CHAPTER XIII Attempted Assassination of Justice Field, Resulting in
Terry’s own Death at the Hands of a Deputy United
States Marshal.

CHAPTER XIV Sarah Althea Terry Charges Justice Field and Deputy
Marshal Neagle with Murder.

CHAPTER XV Justice Field’s Arrest and Petition for Release on
Habeas Corpus.

CHAPTER XVI Judge Terry’s Funeral—­Refusal of the Supreme Court
of California to Adjourn on the Occasion.

CHAPTER XVII Habeas Corpus Proceedings in Justice Field’s Case.

CHAPTER XVIII Habeas Corpus Proceedings in Neagle’s Case.

CHAPTER XIX Expressions of Public Opinion.

CHAPTER XX The Appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States,
and the Second Trial of Sarah Althea’s Divorce Case.

CHAPTER XXI Concluding Observations.

* * * * *

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

The most thrilling episode in the eventful life of Justice Field was his attempted assassination at Lathrop, California, on the 14th day of August, 1889, by David S. Terry, who had been Chief Justice of the State during a portion of Justice Field’s service on that bench.  Terry lost his own life in his desperate attempt, by the alertness and courage of David S. Neagle, a Deputy United States Marshal, who had been deputed by his principal, under an order from the Attorney-General of the United States, to protect Justice Field from the assassin, who had, for nearly a year, boldly and without concealment, proclaimed his murderous purpose.  The motive of Terry was not in any manner connected with their association on the State supreme bench, for there had never been any but pleasant relations between them.

Terry resigned from the bench in 1859 to challenge Senator Broderick of California to the duel in which the latter was killed.  He entered the Confederate service during the war, and some time after its close he returned to California, and entered upon the practice of the law.  In 1880 he was a candidate for Presidential elector on the Democratic ticket.  His associates on that ticket were all elected, while he was defeated by the refusal of a number of the old friends of Broderick to give him their votes.  It is probable that his life was much embittered by the intense hatred he had engendered among the friends of Broderick, and the severe censure of a large body of the people of the State, not especially attached to the political fortunes of the dead Senator.  These facts are mentioned as furnishing a possible explanation of Judge Terry’s marked descent in character and standing from the Chief-Justiceship of the State to being the counsel, partner, and finally the husband of the discarded companion of a millionaire in a raid upon the latter’s property in the courts.  It was during the latter stages of this litigation that Judge Terry became enraged against Justice Field, because the latter, in the discharge of his judicial duties, had been compelled to order the revival of a decree of the United States Circuit Court, in the rendering of which he had taken no part.