As was the custom at the time, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Fields was assigned to assist the California Circuit Court.
He was coincidentally assigned to the Sharon vs. Sharon case.
After William Sharon died on November 13, 1885, his son and son-in-law carried on the case.
Hill/Sharon produced a handwritten will that she said she had found in his desk.
Many were suspicious of its authenticity.
It gave her all of Sharon's estate.
Hill's expenses were primarily bankrolled by her friend, Mary Ellen Pleasant, an elderly black entrepreneur.
The lawsuit propelled Hill into the national spotlight and earned her the nickname, The Rose of Sharon.
She married her attorney Terry on January 7, 1886 in Stockton.

In January 1886, a U.S. Circuit Court Judge and a U.S. District Court Judge sitting as a Circuit Judge rendered a decision against the defendants.
They ruled that the marriage contract was a forgery and required the plaintiffs to turn over the document so that it could be nullified by the court.
The Terrys refused to comply with the Court's order and were jailed.
They returned to the court in March 1888, seeking further relief.

On September 3, 1888, Field delivered the final Circuit Court opinion.
He ruled that the will was a forgery.
Sarah Althea Hill suddenly stood up, screamed obscenities at the judge, and fumbled in her handbag for her revolver.
When Marshal John Franks and others attempted to escort her from the courtroom, attorney Terry rose to defend his wife and drew his Bowie knife.
He hit Franks, knocking out a tooth, and the marshals drew their handguns.
Spectators subdued Terry and led him out of the courtroom, where he pulled his Bowie knife and threatened all around him.
David Neagle was among the Marshals present and put his pistol in Terry's face.
 Both Terrys were subdued and placed under arrest.
Justice Field had them returned to the courtroom and sentenced both to jail for contempt of court.
David Terry got  six months in jail, and Sarah Terry got one month.

While being transported to jail and while serving their sentences, Terry and his wife repeatedly threatened Justice Field.
The Terrys suffered several more setbacks.
Both David and Althea were indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges arising out of their behavior in the courtroom before Justice Field.
In May 1889, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the order that invalidated Althea Terry's marriage contract with Senator Sharon.
Then, in July, with only one of the four judges who had earlier ruled in their favor, the California Supreme Court reversed itself.
It ruled that because Althea Terry and Sharon had kept their alleged marriage a secret, they were never legally married.
While in jail or shortly afterward, pregnant Althea suffered a miscarriage.

Hill initially won the first case in December 1884.
Judge Jeremiah F. Sullivan declared her the legal wife of William Sharon and awarded her alimony and the right to half of his accumulated wealth since the date of their marriage.
Because of continuing counter-suits and appeals, Hill never received any of Sharon's money.

William Sharon died in November 1885.
Hill produced a handwritten will, supposedly made not long before his death, that she said she found in his desk.
 Those who knew Sharon doubted it's authenticity.
It gave Sharon's entire estate to Hill and nothing to his son Frederick and son-in-law Frank Newlands.
On January 7, 1886, Hill married one of her lawyers, former California Supreme Court Justice David Smith Terry.
Terry was well known for killing Senator David C. Broderick in a duel in 1859.
Hill and Terry were married at St. Mary's Church in Stockton, California, Terry's home town.

The Sharon family continued to fight Hill.

Field ruled that the will was a forgery.
Sarah Althea Hill suddenly stood up, screamed obscenities at the judge, and fumbled in her handbag for her revolver.
When Marshal John Franks and others attempted to escort her from the courtroom, attorney Terry rose to defend his new wife and drew his Bowie knife.
He hit Frank, knocking out a tooth, and
As was the custom at the time, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Fields was assigned to assist the California Circuit Court. He was coincidentally assigned to the Sharon vs. Sharon case. After William Sharon died on November 13, 1885, his son and son-in-law carried on the case. Hill/Sharon produced a handwritten will that she said she had found in his desk. Many were suspicious of its authenticity. It gave her all of Sharon's estate. Hill's expenses were primarily bankrolled by her friend, Mary Ellen Pleasant, an elderly black entrepreneur. The lawsuit propelled Hill into the national spotlight and earned her the nickname, The Rose of Sharon. She married her attorney Terry on January 7, 1886 in Stockton.
In January 1886, a U.S. Circuit Court Judge and a U.S. District Court Judge sitting as a Circuit Judge rendered a decision against the defendants. They ruled that the marriage contract was a forgery and required the plaintiffs to turn over the document so that it could be nullified by the court. The Terrys refused to comply with the Court's order and were jailed. They returned to the court in March 1888, seeking further relief.
On September 3, 1888, Field delivered the final Circuit Court opinion. He ruled that the will was a forgery. Sarah Althea Hill suddenly stood up, screamed obscenities at the judge, and fumbled in her handbag for her revolver. When Marshal John Franks and others attempted to escort her from the courtroom, attorney Terry rose to defend his wife and drew his Bowie knife. He hit Franks, knocking out a tooth, and the marshals drew their handguns. Spectators subdued Terry and led him out of the courtroom, where he pulled his Bowie knife and threatened all around him. David Neagle was among the Marshals present and put his pistol in Terry's face.  Both Terrys were subdued and placed under arrest. Justice Field had them returned to the courtroom and sentenced both to jail for contempt of court. David Terry got  six months in jail, and Sarah Terry got one month.
While being transported to jail and while serving their sentences, Terry and his wife repeatedly threatened Justice Field. The Terrys suffered several more setbacks. Both David and Althea were indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges arising out of their behavior in the courtroom before Justice Field. In May 1889, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the order that invalidated Althea Terry's marriage contract with Senator Sharon. Then, in July, with only one of the four judges who had earlier ruled in their favor, the California Supreme Court reversed itself. It ruled that because Althea Terry and Sharon had kept their alleged marriage a secret, they were never legally married. While in jail or shortly afterward, pregnant Althea suffered a miscarriage.
Hill initially won the first case in December 1884. Judge Jeremiah F. Sullivan declared her the legal wife of William Sharon and awarded her alimony and the right to half of his accumulated wealth since the date of their marriage. Because of continuing counter-suits and appeals, Hill never received any of Sharon's money.
William Sharon died in November 1885. Hill produced a handwritten will, supposedly made not long before his death, that she said she found in his desk.  Those who knew Sharon doubted it's authenticity. It gave Sharon's entire estate to Hill and nothing to his son Frederick and son-in-law Frank Newlands. On January 7, 1886, Hill married one of her lawyers, former California Supreme Court Justice David Smith Terry. Terry was well known for killing Senator David C. Broderick in a duel in 1859. Hill and Terry were married at St. Mary's Church in Stockton, California, Terry's home town.
The Sharon family continued to fight Hill.
Field ruled that the will was a forgery. Sarah Althea Hill suddenly stood up, screamed obscenities at the judge, and fumbled in her handbag for her revolver. When Marshal John Franks and others attempted to escort her from the courtroom, attorney Terry rose to defend his new wife and drew his Bowie knife. He hit Frank, knocking out a tooth, and 
Sarah Althea Hill