St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-08-22

HIS career III AdluOT11d, Dut liz he'e
always had number of adherents
and remained in the state, though he
has only once or twice been before
the people for position. He was
married to Sarah Althea Hill, who
claimed to be the wife of ex-senator
Sharon, while prosecuting her claim
against the Sharon estate. This
brought him into resentful attitude
toward Justice Field, who last year
rendered a decision in the United
States circuit court at San Francisco
denying her claim to be the wife OF
Sharon. Mrs. Terry created scene
in court during the reading of the de
cision, charging Justice Field with
being corrupt, and as she refused to
remain quiet, Justice Field directed
that she be removed from court.
When a deputy attempted to carry
out the order, she became involved
in a personal quarrel with that Of
fetal and Judge Terry interfered,
drawing a dagger from his vest. He
was disarmed and both Terry and
his wife were adjudged in contempt,
and committed to jail. In the mean
time, Justice Field went to Washing
ton to resume his duties on the bench,
returning to San Francisco six weeks
ago. Newspaper articles were print
ed intima ting that it would be dan
gerous for Justice Field and Judge
Terry to meet personally.
David S. Terry was born in Todd
county, KY, in 1923. He served in
the Texan army under Sam HOus-
ton. He went to California in 1913,
and settled in Calaveras county. In
1855 he was elected justice of the su-
preme court of California on the ma
tive American ticket, and upon the
death of Chief Justice Murray in l S57
Judge Terry became chief justice. He
was opposed to the vigilance COM
mittee of 1856, and stabbed one of
the members of the committee who
had attempted to arrest a friend of
Terry's. Terry was held by the vigi-
lantes, but was afterward released
He killed Senator Broderick in 1859,
as a result of political differences,
Terry belonging to what was known
as the ''chivalry' wing of the demo-
cratic party. Broderick, in 1856,
was chosen United States senator for
six years. Terry soon became en-
FILTERED against Broderick because
he had failed to secure a renomina-
ton for the chief justiceship. At the
LecOmpton democratic state cOnven-
ton, held at Sacramento in 1859, he
let loose his wrath and denounced
Broderick in the strongest terms
He called him an arch traitor and
i IL e. 81
any Douglass, it was the BLACK
Douglass, whose name is Frederick,
not Stephen" This led to a duel.
The place selected was a farm adj
Joining the Lake house ranch. Duel
ing pistols were used. There was
report from Broderick's pistol, fol-
lowed in a second by Terry's. For
some reason Broderick's pistol ex-
ploded before it had been brought to
a level The bullet buried itself in
the ground a third of the distance
short. Had it gone all the way it
would have struck its mark, for it
went in a perfectly direct line. The
report of Terry's pistol had hardly
died away when Broderick was seen
to start. He turned half way round
and grasped at the air as though try
ing to recover his balance. His head
dropped and he fell fiat on his back,
his pale face upturned to the sky.
The ball had entered the right breast
and passed through the upper lobe
of the left lung. Broderick was re-
moved from the dueling ground on a
mattress, three-quarters of an hour
I, 81, I'll
the house Of his friend, Leonidas
Haskell. He fingered in great pain
for three days, and died September
16. Before he died he said "They
killed me because l was opposed to
slavery and a corrupt administra-
ton" Terry was tried and acquitted.