Glasgow Courier. — 1846-12-22 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GLASGOW WINTER CIRCUIT.  Yesterday the Circuit Court of Justiciary for the Western Districtwas opened here with the accustomed formalities. About half-past eleven o'clock. the Judges, Lords Mackenzie and Cockburn, proceeded in their carriages from Carrick's Hotel, George Square, to the Court, escorted by parties respectively of the 3d Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and Infantry, from the Cavalry and Infantry Barrack.. The Court was attended, as usual, by the Sheriffs and the various other functionaries connected with judicial business; and, after their Lordships had taken their seats on the bench, the proceedings of the Court were opened by the offering up of an impressive and appropriate prayer by the Rev. Dr. Muir. We may mention here that the calendar is a light one, embracing only 37 cases, mostly offences of a petty character, and in which 43 prisoners are implicated. Of this number of persons, aix are implicated in offences in Renfrewshire •' three in Dumbartonshire; and the remaining thirty-four from Lanarkshire. The only case of a more serious nature than theft, whh the usual aggravations, is that of the prisoner James Daly, charged with murder or culpable homicide, and whose trial at the Autumn Circuit Court had to be postponed on account of its being considered that the I prisoner was then of unsound mind. George Dean, Esq., acts as Advocate-Depute on this occasion. Robert Porteous pleaded guilty to theft from lock-fast places, P ith previous conviction, and was sentenced to eighteen calender months' imprisonment in the General Prison at Perth. "Jane Watson pleaded guilty to theft of some bed-clothes and other articles, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment at Perth. William Brown pleaded guilty to theft, with habit and repute and previous conviction, and was sentenced to seven years' transportation. John Keenan and Daniel Dougherty, both boys not exceeding eleven or twelve years of age, pleaded guilty to theft by means of houtiehreaking, aggravated by previous conviction, and were sett., tenced to seven years' transportation. They were at same time informed by the Courts that considering their years, there P;AS a positibility that their sentences would not, be carried fully -44 effect, and that they would Ipe sent to the Penitentiary. • 'Alerts Christina APCallum or Harris pleaded guilty to theft arc& lockfast places and previous conviction, in so far as, OP list ,Angt last, in a house in Charlotte Street, she opened a lockfast chest or trunk by means of the true key, of which site had feloniously obtained possession, and stole therefrom thirty £1 notes, £2O in silver money, a sovereign, and two linen bags. The prisoner, who is quite a youneemale, was sentenced to 7 years' transportation, and she left the bar crying bitterly. Margaret Mullen. or North was convicted of theft, with habit, and repute and previous conviction, and sentenced to wren year? transportation. Mary Anne Sweenie or MCue, charged with theft, aggravated by habit and repute and previous conviction, pleaded not guilty, and the offence having been found by the jury not proven, she was dismissed from the bar. Sarah MBride was convicted of theft, with habit and repute and previous conviction, and (sentenced to seven years' transportation. James Houston was convicted of theft, with the aggravation of previous conviction and banishment, and was sentenced to ten years' transportation. Elizabeth Innes or Fraser was convicted of theft, aggravated by hqbit and repute, and previous conviction, and sentenced to 7 years' transportation. Hugh Baird, alias Peter Evans, and Alexander Baird, two brothers, habit and repute thieves, with previous convictions, were charged whh stealing a tartan mantle in High Street, from the Cart of Mr. John Gray, farmer, Stirequal, parish of Campsie. Both prisoners pleaded uot guilty. After the case went to trial, prisoners were found guilty; Hugh, the eldest, being sentenced to 7 years' transportation, and Alexander to 12 months' imprisonment in Perth Penitentiary. Hugh Baird, on receiving sentence, gay* expression to most violent and absurd declamations. Mary MBrearty, theft and previous conviction, charged with stealing at different periods various articles of wearing apparel. Prisoner pleaded not guilty; sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. This finished the cases for the day, and the Court broke up about a quarter to 7 o'clock. v.