Hi Lynnee,
Thought you would be interested in the following :-
CALEDONIAN MERCURY
MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 1916
The following persons have been served with indictments to stand trial before the ensuing Circuit Court of Justiciary, at Aberdeen, viz
William Watson, alias William Reid for forgery.
CALEDONIAN MERCURY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1816
Aberdeen, Sept 18
Yesterday the Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened here by the Right Honourable Lord Gillies.
After the usual preliminaries, the Court proceeded to the trial of William Watson, alias Reid, shoemaker in Skene Street, Aberdeen, charged with forgery. The indictment accused the panel of being guilty of uttering and using, as true and genuine, a false and forged letter, purporting to be written by John Reid, farmer of Guise, in the parish of Tough, and addressed to Mr Leith, builder in Aberdeen, requesting him to advance to the panel, William Reid, the sum of L10 Sterling, on his, Mr John Reid’s account. In this imposition, it appeared, that he succeeded, Mr Leith having advanced the sum desired; but at the same time taking due precautions to identify the prisoner, in case the letter in question should turn out to be forged. The libel was restricted to an arbitrary punishment, in terms of his own confession, and will receive sentence on Thursday.
Counsel for the Crown, Samuel McCormick, Esq. For the panel, William Buchanan, Esq.
CALEDONIAN MERCURY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1816
Aberdeen, Sept 19.
The court met this day, and proceeded to pass sentence on those who had been tried on the 17th.
William Watson, alias Reid, being again called to the bar, received sentence of transportation for 14 years.
Regards.
Bill