, 1864-01-12
RECORDERS COURT OF cHlcAoo.
HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION,
Appointment Of OGcers-Their Fpuc-
ticps and Powers-Expeuses and
Receipts Of the Court-Trials.
Convictions and Punishmeuts.
INCIDENTS OF CHKNE,

INCIDENTS OF CREEK,
The Recorders Court Of the city Of Chicago Il
In institution Of recent establishment. Not loug
CT ago than 1885,, the business now transacted be
fore this tribunal WAS done before the Circuit
coutt and tho old Court OF Common Pleas, nov
the Superior Court OF the city Of Chicago. Then
these Courts were sufficient for the proper punish.
ncnt Of crime, and the accommodation Of 1iticsnts
AZ the city Increased In ares and population crime
Increased, and anitors became more numerous.
and 1t Was deemed essential that another tribunal
| ehonld be created with concurrent and In some
!! respects, peculiar Jurisdiction.
On the 12th Of February 1858, therefore, an act
passed the Legislature Of tho State Of Illinois
creating and establishing the Recorders Court OF
the city OF Chicago. In the act this is styled ian
inferior court Of civil and criminal jurisdiction
which shall be Court Of Record" Among other
provisions ttWus enacted tint 1t shond have CONCUR
rent Jurisdiction with the Circuit Court within the
city, In ali cases Of crime except treason aud uur-
der, and In cirl cases where the amount In con-
trorersy did not exceed ono hundred dollars: the
Court, and the judge and the clerk thereof we're to
hsve the same power and authority and we're to
perform the same duties az the Circuit Cont
and the judge and the clerk thereof
| In all matters, suits, prosecutions and
proceedings, within the city OF Chicago exccnt In
cases o. treason and murder; the Judge and clerk
were to BE- elected @ by ths qualified Toters of tha
saIasy originally allowed the Judge WAS one thons-
and do!lsrs, to be paid from tic State Treasury
With additional fees for certain services to al,
AMOUNT fos compensation and emolument not &
eeeding fifteen hundred dollars per annum, aud ali
sxcees s r. ol this amount was 10 be paid Into the
f1cssaS an az cases
ticc or magistrate In criminal cases were
o.o 10 BE- made 5eturnab1e to this conrt; all
6e rcturnabie: all lines, penalties and for. ~
iato tSe ety T:easa2y eose HPpsss xess en
RecoTder's Court OF the Circnit Court at the oo-
tion Of the appellant; the States Attorney tie
Judiciai Circuit was a oaeio the presenting of:
1xe hundred dollars, with additional fees to be-
y. In al cases OF conEiction. Grand ard Peti-
city Wh1 had paid a city tax within the preceding
year. The manner Of selection was prescribed BE-
me act rs fol!oWs: the Common Council were an
nuaAy to select I've hundred names Eom the list
ofvote7e, and transmit them to the Clerk OF the
Court. who deposited the names, written upon
sepata'e oits Q! Rape II the je;y oox from whence
and petit Jurors, IN the presence Of the Recorder
and such parsons who Hhould choose TO witness
he drawing At least ten days before tho nrer dag
tn from thus Court to the Circuit Court Of Cook
Gonn!T COUNT N p tas same manner that appeals were a.
principal md more Important provisions s Of tSe I
2st creating the Recorders Court Of the City Of
On the 18th Of February. 1e3t. m act amend.torv
TO this net passed the Legislature directing tie
Il sss dssSin dissiEds II as
within the limits 81 the city, and over which fhc
Reeor1ers Court had Jurisdiction: The price Tor
,hfas seSsiees was axsd By ,a un.l ls was
Tor dlschargng, and thirty FIVE cents for dieting
each prisoner. In the winter Of 1857 ths price
o. Tnt9 Ta,s91ng xa 1ased to fty cents per day
y ordinance directed that they should be psid fTon
Legislature axed The same, and also directed thss
be should receive commission of Eve per cent,
or al bail bonds and fines he should COLLECT. Soon
a1fer Its establishment the jurisdiction Of the Re-
corder's Court wea enlarged and rendered concur
rent with that Of the other city Courts in respect
The sala1x Of the Recorder, Is established by the
= 81 Gsnas St ola aas
Wilson, q gra1ni1y Of one thousand dollars. Sub
scquently they were authorized By act Of the Leg
ielatnse =. t9 pay him salary Of three thousand dol
ceiyed rom lie State Treasury. % a014'a o'afs To-
i1e hfst election on Recorder Of this Court was
i 3eia IN The spring 1S:s atwhich Hon Robert s.
then wsllknown attorneys ofthe city, and the late
HAkpH HNB efeCted. subsequently an attempt
WAS made to Gust him IN the ground
OF tne1Hg!Mlity the contestants claiming that be
had not resided In the State long enough 70 const-
tuttons]ly eli the Office. The case w1s argued be-
fore the Circuit Court End decided In favor OF the
tIcrmbelt, aEd the Supreme Court subsequently
affirmed the decislon. Judge Wilson's frsf term
Of Gffce expired In the epring Of 1855 He became
acancidate tor reelection, opposed By George ".
lhtmpsor, Esq, and second time secured the |
peEtt1on- In the spring Of 1873 Judge Z. Van Bu-
fcn, the preeent ncumbent succeeded to the posi-
uon. being opposed By E, &. Dow, Esq.
fMap = Aoyne, Esq, noE Q. 8. Commissioner,
was the fret Clerk Of the Recorders Court, and |
seVed with acccptation until the expiration OF his
tenn IN 16e. In the spring Of that year JOS K C.
Forest succeeded to the position and held until the
epI1ng OF 1sG, when the present incumbent Daniel
0'uara was elected. From 1858 to 1856 the lnte |
Daniel McElfoy WAS States Attorney. In 1856 the
late Carlos Haven was elected and filed the posi-
ticn and performed the duties Of prosecuting
officer in this Court until hts death In Mar, ls6E
Lon. JOSEPH Knox Was appointed his successor
EDd now holds the position. His term Of pnjco
expires In the fall Of 1861, when new election viii
From 1855, until the present time, the following
persons hare held the Office OF sheriff and scting
sheriff OF the county, and as such. hare been the
attending officers Of the Recorders Court: C. r.
Bsadley: James Andrews. ]. S. Beach {coroner and
acting sheriff John L. Wileon, John Gray, 4. C.
Hesi1g and The present incumbent D. Il. Ham. |
yDund.
The following is the record OF the expenses and |
receipts Of the Recorders Court from its establish
ment In March 1853, to the .Et OF january 1861.