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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.