Offenders sentenced to imprisonment

In the course of the last fortnight, the following persons have been sentenced to confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, and other wise punished, as follows, viz. :-

Elizabeth Birnie, for striking and maltreating a Woman, to the effusion of her blood, to thirty days confinement in Bridewell.

Janet Allan, and Elizabeth McMillan, for stealing linen from a Bleach-green at Ferryhill, to three calendar months confinement there.

Mark Aikman, (an old offender), for breaking into several Weaving Shops in Aberdeen, and stealing therefrom, a considerable quantity of Cotton and other Cloths, to six calendar months confinement in Bridewell, and to receive one hundred lashes by the hands of the common Executioner - fifty, at the expiry of three months, and the remaining fifty, before his liberation.  And he is, over and above, banished the burgh and liberties for two years.

James Scott, a vagrant, without any visible means of subsistence, for going into a public-house near the  lime bason, and conducting himself in an improper manner, breaking windows, collecting a crowd of people on the streets, &c. was sentenced to two months confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, and banished the burgh for life.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 26th May 1819.

Convictions for theft and receipt of stolen goods

On Monday last, Robert Christie, mariner on board the brig Pallas, was charged, on a complaint at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, with having, in the course of the preceding night, stolen part of the stores of that Vessel, consisting of barley and meal.  Mrs Snodgrass, wife of an Ale Seller in Town, was also charged with having resetted the barley and meal, knowing the same to have been stolen; Of which they were both convicted, and sentenced by the Sitting Magistrate to confinement and hard labour in Bridewell; Christie for 4 months, and Mrs Snodgrass, for 2 months.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 14th April 1819.

Stolen bee hives

STOLEN,

ON the night between 19th and 20th April last, from GEORGE REID, Mill of Ord, parish of Skene,

TWO BEE HIVES.

A Handsome Reward will be paid to any person who will give such information as may lead to the discovery of these, and the informer's name concealed, by applying to the said George Reid.

Mill of Ord, May 11, 1818.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 13th May 1818.

James Henderson: reward

ESCAPED FROM JUSTICE.

JAMES HENDERSON, residenter in Aberdeen, commonly called Egg Jamie, and sometimes Meal Jamie, accused of various acts of Housebreaking and Theft, in the town and neighbourhood of Aberdeen.

The said James Henderson made his Escape on the 9th curt., is about six feet high, appears to be about 50 years of age, has short fair hair, reddish whiskers, (if not since cut away), grey or blue eyes, is fair complexioned and smooth faced, speaks the south country dialect; he is well known over the country, as he was in the practice of frequenting the Country Markets, particularly those held to the westward and northward of Aberdeen, and of buying large quantities of eggs and butter weekly from country people, bringing the same to Aberdeen for Sale.  When he made his escape, he was dressed in a mixed grey coat, under a drab coloured great coat, wore corduroy trowsers.   About twelve years ago he was a carrier and grain dealer in Leith or Edinburgh; his father, it is believed, was formerly a farmer near Dunse in Berwickshire and is now living near Linlithgow.

Whoever shall apprehend the said James Henderson and secure him in the nearest Jail, will receive a reward of FIVE GUINEAS, on applying to Mr Alexander Cadenhead, Procurator Fiscal of Aberdeen.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 17th December 1817.

SHOP BROKE, AND REWARD OFFERED

WHEREAS on the night of Friday the 10th inst. the Shop of ROBERT STIRLING, Merchant, Rosehearty, was BROKE INTO, and a considerable quantity of Goods, and some Cash, carried off:

A REWARD OF TEN POUNDS

Is hereby offered to any person, who will give such information as may lead to the conviction of the offenders.  The Reward to be paid, on applying to the said Robert Stirling.

Among the Articles carried off, were a Dozen of SILK NAPKINS; a large quantity of made WAISTCOATS; several Pieces of WOOLLEN CLOTH; and a Drawer containing from £5 to £6 in copper.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 22nd October 1817.

Circuit court case of John Petrie

Inverness, Oct. 3.

The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here on Monday last, by Lord Reston; and in the course of the day the following criminal cases came before him.

