Series 3851

District Court (Third District : Salt Lake County) Coroners' inquest case files, 1870-1871; 1886-1937.

5 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

These files contain the results of coroners inquests from various precincts in Salt Lake County.

Scope and Content

Inquests, or hearings, were to be held on the bodies of persons who were supposed to have died by unlawful means to determine the cause of death and whether or not it was felonious. In practice, this also included inquests on those individuals whose deaths may have been natural, but where the cause was not certain. These files contain the results of those inquests from various precincts around the county.
Prior to 1896, the records were created in the county coroner's office, and occasionally in a precinct court. After 1896 the position of coroner was abolished and the records were created in various precinct courts of Salt Lake County: City Court (combining precincts within Salt Lake City), Salt Lake City Precinct and other numbered precincts within the city (later part of the City Court), 1st Precinct, 2nd Precinct, 3rd Precinct, 4th Precinct (Magna), 6th Precinct, 10th Precinct (Bingham), 11th Precinct (Murray). For safekeeping, papers were filed with the probate court until 1896and thereafter with the district court for the county.
Until the turn of the century, each file rarely contained a complete transcript of the hearing. It usually contained a copy of the verdict, any subpoena of witnesses, and a venire (warrant to the sheriff to summon jurors). Record of the coroner's determination of cause of death in those instances where an inquest was deemed unnecessary is also included.
By about 1915, each file regularly contains a copy of the transcript of the inquest providing the date and location of the hearing, the names of the officials present, a complete copy of the testimony of the witnesses under questioning by the county attorney, a copy of the verdict, and a certification by the stenographer that the typed transcript was complete and accurate. The file also normally contains a batch of related papers which include a certified, typed one page summary of the hearing and the conclusions; a copy of the verdict signed by all three jurors; a venire; andsubpoenas of witnesses. Occasionally exhibits in the case are included: photos, diagrams, toxicology reports, etc.

Research Note

Sometimes the transcript or the related papers will be missing from a file, rarely because they were assigned separate file numbers. Aliases also resulted in occasional separated files. Not all the expected files are present. There are none before 1870, between 1871 and 1886, or after 1937, although inquests were presumably held before 1870 and up to the creation of a state Medical Examiner's Office in 1965. There are also missing years: 1887, 1894, 1931-1932, 1934-1936; and some years may have few cases filed. Files 59, 65, 122, and 126 were also noted missing at time of processing. Files found after initial processing were spliced at the beginning of the appropriate reel. These late filmings will not be in strict chronological or numerical order.

Arrangement

The files were initially arranged by filing date. By 1916, the files begin to be numbered. (N.B.: These are file numbers, not case numbers.) In those instances where there was no file number, the files have been inserted by date. Files which were located after initial processing are spliced at the beginning of the appropriate reel.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.
Copies of these records are located at Ancestry.com View Online.

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

Archivally processed by A.C.C. in 1990. Still lethal quantities of strychnine sulphate (two vials) included as exhibits in a case were returned to the Medical Examiner's office for disposal at the toxic waste dump near Tooele. The series was microfilmed in 1991 with the original papers discarded. The box/folder identification was retained in the container lists to help locate particular files on the film. Files found years after initial processing were filmed and spliced at the beginning of the appropriate reel.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: An alphabetical index to the deceased is available in an Access data base. View index.

Related Material

Inquest registers from Salt Lake City (Utah). City Court, Series 2245, are similar registers from the Salt Lake City Court.
Inquest register from Salt Lake County (Utah). Justice of the Peace (Fifth Precinct : 1874-1902), Series 4886, records a summary of proceedings for some of these cases.

