William Jamieson

341

Maureen Withey on 7th November 2025

Database of Scottish Court records relating to Australian convicts. https://www.oldscottish.com/convict-records-7.html William JAMIESON. Labourer, Vennel, Aberdeen, Tried Aberdeen, 29 Apr 1835, Transportation – Life. Per ship Asia, 05 November 1835 Van Diemen's Land.

341

Maureen Withey on 7th November 2025

Wednesday, April 29. The Court met again this morning at 9 o'clock, when Isabella Watt, Mary Sim, and William Jamieson, were placed at the bar, charged with robbery, They pleaded Not Guilty ; and a new jury  was impannelled. Alexander Walker lives at New Biggiogs of Town. Had occasion to come to Aberdeen upon Wednesday the 20th of Oct, last. Had £51 7s. when he left home. He had silver in his breeches pocket, and notes in his breast pocket. The parcel with the money was sewed  into the breast pocket. On reaching town, went to the house of Alexander Reid, stabler, in Harriet Street. Slept in Reid’s house that night. In the morning, the notes were still in his pocket. … at seven that morning to a shop in Cowgate, to buy mongery goods. Told Reid that he was going to pay away money. Went up the Vennel, on his way to the shop. It was raining a little.  Saw an open door, and went to shelter., Saw a woman standing in her shift. Woman asked him to come up stairs, (Identifies  Sim as the woman in question.) Went up stairs, Saw Jamieson rising out of his bed. There was only one bed in the room ; but there was also something having the appearance of a bed —a sort of bed. Watt was lying in the bed. Jamieson asked witness to come in and sit down. Witness declined. Sim asked for some money to get whisky. Gave her a sixpence. Still had money in his breast pocket, but it was not stitched up as at first. Waited on the stair-head till the whisky was brought in a small goblet. Sim took a fancy to his neckcloth. She took hold of it, merely saying that it was a pretty one. He had one pound and a few shillings in silver, in his purse which Sim carried off. Left the house, and went to Alexander Duncan’s shop in George Street, where witness changed a five-pound note. (got in change a one-pound note of the National Bank of Scotland, and three coins in silver ; and Duncan was due him the other pound. Went about eight o'clock in the morning into the house in the Vennel, to see if Sim was there, and to try to recover his purse  Saw Watt sitting there alone. When Watt perceived him she gave a kind of skreech, Jamieson then made his appearance,  and the two pannels dragged him down upon the temporary bed. Did not see Sim at that time, Jamieson seized witness with with his two hands, by the neck, and threw him down on the bed. Watt put her hand upon his thighs. Jamieson held witness down, squeezing his neck with his hands, and pressing on him with his knees. Watt assisted in keeping Jamieson above witness with one hand, and with the other searched his pockets. Witness used every exertion to escape and to keep his money. Was in such a state of agitation that he did not cry out. Watt took his money out. Watt took his money out of his pocket. She first put her hand in his breeches pocket, and then in his breast pocket.  Did not see Sim in the room at all. When pannels got the money, they left the room quickly, and witness then rose. When he went down, saw Jamieson standing in the onter door, Jamieson stood opposite him, apparently with the intention ot detaining him. Remained in that situation about two minates, when Jamieson made way for him and he went out. Went to Alexander Reid's house. Told nobody that day what had happened. On Friday morning, Simon Grant, town-serjeant, came to him. Went with Grant to the house where the robbery was committed. Found Watt there. Told Grant she was the woman who had taken his money. Did not hear distinctly what passed betwixt Watt and Grant, being a little deaf. Watt was takeninto custody. Went with Grant afterwards, in search of Sim, whom they f!mnd in a house in the Gallowgate, aud who was taken into custody. Never was robbed in the Vennel before. Never said he th been on_the spree the night before the robbery. Was quite sober. Tasted the whisky bought with his own sixpence. Cross-examined.—Did not go into the house with any other object than to obtain shelter. Had no suspicion that it was a house of bad fame until he had been there for a few minutes. Was not sure if he sat down, Alexander Reid, stabler, described the notes which Walker had taken from his pocket in his presence, and otherwise confirmed the evidence of the preceding witness. Walker went to his bed on coming in at eight o'clock. Helen Cameron, a servant with Mr. Reid, gave evidence to the same efiect as her master. John Smith examined. —lsshopman to Mr. Duncan. Confirmed the evidence of  Walker, with regard to the changing of the five-pound note in Duncan’s shop. John Greig examined.