Political Figure, Lawyer. A native of Kentucky, Terry moved to California after serving in the Mexican War. In 1855, he was appointed a Justice on the California Supreme Court. In 1857 he became Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and served as such until his resignation in 1859. A strong supporter of Southern rights and slavery, he soon clashed with United States Senator David Broderick and on September 13, 1859, he shot and mortally wounded Broderick in a duel. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he left California to join the Confederate Army and was commissioned an officer in the Texas Cavalry. At war's end, Terry returned to California and began practicing law. In 1885, he was hired by Sarah Althea Hill to serve as her lawyer in her case against ex-Senator William Sharon, claiming that she was his wife by contract and thus wanted a divorce and alimony. Ultimately losing the case, Terry would place the blame upon Supreme Court Justice Stephen Johnson FIeld. On August 14, 1889, Terry confronted Justice Field at the train station in Lathrop, California and in the resulting altercation, was shot and killed by Field's bodyguard, Deputy Marshal David Butler Neagle.
Political Figure, Lawyer. A native of Kentucky, Terry moved to California after serving in the Mexican War. In 1855, he was appointed a Justice on the California Supreme Court. In 1857 he became Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and served as such until his resignation in 1859. A strong supporter of Southern rights and slavery, he soon clashed with United States Senator David Broderick and on September 13, 1859, he shot and mortally wounded Broderick in a duel. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he left California to join the Confederate Army and was commissioned an officer in the Texas Cavalry. At war's end, Terry returned to California and began practicing law. In 1885, he was hired by Sarah Althea Hill to serve as her lawyer in her case against ex-Senator William Sharon, claiming that she was his wife by contract and thus wanted a divorce and alimony. Ultimately losing the case, Terry would place the blame upon Supreme Court Justice Stephen Johnson FIeld. On August 14, 1889, Terry confronted Justice Field at the train station in Lathrop, California and in the resulting altercation, was shot and killed by Field's bodyguard, Deputy Marshal David Butler Neagle.
Bio by: Mary Smith
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