Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-11

STEPHEN J. Field, who was for thirty
four wears a Justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States. died at his nome
I'm Washington, Sunday evening, in the e5d
year OF his age. He was native OF Coh-
necticut, and was one OF four famous
brothers. the other three being the late
David Dudley Field, the distinguished
lawyer; the late Cyrus Field the founoer
OF the Atlantic telegraph, and Rev. Dr'
Henry NJ Field, the well-known preacher
author. and editor His long lie was iuli
of stirring adventure. At the age or -
he went to Smyrna with his sister. who
had married missionary, the Rev. Josiah
Brewer, who had undertaken an educa-
tional mission to the Greeks, and he there
acquired a knowledge of Oriental lam
guages.
Returning to this country he entered
Williams College, from which he grady
ated I'm 1887. ard then went 20 New York,
where he entered the law Office OF his
brother. David Dudley Field. lie was ad-
mitted to the bar and became a partner
in the firm, remaining so for seven
years.
In November, 1919, Justice Field sailed
for San Francisco, around Cape Horn.
ana entered upon the practice of law In
| the Pacific coast metropolis. After a
short time he moved 10 Marysvlle,
small mining camp, and became one oil
the founders of what afterwards grew to
| ha
| was organized Justice Field was elected
the alcalde of the place, an office which
carried with it the dignity of a mayor anu
at the same time imposed all the duties
Of the bench. Here he dispensed
Justice in such a way as to make
his name widely known throughout the
length and breadth OF the growing Com
monwealth. He was elected Judge
of the Supreme Court OF Califor-
MIA in 1851, for the term or SIX
| years. In 1859 he became Chief Justice,
! succeeding Chief Justice David S. Terry
In 1868 President Lincoln appointed him
Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court
of the United States, and he held that
position until his retirement, on Decem'
Der l. 1897.
During his term of service Of more
than a third of century on the Supreme
Court bench he was concerned in some o
the most important cases ever passed
upon by that tribunal. Among the promi
nent decisions was the famous test oati
case, in which he gave the casting vote
and wrote the opinion Of the court an
nulling the validity of the Iron clad
oath. His dissenting opinions I'm the con
fscation cases, the legal tender cases, an
in the New orleans slaughter-house cas-
attracted wide attention.
During his long service on the bench h
was also before the public in othel
ways than as a Justice of the Suprem
Court He was a member of the Hayes
Tilden Electoral Commission In 1871 ant
voted with the Democratic minority. il
1880 he received sixty-five votes for tn
, presidential nomination at the Cincinnati
, | Democratic Convention, on the first ballo
In 1873 he was appointed by the Governo
of the State of California as one of tn
, | commission TO examine the code OF law
| of that State. and in 1869 the regents G
, the University of California made him
: professor of law in that institution.
p In 1889 one Of the most sensations
events of his remarkably active caree
o brought him sharply before the publi
Sarah Althea Hill Terry had brought su
? against ex-senator Sharon, a Californi
multi-millionaire. Justice Field was O
f the bench The outcome of the case wa
: unfavorable to the plaintiff, and engei
o dered in her feelings of hatred for tn
iurist This eliminated in an attempt Q
her part to chastise the aged Justice
i the dining hall, or depot clearinghouse, ;
q Lathrop Cal. a railway junction. Juds
= Terry, who had been her attorney i'm II
n suit against Sharon. and who afterwarC
It married her. interfered. and when it seer
t ed that he was attempting to do violen'
e to Justice Fields person. David Maggie,
: United States deputy marshal, drew
revolver and shot and killed Judge Teri
5. Nagle was acquitted.