David S. Terry of California, dueling judge

The author examines the life and motives of an early California man, David S. Terry. A man from Texas who came to California in the 1849 gold rush, he soon became a lawyer rather than a prospector and was made a Supreme Court Justice of the State by the time he was 29. Being a man of the South, he was touchy on points of honor and short tempered, involved in several violent altercations in the courtroom in his early career, held prisoner by the Vigilantes of San Francisco, fought and won a duel with another politician and after a long life up career ups and downs, died violently over the honor of his second wife.
I found this interesting because of the window into early California law and politics, the conflict over state's rights and show more federal rights which led up to the Civil War, and the formation of the second constitution of California. The characters were somewhat beyond my understanding, being from another time and culture, so I wasn't drawn to any of them or really the story itself. It was dry and tedious in spots, but as I say, interesting for the history shown. I won't be keeping it or reading it again. show less