Prisoner name: William Clark, aged 14. [Andrew Millar, Robert Macmillan also mentioned.]....

Prisoner name: William Clark, aged 14. [Andrew Millar, Robert Macmillan also mentioned.].

Court and Date of Trial: Ayrshire Sheriffs Constabulary, 1845.

Crime: Theft.

Initial sentence: Imprisonment 6 months.

Gaoler's Report: Refer to Sheriff.

Outcome: Refuse to mitigate.

Petitions and letters: Joint petition from Maray Clark, father of William Clark, and Jasper Millar, father of Andrew Millar, asking for mitigation for delicate health, first offence and contrition on the part of the prisoners. The offences are of a trivial nature and attended with extenuating circumstances. Petition signed by 17 people of the community, including John Brown, Provost of Kilmarnock, and 5 Magistrates, 8 JPs and 2 doctors, among others.

Petition from G Bourine, asking for mitigation for the prisoner.

Letter from A Bell, saying the case came before him and was immediately assigned a Sheriff and jury to try the case. The house of William Wright and Janet, his daughter, was broken into while they were at church. A few shillings, some bread and beans were stolen. What was stolen is less important, says Bell, than that the house was broken into when the thieves knew the owners were at church.

Witness statement from Thomas Baird, saw Clark, Millar and Macmillan use a hayfork to break into the house. When they came out, Baird charged them and they threatened him.

Topics

Crime