Glasgow Courier. — 1853-10-01 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

LORD JUSTICE-CLERK, addressing the Sheriffs,. said there were two points of great public importance to which he wished to direct attention—the first of which was the recent change in the law affecting criminals, who were now to receive punishment by penal servitude in this country, instead of transportation. He was the more :unions to draw public attention to that point, as a very general impression seemed to be entertained that the change was one relieving the convict from a heavy punishment, an d substituting a trifling one. But he wished it tube known that such was not the case. Indeed, it was the object of the statute to enforce a more severe punishment, and most certainly such it would be found by those upon whom the law took effect. A criminal formerly receiving sentence of even the shortest period of transportation, would now receive four j ears of penal servitude, and for longer terms with a corresponding severity. There was another point embraced in the new act, and to which he begged to call the attention of the magistrates and justices then present, and that was the clause which empowered them to grant tickets of leave to such convicts as were considered deserving of them. It had not yet been formally announced what their labour was to be, whether in public works or otherwise, but the granting of these tickets of leave would demand increased vigilance on the part of magistrates and justices, as any such tickets ought to be given only to those who had proved themselves worthy of such indulgence; and, farther, it would call for increased attention on the part of the county and burgh police, as it would be necessary that they should strictly observe the conduct of all convicts holding such tickets, in order to prevent the possibility of the privilege being abused by the criminal who, of course, would then require to be deprived of the indulgence. His Lordship concluded by congratulating the Court on the lightness of the circuit. In that respect it was a most remarkable one, from Berwickshire in the east, to Ayrshire in the west, including Dumfriesshire, there had only been eight cases for trial. While noticing this extraordinary circumstance, he said it might in some measure be attributed to the better discharge of their duties by the constabulary; but he hoped he was not wrong in ascribing it to a certain extent as arising from an improved state of morality among the people. He sincerely hoped it was so, but, from whatever cause, it was a most gratifying fact, and he had great pleai.ure in congratulating the Court that the cases for to-day were of no trifling a nature. The following eases were then called:— Joseph Straiten M`Guire and John Peebles, previously convicted, were charged with theft on 18th or 19th of June last, of a sack, the property of John Gibson, farmer, Waterside; and, same date, of a sack, the property of the late William Meikle, farmer, Oldhall, both in the parish of Dunlop. The prisoners, two mere boys, pled guilty. Mr. Boyle spoke in mitigation. After a feeling admonition by the judge, they were sentenced, Peebles to one years' impnsonment ; 111`Guire, under the new act, to four years of penal servitude. James Skimming, Neptune Street, Stranraer, was charged with culpable homicide and assault to the great effusion of blood. A verdict of not guilty was returned, and the prisoner dismissed. Bernard M'Lean was charged with forgery, with using and uttering a false, fabricated, and forged document, purporting to be a diploma or license of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. The document founded on was charged to have been issued by the Glasgow Medical Faculty on or about 6th Aug., 1827, to the now deceased Daniel Gorman, Stockwell Street, Glasgow, which document, by erasure and other means, the prisoner made to appear as granted to him on 6th August, 1848, having appended to it the names of the licensing physicians and surgeons of the latter date; and farther, having settled, desirous to practice as physician or surgeon, in or near Dairy, he was charged with exhibiting the same, in the course of this present year, to various parties in Dairy and Glasgow, with a view to inducing them to believe that he was a regularly qualified medical practitioner. Pled guilty to second charge of using and uttering. The plea was accepted. Mr Boyle was counsel, and called Mr. Burke, Roman Catholic clergyman, and Mr. Steele, Free Church clergyman, Dairy, who bore strong testimony to the prisoner's character. The Judge, in a lengthened address, sentenced the panel to six months' imprisonment. The