John Petrie, accused of stealing, on the night of the 10th April, 1815, from a barn, in possession of James Younie, farmer at Calfirhill, parish of Rafford, two sacks, containing a boll of barley; and of stealing, on the following night, from a kiln in the occupation of David Duncan, farmer at Bomanhill, parish of Forres, six pecks of barley, and a bed-cover, and from a barn, three bags containing two to three bolls of oats, after having forcibly broke into it.  On being called upon to plead, the pannel stated, that though he was quite innocent, he was forced, from circumstances, to plead guilty.  The Court, however, explained to him that his answer could not be received, and on being again asked, he pleaded guilty.  A verdict was accordingly returned, finding him guilty in terms of his own confession, and the Advocate Depute restricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment.  After an admonition as to his future conduct, he was sentenced to transportation beyond seas for fourteen years.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 15th October 1817.

Circuit Court Cases

On Monday the Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here, by the Right Hon. the Lord Justice Clerk, and Lord Reston.

The first case which came before the Court was that of James Henderson and John Davidson, both young men belonging to this town, accused of house breaking and then, in having entered the house of Heathens, on the 25th March last, by forcing open one of the windows, and stealing therein a variety of articles.  John Davidson having failed to appear, sentence of fugitation was passed upon him, in the usual terms.  James Henderson pled guilty; and no objection having been found to the relevancy of the indictment, the case was remitted to a jury, who found him guilty in terms of his own confession.  The Advocate Depute restricted the libel to an arbitrary punishment, and he received sentence of transportation for 14 years, after a very proper address from the Lord Justice Clerk.

The next case was that of Bathia Sutherland, alias Gray, accused of the crime of bigamy, in having, on the 16th of February last, married James Lothwood, a Chelsea pensioner residing in Aberdeen, her former husband, William Crombie, Kirk Officer of the parish of Kemnay, being still in life.  She pled guilty; and on account of the long confinement she had already suffered, and her seeming contrition for her offence, she was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 24th September 1817.

John & James Hutcheon: reward

ABSCONDED - REWARD

WHEREAS JOHN HUTCHEON and JAMES HUTCHEON, Jun. both lately residing at Swanford, in the parish of Montquhiter, and county of Aberdeen, stand charged with the crime of Theft, and have absconded from Justice:

A REWARD OF THREE GUINEAS

Is hereby offered to any person, who shall apprehend and detain in custody, the said John Hutcheon, and James Hutcheon jun. or either of them, or give such information to Hugh Fullerton, Procurator Fiscal of the County of Aberdeen, as may lead to their being apprehended and secured.

Aberdeen.  16th Sept. 1817.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 17th September 1817.

Court cases

At a Justice of Peace Court lately held at Turriff, in an action at the instance of Mr Chisholm in Lendrum, against a female servant for disobedience of orders, and deserting her service, - the Justices fined her in the forfeiture of her wages, and twenty shillings.

On Monday, John Brown, a vagrant, who had been detected in the act of stealing some wearing apparel from a farm house in the parish of Fyvie, where he had been charitably allowed a night's lodgings, was sentenced by the Sheriff, to confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, for six months.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 7th May 1817.

Court cases to be heard at Inverness

The following persons have been indicted to stand trial at the ensuing Spring Circuits at Inverness, viz;- -  James Chisholm and Roderick Cameron, assaulting and deforcing revenue officers. - Barbara McKay, housebreaking and theft.  - John Strachan, theft.  William Fraser, alias McKenzie, and Simon Fraser, theft and reset of theft.  - Robert Dempster, assault. - John Ross, sheep-stealing. - Helen Stewart, theft and reset of theft.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 16th April 1817.

Theft committed by James Brown

About a fortnight ago, a man from Stonehaven or its vicinity, whose name is James Brown, and who contrives to pass for a fool, went in the silence of the night into two houses in the parish of Banchory Devenick, the doors of which he found open, stole to the bedsides of several persons asleep, searched their clothes, and abstracted from their Pockets about Four Pounds Sterling, with several snuff-boxes, pen-knives, &c.  He was next day traced to a public-house at no great distance, accused of the theft, avowed it, and gave up the trinkets with what part of the money he had not dissipated.  Against such an artful depredator the public should be put on their guard:  He is a stout middle-aged man, and when he committed the above theft, wore a short coat and kelt, with a showy highland bonnet - he sometimes appears in a soldier's coat, with side arms.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 26th February 1817.

Reward for the apprehension of William Lees

ESCAPE FROM PRISON,

AND

REWARD OF TEN GUINEAS.

