The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
DAVID. DUDLEY FIELD.
SUDDEN DEATH OF THE EMI-
NENT JURIST.

nc Fedce1ully ENp1reu at MS aoIho
in New York City, Just After Re-
turning in Apparently Vigorous
Health From Visit to England
His Distinguished Career.
David Dudley Field, the eminent lawyer
md jurist, died suddenly at his home, No. ~
Gramercy Park, New York City, Of pneumo-
MIA. He had Just returned from England,
where he had been visiting his daughter,
I.sdy yMusgrave, and when helanded he seemed
inthe best ofhealth and spirits. Though ne
was eichty-nine years old, his step was
as elastic, his form as erect, as that OF
young man. Mr.. Field was taken with.
eongestive chill three days after his return
home. His daughter-in-law, Mrs. David
Dudley Field, Jr., summoned DR.. Stephen
Burt, the family physician, who found
that the patient had all the synp..
SONS Of pneumonia. The efforts OF
continued to sink until the end finally came.
Justice Field was at once summoned from
Washington and arrived during the day.
DR.. Henry N. Field took charge Of the
faneral arrangements. Mr.. Fields last
moments were calm and peaceful.
state all day and, the end. when it
finally came, was without a. sound or
struggle. The great hwyer seemed; merely
10 fall into q deep sleep. BIS, daushter-in-'
faw was at the bedside all the time. When
6ilroy 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 q committee
vas appointed to take appropriate action. 1t
was decided that the funeral be held from
Calvary Episcopal Church and that the In
teruent be in the old family burylnS ground
at StocSbridge, Mass.
Dsvi Dudley Field belonged to family
Of wn;c single generation has set Its mark
deeply upon American history. Himself q
mr,s. with no superior at the American bar;
Cyrus W. Field. known as the layer of the
Arss Atlantic cable Stephen, Justice OF the
sapreme Court Of the United States, and
Henry, preacherand editor, are brothers who
Save each achieved high fame and reputation.
David Dudley Field began life in a 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, aAd three Of
she sons received college educa:."n. Young
Field had prepared himself for ccl1 ~ by the
fime he was sixteen years old, ar oegan
legal course at Williams In 1921. He was
admitted to the bar in 1928. Soon after this
he went to New York and began the practice
Of his profession, taking an active part
IN puolic affairs almost from the first.
Altogether he spent more than sixty years IN
&C; I've work as a lawyer, and devoted fifty
yesrs to the codification ofthe laws. His
1rst essay on codiacation was published In
ES9. His life was busy one. The first in
ieruption to it was In 1886, when, after the
L. attn OF his wife, he went abroad and spent
= eear in travel, many lively pictures OF
which appeared afterwardin sketches Over
s,- Sea-" Returning to this country in 1887,
Mr.. Field considered the reform Of the judicial
sysfem. Two years later he obtained a
nomination from the Democrats for the
Assembly, with the view OF introducing
law reform measures into the Legis-
h,ure. But he was defeated. Many law
hiorm tracts were published by Mr..
Yield. In the session OF 1858 he pro-
cured the whole Code OF Civil Pro-
sedure to be reported for passage by COM
nittee OF the Assembly, and during 1856 the
whole Code Of Criminal Procedure. The law
reform measures of Mr.. Field occupied his
thoughts and large portion OF his time for
eighteen years. he not only re-
seived no compensation, 1t Is said,
but had to pay the expense OF his as
sistants, amounting to over S6O00 Lord
Brougham watched with great interest the
yrogress of the movement here, and when
Gr. Field went to England sought from him
Field next considered "Code Of Inferno.
Aonal 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 q 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. H. Morris
7cx Mayor. Deceased was. q Democrat,
but revolted on the slavery question. He
attended the Republican convention. at
Nr. Field did all he could. as the head
sf the New York delegation. to prevent
Yar. Mr.: Field, though dissatisfied with the
eourse Of the Republican party In the matter
Of reconstruction, still followed the recent
politiealtie so far as to- vote for Mr.. Hayes.
The Democrats, on the retirement from Con-
gresss of Smith Ely, offered Mr. Field
the nomination, which he accepted,
and was elected. It was early In Janu-
aJ when he took his seat. so that he was
member Of the House Of Representatives but
Sa6uh NOOhSs 0AAs AS21 a1o SSSAA sA1 " eA-AA~S
married. His first wife was Jane L. Hep.
1ins. to whom he was welded In 1929.
They had three children, Dudley Field,
born November %, 1880; Jeanie Luclnde,
October 8, 1888, and Isabella. April 8,
1885. Mrs. Field died in Stockbridee, In
1856. Mr.. Field married his second wife in
1s41. She was Mrs. Harriet Davidson, and
died in 1864. He married again in 1866, Mrs
Mary Elizabeth Carr, the widow OF DR.. s.
]. Carr. She died In 1876. Mr.. Fields
only surviving child, Jeanie L.
FIELD, was married in 1870 to
Bin Anthony Musgrave, Governor OF
British Columbia. Deceased had just re-
turned from visit to her In England.
Among the par bearers selected to attend
-Ae funeral OF David Dudley Field were the
following: Chief Justice Fuller, Of the Su-
Rreme Court John Bigelow, Joseph
q Choate, William N. Evarts, Abram
Il Hewitt, Judge Charles A. Pea
body, Chancellor McCracken. R. A.
Deyo, R. NJ. Galloway, Charles Butler, Judge
Charles Andrews, Judge A. R. Lawrence and
H 81. AndereJu. Mr.. Fields estate is valued
4 between $500, 900 and 81 ,000,00 1t con-
sists OF eleven acres of land at High Bridge,
md q large estate at Stockbridge. Mass.
The property Is unincumbered. The Rev.
Henry NJ. Field, his brother, said that the
bulk of the estate will be held IN trust for
The grandchildren until they become OF age.