Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-08-23
For Sheriff,
WILLIAM III. CARR.
For County Surveyor.
GEORGE M. ANDERSON
THE CALIFORNIA TRAGEDY.

THE CALIFORNIA TRAGEDY
Judge Terry's tragic death might easily
have been foretold, for il is in accord with
all human experience. A lawyer sworn TO
support the law and its orderly admnistra-
ton, violence and chicane marked every
step Of his career. His life was lawless,
and in the accomplishment of his ends he
stopped at nothing. He was one of the rep.
resentatives of that period when only n
vigilance committee could enforce order in
San Francisco.
Four times within the last thirty years has
Judge Terry drawn national attention to
himself, each time only to make himself
loathed and despised. Thirty years ago
next month he killed in a duel Senator
Broderick under circumstances that fell lit
tie short of assassination. Both were demo-
Gratis, but on the Lecompton question Brod-
erick followed the lead of Senator Douglas
and opposed the policy Of the Administra-
ton. He was popular in California and
succeeded in gaining TO his support major
lily of the democratic party of the State
Terry was Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court and was an Administration or Buch
anan democrat. Broderick was SO popular
that il was deter mined remove him. and Terry
easily managed TO get up quarrel with. A
duel was the result, and Broderick was shot
before he could raise his pistol.
A universal Indignation pursued Terry and
he remained in comparative obscurity until
1880. when 'he democratic convention of
California very thoughtlessly appointed him
Presidential elector. That the people Of
Cnlilornii had not forgotten him in the in
tervcning twenty one years was discovered
of the Democratic electors was defeated, u
curious and thoughtless expression of dis
like for the man, because 10 vote against
him was to vote against Hancock whom
they were all to support. But it shows how
deep the luminosity was toward him.
In the suit of Sarah A,thea Hill against
Senator Sharon he bore u leading and dra-
matte part, and it was doubtless his bully
ing aud violent methods that won the case
brIore Judge Sullivan, but when came
before The supreme Court for review he did
not succeed, aud that Court characterized
the suit rs founded on fraud, forgery and
perjury. When u certain phase came be-
fore Justice Field in the United States Court,
Terry's methods could not win there, and
his violence was such that he was impris-
oned six months for contempt Of Court.
That he would assault Justice Field and
perhaps kill him has long been supposed,
and in their first accidental meeting the as.
sault was made, and il resulted ia rerry's
DEATH He was turbulent, dangerous and
bad man. 1t is not likely there will be
much mourning for him any where in the
land. Indeed, the verdict of the American
public opinion in respect to the shooting of
ex Judge Terry is that he got what he de.
served. II is scandalous that the conditions
which made the deed possible should exist
in a civilized age and community, but the
regret which the scandal inspires is swal-
lowed up in the satisfaction Mt the final exit
Of desperate who should have been dis
missed 10 his last accounting long ago If
the irrepressibe tigress. in whose fatal at
fractions and moral depravity the bloody
drama had its origin, had received the bul.
let which missed Terry the incident would
have completed the retributive justice of
the expiation.
The circumstances of the tragedy present
uh 10 IN ha Ind hv
usual standards. The coroner's jury found
that Daniel S. Terry died by the hand of
Deputy Marshal Maggie, but no petit jury
that could be summoned within the con-
fines OF civilized society would hold Maggie
accountable 10 the law as for the commits.
sion OF the crime. 1t is the universal sense
that he performed an act of justice, although
he may have violated the statute in doing so.
Ii there is any reproach to the community
it lies in the fact that the Attorney General
detail an officer TO protect the life of Judge
Of the highest tribunal in the land. Justice
Field is reported to have answered the
friends who urged him TO arm himself, in
consequence of Terry's threats. that when
1t became necessary for Judge of the Su-
preme Court to adopt such precautions, ait
would be time TO close the courts altogether
and TO PERMIT society TO revert to barbarisn"
There is more natural indignation than phi.
losophy in the answer.
Sarah Althea Hill-Sharon Terry will live
on as she has ever lived-her heart black
ened with the fires OF passion. and her cheeks
bearing the monogram OF shame. Ii her his
tory is ever written, it will be the history of
q trouble maker, a bad woman. She began
by leading Senator Sharon q chase which
ended in his death. She had worried the
weak millionaire for years before his death
largely FASTENED by her attacks on him in
the Courts and in the press-ended his part
10 the fight. But the woman, one of those
fierce natures that are frequently found in
the southern countries of Europe, but rarely
in America-continued the struggle with |
the dead mans heirs. Into her net she drew
Judge Terry, her counsel, and they were !
married. He was just the ally she wanted
"a typical Western fire eater, as hot blood
ID as herself. as yengeful, as unrelenting in
his hatred, and. withal, a duelist who had
killed his man.
With this man under her thumb, Sarah
Althea fought increasingly for Sharon's