Prison sentences for trespass

At a Justice of Peace Court, held here, upon the 7th ult. the following delinquents, viz. William Morison, clerk to Mr Copland, Insurance Broker in Aberdeen, Peter Symmers, at Sclattie; Christian Symmers there; and several others (whose names are withheld on account of their personal respectability, and the contrition they evinced) were brought forward, upon a complaint at the instance of Mr Forbes of Seaton, which charged them with trespassing within his grounds, and with contravening various of the Statutes enacted for the protection of young trees.  After a full investigation of these charges, the Justice pronounced judgement against Morison, and the two Symmers, finding each of them liable in a penalty of L.10 sterling; and granting warrant to commit them to the Tolbooth of Aberdeen, there to be detailed for the space of six months, or until they should make payment of the penalties so awarded.  The other delinquents having confessed their error, were assoilzied, with Mr Forbes' consent, on payment of the actual expence of prosecution.

We think it right to make known the result of this case, as a warning to those who, under the pretence of seeking for bird's nests, and other purposes, are in the practice of entering private grounds in the neighbourhood of the town, and cutting and breaking down young trees.  Every one is interested more or less to put a stop to practices so wanton and mischievous; and we are glad to understand that a new prosecution is in forwardness against some others, for similar trespasses on the lands of Cotton.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 7th July 1819.

Conviction of John Dow and Charles Dow

On Wednesday last, John Dow, and Charles Dow, labourers, were convicted before the Sheriff, of an obstruction of one of the Officers of the court, and an attempt to rescue a person apprehended by him under a warrant from the Sheriff, and were sentenced to be imprisoned in the Tolbooth of Aberdeen; John Dow for one calendar month, and Charles Dow for fourteen days.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 19th February 1817.

Cases brought before the Justices of Peace of Aberdeen

On Monday last, Janet Douglas, otherwise Oliver, a vagrant and incorrigible vagabond, who was about six years ago imprisoned in the Tolbooth of Aberdeen, along with a John Oliver, said to be her husband, for the crime of coining and uttering base money, and also committed to Bridewell, about four years ago, in virgue of a Warrant from the Justices of the Peace, for some crime she was guilty of about Tarland; was duly convicted before the Magistrates, of obtaining money from the Lieges in an illegal manner, by pretending to be deaf and dumb, to tell fortunes, and to have a licence from the King certifying her capacity to cure different disorders, &c.  She was sentenced to two years confinement in the House of Correction for this city, and to be kept to hard labour, and afterwards banished the Burgh and liberties for life.  And on the 23d inst. Donald Campbell, residing at Putachyside of Aberdeen, and Margaret Ross, his spouse, who were some time ago banished the Burgh, by the Magistrates, for Harbouring such idle and vagrant persons as the said Janet Douglas, and who had been guilty of harbouring her on the present occasion; along with Helen Ellis, at Backtraps of Aberdeen, a person of notoriously bad character, who was banished from Banff and Peterhead lately, and who at present keeps a house of bad fame, were disposed of as follows, viz., the said Donald Campbell and Margaret Ross, were fined in the sum of £5, and committed to prison till payment, and also banished the Burgh and liberties for the space of Three Years; the cause was continued against the said Helen Ellis.

Broke Prison and Reward Offered

WHEREAS WILLIAM LAW, incarcerated in the tolbooth 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;

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 tolbooth there.

The said William Law worked as a labourer and ditcher, for some short time, on Dee side, near Upper Banchory.  He is about 5 feet 7 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 escape, 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 1st September 1813.