Alexander Young

342

Maureen Withey on 17th April 2026

Hulk Records. HO-9-4-4. Page 23 Justitia Hulk Received 18 June 1826. From Euryalus Hulk. Alexander Young, age 17, Housebrg. Tried at Edinburgh, 19 Dec 1825, Life. Transported 26 July 1826. Old Scottish Genealogy and Family History. https://www.oldscottish.com/convict-records-17.html Alexander Young, Cabinet maker, of Edinburgh, Tried Edinburgh, 19 Dec 1825, Transportation- Life. To New South Wales, per Speke, 5 August 1826.

342

Maureen Withey on 14th August 2025

High Court of Justiciary. Two youths, Alexander Young and George Dodds, were then placed at the bar, charged with breaking into the workshop of Messrs Law and Steven, wrights, situated in it Simon's Square, and with breaking open a lock-fast tool-chest, and with stealing a quantity of joiners'  tools: Young was also charged with being habit and repute a common a thief. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. The crimes with which the prisoners stood charged were committed early in the morning of the 20th of October, and subsequently, on the same morning, the premises were destroyed by fire, as was every thing they contained  with the exception of two ladders. Mr Law proved that he put out his candle at half past ten o'clock the preceding night, and left the doors and windows properly fastened. Soon after two o'clock the prisoners were apprehended by Alexander M'Kenzie and John Rchardson, watchmen, with wrights' tools in their possession, and within a quarter of an hour after they were taken to Park Street Police Office the alarm came that the work-shop was on fire. The tools were identified in Court by Law and Steven, and John Mc'Intosh (one of the workmen), as being at their property, who also proved that they had not been ii - touched bv the fire. ? , a smith, residing next door to the premises destroyed, positively swore that the prisoner Dodds  knocked at his door for a light so late as twelve o'clock the preceding night, which he did not rise to give him ;  before two o'clock he discovered the shop on fire, and in two minutes the roof fell in. Mr Scott, Procurator Fiscal, proved one conviction against the prisoner Young in the Shriff' Court   as did T. MacCanochie, two convictions against him in the Police Court. The Lord Advocate restricted  the  libel, and, as in the case of Duggan, decided addressing the Jury, a course that was followed by the counsel for the prisoner. The Lord Justice Clerk minutely recapitulated the evidence to the Jury, and in the course of his observations expressed his belief that the prisoners  had caused the conflagration; that, however, not being charged against them, the Jury had to dismiss it from their minds, but he had known cases of wilful fire-raising brought forward on more slender evidence. The Jury found the prisoners Guilty, but unanimously recommended Dodds to mercy, on the ground that it appeared to be his first offence. The Lord Justice Clerk told the Jury that  the Court would pay as much attention to their humane recommendation as they thought they could  consistently with their duty, - but they (the Jury) must know that the Court had also to consider the safety of the country. Lord Gillies entertained the opinion that the prisoners had been the cause of the fire. But for the recommendation of the Jury he certainly should have felt it to have been his duty to have proposed that both prisoners should be transported for life ;  there was, however, a distinction between them, and he should therefore propose that the prisoner Young be transported for life, and Dodds for the period of fourteen years, in which Lord Mackenzie acquiesced. The Lord Justice Clerk informed the misguided youths, that but for the humane interference of the Public Prosecutor the Court would have had the painful, but necessary, duty of pronouncing a capital sentence against them. An exemplary punishment must still follow- viz. that of removing  from the country, the laws of which they had so grossly violated. Caledonian Mercury, 24 Dec 1825.  The National Archives. Hulk Records. HO-9-2_4 Hulks at Chatham. Euryalus Received: Twelve from the Justitia, 1 Apr 1826. Alexander Young, age 17, Ho Breaking, Tried Edinburgh, 19 Dec 1825, Life. How disposed of: Justitia 16 June 1826 ? George Dodds, age 18, Ho breaking. Tried Edinburgh, 21 Nov 1825, 14 years. How disposed of: NSW Albion 16 Sept 1826.