ALS [Autograph Letter Signed] [Utah War]

Eckelsville, UT, 1858. Single page letter [25 cm x 19.5 cm] Nice condition. In this letter the Justice of the Peace, David A. Burn, requests the Marshall of the Territory to summon three individuals to appear and testify in a murder trial. "Territory of Utah Green River County. To the Marshall of the Territory. You are hereby required to summon John Radford, Augustus Ducrey, Dr. Mills personally to be appear forthwith before me at my office in Eckelsville in said county on this 16th day of March A.D. 1858. Then and there to testify on a charge of assault and battery with intent to murder performed against William Belt. Given under my hand and seal this (truncated) 16th day of March A.D. 1858. David A. Burr Justice of the Peace."

During the onset of the Utah War the Mormon population evacuated Bridger Valley (in present-day Wyoming) this left Green River County entirely without civil officers. Since the services of at least a justice of the peace were required there during the period of the army's winter camp. Governor Cumming, on February 2, 1858, appointed David A. Burr to the office, and a court was soon opened in the civilian quarters at Eckelsville just west of Camp Scott. When Burr vacated the office, he was replaced by William A. Carter. (Inventory #: 10461)