Container List

ReelDescription
1Misc. Later Additions, incl. Coroner's Report
DiscReelBoxFolderDescription
pending111 1870; 1871; 1886; 1888
pending1121889-1890
pending1131891 Jan
pending1141891 Feb
pending1151891 Mar
pending1161891 May-Jun
pending1171891 Jul
pending1181891 Sep
pending1191891 Nov
pending11101891 Dec
pending11111892 Jan
pending11121892 Feb
pending11131892 Apr
pending11141892 Jul
pending11151892 Aug
pending11161892 Sep
pending11171892 Nov
pending11181892 Dec
pending11191893 Jan-Feb
pending11201893 Mar-Apr
pending11211893 May-Jun
pending11221895 Jan-Feb
pending11231895 Apr-May
pending11241895 Jun
pending11251895 Aug
pending11261895 Sep-Oct
pending11271895 Nov-Dec
pending11281896
pending11291897
pending11301898
pending11311899
pending11321900
pending11331901
pending11341902
pending11351904
pending11361905
pending11371909
pending11381910
pending11391911
pending11401912 Mar-1913 Mar
pending11411913 May-Jun
pending11421913 Jul-Dec
pending11431914
pending11441915
2221 File 1; 1916 Oct 19-Oct 1
2222 File 2; 1916 Apr 23-May 22
2223 File 3; 1916 Mar 2-Mar 3
2224 File 4; 1917 May 22-May 4
2225 File 5; 1916 Nov 5-Dec 30
2226 File 6; 1916 May 6
2227 File 7; 1916 Dec 27-Dec 7
2228 File 8; 1916 Mar 10-Mar 8
2229 No file #; 1917 Apr
22210 File 9; 1917 Apr 21-Apr 9
22211 File 10; 1917 Jun 9-Jun 10
22212 File 11; 1917 Jan 2-Jan 11
22213 File 12; 1916 Dec 27-Dec 12
22214 File 13, John Young; 1916 Dec 30
22215 File 14; 1917 Nov 1-Nov 14
22216 File 15; 1916 Dec 30-Dec 15
22217 File 16; 1917 Jan 2-Jan 16
22218 File 17; 1916 Dec 27-Dec 17
22219 File 18; 1918 Jan 7-Jan 18
22220 File 19; 1918 Jan 7-Jan 19
22221 File 20; 1918 Nov 19-Nov 20
22222 File 21; 1918 Dec 2-Dec 21
22223 File 22; 1918 Dec 13-Dec 22
22224 File 23; 1919 Jul 29-Jul 23
22225 File 24; 1919 Oct 2-Oct 24
22226 No file #; 1919 Oct 15
22227 File 25; 1920 Mar 25-Mar 25
22228 File 26; 1920 May 5-May 26
22229 File 27; 1920 May 5-May 27
22230 File 28; 1920 May 5-May 28
22231 File 29; 1920 Jul 15-Nov 26
22232 File 30; 1920 Jul 19-Nov 26
22233 File 31; 1920 Jul 19-Nov 26
22234 File 32; 1920 Jul 19-Nov 26
22235 File 33; 1920 Sep 8
22236 File 34; 1920 Sep 17
22237 File 35; 1920 Nov 22-Nov 26
22238 No file #; 1920 Dec 28
22239 No file #; 1920 Dec 9-Dec 28
22240 No file #; 1921 Mar 25
22241 No file #; 1921 Mar 25
22242 No file #; 1921 Feb 14-Mar 25
22243 No file #; 1921 Jun 11
22244 File 36; 1921 Sep 19
22245 File 37; 1921 Sep 27
22246 File 38; 1921 Nov 30
22247 File 39; 1921 Mar 25
22248 File 40; 1921 Dec 30
pending331 File 41; 1922 Jan 16
pending332 File 42; 1922 Jan 16
pending333 File 43; 1922 Jan 16
pending334 File 44; 1922 Jan 17
pending335 File 45; 1922 Jan 22
pending336 File 46; 1922 Feb 3
pending337 File 47; 1922 Mar 1
pending338 No file #; 1922 Apr 12
pending339 File 48; 1922 Apr 12
pending3310 File 49; 1922 Apr 19
pending3311 File 50; 1922 May 27
pending3312 File 51; 1922 Jul 25
pending3313 File 52; 1922 Aug 11
pending3314 File 53; no date
pending3315 File 54; 1922 Aug 14
pending3316 File 55; 1922 Oct 6
pending3317 File 56; 1922 Dec 2
pending3318 File 57; 1922 Dec 21
pending3319 File 58; 1922 Dec 14
pending3320 File 60; 1922 Dec 28
