Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-04-27
DAVID DUDLEY FIELD.
SUDDEN DEATH OF THE EMI-
NENT JURIST.
He Peacefully Expired at His Homo
in New York City, just After Re
turning in Apparently Vigorous
Health From a Visit to England
His DISTINGUISHED Career.

Health From a Visit to England
His Distinguished Career.
David Dudley Field, the eminent lawyer
and jurist, died suddenly at his home, No ~
Gramercy Park, New York City Of pncumo-
mia. He had just returned from England,
where he had been visiting his daughter,
LadyMusgrave, and when he landed he seemed
inthe best ofhealth and spirits. Though he
was etghty-nine years old. his step was
as elastic, his form as erect, rs that OF IA
young man. Mr.. Field was taken with n
conSestive chill three days after his return
home. His daughtcr-in-law, Mrs. David
Dudley Field. Jr., summoned DR.. stephen
Burt, the family physician, who found
that the patient had all tho symp-
toms of pneumonia. The efforts OF
Dr. Burt proved unavailing, and Mr.. Fich
continued to sink until the end finally came.
Justice Field was at once summoned from
Washington and arrived during the day.
Dr. Henry VI. Field took charge OF tho
moments were calm and peaceful.
He had been in a semi-cOnS 'iOuI
state all day and the end. when it
finally came, without IA sound or
struggle. The great lawyer seemed merely
to fall into a deep sleep. His daughter-iu-
law was at the bedside all tho time. When
the news became known in the city, Mayor
GilrOy caused the flags to be raised at half
mast on the City Hall. Nearly all the courts
adjourned out of respect to Mr. Fields
memory. The death was announced
in the Legislature at Albany. and
out Of respect to his memory both Houses
adjourned. In the Assembly a committee
was appointed to take appropriate action. 1t
was decided that the funeral be held from
Calvary Episcopal Church and that the in
terment be in the old family burying ground
at Stockbridge, Mass.
David Dudley Field belonged to a family
of which single generation has set its mark
deeply upon American history. Himself u
iuri5t with no superior at the American bar
Cyrus w. Field known as the layer OF the
first Atlantic cable stephen. Justice of the
SupremN Court of the Unitol States and
Henry, preacher and editor, are brothers who
have each achieved high fame and reputation.
David Dudley Field began life in Il very plain
fashion. He was born in Haddam, Conn, on
February 13, 1905, and was the eldest OF
nine children born to his father, minister,
with an annual salary of $500. Out OF this
sum the family was supported, and three of
the sons received Il college education. NOun;
Fold had prepared himself for college blythe
time he was sixteen years old, and began
legal course at Williams in 1921. He was
admitted to the bar in 1923. Soon after this
he went to New York and began tho practice
of his profession, taking an active part
in public affairs almost from the first.
active work as a lawyer, and devoted fifty
years to the codiflcatiOn of the laws. His
first essay on cOdiiicatiOn was published i'll
1899. His life was n busy one The first in
terruption to it was in 1886. whom, after tho
death of his wife he went abroad and spent
a year in travel, many lively pictures OF
which appeared afterwari in sketches Over
tho Sea-" Returning to this country in 1897,
Mr.. Field considered the reform of the judicial
system. Two years later he obtaine1 Il
nomination from the Democrats for the
Assembly, with the view of introducing
law reform measures into the LeGis-
lature But he was defeated. Many law
reform tracts were published by Mr..
Field. In the session of 1853 he pro-
cured tho whole Code of Civil Pro-
cedure to be reported for passage by n com
mittee of the Assembly, and during 1855 the
whole Code of Criminal Procedure. The law
reform measures of Mr.. Field occupied his
thoughts and q large portion Of his time for
eighteen years. He not only re-
ceved no compensation, it is said.
but had to pay the expense Of his as
sstants, amounting to over $4,000. Lord
Brougham watched with great interest the
progress of the movement here, and when
Mr.. Field went to England sought from him
the full details OF this now legislation Mr..
Field next considered n "COde of Interna-
tional Law" His ideas met with cordial ap-
proval in England. The code was framed
upon the idea that some time or other the
different nations will agree upon general
treaty concerning the subjects discussed in it.
The first political speech ever made
by Mr.. Field was in Tammany Hall, in
1912, on the nomination of r. II. Morris
for Mayor Deceased was a Democrat,
but rey0lted on the slavery question He
attended the Republican convention mt
Chicago in 1860. At the peace congress
Mr.. Field did all he could, aS the h"ad
of the New York delegation, to prevent
war Mr.. Field, though dissatisfied with the
course of the Republican party in the matter
of reconstruction, still followed the rccoat
political ties so far as to vote for Mr.. Hayes
The Democrats, on the retirement from Con
gress of Smith Ely, offered Mr.. Field
tho nomination, which he accepted,
and was elected. 1t was early in Janu-
ary when he took his seat. 80 that he Wa,
member Of the House of Representatives but
eight weeks. Mr.. Field had been three times
married. His first wife was Jane j.. Hep
kins to whom he WAS welded in 1929
They had three children, Dudley Field,
born November %, 1880; Jcanie Lucind",
October 8, 1888, and Isabella. April B.
1885. Mrs. Field died In StockbridGe, IN
1886. Mr.. Field married his second wife in
1S41. She was Mrs. Harriet Davidson, AMI
died in 1864. He married again in 1866, Mrs
Mary Eliz 4beth Carr, the widow Of DR.. 8.
J. Carr. She died in 1876. Mr.. Fjelc'e
only surviving child, Jeanie l..
Field, was married in 1870 to
Sir Anthony Musgrave, Governor OF
British Columbia. Deceased had just r.
turned from visit to her in England.
Among the pail bearers selected to attend
the funeral of David Dudley Field We're the
following Chief Justice Fuller, Of the Su-
preme Court John BigelOw, Joseph
II. Choate, William NJ. EVarts, A6ram
S. Hewitt, Judge Charles A. Pea
BODY. Chancellor McCracken. Il. A.
Deyo, r. NJ. Galloway, Charles Butler, Judge
Charles Andrews, Judge A. K. Lawrence and
H. H. Anderson. Mr.. Fields estate is valued
at between $500 900 and -, 900 900 1t con-
sists Of eleven acres of land at High Bri ige,
and a large estate at Stockbridge Mass.
The property is unincunbered. The ktv.
Henry NJ. Field his brother, said that tn
bulk Of the estate will be held in trust for
the grandchildren until they become o. aIe.