Series 4879
District Court (Third District) U.S. Commissioner Harmel Pratt's criminal docket book
Dates: 1889-1892.
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
Under the 1887 Edmunds-Tucker Law, commissioners appointed by the supreme court and district courts in the Territory of Utah had and could exercise all the powers and jurisdiction held by justices of the peace in the Territory. After statehood in 1896, jurisdiction passed from U.S. Commissioners to local justices of the peace.
This volume dockets actions taken in criminal cases before U.S. Commissioner Harmel Pratt. Each case recorded includes parties' names, date and actions taken. Charges are usually stated with notation of the complaint being filed. Cases pertain to adultery, unlawfully taking fish from public waters, rape , larceny, gambling, selling liquor, and unlawful cohabitation.
Arrangement
Alphanumerical.
Related Records
U.S. Commissioner criminal case docket book from the District Court (Third District), Series 4662, available at this institution, contains information on other cases heard by U.S. Commissioners in the same era and region.
U.S. Commissioner W.C. Jennings civil and criminal docket book from the District Court (Third District), Series 4878, available at this institution, contains information on other cases heard by U.S. Commissioners in the same era and region.
U.S. Commissioner Harmel Pratt's civil case docket books from the District Court (Third District), Series 4887, available at this institution, contains information on other cases heard by U.S. Commissioners in the same era and region.
U.S. Commissioner John W. Greenman's civil case docket book from the District Court (Third District), Series 4891, available at this institution, contains information on other cases heard by U.S. Commissioners in the same era and region.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public.
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Gaps in Series
Although an index exists to Docket 2, the location of that docket is unknown.
Processing Note
This series was processed by Jim Kichas in December 2009.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Separate index books exist; alphabetical by plaintiff meaning everything under "People" or "United States".
Indexing Terms
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.