Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-08-30
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 thai
ever startled the people of the Pacific coast
occurred during the morning at Lathr0p
a small town on the Southern Pacific
Railroad, a few miles from Stockton
in San Joaquin County. David S. Terry,
ex-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court OF
California, slayer in a duel Of United State:
Senator David G.. Broderick, assaulted
United States Supreme Court Justice
Stephen j. Field is public dining room al
the railroad station. and was shot dead by
United States Deputy Marshal David Nagle,
who was travelling as Mr. Fields body guard
The shooting occurred in the presence OF
about sixty or seventy people, and created g
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 7:2O A. NJ. Justice Field and Marshal
Nagle walked into the dining-roOm for break
fast and sat down side by side.
Judge David S. Terry and wife. who fig.
ured in the Sharon divorce case came in
also. They were going to another table when
Mrs. Terry recognized Justice Field, and i'm
mediately retired to the train. AS soon as
she had left the dning-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
within a few seconds and before any one
could interfere
Whether Judge Terry's intention was tc
provoke Justice Field and draw weapon 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 Maggie backed up against the.wall of
the dining room and warned every one not to
arrest him, saying he was a United States
officer in the discharge of his duty There was
no semblance of an attempt to modest him at
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 at San Fran
CISCO and telegraphed the order to the Sher-
if of San Francisco
Justice Field maintained his quiet demean-
or, and replied to press representative,
when asked to narrate the particulars of fhe
shooting, as follows:
Il 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 nv
stay in this State. When [ started for Los
Angeles to hold court, Deputy Maggie accom-
panied me. He seemed to be a quiet gentle
manly official, though I only met him twice
while away from Los Angeles. He asked me
In that city when [ intended to return and
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 [ took
seat at the end of the table, while Nagle
sat on one side CT me. Terry and his wife
came into the room soon after. AS soon
as she saw me she went out of the room, as I
atterWard 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 heavy slap in the face. I
was completely astonished, and, seeing he
was making ready to strike again, Maggie
cried out Stop, STOP, but Terry
his arm a second time Nagle shot at
him, the bullet entering his heart. He
fell to the floor, Maggie 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 in concIu-
Sion
PROTECTION was accorded to Justice Field.
1t Is claimed, by authority of Attorney
General Miller who telegraphed from Wash
lngton to the Marshal of the district to see
that the person of the Justice was protected
at any hazard