The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-23


Vernal. Dec. 1S-For the first time in
the history of U-intah county since state
hood. which brought with il the judicial
advantages which every county in the
state INV enjoys, the criminal calendar
is clear.
Several Old-umers were discussing this
rather happy condition the other day. and
during the conversation they drifted back
over the years that have passed since the
first settler drove his stakes along the
banks OF Ashley creek, where the deserted
town of old Ashley now stands. ruined
monument 10 the hopes once cherished.
t4-@l among ITS sand dunes and cObble
b1-S the Wnirr of civilization would one
oa9 proclaim IL the metropolis Of the
II was in those days the county seat.
aIu even 10 THIS day. IS II TO SDOrhe ITS
wounded pride the map-unakerS persist
il marking It's name tn DIg. round letters
as the center of Importance in the Ashley
valley Perhaps they know not that the
oniE noise that breaks the usual stiffness
. the wind rustlinS among the trees or
Tie ringing bark OF q chance coyote that
UotS unmolesled along Its sandy streets.
1T was here, however, were the early
courts with nfdSls JTites whose Ideas o.
1uI-e oLcIion were bounded only oE their
lua egGatiOu- and IL was during those ear
ly DAYS tnAJ some court history was made
that contrasts amuslnSiy with the courts
The magnificent new court house in the
busting city 0I Nernai looms up 81 ten
enterprise Of GiuTah's citizens. but LlI .eT
It's shadows eVo1.cleS the old los building
t2ss-- iu the old days was the scene ot
macy strange proceedings tIlat were
known to the citizens aS Seiectnien =
meetings and justices courts. all Ca
which were held WlChlu inc old log Struc-
ture. which ia the carry days was furnish
Ell with boxes for seats OF III their stead
ad0nes. piled one upon another
The latter class of furniture was the
most popular as iC could be easily adjust
Cd 90 suit the height and taste 81 the Va
Ilous aIlellOants before tne county 49,
ers or tue bar oL Justice as me case
might be.
The old building has now oUtived its
usefulness, ana an order STANDS upon lLs
records which cites that fl shall be sold
40 tle highest bidder on the ma OF Jan
rms dissositioa of the once important
structure has revived among the old-tim-
erS the memories OF the wonderful feats
BL llslrlll lfittite tlte- ~ et .---.
ia tEe early settlement Oh the Jhiah pa
Many amusing stories are told of mag
fstrates before whom ara OFFENDING citizen
could ran the entire gauntlet. from ms pre-
liniuary hearing TO the maj sentence OF
life imprisonment or death, or BON.
The Jurisdiction OF these early couT y
Wa supreme The authority of territorial
and United states courts was swept dSLue
Ledents we're ignored as s-itterlng senet-
alltiaS-
Dfs,utations over land matters were
SERTED effectively 10y tue ope having the
esf+5fls-asr mil. helms vested with the au-
rhe~ir-- 10 shoot the contestant on The
t5rer-7fSes. Great care was taken 70 aScer-
a5-f me costs were assessed TO the one
sFfcE The longest sock
II is related that "a case came up before
one OF these early magistrates Mhlch III
VOWED the ownership OF q cow Inc az
fzfTstta had taken the usual precautions 10
ascertain which one OF the conJeststil
49, rff- uossesSof- of the biggest wad
- evidence WIS conclusive tnaJ the
man with the long green was the owner
All Ia. COW which was turned over to
him with the arbitra command that he
nav fine costs which amounted to several
times the cost of the animal There was
uo ether alternative hllf a. accept the
situation ~ Ihe officers 81 the court had
"a peculiar faculty for collecting without
uuneeessars delay.