Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-10-21
A JUSTICE RETIRES.
Stephen ]. Field, Of the Supreme
Court Quits the Bench.
PRESIDENT M'EIyLEY'S LETTER.
The Resignation Will Take Eject Decem.
Der l, but 1t Ii Understood That Mean.
while the Jurist Will Not Resume
His Seat on the Bench.

WASHINGTON, Oct l5-It was an
nounced at the supreme court yester-
day that Justice Stephen ]. Field, Of
California, had notified President Nc.
Kinley Of his intention to retire as a
member Of the court and had informed
his colleagues Of this fact. 1t is ex.
pected that his successor will be NOM
mated by the president Immediately
after the converting Of congress in De-
cember, and that Attorney General
McKenna, also Of California, will be
named for the office. Justice Field, it
is learned, notified the president last
April OF his intention to retire, but the
president did not acknowledge it until
October 0. A letter written by Mr..
Field, Of which the following is part,
was given out yesterday afternoon:
Supreme Court Of the United States, Wash
ington, October IL Dear Mr. Chief Justice and
Brethren Near the close Of last term, feeling
that the duties OF my office had become too ar.
duous for my strength, transmitted my resig-
nation to the president, to take OBJECT on the
first day OF December next, and this he has &C.
cepted with kindly expressions Of regard, as
will be seen from copy OF his letter, which is
as follows:
Hon Stephen J. Field. Associate Justice Of the
Supreme Court OF the United States.
Executive Mansion Washington. Oct 9.-My
Dear Sir: In April last, Chief Justice Fuller,
accompanied by Mr.. Justice Brewer, handed
me your resignation as associate justice Of the
United States to take effect December |, 1897
In hereby accepting your resignation. ]
wish to express my deep regret that
you feel compelled by advancing years to
sever your active connection with the court
Of which you have so long been a distin-
guished member Entering upon your great
Office in May. 1868, you will on the LIST OF next
December, have served upon this bench for a
period OF "a years and seven months, II term
longer than that OF any member OF the court
since Its creation and throughout period Of
special Importance in the history OF the coun-
try, occupied with MS grave public questions as
have ever confronted TINT tribunal for decision.
I congratulate you, therefore, most heartily
upon service OF such exceptional duration
fidelity and distinction Nor can overlook
that you received your commission from Abra-
ham Lincoln. and. gracously spared by u kind
Providence, have survived all the members OF
the court OF his appointment Upon your re-
trement both the bench and the country will
sustain great loss, but the high character and
great ability Of your work will live and long be
remembered, not only by your colleagues, but
by your grateful fellow countrymen With
personal esteem and sincere best wishes fol
your contentment and happiness during the
period Of rest which you have so well earned, !
am, dear SIR very truly yours,
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Justice Field then reviews his ca.
reer on the bench in his letter to his
associates Of the supreme court,
to which they make suitable reply,
expressing their profound regret at
the dissolution Of the ties which have
bound them together. After the ad.
iournment Of the court yesterday the
justices and the officers of the court
called in a body at Justice Fields
house and took official leave Of the re.
firing justice. Although his resigna-
ton does not take effect until Decem-
Der /, 1t is the understanding that Jus
tice Field will not resume his seat on
the bench during the interim.