The Judge Joseph Wissler Collection documents his fifty-five year career as a lawyer and judge. He recorded and categorized criminal court cases in a handwritten volume. Two scrapbooks contain his certificate of admittance to the Lancaster County Courts, letters, photographs, and newspaper clippings about criminal cases.
Admin/Biographical History
Joseph Buch Wissler was born in Clay Township, Lancaster County on 7 August 1892. Wissler attended Lititz High School and later graduated from Franklin and Marshall College. He earned his law degree from Harvard University. Wissler became a member of the Lancaster Bar Association, of which he was president in 1964 and 1965. He returned to practicing law as a local attorney after holding the position of District Attorney of Pennsylvania from 1924 to 1928. In 1941, Wissler was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and served in that position for twenty-nine years. Judge Wissler served in the law profession for over fifty-five years. Phi Beta Kappa of Franklin and Marshall College made Judge Wissler an honorary member in 1950 and the college presented him with an honorary Doctor of Laws in 1952. He was also a member of the Lancaster Tucquan Club from 1949 to 1969.
Commissioners' order for payment to David Brown, Clerk of Courts
Admin/Biographical History
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
Commissioners' order for payment to witnesses, justices and court clerks
Admin/Biographical History
This record group contains canceled orders that were issued by the county commissioners for payment to be made by the county treasurer. The orders show date, order number, amount, name of payee, purpose, and signatures of the county commissioners.
Bowman, Benjamin Esq. Justice. Comm. v. Shirk, Jacob; fornication and bastardy. Herbet, Peter; assault & battery with intent to kill.
Commonwealth v. McGuiness, Juliana. Alias Hopkins, Juliana; larceny. Witnesses: Heckrote, Henry. Kauffman, John. Carrol, Jane.
Reitzel, John Esq. Justice. Commonwealth v. Reily Lydia;
larceny. Commonwealth v. Corman, Henry; surety of the peace; complaint of McDonald, Ann. Commonwealth v. Corman, Henry; surety of the peace; complaint of Amstead, Barbara. Commonwealth v. Adams, [Thomas] T.G.; forgery. Commonwealth v. Robertson, Job; assault and battery. Comm. v. Macks, Nicholas; assault and battery. Comm. v. Marke, N. ; surety of the peace. Lemon, Alexander; larceny. Vanhorn, Robert; fornication and bastardy.
Brown, David Esq. payment to Lloyd, Thomas, clerk. Comm. v. Findlay, Sarah. Comm. v. Thompson, John; larceny on complaint of Hoffer, Joseph. Comm. v. Thompson, John; larceny on complaint of Guy, John. Comm. v. Johnston, Robert; assault and battery on complaint of Haughey, D. Comm. v.ODonnald, Roger and ODonnald, Dominick; house of ill fame on complaint of Haughey, D. Comm. v. Haughey, Dominick; assault and battery. Comm. v. Leek, Margaret, Johnson, Robert; keeping a disorderly house. Comm. v. Davis, Henry. Comm. v. Johnson, Robert, African Amerrican; assault and battery.
Comm. v. Johnson, Robert; assault and battery on complaint of Haughey, Dominick. Witnesses: Haughey, Dominick. Dolot, Mary. Linn, William. Sweeney, James. McGlachlin, Bernard. Pleston, Stephen.
Comm. v. Wimble, Joseph; larceny. Witnesse: Heckrotte, Henry. Wade, Joseph.
Comm. v. Pyle, John; assault and battery. Witnesses: Brown, Benjamin. Brown, [Elizabeth]. Brown, Benjamin Jr. Snodgrass, William. Brown, Ann. Furniss, Gardner. Whebster, Joseph. Hutton, Isaac. Hutton, William. Hains, Jeremiah B.
Comm. v. Wan, Daniel; assault and battery. Witnesses: Withers, George. Reese, William. Steele, William. McClune, George. Russel, William.
Comm. v. Pile, John; assault and battery. Boyd, Samuel Esq. Justice.
Comm. v. Kirk, WIlliam; counterfeiting. Martin, Peter; Witness.
Comm. v. McClure, Barbara; malicious mischief. Heinzelman, John J. [also spelled Henselman].
Spear, Robert, Justice in the following cases: Comm. v. McCall, George; fornication and lewdness. Comm. v. McCall, George; assault and battery. omm. v. McCall, George; larceny. Comm. v. Baker, Maryan; fornication and lewdness.
Comm. v. McKittrick, John; fornication. Witness: Wengert, Jacob. Signed over to Mathiot, Joseph J.
Comm. v. Poke, Robert; assault and battery. Witnesses: Dick, Margret. McKinney, Eave. Fox, Fanny.
Comm. v. Brown, John. Lechler, WiIlliam. Deputy sheriff.
Comm. v. Davis, Henry; manslaughter. Albright, Henry served subpeona.
Boyd, James; Constable. Comm. v. Davis, Henry; manslaughter. Comm. v. Thompson, John; larceny. Comm. v. Thompson, John; larceny. O Donald, Roger, O Donald, Dominick; nuisance and disorderly house.
Wimble, Joseph; larceny. Witnesses: Russel, Elijah. Brown, Mary Ann.
Comm. v. Adams, James. Assault and battery. Witnesses: Schminky, John. Briceland, James. Briceland, Mary. Newcomer, Mary. Peters, Abraham.
Comm. v. Wise, Catherine. Arson. Witness: Ebeman, Mathias.
Comm. v. Duncan, Melvy. Assault and battery with intent to kill. Witnesses: Ruth, Abraham. Ruth, Fanny. Adam, Frederick. Fryberger, Jacob.
Comm. v. Smith, Louis. Assault and battery. Witnesses: Barr, Joseph. Markly, John Esq. Reese, William. Withers, George.
Comm. v. Smith, Louis. Surety of the peace. Withers, George.
Comm. v. Lewis, John. Charge brought by Wither, Isaac. Witness: Platt, James. Comm. v. Lewis, John. Charge brought by Puhly, Charles. Witness: Platt, James.
Boyd, James. Constable in the following cases: Comm. v. Findly, Sarah. Keeping a disorderly house. Comm. v. Johnston, Robert. African American. Assault and battery. Comm. v. Johnston, Robert and Leek, Margret. Keeping a disorderly house. Comm. v. Johnston, Robert, assault and battery.
Comm. v. McKellegan, John. Manslaughter. Witnesses: Shafer, Martin. Miller, Benjamin. Deffenderfer, George. Snyder, John. Luther, John Dr. Heister, William Esq.
Comm. v. Brown, John. Larceny. Witness: Herr, John.
1 item. 49 pieces.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Request at research desk. Photocopy made by staff member.
