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.
