Field's life, in 1889 U.S. Attorney General William Miller instructed US Marshal John Franks to appoint Deputy U.S.

As Terry walked towards the exit to the railroad station dining room, he struck Field from behind with such force that he knocked his glasses off.

[1] The United States Attorney in San Francisco filed a writ of habeas corpus for Neagle's release.

The circuit court issued the writ after a hearing and ordered Neagle's release.

The question for the court to decide, was the state obligated to obey the writ even though no national statute empowered the Attorney General to provide judges with bodyguards?