pending3321 File 61; 1923 Jan 22
pending3322 File 62; 1923 Apr 19
pending3323 File 63; 1923 Jun 11
pending3324 File 64; 1923 Jul 18
pending3325 No file #; ca.; 1923 Sep 1
pending3326 File 66; 1923 Oct 9
pending3327 File 67; no date
pending3328 File 68; no date
pending3329 File 69; no date
pending3330 File 70; 1924 Jan 31
pending441 File 71; 1924 Feb 11
pending442 File 72; no date
pending443 File 73; no date
pending444 File 74; 1924 May 8
pending445 File 75 (cf File 66); no date
pending446 File 76; 1924 Apr 12
pending447 File 77; 1924 Apr 24
pending448 File 78; 1924 May 5
pending449 File 79; no date
pending4410 File 80; 1924 Aug 8
pending4411 File 81; 1924 Aug 1
pending4412 File 82; 1924 Aug 5
pending4413 File 83; 1924 Aug 5
pending4414 File 84; 1925 Jun 8
pending4415 File 85; 1924 Oct 14
pending4416 File 86; 1924 Nov 7
pending4417 File 87; 1924 Dec 5
pending4418 File 88; 1924 Dec 5
pending4419 File 89; 1925 Jun 8
pending4420 File 90; 1925 Jan 3
pending4421 File 91; 1925 Jun 8
pending4422 File 92; 1925 Jun 8
pending4423 File 93; 1925 Jun 8
pending4424 File 94; no date
pending4425 File 95; 1925 Jun 12
pending4426 File 96; 1925 Jun 26
pending4427 File 97; no date
pending4428 File 98; 1925 Jul 14
pending4429 File 99; 1925 Jul 17
pending4430 File 100; 1925 Aug 21
pending4431 File 101; no date
pending4432 File 102; no date
pending4433 File 103; no date
pending4434 No file #; 1925 Sep
pending4435 File 104; no date
pending4436 File 105; 1925 Dec 9
pending4437 File 106; 1925 Dec 18
pending4438 File 107; no date
pending4439 File 108; 1926 Jan 18
pending4440 File 109; 1926 Mar 26
pending551 File 110; 1926 Mar 26-Mar 31
pending552 File 111; 1926 Mar 30
pending553 No file #; 1926 May 27
pending554 File 112; 1926 Aug 19
pending555 File 113; 1926 Sep 22-Oct 14
pending556 File 114; 1926 Oct 20
pending557 File 115; 1927 Jan 11
pending558 File 116; 1927 Apr 2
pending559 File 117; 1927 Jul 20
pending5510 File 118; 1927 Jul 20
pending5511 No file #; 1927 Jul 26
pending5512 File 119; 1927 Aug 3
pending5513 No file #; 1927 Sep 28
pending5514 File 120; no date
pending5515 File 121; 1927 Nov 2
pending5516 File 123; no date
pending5517 File 124; 1927 Sep 20
pending5518 No file #; 1927 Dec 31
pending5519 File 125; 1928 Jan 20
pending5520 No file #; 1928 Apr 4
pending5521 File 127; 1928 Aug 23
pending5522 No file #, Joe Carter, ca.; 1928 Sep
pending5523 File 128; 1928 Oct 30
pending5524 File 129; 1928 Dec 10
pending5525 File 130; 1929 Jan 5
pending5526 File 131; 1929 Jan 8
pending5527 File 132; 1929 Jan 8
pending5528 File 133; 1929 Jan 8
pending5529 File 134; 1929 Apr 4
pending5530 File 135; 1929 Apr 30
pending5531 File 136; 1929 Sep 5
pending5532 File 137; 1929 Nov 6
pending5533 File 138; 1929 Oct 31
pending5534 File 139; 1929 Nov 26
pending5535 File 140; 1930 May 31
pending5536 File 141; 1930 Jul 28
pending5537 File 142; 1930 Aug 20
pending5538 File 143; 1929 Aug 5
pending5539 File 144; 1929 Aug 5
pending5540 File 145; no date
pending5541 File 146; 1930 Sep 22
pending5542 File 147; 1930 Nov 24
pending5543 File 148; 1930 Nov 24
pending5544 File 149; 1930 Dec 1
pending5545 File 150; 1933 Sep 6
pending5546 File 151; 1937 Apr 20