WHEREAS yesterday evening, several Convicts, at present in confinement in the Jail of Aberdeen, under sentence of Transportation, having made an attempt to break out of Prison; and one of them, of the name of WILLIAM LEES, who was sentenced by the Circuit Court of Justiciary, held here about eight months ago, to transportation beyond the sea for seven years, for Stealing from the Shop of ARTHUR MILNER, Merchant in Aberdeen, having effected his Escape, on the foresaid occasion:

A REWARD OF TEN GUINEAS

Is hereby offered to any person, who shall apprehend the said William Lees, and lodge him in any of His Majesty's Jails; the Reward to be paid by Alexander Cadenhead, Advocate in Aberdeen, Procurator Fiscal for the City and Liberties thereof.

N.B. - - The said William Lees is a native of England - about 13 years of age - 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high - of a pale complexion - - light coloured short hair - - a little pitted with the small pox - - has rather a short neck, and is of a broad make, and speaks the English dialect - - was dressed when he made his escape, in a blue jacket and canvas trowsers, and a light coloured vest, without having any thing upon his head.

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Aberdeen, 25th November, 1816.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 27th November 1816.

Trial in Aberdeen Magistrates' Court

Upon the 9th day of November current, Alexander Ross, William Ross, James Pillar, Alexander Pillar, Robert Fleming, William Burnett, George Brown, and Hugh McSween, boys mostly under 15 years of age, were all brought to trial before the Magistrates, at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, accused of no less than Twenty-two different acts of Theft, committed within the past two months, upon the property of Merchants, and others within the Town, by these boys, who had formed themselves into a gang.  And upon the 12th current, Ann Bowie, Confectioner and Pye-maker in Aberdeen, was in like manner brought to trial, for inticing the foresaid boys into her Shop, encouraging them to spend money for Pies and Puddings, and resetting several articles from them, knowing that they had procured their money for property stolen by them, and that the articles so resetted by here were stolen.  The Sitting Magistrate, on the evidence being closed, and after addressing the Prisoners, and such of their Parents as were present, in a most impressive and feeling manner, sentenced them as follows, viz.:- Alexander Ross, (the eldest of the gang) to six months confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, and to receive fifty lashes on his bare back by the hands of the Common Executioner, the day previous to his liberation; George Brown (about 13 years of age, who had formerly been punished by imprisonment in the Tolbooth for stealing,) to four months confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, and to receive twenty-five lashes on his bare back by the hands of the Common Executioner, the day previous to his liberation; William Ross, James Pillar, Alexander Pillar, Robert Fleming, William Burnett, and Hugh McSween, each to two months confinement and hard labour in Bridewell; and Ann Bowie, to three months confinement and hard labour in Bridewell.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 13th November 1816.

REWARD OF FIVE GUINEAS.

WHEREAS upon the night betwixt the 18th and 19th days of July last, the Sloop ANN of this Port, while lying at or near the Lime Quay, was broken into, and a variety of articles stolen and feloniously carried off therefrom: - And Whereas there is reason to suspect that WILLIAM MILLER, Mariner in Aberdeen, was implicated in committing the said crime.

A REWARD OF FIVE GUINEAS

Is hereby offered to any person who shall give such information to Alexander Cadenhead, Advocate in Aberdeen, Procurator Fiscal of the City and Liberties thereof, as may lead to the apprehending of the said William Miller; the Reward to be payable on conviction.

The said William Miller is a man of very low stature, and either a native of or was some time ago residing in Glasgow; and Married, as is believed, to a woman of that place.  He worked for some time in Aberdeen as a labourer; and is of a dark complexion.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, ABERDEEN

26th August, 1816.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 4th September 1816.

Ann Wylie & Rachel Campbell: prison sentence

On Monday last, Ann Wylie and Rachel Campbell, lately servants to Messrs Gordon, Barron, & Co. at their Cotton Mills, Woodside, having been convicted before the Sitting Magistrate of stealing from the Manufactory of their said masters, were sentenced by him to be confined in Bridewell for the space of Six Calendar Months; and to stand on the Pillory for one hour, previous to their imprisonment in Bridewell.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 7th August 1816.

Margaret Keith or Tough

In the month of June last, the Sitting Magistrate, on the complaint of the Procurator Fiscal, sentenced Margaret Keith alias Tough, (a notorious and incorrigible thief, who had formerly been brought to trial before the Circuit Court of Justiciary, and sentenced to seven years transportation) to be confined and kept to hard labour in Bridewell for Two Years, for stealing.  This woman is upwards of 70 years of age.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 10th July 1816.

