The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-04-15
-SUPREME JUSTICE
FIELD PASSES AWAY
The Veteran Jurist Dies in His 83d
Year at His Home in
Washington.
LONG SERVICE ON THE BENCH
Was Appointed by Lincoln and
Wore the Ernine for "a Years
Passed on Many Fam-
GUS Gases.
LONG SERVICE ON THE BENCH

Washington, April 11..-Justice
Stephen j.. Field, of the United
States supreme court, died at
his home on Capitol Hill, in this city,
at Gao o'clock last evening, OF kidney
complications. About his bedside were
his wife and her sister, Mrs. j.. Condit
Smith, Justice David j. Brewer, his
nephew; Mrs. Edgerton, of California;
MIR. Linton, his private secretary; Rev.
Edward NJ. Mott, rector of the Church
pr the Advent, and the family servants.
He had been unconscious since Satur-
day morning, and death came pain
lessly.
Ever since Justice Fields retirement
Der /, 1897, he had enjoyed compara-
lively good health. About two weeks
ago he took Il long ride In an open ear
riage and contracted a severe cold,
which rapidly developed the kidney
troubles from which he had suffered,
though but slightly, for some time.
The disease rapidly yielded to treat
ment and on Thursday last he sat up
for n time and seemed quite himself
again, but on Saturday morning Il
change for the worse took place and
about noon he lost consciousness.
From that time he sank rapidly and
expired at $50 O'clock.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral, nor is it now known
where lie will be buried. Justice and
Mrs. Field never had any children and
the only surviving member of his
fathers family is the Justices young
est brother, DIR. Henry Field, editor of
the Evangelist.
One Of Famous Family.
Stephen johnson Field was born at
lIaddnm, Conn.,, November 4. 1916. He
was the son of David Dudley Field, and
one of four brothers who became
famous, David Dudley, Cyrus w. and
Henry NJ. Field being the other MEM
bers of the great quartet who made
their names known throughout the
world. His early boyhood was spent
Ut Stockbridge. Mass. At the early
rye of 13 Stephen J. Field went to
Smyrna, where his sister had married
o missionary, Rev. Joseph Brewer, who
had undertaken an educational mis-
sion to the Greeks, and he there ac-
CURED a knowledge of oriental Ian
guuges. Returning to this country
after two and n half years he later en-
tered Williams college, from which he
graduated in 1897, at the head of his
class. He went to New York, where
he entered the law Office of his broth
er, David Dudley Field. He was adj
mitted to the baA and became n part
ner in the firm, remaining as such for
seven years. In 1S4S lie Went to Eu-
rope and spent some time there trav-
cling. In November, 1S49, he sailed
for San Francisco around Cape Horn.
and entered upon the practice of law
in the occidental metropolis. After n
short time he moved to M~arysville, a
small mining camp, and became one
of the founders of what afterSard
grew to be q thriving town. When the
little city was organized Justice Field
was elected the ulcade of the peace.
This Office carried with it the dignity
Of mayor and at the same time inn
posed all the duties of the bench.
Here the future jurist dispensed
Justice and made his name widely
known throughout the length and
breadth of the growing common
wealth. He was elected n member of
the first legislature of the state and
was influential in securing legislation
favorable to the miners and aided in
the passage of laws regulating the
civil and criminal procedure of the
state. At the close of the session he
returned to Marysville and devoted
six years to the practice of his profess
SION. He was elected a Judge of the
supreme court of California in 1857
for the term of six years. In 1850 he
became chief justice, succeeding Chief
Justice David S. Terry. In 1868 PPresi-
dent Lincoln appointed him asess9eASXte
Justice of the supreme court&oASshGe
United States, and he held thatApOsi-
ton until his retirement on December
l, 1897. During the latter years of
his service on the bench he was in very
feeble health. His term was the long
est in the history of that tribunal. The
great chief justice, John Marshall,
wore the ermine for a period extend
Ing over thirty-four years. 1t was the
ambition of the late Justice Field to
surpass this record, and he succeeded
In doing so by a few months. His
friends, fearing that the strain OF hard
work would shorten his useful life,.
advised him to retire from his ardu-
Gus duties. But with the indefatiga-
Bile perseverance he chung to his task
until the latter part of 1897, when he
had the satisfaction of having fu1flieu
the ambition of his life.
His Career on the Bench.
During that term of more than a
third of Il century he was concerned III
some of the most important cases ever
passed upon by the supreme court.
Among the prominent decisions was
the famous test oath case, III which ho
gave the casting vote, and wrote tho
opinion of the court annulling the
validity of "ironclad" oath. His dis.
senting opinions in the confscation
cnSes. the legal tender cnses and in the