Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1888 — SARAH HAD A REVOLVER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SARAH HAD A REVOLVER

SHARON’S ALLEGED WIFE AGAIN CREATES A SENSATION. She Openly Accrues Justice Field of Having Been Bribed —Her Husband Knocks the Marshal Down Both are Dragged from the Court-Room and Locked Up. [San Francisco (Cal.) special.] The celebrated Sharon divorce case culminated in this city in a sensational attack upon Justice Field in court, which resulted in placing Sarah Althea bbaron, now Mrs. David L. Terry, in jail for thirty days and her husband, Judge Terry, in jail for six months. The Supreme Court of California a few months ago announced a decision in the case sustaining the decision of the State Superior Court, which declared that Mrs. Terry had been legally married to the late ex-United States Senator William Sharon, and that she was entitled to a portion of Sharon's estate. A short time after the announcem ant of this decision the executors of the will of Sharon applied to

the United States Circuit Court for a bill to revive and carry into execution a degree of the Circuit Court entered in September, 188 >, declaring the alleged marriage contract to be a forgery and directing its cancellation and enjoining its use in any manner. Mrs. Terry entered a demurrer, and that demurrer was overruled. The decision was read by United States Justice Field, and was concurred in by Judge Sawyer of the Circuit Court and Judge Sabin of the District Court. The announcement made that the decision would be rendered drew a large crowd to the United States court-room, and about two hundred lawyers, besides all parties directly interested in the case, occupied the inclosure immediately in front of the Judges. Judge David 8. Terry, who has been chi >f counsel for his wife during the entire litigation, sat by the side of his wife and both paid close attention to the reading of the decision. Mrs. Terry appeared very nervous at the outset, and as ' the reading progressed her agitation increased. Finally, when Judge Field was about half through reading, Mrs. Terry jumped to her feet and asked the Judge if he was going to order hei to give up her marriage contract. Judge Field quietly told her to sit down. Mrs. Terry's face turned white with passion and she cried: “Justice Field, we hear that you have been bought. We would like to know if that is so, and what figures you hold yourself at. It see us that no person can get justice in this court unless he has a sack." Judge Field turned to Marshal Franks and said: “Marshal, remove that woman from the courtroom." The Marshal advanced toward Mrs. Terry. She took no notice of him, but broke out with oaths and vulgar language. Franks grasped her arm, and in an instant Judge Terry arose and, exclaiming that no living man should touch his Wife, struck Franks a terrible blow on the neck with his fist which sent the Marshal rolling across the floor. Franks regained himself and with several deputies and bystanders rushed upon Terry. He was quickly removed. Mrs. Terry was also taken from the room and locked up in the Marshal’s office. A deputy was placed at the door, upon whom Terry advanced and demanded admission. The deputy refused the request. Terry, drawing from his pocket a dan-gerous-looking dirk eight inches long, with a curse held it above his head and declared that he would stab any man who tried to keep him away. The deputy and several others jumped upon him. A desperate struggle followed and all the mon fell to the floor. The knife was finally taken away from Terry without any one being injured. Terry was locked up in the room with his wife. A sachel which Mrs. Terry had dropped in the court-room during the excitement was found to contain an English bulldog revolver with all its six chambers loaded. Marshal Franks said that she was trying to open the sachel just before she was put out of the court-room. Mar-

shal Franks entered later the room where Terry and his wife were confined, and Mrs. Terry at once made a violent attack upon him and beat him about the face and head. She was soon quieted, and a strong guard was placel in the room. The wildest excitement had prevailed in the court room and corridors during the disturbance. As soon ns quiet was restored Judge Field resumed the reading of the decision. When he had concluded the Judges retired to their chambers. Two hours later they again appeared in the court-room and announced the penalty they had to inflict upon Judge Terry and his wife. Neither of the parties were allowed in court while sentence was pronounced. Judge Field ordered that Terry be imprisoned in the county jail of Alameda for six months and that Mrs. Terry be imprisoned for thirty days. No alternative in the way of fine was allowed, and the prisoners were taken to jail. David S. Terry was formerly Judge of the Supreme Court of California. While holding that position in 1856 he became.involved in a quarrel with David C. Broderick, who was then United States Senator from California. A uel followed, and Broderick was killed.

SARAH ALTHEA HILL.

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE FIELD.