The Pulling Match

  In the summer of 1863 William George Hickman, or George, as he is known in the following documents, was arrested at age 19 for gambling.  This may not seem like a newsworthy story, since it was later found that he was innocent of the charge.  But several others were involved in the incident:  George B. Ogilvie, his son William, Alex Beckstead, and James Breniger.  These documents from the Utah State Archives are especially interesting because they throw light on a relationship he had with others who were, along with George's father Bill Hickman, involved a few weeks later in staking Utah's first mining claim (2) in Bingham Canyon.  Biographies of these men may be seen by clicking here.

Teritory of Utah         }Certificate of Trial,

Great Salt Lake County       }and conviction, for betting

August 22nd 1863         }a wager at a pulling match

On the 15th day of august A.D. 1863, a com-

plaint was filed before the undersigned, justice

of the peace for Mill Creek precinct, by George

B. Ogilvie of Great Salt Lake county, setting forth

that on the 13th day of August A.D. 1863, on South

Cottonwood, James Breniger, George Hickman and

William Ogilvie did engage in betting a wager

on a pulling match between a span of horses and

a yoke of oxen.  A warrant was thereupon ifsued,

and the parties aragned for trial.  James Breni-

ger plead guilty, also William Ogilvie, (per his

father George B. Ogilvie as proxy,) plead guilty.

George Hickman plead not guilty, and upon

examination of witnefses was found not guilty

and discharged.  Breniger was fined (8) eight

dollars and half of the cost.  Ogilvie was fined

(4) four dollars and half of the cost.

[reverse side of same page?]

the proceeding     in the case therein refered to

John G. Snedaker

Justice of the peace

Mill Creek precinct

====================

Know all men by these presents, that I

Alexander Beckstead of the county of Great Salt

Lake teritory of Utah, am held and

firmly bound unto the people of the

teritory of Utah,

in the sum of two thousand dollars

lawful money of the United States, to be

paid to the said people of the United

States in the teritory of Utah, their agents,

or officers: for which payment, well and

truly to be mad, I bind myself, my heirs,

executors, and administrators, and each of them

firmly by these presents.  Seald with my seal,

Dated the twenty second day of August one thous

and eight hundred and sixty three.

  The condition of the above obligation

is such, whereas, a warrant was issued, on

the fifteenth day of August A.D. 1863

upon the affidavid of George B Ogilvie

[there must be more]

====================

Teritory of UtahJustices Court

G.S.L. CountyMill Creek District

August 15th A.D. 1863

This certifies that I hereby acknowledge myself

indeptded indebted to the people of the United

States in the Teritory of Utah in the penal sum

of five hundred dollars to be collected off any my

goods chattels and pofsefsions, on condition that I fail

to appear at the next September regular term of the probate

court in and for Great Salt Lake county, to

give evidence in a suit there pending, wherein

The People of the United States in the Teritory of

Utah are plaintiff, and George James Brenigen

defendant; otherwise this obligation to be null and void

Dongel    +    Adamson, South Cottonwood, G.S.L. county

       his mark

George B Ogilvie, Bingham Kanyon, G.S.L. county

====================

[Part of the page was missing, likely restoration in brackets:]

[I hereb]y certify that the forgoing recognizance was

[   ?  ] read and signed befor me.  Given under my

[hand] this fifteenth day of August A.D. 1863

John G. Snedeker

Justice of the peace

[the following was written sideways on the same page:]

Adamson and Georg B.

Ogilvie witnefses in the

Case of the people v.s.

James Breniger

Utah State Archives

Salt Lake County Probate Court

Series 373: Civil and Criminal Case Files

To search online for other records at the Utah Archives, click here.

To learn more about William George Hickman, click here.

To read biographies of those involved in this incident, click here.

To return to the Hickman Family index page, click here.