Prisoners on the run: Hay Fleming & William Fleming

BROKE PRISON, and REWARD OFFERED.

WHEREAS upon the night betwixt Sunday last the 5th and Monday the 6th days of May current, the Prison of Stonehaven was broke into, and HAY FLEMING, and WILLIAM FLEMING, sons to William Fleming, whose family reside in Aberdeen, and who is said himself to have been lately confined in Bridewell for theft, made their escape from said Prison of Stonehaven:

A REWARD of TEN GUINEAS

Is hereby offered to any person or persons, who may apprehend and bring back, the saids Hay Fleming and William Fleming, to the said Prison of Stonehaven; to be paid by John Low, Writer in Stonehaven, Procurator Fiscal of the said county, upon their doing so.

The saids Hay Fleming and William Fleming were incarcerated in the said prison upon an accusation of theft, and stealing from the Glasgow Carrier's Carts, which pass betwixt Glasgow and Aberdeen, a considerable quantity of Goods, part of which were found upon them, when they were apprehended in the foresaid county, and the remaining parts thereof were found concealed by them within various places of the County.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSONS.

The said Hay Fleming is about 5 feet 6 inches high, of a darkish complexion, a little pitted with the small pos, darkish hair, and dark brown eyes, wore a short blue coat, and grey pantaloons, or a blue jacket and blue trowsers, dark vest, and round hat.

The said William Fleming is about 5 feet, 7 inches high, fair complexion, light blue eyes, brown hair, wore a green short coat, and green great coat, grey pantaloons, light spatts, and a round hat.

Stonehaven, May 6, 1816.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 8th May 1816.

Circuit Court, Inverness

The Court met this day at 10 o'clock, A.M. when Mary McPherson, from the parish of Snizort, in Skye, accused of Child Murder, and Concealment of pregnancy, was brought to the bar.  The Advocate-Depute, in consequence of the absence of material witness, moved that the diet should be deserted pro loco et tempore, which was accordingly done, and the prisoner committed on a new warrant.

Isabella McRae, from Strathmore, in the Parish of Durness, County of Sutherland, also accused of Child Murder, and Concealment of pregnancy, was, on her own confession, found Guilty of the statutory crime, and sentenced to be imprisoned eight months in the tolbooth of Dornoch.

Daniel Forbes, accused of robbery and theft, was next brought to trial.  His indictment consisted of two charges:- the first was, that on 14th. September last, he stole from the house of John McDougal, at Clepantown, a silver watch; the second, that on 6th September, in the vicinity of a fir plantation, near Fallie, he by force and violence, took and carried away from Benjamin Henderson, and did rob him of a silver watch.  - The prisoner pled guilty to the first charge, and the second having been passed from, the Jury returned an unanimous viva voce verdict, finding him Guilty in terms of his own confession.  - After a suitable admonition from his Lordship, the prisoner was sentenced to be transported beyond seas for seven years, under the usual certification.

Donald McKilligan, accused of Hamesucken, and who has for a considerable time past annoyed the inhabitants of the town with his yells or cries, was next brought the bar.  His Counsel stated, that he was a natural fool, and consequently not a fit object of trial.  In support of this plea, Dr Kennedy, who had attended the prisoner, and one of the jailors, were adduced as witnesses, and the plea having been sustained, the prisoner was recommitted, aye and until the Magistrates of Inverness shall find sufficient caution in the Books of Adjournal, for his safe custody in a place of confinement, suited to his unfortunate situation, and the safety of the lieges.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 1st May 1816.

William Forbes & Mary McDonald committed to Bridewell

In a scuffle in the Spital, on Sunday the 10th March current, John Allan, Ship Carpenter, received a Stab in the left side with a pen knife from William Forbes, Apprentice Watch-maker; in consequence of which, the said John Allan died on the morning of Friday last.  Forbes has been committed to prison, to stand his trial at the ensuing Circuit Court of Justiciary.

Mary McDonald, for Theft, was on 21st March current, committed to Bridewell for Three Months, and banished the Burgh for life.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 27th March 1816.

Betty Grant: reward for information

REWARD OFFERED.

THERE was a middle aged woman absconded from her service, early on Monday morning, and carried off with her, almost the whole of her Mistress's Wearing Apparel.  She calls herself BETTY GRANT, and said she was a native of Fraserburgh.  She is a thick, small sized woman, black complexion, her last service was with Gilbert Thom, in Echt.  A Reward will be given to any person who can give information concerning her.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 14th December 1814.