After Wells moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, Stearns continued to practice law in Chicopee for several years. He eventually moved to Springfield himself, where he practiced with E. D. Beach and later with Marcus Perrin Knowlton.[3]
In 1872, Stearns was again the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. However, when gubernatorial nominee Charles Sumner declined to run, Stearns chose to do the same.[3]
From 1872 to 1874, Stearns was the District Attorney of the Western District of Massachusetts.[3]
In February 1886, Stearns was appointed by President Grover Cleveland to serve as United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.[3]
In 1887, he prosecuted Alexander Graham Bell on the grounds that Bell had used fraud and misrepresentation to obtain a patent. Bell won the case.[5][6]
Stearns stepped down on August 31, 1887, citing ill health.[7]
Later life and death
In 1894, Stearns moved to Brookline, Massachusetts. The Hampden County Bar Association held a dinner in his honor before he left, but he was unable to attend due to ill health.[8]
Stearns died on December 31, 1894, at his home in Brookline.[1]
Personal life
Stearns married Emily Goodnow on May 17, 1855, in Brooklyn. They had two daughters, Mary Caroline Stearns (1856–1876) and Emily Spaulding Stearns (1858–1870).[3][9]
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