The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-04-12
Born In Connecticut.

Justice Field was born at Haddam, Conn +,
on November 4, 1916, but after he was three
years old lived for ten years at Stock
bridge Mass, which place has been more
prominently identified with the remark
able family of which he was only one OF
many distinguished members.
His father was Rev. David ID. Field, d.
D., whose fame filled all New England and
who was a pioneer in the religious world
of his time. Cyrus w. Field, famous as the
protector Of the Atlantic cable: David Dud-
ley Field, the eminent lawyer, and Rev. DIR.
Henry NJ. Field, the noted author and re-
ligious editor, were his brothers, while
their sister was the mother of Justice
Brewer.
Mr.. Field was a member of CALIFORNIA;
first state legislature. having been chosen a
member of the assembly and of the judi
ciary committee. He did for California
what his elder brother, David Dudley Field,
had already done for New York-namely
framed the laws Of the new state.
In 1857, up to which time he enjoyed an
extensive law practice. he was elected
judge of the supreme court, of which he be-
came chief justice two years later. II
was from this position that he assembled
TO the bench of the supreme court of the
United States in 1863.
Narrow Escape from Murder.
Perhaps the most exciting event of JUS
tce Fields life was his narrow escape from
death at the hands of Judge Terry in the
railroad depot at Lathrop, Cal. Justice
Field had recently rendered an adverse de-
cision in the celebrated Althea Hill case, by
which she was deprived of enjoying the
result of Judge Sullivan's decision in the
superior court of San Francisco, that de-
cision having established her as the wife
of Senator Sharon.
Miss Hill, or Mrs. Sharon, she called
herself was afterward married to Judge
w g N hAr
case She, with her husband, entered the
dining-room at Lathrop, and, seeing JUS
tice Field there, pointed him out 10 Judge
Terry. Terry, who was an intensely pas
sionate man. advanced, at the same time
drawing his revolver Before he had time
to use his weapon, however. United States
Deputy Marshal Maggie. who had been
specially detailed as Justice Fields body
guard, whipped out his revolver and shot
Terry dead.
In 1877 Justice Field was one Of the Is
members Of the commission appointed by
congress to decide upon the counting of the
electoral vote for president He was one of
the seven members who voted that the dis
puted votes should be cast for Mr. Tilden,
the other eight voting for Mr.. Hayes, who
was accordingly declared elected.
Retires from the bench.
Justice Fields retirement from the SUI
preme court bench occurred December 1.
1897 and Attorney-Genera McKenna, of
California, shortly afterwards was nom-
mated to succeed him. He rendered his res
ignation in April, 1897, to take effect De-
cember l. The president In his letter of
acceptance of the resignation wrote:
Upon your retirement both the bench
and the country will sustain a great loss,
but the high character and great ability
of your work will live and long be remem-
bered not only by your colleagues. but by
your grateful fellow countrymen."
The dead justice made the formal an
nouncement of his resignation to his col
leagues on the bench in a long letter sketch
ing his own and the courts history during
his extended service. In one part he said:
ut is a pleasant thing in my memory that
my appointment came from President Lin
coin, of whose appointees l am the last sur
vivor. Up to that time there had been no
representative here of the Pacific coast.
new empire had arisen in the west,
whose laws were those of another country.
The land titles were from Spanish and
Mexican grants, both of which were often
overlaid by the claims of the first settlers.
To bring order out Of this confusion con-
gress passed an act providing for another
seat on this bench, with the intention that
IL should be filled by some one familiar
with these conflicting titles and with the
mining laws of the coast, and as IL hap
pened that / had framed the principal OF
these laws and was. moreover, chief justice
OF California, II was the wish of the SEN
ators and representatives of that state, as
well as those from oregon, that / should
succeed to the new position. At their re-
quest Mr.. Lincoln sent my name TO the
senate and the nomipation was unanimous
ly confirmed.
His. Work ms Jurist.
During his incumbency he said he alone
had written 620 opinions, which, with 81 In
the circuit court and 1865 i'm the California
supreme court, made up total of 1.042
cases decided by him in his life He took
issue with the styling of the court as an
aristocratic feature OF a republican gov
eminent, and said II Is the most demo-
cratic OF ALL 1T carries" he wrote,
neither the purse nor the sword. but IL
possesses the power of declaring the law.
and In that is found the safeguard which
keeps the whole mighty fabric of govern
ment from rushing to destruction"
The court replied In very feeling letter
and later called in a body and babe him
farewell. Since his retirement-he had lived
quietly In his old home, facing the eastern
section Of the capitol grounds.