—ls shopman to John & William Grant, haberdashers, Broad Street. On the morning of the 16th October; npon veturning from breakfast; at ten ootk found Sim in the shop. Was sent out by his master to change a twenty-pound note. Gave the small notes, which he got in change, to Mr. William Grant. Sim took away her purchases,  which were a man’s shirt and pairof drawers. She came back again in about a quarter of an hour. Watt accompanied her the sccond time. They bought blankets and ticking, and some small carpetshawls.   Sim bought about 30s. or 40s. worth, and Watt bonght three or four pounds worth. Watt paid with a twenty-pound note, and Sim with small notes. They did not then take away their purchases, but afterwards called for them. There wis a man with Sim and  Watt when they called the last time. Watt bought a large tartan shawl, which cost ten shillings. She gave witness a five-pound note. They were speaking about a new suit of clothes for the young man who was with them. Pannels seemed to be in a hurry to be gone. Never passed a thought with regard to the women paying in large notes. Mr. Grant examined.—Remembers Mary Sim coming to his shop on the 30th of October about ten o'clock. She asked for a striped shirt and a pair of drawers, which cost about 4s. She offered a twenty-pound note, of which the change was given to her. She returned in about twenty minutes with Watt, and made purchases amounting to about three pounds, which she paid with a twenty-pound note. This witness confirmed the evidence of his shopman in other particulars. Saw Sim, in a few minutes after the last visit of the pannels to his shop, pass down the street in custody of a policeman. Alexander Rae examined.—Saw Sim in company with a man in Cruden's  Court, into which a window looks from his master’s shop. Saw them have notes both large and small. From his master’s shop saw them crossing the street and going into Grant's shop opposite The man  was dressed in fustian and light clothes. Thinks from the appearance that pannel is the man; but is not certain. Simon Grant examined. —Jamieson was known to be an associate of Watt's. When he took Watt into custody, she denied that she had taken the money or ever seen Walker. He detailed the steps which he had taken for the apprehension and detection of the offenders. Went to Edinburgh with Charles Dawson and found Jamieson in the police office there. They brought him to  Aberdeen, together with another lad named Dow. The prisoners were boasting of their exploits. Jamieson said he had helped to rob Walker, and described the robbery. Jamieson was quite sober at this time, and he and Dow of their own accord spoke to each other. Charles Dawson examined. —Recollected conversation betwixt Dow and Jamieson, on the road from Edinburgh. They were boasting of their dexterity in theft. Jamieson said that he heard a cry when Walker was in the house, and when he came into the room the two women were keeping Walker down on the bed. He assisted them, and took the money from Walker. He then gave it to a man, George Mackay,  who was standing at the lower door. Jamieson said that he had got twenty pounds for his own share of the booty. The declarations of the pannels were then read. The Public Prosecutor then addressed the jury.  He did not think it necessary to ask for a verdict of Guilty against Mary Sim,  but he felt it to be his duty to do so against the other pannels. He, however, restricted the libel against them. Mr. Cook spoke in behalf of the pannels. If the offence were not committed in the manner libelled, then he would feel  entitled to call for a verdict of Not Proven. The Jury must be satisfied that the money had been taken from Walker by force. The only evidence, however, which they had with regard to the mode of committing the crime was that of Walker, and there were great reasons for disbelieving his evidence. He had every motive for giving a perverted view of the matter. Mr. Cook then stated several circumstances which he thought in him in entertaining doubts of the truth of Walker's Lord Mackenzie then charged the jury. With regard to the evidence of Walker, he stated that it was clear and satisfactory, was confirmed in those particulars in which it could be confirmed ; and there was nothing in his demeanour which could lead them to believe that he had any improper object in going into the house  where he was robbed. The jury unanimously returned a verdict of Not Proven against Sim, and of Guilty against Watt and Jamieson. Sim was dismissed from the bar, and Watt and Jamieson were sentenced to transportation for life. In pronouncing sentence, Lord Mackenzie stated to the prisoners that, had a blow been struck, the libel would not have been restricted, and their punishment would have been capital. Aberdeen Herald, 2 May 1835.

62

Keith South on 24th January 2015

Native place Aberdeen Scotland, single, previous conviction for vagrancy. TOL 14/12/1844.

62

Keith South on 24th January 2015

TOL 14/12/1844.