William & James Stevenson, foxhunters

TO THE PUBLIC.

WILLIAM and JAMES STEVENSON, FOXHUNTERS, and JAMES KENNEDY, their SERVANT, being lately imprisoned, on a charge of having fired from a Wood upon a party of Officers of Excise, while escorting a seizure of smuggled goods down the Glen of Clova, in Angus-shire, on the 11th of February last - they, individually, think it proper publicly to state and assert, in the most solemn manner:

1.  That they had no concern with the smuggled goods in question, and are not engaged in smuggling in any way whatever.

2.  That they had no previous knowledge of the assault, said to have been committed upon the Officers of Excise, and were not accessory to the same in any way, and have no knowledge whatever of any person or persons guilty of, or concerned in, that assault.

And they entreat their Employers, and the Public, to disregard the charge which has been brought against them, and suspend judgement, until the issue of their trial.  [Illegible]

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 19th May 1819.

Echt Kirk Session Minutes, 25th July 1813

After Sermon the Session being met & constitute compeared Mary Eddie, who being asked if the Report of her being with Child was well founded, she admittied it was.  She was then exhorted to give a candid confession who was the Father of her Child, when she gave up James Kennedy as the Father, who being present, was asked if he admitted the accusation against him & to which he gave evasive answers.  He was then asked specifically if he had ever any carnal connection with the said woman, which query he likewise wished to evade, but being pressed to give a distinct answer, he gave a Negative.  Being then asked if he was in the pracice of visiting this young woman frequently, admits that he went back & fore frequently to visit her, but declines saying at what time of Day or night, being asked to sign this declaration, he declined it.

(signed)  Rob[er]t Ferguson Mod[erato]r
              Wm Malcolm Sess[ion] Cl[er]k

The Kirk Session having communed on the matter, thought it proper to cause summon him before the next meeting of the Presb[yter]y, as there is no established Minister here.

Echt Kirk Session Minutes, 1813 (NAS Reference: CH2/560/6)

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