Glasgow Courier. — 1847-12-21 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

GLASGOW CIRCUIT COURT.  The winter Circuit of Justiciary was opened here yesterday forenoon in the Justiciary Hall with the usual formalities. At eleven o'clock the Judges, the Lord Justice-Clerk, and Lord Wood, left Carrick's Royal Hotel, George Square, and proceeded in their carriages, attended by the usual escort, consisting of detachments of the 3a Royal Insh Dtagoon Guards and the 71st Highlanders, respectively the procession being swelled by a number of carriages, in which were the Hon. the Lord Provost, Alex. Ha.stie, Esq., M.P. (who was until within the last day or two in attendance upon his duties in Parliament), Bailie David Smith, and others of the Magistrates, members of Town Council, &c. The splendid brass band of the 71st played several fine pieces of music on the way to Court, and the line of the procession was, as usual, densely crowded. The opening of the Court was attended by Sheriff Alison, Sheriff Colquhoun, Sheriff Robertson, and various other functionaries. John Montgomerie Bell, Esq., acted as Advocate-Depute, and Mr. Wyllie as Clerk. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Jamieson of St. Paul's. The number of casts for trial at the present circuit is comparatively limited, being 65 in all, in which are included 83 prisoners. The great majority of the offences are cases of simple theft, and theft by means of housebreaking, with a few assaults and robberies. In the more heinous class there are, one case or child-murder, one of bigamy, and the case of one George Fay, a shoemaker, charged with culpable homicide, anti also with cruel and unnatural treatment of his wife, under circumstances which, on their being stated in the public prints at the time of their occurrence, produced a strong Impression upon the public mind. . . .  On the jury list being called, it was found that an unusually large proportion of the parties summoned had sent in excuses for nou-attendance on the ground of indisposition. Five, who were absent without any real or alleged excuse, were fined in the accustomed amount for non-attendance.  The first case called was that of Helm Dolton, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, with aggravations, and was sentenced to seven years' transportation. John Clark was convicted of theft, with aggravations, and sentenced to ten years' transportation. David Hamilton pleaded guilty to breaking into a workshop at ' Gartsherrie Iron-works, and stealing a variety of articles; sentenced to 18 mouths' imprisonment. John Lindsay pleadei guilty to being one of a party who, on the 6th August last, assaulted and robbed Alexander Fraser in Goosedubs Street, Glasgow. The prisoner's associates were tried for the offence at last Circuit, and sentenced to be transported for 10 years, Lindsay having fled from justice. Be was now sentenced to 10 years' transportation. James Martin was convicted of theft, with aggravations, and sentenced to seven years' transportation. Helen Cairns was convicted of theft, with aggravations, and sentenced to seven years' transportation. Andrew Clark, convicted of theft with aggravations, was sentenced to seven bears' transportation.