The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-13
THE LATE JUSTICE FIELD.
Some Good Stories of His Early Life
in California.

in California.
Mr.. Field did not stay long in San Fran
cisco, says the Baltimore Sun. His finan-
cial sky had become cloudy, and he took
a steamer 10 sail up to Sacramento and
Vernon. Sacramento was found half UNI
der water, and Vernon he discovered 10
be a solitary house, more than half sub
merged in the center of big lake. So he
pushed on with the steamer until the next
afternoon. when the BOAT landed at Nye's
Ranch, an adobe hut surrounded by lot
of tents, in which 1000 persons were llv-
ing. In the adobe house a barker was
shouting to the crowds: Come, gentle
men, All you that want lots, put your
names down. Come now; $3.50 for so by
100 feet"
But supposing a man puts his name
down and doesn't want the lots?" asked
young Field.
"Oh, you needn't take EN-" was the an
swer.
Mr.. Field subscribed for sixty-hve lots,
valued at $l6.250. He had only 500 to his
name. But he had New York papers an
nouncing his departure for the West. These
he circulated and was soon mistaken by
the crowd for the agent of Eastern capt.
tai instructed to buy California lots. The
prices went up, of course, and inside of
tlHtlN udSS ne ndu sofa small pOrVOn
Of his land for $25, COO The chamojs skin
hays he had bought to keep his gold dust
in ne sold earlier for $3.50, which furnished
him many "grub-stake,"
Justice at MarysvilIe.
On Jan. 10, 1880, Mr.. Field was elected
alcaide, or magistrate. of the town by nine
majority. and the name was changed 10
Marysviile in honor of the only American
woman in the place. In addition to this
he was made justice of the peace by the
Governor of the state, and exercised great
powers. A thief who had stolen 49, 500 from
a woman was brought before him. There
was no place to imprison him, and a fine
would not answer So the alcalde ordered
that twenty-five lashes be administered in
public place or the thiefs bare back.
They were given, and the thief was not
seen in the place after the fioggIng. A
husband and wife came to him one day
revilng each other and asking to be freed
from the ties of matrimony. Alcalde Field
sent them away arm in arm, with their
faces wreathed in smiles.
With one Judge w. r. Turner, who was
appointed to preside over the courts of
the district In which Marysville was To-
Gated, Mr. Field had serious trouble dur
ing his service as alcalde. Judge Turner
attempted to dsbar him, and, although
he was rebuked by the Supreme Court for
this action, he did ruin Mr.. Fields bust
ness. Finally Judge Turner'S enmity grew
so strong that he threatned 10 kill Mr.,
Field. The latter bought pistol and be-
gan TO practice the use of it. Judge Tur-
uer was cowed when his opponent showed
fight. and finally wrote and published an
apology.
Called Judge BarbOur's Bluff.
Pistols were in use in court and out in
| those days. A certain Judge Barbour, who
! had succeeded Judge Turner in Marys-
vile, after attacking Judge Field with
his tongue for opposing his reelection,
| challenged him to duel, which Field In
| stantly accepted. He allowed Judge Bar
| bour, through his second 10 choose that
| evening for the time, a room twenty feet
square for the place and the weapons,
| revolvers and bowie knives, the two prin-
| cipa1s TO use the revolvers first and then
| the bowie knives. II knew perfectly well
| that such terms could only come from a
| bully" wrote Judge Field in his book. Il
| saw that it was game of bluff he was
! playing" And this was, of course, the
! case, for Barbour wriggled out of it all,
| and then the newspapers ridiculed him.
| This exasperaJed Barbour, so that, as
! Judge Field says, ION the following morn
ing while in front of my Office gathering
up kindIng wood for a fire and having my
/
/ want in those days-Barbour came up, and
! placing a navy revolver near my head
cried out: Draw and defend yourself AS
| | had not observed his approach, l was
taken by surprise, but turning on him
! said: You Internal scoundrel, you cow
ardly assassin, you come behind my back
| and put your revolver to my head and tel
me TO draw; you haven't the courage &c
| shoot; shoot and be - There were al
~ a,I
was naturally supposed that, having car
ried 1t so far, he would go farther, but a;
soon as he found that l was not frightened
he turned away and left me-"
In those days men in California had tC
be walking arsenafs, and Mr.. Field was
seldom out of the fashion. Charles S
Fairfax, who was Barbour's second in the
| arrangements for the duel, was a Inca
descendant of The great Fairfax family
which figured so prominently in England
and Virginia. He was its tenth baron il
| direct line.
Saved Man From Lynchers.
Serving a term in the first California
legislature after its admission to state
hood, he had a rare experience in his
electioneering campaign, one of the mos
interesting incidents of his life happen.
ing at that period. While riding through
Grass Valley Field he CHANGED upon
lynch trial A poor fellow was charged
with stealing gold dust. and Field tarriet
to watch the strange proceedings. Dur
ing some delay in the trial. narrates thC
venerable justice, 81 invited everybody
present. jury included to join me in
glass in the saloon opposite. All accept
ed, the accused being left in the hands o.
an improvised constable. Believing, from
the prisoners appearance, that he haC
seen better days, i slipped out of the sa
loon when the drinking was well undel
way, and approaching the poor wretch
said: What is the case against you? Car
l help you? With tears in his eyes tn.
man replied L am innocent. l have
never stolen or cheated anyone; but
have no one to befriend me- Hurryins
back to the saloon, / exclaimed to tn,
Jurors: How is tins? You have M
cigars Mr. Barkeeper, please give tn,
gentlemen. the best you have, and let.
have another smile. 1t is not often YOU