Alexander Cran fined for crop damaged by dog

A complaint having been lately brought by a Gentleman, before the Justices of the Peace for the district of Turriff, against Alexander Cran, a farm-servant in the parish of Auchterless, for allowing two large dogs to hunt or range through a field of corn, when nearly ripe, by which a great part of it was trampled down and destroyed; and also for his insolent and outrageous conduct to said gentleman, when stopped and questioned by him as to his having done so.  The Justices, upon investigating the matter, found the complaint fully proven, and ordained the said Alexander Cran to pay the sum of Five Pounds sterling, in name of fine and damages, and also found him liable in expences. - The Justices having also taken into consideration, that it is a practice very common in that part of the country for farm-servants, when travelling on the public roads with their masters' horses, to have large dogs along with them, which they allow to range thro' the fields adjacent to the road, to the great depredation and damage of the crop on the ground, and also to the great danger and annoyance of cattle and sheep; we understand that they therefore determined to use every means in their power, for putting a stop to the same in future; and it is hoped, that after this public notification, farmers will be careful to prevent their servants from taking dogs along with them, when travelling with their horses and carts.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 9th December 1818.

Masters and Servants

A complaint having been brought before the Justices of Peace of Banffshire, by Mr Ogilvie, farmer at Tillynaught, against William Duncan and James Pirie, his servants, who had refused to do some necessary work after six o'clock (at night), and had soon after deserted their service, the Justices, after considering the complaint, and hearing parties, found that the servants had forfeited their wages from Whitsunday last to the period of desertion (being nearly three months), fined them in £1 15s. sterl. of expences each, besides the expence of extracting; - And were of opinion that it is a very mistaken idea, which has become but too prevalent in the country, that farm servants are not bound to work after six at night - there being no such law in existence; but on the contrary, they are bound to obey the orders of their masters at all hours when he may necessarily require their labours; and the farmer who permits such customs, in order to gain low popularity in the country, is doing a very serious injury to himself, and to the agricultural interest at large.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 24th August 1814.