The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-12
GREAT JUR|ST'S WORK
Long and Shining Record of
the Late Justice Field.
Of A NOTABLE FAMILY
His Career in CaIifornia--At-
tempts on His Life.

New York, April r-Stephen Johnson
| Field was born Nov. 4. 1916, at Haddam.
Conn, the son Of the Rev. David D. Field,
D. D., and was brother Of Cyrus W.
Field, David Dudley Field and the Rev.
Henry Martyr Field, each of whom won
more than national fame. Cyrus w. by
laying the first Atlantic cable David Dud-
ley as lawyer, and Henry Martyr as a
| preacher and writer on religious topics.
The life of Stephen ]. Field has been
since is youth that of d leader among men
and filled with incidents characteristic of
the era of development in the United
States. As administrator of law and JUS
! tee in California in the frontier days he
had many thrilling experiences and since
| that time his life was twice attempted by
! persons whose interests had been affected
adversely by his judicial decisions.
| When years old his parents moved from
| Haddam, Conn, to Stockbridge, Mass,
were lived for ten years. In 1923 ne
| accompanied his sister TO Asia Minor, her
| her husband the Rev Joseph Brewer, hav-
ing been sent on an educational mission 10
| the Greeks. He spent two and a half years
IN the East, most of the time in Smyrna or
| Athens, and while there acquired such
| knowledge Of the modern Greek language
that he was able to speak and write it
| with ease.
At the age Of 1s years he returned to
America and in 1893 entered Williams Col
lege, where he was graduated in 1897 in
the highest honors his class. He then
entered the office of his brother David
Dudly Field, in New York as a student
of law, and in 1S41 was made his brothers.
partner, remaining in that position for Sc
ven years.
In 1S4S he travelled extensively in Europe,
and upon his return went to California
where he began the career which brought
him into public notice. Since that time
he had been one of the leading figures
and unique one, among the men in public
life in the United States
Mr.. Field sailed from New York to San
Francisco, and arrived later in the city on
Dec. %, 1S49. The gold excitement on the
coast was then at its height, and after
brief inspection of the field ne decided to
make his home in Marysville Cal. He ar
rived there early in January and found the
Town without government.
In the matter of law and justice and ad-
minlstration of civil affairs chaos reigned
He suggested that a local government be
formed and his advocacy of the jlan led
TO the holding of a caucus. He announced
himself as a candidate for the office of
mayor, or Aicade, as that officer was then
termed.
He had been in Marysville three days
when the caucus was held, and his chief
rival for the Office Of Alcade, who had been
there six days, announced him as a new
conner. He was elected, however, by a
majority of nine votes. The Mexican law
gave the Alcade but limited jurisdiction,
but Alcade Field exercised great powers
In his memoirs he says:
'As judicial officer I tried many cases,
both civil and criminal, and dictated the
form Of process suited to the exigency In
civil cases I always called jury II the
parties called one, and in criminal cases.
when theoffense was of Ugh grade, l went
through the form Of calling a grand jury
and having an indictment found. and in all
cases appointed an attorney to represent
the people and also the accused when ne
cessary."
He further says that till superseded by
officers under the State government he
continued to administer justice and super
intend municipal affairs in Marysville with
success, and that the place was as orderly
as New England village, though there
We're among its population, besides people
OF high character and refinement, des-
perate persons Of every description.
q
fornia after the state was admitted to the
union Stephen ]. Field was member OF
the assembly or Lower House and was
made a member Of the lower house. and
was madc member OF the Committee on
judiciary. Meantime he continued 70 prac
tee law till 1851, when ne was elected
Judge of the State Supreme Court for a
term of six years. In IS 80 e became Chief
Justice OF that bench.
Before the expiration OF his term as
Judge of the Supreme Court OF California.
in 1863, Judge Field was appointed by
President Lincoln as Associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court of the United States.
an office from which he did not retire TIL
made the record Of holding a place on
the nations judicial tribunal longer than
it had been held by any other incumbent
HIS nearest competitor for the honor was
Chief Justice Marshall. The first Chief JUS
tice Of the United States Supreme Court !
When Associate Chief Justice Field retired /
in 1897. after th.rty-four years Of service, /
he had held the office a few months longer /
than Chief Justice Marshall Of earlier /.
fame.
For selection 20 a place on the bench /.
OF the United States Supreme Court Judge I
Field had the support ot the entire Pacific /
coast delegation in Congress. consisting Of /
four Senator's and four Representative, /
OF whom FIVE were Democrats and three I
Republicans. all union men. While on the /
Supreme bench he was distinguished espe- !
ciauy for a minute knowledge q laws re- /
lating % mines and mining land claims and !
held high rank also IS constitutional +
lawyer.
Ike every man OF strong convictions /
and independence OF action in public lfs,
Justice Field had enemies. About thirty I
two years ago soon after taking he place &
on the United States supreme bench, JUS
tee Field received in the mai package I
containing an Internal machine. Tas ap-
yearance of the parcel aroused suspicion.
and he was prevented from opening g.
Invest cations proved the package contain
Cd a ueccsu.sm calculated 20 Kill any per
son who miEt open L without taking IN
usual precautions
on the inside Of the Id q the BOX II
closed in the package vas pasted Judge
Fields decision xhich terminated litigation
known in legal circles a. the Pueblo case.
and 5y which large number % specuGa
-nrs and sanafters who bad arrur-- Il IND