolute control of the state sonate. and il
was in his power to name his associate. To
the surprise of every one his choice fell upon
his enemy, DR.. Gwin. Later it was seen
that he had coldly calculated a bit of
choice revenge. He allowed Gwin to
succeed himself only upon tho distinct I'M
deista ding that he was to lelinquish all
Federal patronage in his (Brodorick's) favor
Gwin was induced to write letter pedging
nlHlSelI TO OD5eTNe IniS cOndlJl0n, ana BrOd-
erick, in great glee, had it published
Gwin turned the tables on Broderick
when the latter turned on the administra-
ton in 1858 on the question Of admitting
Kansas as a free or a slave state, and de-
cared himself a supporter of Stephen A
Douglas. The greater part of the Demo-
cratic party in California was opposed to
Broderck's action, although his personal
following was not impaired. When no
went to Washington he was disguised to
find that G win was tho favorte of the ad-
minstration, while he received nothing
but cold looks and scant courtesy.
The relations between Gwin and
Broderick were even more strained,
and everybody anticipated a sanguinary
encounter. The California state Campaign
in 1859 was intensely exciting. Broderck
led a coalition Of anti-adruinistration demo-
Gratis and republicans. The latter were
few, but their party was growing in the
state The exchange Il personalities during
the campaign was remarkable. Brod rick
and Gwin called each other liar,, tni.v.ss.
scoundrels and what not. That rhay did
not Kill each other on sisat was a wonder to
every. one. During the hight of the cleo
tioneering Broderick announced that he
would not imperil his influence aud his po-
sition in the senate by taking any heed OF
the personal abuse poured upon him.
Terry at this time was much embittered
against BrodericlS because he had failed to
secure q denomination for the chief Justice.
ship. At the Leconptol democratic state
held at Sacramento IN 1859. he
ct loose his wrath and denounced Bro leric;S
in the strongest terms lie called HIM an