The times., 1897-08-15


Democrat. Those who know the justices
where they relax more than anywhere else,
say that even among themselves party
politics are seldom mentioned.
The desire of Justice Field to excel the
record made by John Marshall has also I'm
PEELED him 10 hold fast to his Judicial
robes As Marshall could not be chief
justice while he was Secretary of State,
although the tinie between his appoin tment
and death is longer than Mr.. Fields serr-
ice. the friends Of the justice contend that
ne exceeds the Judicial career OF the emil
neat Chief Justice Tuesday next. But On
August 27 the actual time between the lp-
pointment will be longer than between
the appointment of Marshall and lis death.
Even ther, there will be no reason why he
should retire; for were he to do so bis sue
cessor could not qualify un til after
Congress met In December. No one about
the courtroom expectsto hearof Mr. Fields
retirement in the near future.
Just before MIR. Field left the city six
months ago he met friend he had not seen
for thirty five years. He did not remember
Lis face, but he knew the name the moment
IL was mentioned,
"Ah, yes" the justice exclaimed, II
remember You You and your brother saw
the President in my behalf just before l
was appointed. / have always felt CRATE
full TO you"
Justice Field is in some respects similar
to the late Henry B, Payne, of Ohio lie
WAS prominent in politics 50 long ago that
most men have forgotten that fact Payne
was a great national figure IN ante -bellum
days Field, just before that great strug-
gle, had firmly established the judiciary
and the laws of California, having organ
lied the former and codified the latter. Ar
ranged in chronological order his life may
be epitomiZed as follows:
Born at Haddam. Conn, November 4.
1916, removed " Stockbridge, Mass, In
1919, ten years later he accompanied his
sister, Mrs. Josiah Brewer, and her hus
band to Smyrna, Asia Minor. The Rev
Mr.. Brewer was an educational mission
ary to the Greeks. Mr. Field spent nearly
three years in Smyrna, Athens and the
Grecian Archipelago. he was graduated
from Williams College in 1887 and began
the study Of law with his brother David
Dudley Field. in 1888, the year Victoria
was crowned. He was admitted to the
bar and became his brothers partner In
1S41, and remained in the firm for six
years. In 1913 he again revisited Europe
and especially the places where he had
lived as a boy. Returning To this country,
the future justice caught the gold fever
in lS49, and in November OF that year
he started for the Pacific coast and arrived
December %, 1S49.
Mr.. Field located in Marysville in 1850
and was elected alcalde OF that village
when 1t was organized, less than a year
after his arrival. Under Mexican law the
alcalde is an officer Of limited power, but
In the mixed times between Mexican rule
and the establishment Ct American institu.
tion Mr.. Field discharged the functions or
mayor, justice Of the peace, common pleas
and probate judge, chief Of police, and
chief or the fire department..
He was also the head of live political
faction which grew out Of the rivalrIes OF
two vigilance committees From 1881 TO
/ s5S lie practiced law, between times
serving as "a legislator As chairman of
the Judiciary committee he drafted the la US
creating the judicial system and had
enacted into written law tie customs an
practices of miners. In 1858 he was
elected a Justice of the supreme court.
BefoIe he could take his seat he was ap-
pointed TO RI vacancy and the next
year he became chief Justice. In 1853
Lincoln appointed him to his present place
on the highest court in the land In 500
Williams College made him a doctor vi
laws; in S69 he became a professor oi
laws in the University of California
This is comparatively dry recital oi
facts. but If Mr.. Field would but write
them his life's incidents would make n
most readable volume. His life in the
Levant was full OF the most intensely in
teresting incidents. His experiences in the
rough Western country would be full oi
entertainment TO the present generation
He arrived in California with only SIG
In his pocket, That amount, owing TO tha
gold fever prices, would buy about three
fairly good meals. 1t was necessary foi
him to hustle or starye. He hustled
When he reached California he had
several chamois skins in his trunk. II
is not recorded that he intended to I'll
them with gold dust, although that r.igh,
have been his intention. Now, is SO hap
pened that chaInois skin was an exceed
iDgly usefni but very rare article in CalI.
IdCt
hut entirely through accident A native
saw the skins III Fields trunk, and Offered
him So for enough Co make small sacb
in which To carry his gold dust. He
| wanted sack sufficiently large to carry
the ''small change of that new COUNTY,
| Small change in that country was in the
| form OF dust and consisted anywhere
Of an amount from $25 to $1Oo
Field saw that chamois skins were worth
! more in California than legal lore, SO ht
| at once had all his chamois skins cut
into small pieces and sold for dust sacks
| Tho next ship had an invoice of chamo..
skins for young Field, and with the aid
| OF these things he got mis- start in life The
gold excitement around Marysville wa.
| Intense. The town had just been lait
cut, and the future justice parted witt
some Of his chamois skin money for towr
lets in Marysville, and subsequently in
spected those lots by rowing over then
in beat. BIZ. nothing daunted, he re
maired in Marysville, hung out his shin gis
az Young lawyer, and, as previously re
| lated, became it's first aIcalde.
Justice Field WAS prominent actor II
tic rough border episodes of the early
| pioneer days, and he sustained his par
| with cool bravery and invincible courage
An instance Of his nerve was shown during
| his canvass for the legisla ture. A man was
| accused Of stealing gold dust, an ffenss
| equal to that of horse stealing in Texas
The accused ran away, and that act wa,
| Looked upon as an admission of guilt. He
was caught by a posse and arrangement
were made for his lynching. Field inter
/ fered, organized an impron,r1tu COURT go