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Title: Personal Reminiscences of Early Days in California with Other Sketches; To Which Is Added the Story of His Attempted Assassination by a Former Associate on the Supreme Bench of the State

Author: Stephen Field; George C. Gorham

Release Date: May 2, 2005 [EBook #15752]

Language: English

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Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Michael of Fortworth and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS IN CALIFORNIA, WITH OTHER SKETCHES.

BY

STEPHEN J. FIELD.

TO WHICH IS ADDED THE STORY OF HIS ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION BY A FORMER ASSOCIATE ON THE SUPREME BENCH OF THE STATE.

BY

HON. GEORGE C. GORHAM.

PRINTED FOR A FEW FRIENDS.

NOT PUBLISHED.

Copyright, 1893, by STEPHEN J. FIELD.

* * * * *

The following sketches were taken down by a stenographer in the summer of 1877, at San Francisco, from the narrative of Judge Field. They are printed at the request of a few friends, to whom they have an interest which they could not excite in others.

* * * * *

PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS IN CALIFORNIA, WITH OTHER SKETCHES.

INDEX.

Why and how I came to California.

First experiences in San Francisco.—Visit to Marysville, and elected First Alcalde of that District.

Experiences as Alcalde.

The Turner Controversy.

Running for the Legislature.

The Turner Controversy continued.

Life in the Legislature.

Friendship for David C. Broderick.

Legislation secured and beginning a new life.

The Barbour Difficulty.

    Removal from Marysville.—Life on the Supreme Bench.—End
    of Judge Turner.

    Career on the Supreme Bench of California, as described by
    Judge Baldwin.

THE ANNOYANCES OF MY JUDICIAL LIFE.

Rosy views of judicial life gradually vanishing.—Unsettled land titles of the State.—Asserted ownership by the State of gold and silver found in the soil.—Present of a Torpedo.

    Hostility to the Supreme Court after the Civil War.—The Scofield
    Resolution.

The Moulin Vexation.

The Hastings Malignity.

APPENDIX.

    Ex. A.—Notice of departure from New York for California, November
            13, 1849.

    Ex. B.—Aid at election of Alcalde by Wm. H. Parks.—A sketch
            of my opponent.

Ex. C.—Oath of office as Alcalde.

Ex. D.—Order of District Court imprisoning and fining me for alleged contempt of court; also Order expelling Messrs. Goodwin and Mulford and myself from the Bar; and Order imprisoning and fining Judge Haun for releasing me from imprisonment upon a writ of habeas corpus, and directing that the order to imprison me be enforced.

Ex. E.—Record of Proceedings in the Court of Sessions, when attempt was made to arrest its presiding Judge; and the testimony of the Clerk of the District Court in reference to its proceedings relating to myself and Judge Haun.

    Ex. F.—Petition of Citizens of Marysville to the Governor to suspend
            Judge Turner from office 249.

Ex. G.—Letters of Ira A. Eaton and A.M. Winn.

Ex. H, No. I.—Letters from Surviving Members of the Legislature of 1851, who voted to indefinitely postpone the proceedings for the impeachment of Judge Turner.

    Ex. H, No. II.—Letter of Judge Mott on the difficulty with Judge
            Barbour.

    Ex. I.—Letter of L. Martin, the friend of Judge Barbour in his
            street attack.

Ex. J.—Sections 4, 5, and 7 of the act of July 1, 1864, to expedite the settlement of titles to lands in California; and the act of March 8, 1866, to quiet the title to certain lands in San Francisco.

Ex. K.—Letter of Judge Lake giving an account of the Torpedo.

    Ex. L.—Extract from the Report of the Register and Receiver of the
            Land-Office in the matter of the contests for lands on the
            Soscol Ranch

* * * * *

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF MR. JUSTICE FIELD

INDEX.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF JUSTICE FIELD BY A FORMER ASSOCIATE ON THE STATE SUPREME BENCH

CHAPTER I The Sharon-Hill-Terry Litigation.

CHAPTER II Proceedings in the Superior Court of the State.

CHAPTER III Proceedings in the United States Circuit Court.

[Transcriber's note: there is no Chapter IV]

CHAPTER V Decision of the Case in the Federal Court.

CHAPTER VI The Marriage of Terry and Miss Hill.

CHAPTER VII The Bill of Revivor.

CHAPTER VIII The Terrys Imprisoned for Contempt.

CHAPTER IX Terry's Petition to the Circuit Court for a Release—Its Refusal—He Appeals to the Supreme Court—Unanimous Decision against Him there.

CHAPTER X President Cleveland refuses to Pardon Terry—False Statements of Terry Refuted.

CHAPTER XI Terry's continued Threats to Kill Justice Field—Return of the Latter to California in 1889.

CHAPTER XII Further Proceedings in the