J.W. Terry's letter consists of a biographical sketch and defense of his relative, former Chief Justice of California Supreme Court, David Smith Terry (1823-1889), of California, who was shot dead in Lathrop, Calif. train station after threatening U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1863-1897), Stephen J. Field (1816-1899), over a personal matter involving Terry's wife, Sarah Althea Hill Terry (1853-1937). David Terry, a southerner of extreme views, was notorious for violent conduct, having stabbed a member of San Francisco Vigilance Committee (1851) and killed political rival, U.S. Senator David C. Broderick (1820-1859) in a duel.
From the description of J.W. Terry Letter, 1889. (University of the Pacific). WorldCat record id: 34661750