No image available

Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. McGraw and White

Hide editing marks

City of Nauvoo v. McGraw and White

Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, Mayor’s Court, 2 August 1842

Historical Introduction

In late July 1842, filed a complaint against William McGraw and James White for violating the temperance ordinance in , Illinois, by selling “spirituous liquors.” It was the second time McGraw had been charged with illegally selling alcohol in Nauvoo. Because Markham’s complaint is not extant, the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime are unknown. The trial was set for 2 August, and subpoenas were issued for seven witnesses. In contrast to McGraw’s first trial, held on 5 July 1842, neither McGraw nor White appeared before the court on 2 August. JS found the two men guilty in absentia and fined them twenty-five dollars, the same fine McGraw received on 5 July. When constable attempted to collect the fine against McGraw and White, he found no property belonging to either man in Nauvoo. This and other records suggest that McGraw and White were neither Latter-day Saints nor residents of Nauvoo. After the 2 August 1842 trial, no further complaints were issued against the men, and neither was brought before the Nauvoo courts again.

Calendar of Documents

This calendar lists all known documents created by or for the court, whether extant or not. It does not include versions of documents created for other purposes, though those versions may be listed in footnotes. In certain cases, especially in cases concerning unpaid debts, the originating document (promissory note, invoice, etc.) is listed here. Note that documents in the calendar are grouped with their originating court. Where a version of a document was subsequently filed with another court, that version is listed under both courts.

Ca. 30 July 1842	Stephen Markham, Complaint, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
	Ca. 30 July 1842. Not extant. 7 See Docket Entry, ca. 2 Aug. 1842 [City of Nauvoo v. McGraw and White].

30 July 1842	JS as Mayor and Justice of the Peace, Summons, to Nauvoo City Marshal, for William McGraw and James White, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL 8 This document was mistakenly created in the form of a summons; because it was a criminal case and McGraw and White were the defendants, the document functioned as a warrant.
	30 July 1842; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; handwriting of James Sloan; signature of JS; docket in handwriting of James Sloan; notation in handwriting of Dimick B. Huntington.

30 July 1842	JS as Mayor and Justice of the Peace, Subpoena, to Nauvoo City Marshal, for Jerome Remmington and Others, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
	30 July 1842; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; handwriting of James Sloan; signature of JS; notation in handwriting of Dimick B. Huntington.

2 August 1842	JS as Mayor and Justice of the Peace, Execution, to Nauvoo City Marshal, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
	2 Aug. 1842; Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL; handwriting of James Sloan; signature of JS; docket in handwriting of James Sloan; endorsement in handwriting of Henry G. Sherwood; notation in handwriting of Dimick B. Huntington.

Between 30 July and ca. 2 August 1842	Docket Entry, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL
	Between 30 July and ca. 2 August 1842; Nauvoo Mayor’s Court Docket Book, 34; handwriting of James Sloan; notation in handwriting of James Sloan.