Date of Award:

5-1970

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

History

Committee Chair(s)

S. George Ellsworth

Committee

S. George Ellsworth

Committee

Blythe Ahlstrom

Committee

Lucille Pratt

Committee

Dan Jones

Abstract

In the administration of justice in the Territory of Utah the United States marshal served an important role, especially because of the conflict between Mormons and non-Mormons. The marshal was an officer of the federal court, and as such he served warrants, obtained witnesses, helped select jurors, conducted executions upon order of the court, collected the census, served as warden of the territorial penitentiary, and in addition. performed many minute and tedious duties.

While the first United States marshal in Utah was Mormon, all others were non-Mormon and most were recruited from outside the territory. In general, they were capable men, though appointed out of political consideration.

During the anti-Mormon crusade, from 1874 to 1890, the United States marshal was directly involved in prosecutions under the Anti-Bigamy Law of 1862, the Poland Act, the Edmunds and Edmunds-Tucker Act. Notwithstanding the heated controversies there were no killings by United States marshals in Utah, though there was one by a deputy marshal.

Each marshal is studied in turn, giving biographical information with an account of the main activities in which each was engaged.

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