The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-28
KILLED FOR 4 SLAP.
Judge Terry Shot After Insult.
ing Justice Field.
Tragic Sequence to a Famous
California Divorce Case.

A dispatch from San Francisco CAL, says:
One of the most sensational tragedies that
ever startled the people of the Pacific coast
occurred during the morning at Lathrop,
small town on the Southern Pacific
Railroad, a few miles from Stockton,
in San Joaquin County. David s: Terry,
e1-Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court OF
California, slayer in duel Of United States
Senator David c. Broderick, assaulted
United States Supreme Court Justice
Stephen J. Field is a public dining room at
the railroad station, and was shot dead by
United States Deputy Marshal David Nagle,
who was travelling as MI. Fields body guard.
The shooting occurred in the presence OF
about sixty or seventy people, and created a
scene of the widest excitement. The cause
of the shooting was the well known quarrel
existing between Judges Terry and Field,
which grew out of the latter rendering de-
cision adverse to Sarah Althea Hill, plaintiff
in the famous Sharon divorce case, who dur
ing the litigation became the wife of Terry.
Dispatches from Lathrop, Cal, state that
upon the arrival of the Southern overland
mail at 7:20 A. NJ Justice Field and Marshal
Nagle walked into the dining room for break
fast and sat down side by side.
Judge David 8. Terry and wife, who fig
ured in the Sharon divorce case, came In
also. They were going to another table when
mediately retired to the train. As soon as
she had left the dining-room and before she
had reached the train, Judge Terry walked
over to where Justice Field sat, and STOPPING
over him, slapped his face.
Deputy Marshal Nagle thereupon arose
from his seat and shot Judge Terry through
the heart. While he was falling Nagle shot
again, but missed Terry, the bullet going
through the floor. Both shots were fired
could interfere.
Whether Judge Terry's intention was to
provoke Justice Field and draw aweapon be-
fore the latter could turn is, of course not
known, as Deputy Nagle, who sat opposite
Field, prevented this by firing, his first shot
resulting in the death Of Terry.
After the shooting Deputy United States
Marshal Nagle backed up against the wall OF
the dining room and warned every one not to
arrest him, saying he was United States
officer in the discharge Of his duty. There was
any time. Constable Walker took Deputy
Nagle from the train at Tracy and proceeded
with him to Stockton, where he is now in
jail.
District Attorney White ordered the arrest
of Justice Field upon his arrival ut San Fran
cisco, and telegraphed the order to the Sher-
iff of San Francisco.
Justice Field maintained his quiet demean-
or, and replied to a press representative,
when asked to narrate the particulars of fhe
shooting, as follows:
II can tell you the story in few words.
For the last few months all manner of re-
ports, both public and personal, have reached
me that Judge Terry had threatened to sub
ject me to some form Of indignity, if he
should happen to meet me. This fact caused
the United States Marshal to decide to pro-
vide such protection as he could during my
stay in this State. When I started for Los
Angeles to hold court, Deputy Nagle accom-
panied me- He seemed to be quiet gentle
manly official, though I only met him twice
while away from Los Angeles. he askedme
in that city when I intended to return, and
accompanied me, taking seat in the sleep
ing car opposite to me. We heard this
morning that Judge Terry and his wife were
ON the train, but paid no attention to the fact
When we arrived at Lathrop. we entered
the eating station to get breakfast. l took
q seat at the end of the table, while Nagle
sat on one side Of me. Terry and his wife
came into the room soon after. AS soon
as she saw rue she went out Of the room, as
afterward learned, returning to the car for
her satchel. Judge Terry rose and supposed
that he intended accompanying her. Instead
of doing so, he walked back to me, and
struck me a, heavy slap in the face.
was completely astonished, and, seeing he
was making ready to strike again, Nagle
cried out Stop, STOP but Terry
did not desist, and as he was raising
his arm a second time Nagle shot at
him, the bullet entering his heart. Ho
fell to the floor, Nagle shooting a second
time, but the second shot did not strike him.
That is the complete story so far as am
aware Of the facts, }" said the Justice i'll conclu-
sion.
Protection was accorded to Justice Field,
it is claimed, by authority of Attorney
General Miller. who telegraphed from Wash
ington to the Marshal of the district to see
that the person Of the Justice was protected
at any hazard.