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The Circuit Court.---Crawford County was attached to the First Judicial Circuit by an act of the General Assembly, approved January 29, 1829, and the place for holding court was fixed at the house of James HARRISON. By an act of January 19, 1831, the time of holding the first circuit court in this county was set May 19, 1831. On this day David TODD, Esq., judge of the First Judicial Court, opened court in Crawford County. Judge Todd's commission was signed by Gov. Alexander McNAIR, and the evidence of his qualification to the office was recorded in the record books of the court.
The first order of the court was to appoint James HARRISON clerk and recorder. James CAMPBELL produced, in court, his commission from the governor, appointing him sheriff of the county. Robert B. HARRISON was appointed deputy clerk. Robert W. WELLS, attorney-general of the State, was prosecutor of this circuit ex officio. On motion, it was ordered that John S. BRICKEY, Robert A. EWING, Philip COLE, David STERIGERE, John JAMISON, William SCOTT, and John WILSON be admitted to practice as attorneys and counselors at law. A grand inquest for the body of the county was empanelled as follows: David LENOX, foreman; Absalom CORNELIUS, James O. GILLESPY, George HENSON, Isaac BROWN, Wilson LENOX, John HILLHOUSE, John DUNCAN, Sr., Thomas JOHNSON, James LESTER, James BENTON, William BRITTON, John LAMB, Asa PINNELL, Cury DUNCAN, William COPPEDGE, John HOUSINGER, Humphrey YOWELS, and JOHN CARTER. The following persons were returned by the sheriff as being duly summoned on the grand jury, but who, being solemnly called, came not, but made default: Samuel KING, Achrey B. HART, Thomas STARK, Leonard EASTWOOD, John SKAGGS, James WILSON, William BEATLY, and Stephen DICKSON.
Then came on for trial the first case in this court: The State of Missouri vs. James WILSON, on a recognizance for grand larceny, and the following entry was made in connection therewith: "This day came the counsel of the defendant into court, and moved the court to quash the recognizance, himself being surety for his appearance at the next term to answer an indictment to be preferred to the grand jury, and the State, by her attorney, defended the said motion, and, the same being argued and considered by the court, it is ordered that the said motion be overruled at the costs of him, the said defendant."
Then followed a number of cases of appeals from the justices of the peace, and after they were disposed of James WILSON'S case, for stealing a horse, came a trial, in connection with which the following entry was made: " This day came the attorney-general, prosecuting for the State, and the defendant having been recognized for his appearance before the court on this day to answer the indictment, with Henry PINNELL, and Solomon B. WILSON his sureties, the said defendant was then solemnly called and failed to appear to answer. The sureties were then in due form, by proclamation, required to produce the body of the defendant, and they failed to do so."
The next case was The State vs. Alfred SPRUCE, for assault and battery, who gave bail for his appearance in the sum of $200, and the court adjourned until the next day when, after a few trivial cases of appeal came the case of James NEWBERRY , for assault and battery, who, pleading not guilty, was tried before the following jury, the first jury to try a case in Crawford County: Anthony KITCHEN, John B. HARRISON, Larkin BATES, John VEST, Joseph C. HAWKINS, JAMES DODD, William LEEK, JOSIAH DODD, George P. KITCHEN , Edward CLAYTON, Noah STRONG, and William KNOX. The verdict of this jury was as follows: " We, the jury, say that the defendant is quilty in manner and form as charged in the indictment, and assess his fine at $1 and cost."
Then followed an indictment against George CARRICO, for stealing a pair of shoes; one against John BALDRIDGE , for assault and battery on Thomas BALDRIDGE ; one against Micajah MORRIS, for trespass, breaking a lock and forcible entry. The next day George CARRICO gave bond for his appearance at the next term of court, in the sum of $300; John BALDRIDGE , in the sum of $100, and Micajah JONES was discharged. |
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