John Roger & George Cockburn sentenced for assault

On Monday last, in consequence of a complaint, at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal of Court, the Justices of Peace here passed sentence against John Roger and George Cockburn, to pay a fine of  Five Pounds each, or to be confined two months in Bridewell unless the fines are sooner paid, in terms of the Police and Watch Act, for an assault and outrage on the person of Mr Baird, in the Watch House, while discharging his official duty as Superintendant of the Watch of this City.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 21st July 1819.

Alexander Gibson sentenced

On Monday last, Alexander Gibson was convicted before the Sheriff, in a prosecution at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal, of having, in the month of June last, committed a very aggravated assault on Elizabeth Jaffray, wife of Alexander Park, in Millhill of Crimond, by striking and wounding her on the head with a stick, to the effusion of her blood.  The Sheriff, after expressing in the strongest terms, his disapprobabion of the outrageous and unmanly conduct of the prisoner, in assaulting a defenceless woman, in the manner that had been clearly proved against him, sentenced him to confinement and hard labour in Bridewell, for the space of Six Calendar Months.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 9th October 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.

Prison sentences for violent assault

For several successive days in January last, a number of idle and disorderly persons, consisting partly of boys, and partly of sailors, apprentice tradesmen, and others, assembled in the neighbourhood of Old Aberdeen, trespassing on the fields, throwing stones, annoying passengers, and otherwise disturbing the public peace.  Several of them were apprehended; and on Wednesday last, Alexander McLean and John Solomon, sailors, and William Forbes, apprentice cork-cutter, were convicted before the Sheriff, on the complaint of the Procurator Fiscal, of having been actively engaged in these riotous proceedings: and also of having committed a violent assault on James Anderson, gardener in Old Aberdeen, at whom they had taken offence, on account of his endeavouring to drive the mob off his grounds.  McLean was sentenced to confinement and hard labour in Bridewell for three months, and Solomon and Forbes for two months.  It is hoped, this example will operate as a salutory check to similar practices in time coming.

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

William Law, outlaw and fugitive

BROKE PRISON,

AND REWARD OFFERED.

WHEREAS WILLIAM LAW, incarcerated in the Tollbooth of Stonehaven, accused of a capital crime, BROKE the PRISON of that place, and escaped, upon the night betwixt the 25th and 26th days of August, and was outlawed at least Autumn Circuit Court of Justiciary, held at Aberdeen, for not appearing - 

A REWARD OF TWENTY GUINEAS

is hereby offered to any Person or Persons, who will apprehend and secure the person of the said William Law, and deliver him over at Stonehaven, to the Keeper of the Tollbooth there.

The said William Law worked as a Labourer and Ditcher, for some short time, on Deeside, near Upper Banchory.  He is about five feet seven inches high, middling stout made; dark complexion; black eyes; black hair; has a flat broken nose; and has been wounded in one of his hands.  He had upon him when he made his escapee, Corduroy Trowsers, a Brown striped Vest, and a Light-Brown short Coat. - the Reward to be paid by John Low, writer in Stonehaven, Procurator-Fiscal of the Sheriff Court of Kincardineshire.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 5th January 1814.