Series 5319
District Court (Second District) Minute books, 1852-1896.
1.20 cubic feet and 8 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
See history of the records' creator.
Summary of Records
Scope and Content
This series contains the minute books from the Territorial Second District Court in Beaver County, with actions from the criminal and civil divisions appearing throughout. Minute books document the daily proceedings of the court but are not transcripts of court cases. Business matters include court site and officers present, jury selection, judicial appointments, expense claims, as well as entries noting the day's proceedings of various cases. A typical case spans multiple dates and includes an indictment or indication of the filed complaint, procedural issues, presentation of the case, witness's names, the verdict, and precise sentencing or settlement. Numbered entries in this series document cases regarding bigamy, polygamy, cohabitation, violations of liquor and tobacco tariff laws, trespassing, illegal fencing and land disputes over preemptions and homesteads.
Research Note
Minute Book 7 covering dates 1887-1888 is missing. Book A Probate Court Trial and Case Records (1856-1874) and Minute Book 4 (1880-1881) are held at Southern Utah University.
More detailed information for the Territorial Second District Court may be found in case files, transcripts and information and indictment records. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Arrangement
Chronological by date.
Additional Forms
This series is available on microfilm.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public.
Use Restrictions
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Acquisition Information
These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.
Processing Information
This series was archivally processed by Jim Kichas and Emily Gurr in May 2008 as part of a NHPRC grant project designed to preserve the historic records of Utah's Fifth District Courts.
Other Finding Aids
Indexes: Some volumes are indexed. The indices are separate volumes in series 24247, GENERAL INDEXES, these books are alphabetical name indexes. They index the court minutes (Books A, B, A-1, 1-6, 7-9), and in some cases, case number, judgments and judgment dockets. Alphabetical name indexes for Minute Book and Naturalization A, B and C.
Related Material
Execution book from the District Court (Second District),
, contains further reference to the case information cited in this record book.
Indexing Terms
Container List
| Reel | Volume | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 1852-1855 |
| 1 | B | 1854-1856 |
| 1 | C | 1855-1865 |
| 2 | B | 1869-1881 |
| 3 | 2 | 1865-1879 |
| 4 | 3 | 1880 |
| 4 | 5 | 1881-1883 |
| 5 | 6 | 1883-1886 |
| 5 | 8 | 1888-1893 |
| 6 | 9 | 1893-1896 |
| 7 | 1 | 1874-1877 |
| 8 | Unlabeled | 1888-1889 |
| 8 | Unlabeled | 1889-1890 |
| 8 | K | 1884-1885 |