St. Paul daily globe., 1889-08-15
FRISCO IN A FERMENT.
Extraordin airy Excitement Over
the Murder of Terry.


the Murder of Terry.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Aug. 14.-The
announcement that Judge David S.
Terry had been shot and killed in rail
way depot at Lathrop, CAL, this morn
ing as the result of an attempt to pro-
woke personal alteration with Justice
Stephen j. Field, of the United States
supreme court, caused extraordinary
excitement in this city. The scene of
the tragedy is eighty-three miles from
here by rail, ,and is the breakfasting sta
ton for the Southern overland train.
The possibility of an encounter be-
tween Terry and Justice Field has
been recognized ever since the impris
onment of Terry for contempt of court
tel months ago, owing to the known
temper of the man who killed United
States Senator Broderick in the early
days of California. David S. Terry was
at one time chief justice of the SUI
preme court of California, and had al
ways been a prominent figure in the
political affairs OF the state. The kill
ing of Broderick caused at the time
deep personal resentment against
Terry. A portion of the people of the
state, threatened to terminate
HIS CAREER IN CALIFORNIA,
but he always had a number of adher-
ents, and remainedin in the state, though
he has only once or twice been before
the people for position. He was mar
ried to Sarah Althea Hill, who claimed
to he the wife of ex-senator
Sharon, while prosecuting her claim
against the Sharon estate. This brought
them into a resentful attitude toward
Justice Field, who last year rendered
decision in the United States circuit
court in this city, denying her claim to
be the wife Of Sharon. Mrs. Terry
created a scene in court during the
reading of the decision, charging JUS
tice Field with being corrupt, and as
she refused to remain quiet, Justice
Field directed that she be removed from
court. When deputy attempted to
carry out the order of the court she be-
came involved in a personal quarrel
with that official, and Judge Terry in
terfered, drawing dagger from his
vest. lie 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 this city six weeks
ago. Newspaper articles were printed,
intimating that it would be
dangerous for Justice Field and Judge
Terry to meet personally. as it was
thought the latter might insult the for
mer, while the fact was also recognized
that justice Field would be quick to re-
sent an attack from Terry, knowing it
could only result fatally to one or the
other, in view of the latter'S record. If
Judge Terry had intended to provoke
Justice Field and draw weapon be-
fore the latter could turn, is, of course,
not known, as Deputy Nagle, who sat
opposite. prevented this by firing, re-
sulting in the instant death of Terry.
Chief of Police Crowley received dis
patch from Sheriff Cunningham, of
Stockton, to arrest Judge Field and
Deputy Marshal Nagle on the arrival OF
the train at Oakland. Capt. Lees left
for Oakland, and will take them into
custody unless they leave the train at
some point along the road.
TERRY's CHECKERED CAREER.
David s. Terry was born in Todd
county, Kentucky, in 1928. He served
in the Texan war under Sam Houston.
He came to California in 1S49 and set
tied in CalaYeras county. In 1856 he