The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-10
AGED JURIST DEAD.
Justice Stephen j,
Field Passes Quiet
ly Away.
WIFE AT BEDSIDE.
Biographical Account of
the Leading Events of
Deceased's Life.

Washington, April 9.-Justice Ste
phen ]. FieId. Of the United States SUI
preme court retired, died at his home
in this city at $50 clock this evening,
Of kidney complications About his
bedside We're his wife and her sister,
Mrs. ]. Condit Smith. Justice David
J. Brewer. his nephew. Mrs. Edgerton
OF California, Mr.. Linton, his private
secretary, the Rev. Edward NJ. Mott,
rector Of the Church of the Advent, and
the family servants.
He had been unconscious since Sat
urday morning. and death came pain
lessly. Ever since Justice Fields re-
tirement from the supreme court bench,
Dec. l, 1897, he had enjoyed compare
lively good health. and being relieved
from the responsibilities he had borne
80 many years, became more cheerful
than formerly, and seemed to enjoy the
society OF friends and acquaintance
more than ever. All during the winter,
when the weather was fair, it was his
custom TO take daily drives about the
CITY, and he always returned refreshed.
About two weeks ago, however, he
took a longer ride than usual in an
open carriage, and contracted d severe
cold which rapidly developed the kid
ney troubles from which he had SUI
feTed. though but slightly. The dis
ease readily yielded to treatment, and
Thursday last he sat up for a time, but
Saturday morning change for the
worse took place. and about noon he
lost consciousness.
From that time he sank rapidly. and
expired al $50 o'clock. No arrange
ments have yet been made for the ~
neral, nor is it now known where he
will be buried. 1t is probable that mis-
remains Will be taken to Stockbridge
Mass, where are buried his father ana
mother and his brothers. Cyrus. Dub
ley and Jonathan, two sisters and
other members of the Field family. It
is possible, however that Mrs. Field
may decide TO take his remains TO Cal
ifOrnia, where a considerable part OF
his life was passed before President
Lincoln appointed him member OF the
supreme bench.
Justice and Mrs. Field never had any
children, and the only surviving mem
Der of his fathers family is the JUS
tees youngest brother DR.. Henry
Field, editor of the Evangelist. During
several years prior to his retirement
from the bench the Justices health at
times seemed on the point of breaking.
tNN AAE Li5 ActAlg "a II bAll Pug anu
in few days would again resume his
judicial duties.
For the past year or more those most
intimate with him knew that his men,
tai powers were becoming somewhat
impaired. The results of his long ca
reer Of great mental activity We're be-
ginning to show themselves.
Stephen Johnson Field was born at
Haddam, Conn. Nov. 4, 1916. He was
the son Of David Dudley Field and one
of four brothers who became so famous.
David Dudley Cyrus W. and Henry NJ.
Field being the other members of the
great quartet that made their names
known throughout the world.
His early boyhOOd was spent at Stock
bridge Mass. At the age Of 10, Stephen
j. Field went to Smyrna, where his sis
ter had married a missionary, the Rev.
Josiah Brewer who had undertaken an
educational mission to the Greeks and
he there acquired a knowledge of orr
entail languages. Returning to this
country after two and a half years he
later entered Williams College from
which he was graduated in 1887, at the
head of his class.
He then went to New York where he
entered the law office of his brother
David Dudley Field He was admitted
10 the bar and became a partner in the
nrm, remaining as such for seven years.
In lS4S he went TO Europe and spent
some time there travelling. In Novem-
Der, 1S49, he sailed for San Francisco
around Cape Horn, and entered upon
the practice Of law in the occidental
metropolis.
After a short time he moved to
Marysville q small mining camp, and
became one of the founders Of what
afterwards grew to be a thriving town.
When the little city was organized
Justice Field was elected alcalde Of the
place. This office carried with it the dig
nifty of mayor and at the same time i'm
posed all the duties of the bench.
Here the future justice dispensed jus
tice and made his name widely known
throughout the length and breadth Of
the growing commonwealth He was
fond Of talking Of his early days in Cal
ifornia and often said that the hapDiest
days Of his life were when he dealt out
Justice in MarysVille behind a drygoods
box
Justice Field. in a sketch prepared
by himself for the congressional direct
DRY, gave this brief outline of the du-
ties Of his office Of Alcalde:
Under Mexican law, the alcalde was
an officer Of limited jurisdiction. but
under the anomalous condition of af-
fairs, he was called upon to administer
justice, punish crime and enforce po-
lice regulations until relieved by Off
GERS under the new constitution