St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-17
INTERESTING RELICS,
Indicating the Primitive Methods
of The Early HennePIn Courts.


The deputy clerks of the district court
are improving the opportunity Afforded oy
the suspension Of legal hostliites py making
aresearch of the files of the office and are
re-euyeloping the multitudinous cases for
the purpose of preserving the same for pos
teritv The work has brought to the sur
face a number of historic relics that cannot
fail to be of interest to at least those whose
avocations bring them in contact with the
courts. For instance. the first court min
utes which were made matter of record
read as follows:
Re il remembered that on this, the fourth
day Of April, which is the first day of the
spIiDg term in the year OF our Lord 1853. was
began and held pursuant TO law in the district
court of Hennepin. in the house of Anson
Northup, Esq, in the town OF Minneapolis,
there being no court house; present, the
Hon. Bradley Is. Meeker, judge of the Third
judicial district in Minnesota, and assigned TO
hold the courts of the Second Judicial district
until the inability of the judge thereof be re-
moved.
Sweet w. Case, having been appointed
clerk of the said court, appeared in discharge
Of his duties,
Present, Henry L. Moss Esq, United States
Attorney and Joseph w. Faber, United States
Marshal, for the territory.
Warren Bristol, Esq, appeared as prosecut-
ing attorney and Isaac Brown as sheriff for
the county of Hennepin, and thereupon the
SAID sheriff made return into court of a
venire heretofore issued summoning grand
jury when the following persons answered TO
their names and took their seats as grand
jurors at this term: NJ. Starr Titus, Joseph
Dean Eli PettingtlL William g. Jones, John
Sackens, John S. Wales, Edwin Tredderly,
Hezakah Ketchum, Allen Harmon. John
Beden, John G. Buchanan, Lorenzo Il. w ar
rem. John S. Mann, Waterman Stinson, vii
liam Hamilton and A. l.. Cummings, who,
having affirmed. or taken the oath admins
tered to DIR. Alfred Q. Ames, their foreman,
as required by law, were charged by the
court and retired to their room to consider
such matters as might arise or be brought be-
fore them.
The first minister's certificate filed bears
the date of Feb. 16, 1858, and testlfies that
William Chambers and Martha Mitchell
were united in marriage at Eden Prairie by
Rev. s. l.. Leonard.
The first declaration papers issued re-
corded the fact that June 10. 1858, Simon
Stevens renowned his allegiance to Vic
toria, queen OF Great Britain, and had con-
tinuously resided in the United States since
1914.
The first printed docket of cases for the
benefit of attorneys was printed On legal
cap and resembles in appearance the Ordin-
AIRY complaint of nowadays. Its heading
reads a. follows:
State of Minnesota, district court of the
fourth judicial district. Calendar of causes
for January term. 1859. Hon. o. Hamlin,
judge; James II. Laurence, prosecuting attor-
ney; IL. A. Partridge, clerk.
One of the most interesting discoveries in
this connection is the revelation that papers
in $50 cases are missing. This can only be
accounted for by the fact that too many at
torneys are addicted to the practice of car
ryng off papers and not returning them.