Trial of apprentice surgeons from Keith

Yesterday the Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here by the Right Hon. the Lords Pitmilly and Reston.

The first case which occupied the attention of the Court was that of James Taylor, John Gordon, and George Pirie, Apprentices to Mr John Gordon, Surgeon in Keith, accused of violating the sepulchre of the dead, by taking up the body of John Bremner, recently interred in the Church-yard of Keith.  The pannels, who were all young men, pled guilty to the charge; and a jury having been impanneled, found them guilty, in terms of their own confession; but on account of their youth and other circumstances, unanimously recommended them to the clemency of the Court.  The Advocate Depute very candidly admitted all the circumstances tending to alleviate their guilt, particularly their ingenuous confession of the offence, their youth, and anxiety to make every pecuniary compensation to the relatives of the person whose grave they had violated.  All these circumstances were embodied in a Memorial or Petition to the Court, in their behalf, signed by most of the respectable inhabitants of Keith. - Their Lordships concurred in giving weight to these facts; and after a suitable and very impressive address from Lord Reston, followed by Lord Pitmilly, they were sentenced to be imprisoned for four months in the jail of Banff.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 23rd April 1817.

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.

Death of David Wilson, apprentice druggist

A young man, of the name of DAVID WILSON, apprentice to Mr ROBERT ROBERTSON, Druggist in this city, died on the 4th instant, in his master's house, after two days' illness.  Two Medical Gentlemen had seen him the day on which he died, who were of opinion that his disease was scarlet fever, accompanied with putrid sore throat; and that these were aggravated by a previous deranged state of health.  Nearly a week after his interment, however, an anonymous letter was sent to a brother of the deceased; the author of which stated, that, in his opinion, D. Wilson's death had been occasioned by poison; and a precognition having been begun before the Magistrates, they, after taking the declarations of the Physicians as to the circumstances attending his death, in order that every satisfaction might be obtained, remitted to them to inspect the body of the deceased, which was accordingly raised for that purpose.  The Medical Gentlemen, in their Report, declared that, after submitting the contents of the stomach to minute chemical tests, and having inspected the state of the stomach, and other viscera of the abdomen and thorax, they found nothing of a deleterious nature in the contents of the stomach; and that the stomach and bowels did not exhibit the smallest appearance of any acrid or poisonous substance having been administered; and concluded their Report with "Representing, in the strongest terms, that as the symptoms attending the illness and death of David Wilson were not such as occur where poison proves fatal, so from the investigation which has taken place, they were fully convinced that he did not die of poison, but partly in consequence of previous disease, and more immediately from the rapid progress of scarlet fever, with putrid sore throat".

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 17th August 1814.

William Hay, Stuartfield

WILLIAM HAY,

DYER IN STUARTFIELD,

BEGS leave to return his most sincere thanks to his friends, and the public in general, for the very liberal encouragement he has hitherto experienced in the line of his business; and at the same time requests a continuance of their favours, which they may be assured it will be his constant study to merit.

W.H. continues to be at FORDMOUTH on the first Tuesday of every month, to take in Cloth, Yarn, &c.

Messrs. Hope Peterkin, Cruden Bleachfield; John Gray, Hawkhillock; John Milne, merchant, Longside and John Hay, Culsh, New Deer; likewise take in work for him, in their respective corners; and all articles sent by carriers will be returned carriage-free from whatever distance.

N.B. - AN APPRENTICE Wanted.

February 9th, 1813.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 17th February 1813.