Towns > Aberdeen > 1840-1846 - Bon-accord directory > 1841-1842

LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
POLICE COURT.
This is a Criminal Court, constituted under the Aberdeen Police
Act (14th May, 1829), for the trial of offences against the Act,
breaches of the peace, theft under the value of £10, reset, fraud,
&c. &c. It sits daily in the Old or Baillie Court-house, at Eleven
o'clock, A.M.
The Sitting Magistrate, Judge.
A. & 3. Cadenhead, Procurators- Fiscal Town-Clerk, Clerk.
*** All the Courts, except the Baillie and Police Courts, meet
in the New Court-lu use, Castle Street. The Sheriff, Commissary,
Justice of Peace, and Small-debt Clerks' Offices are in the Record
Hall, 27, King Street. Hours of attendance from Ten o'clock,
a.m., to Three, p.m., and from Six to Eight, p.m.
SOCIETY OF ADVOCATES.
The members of this Society are the practitioners before the
Sheriff, Commissary, and City Courts of Aberdeen. It is probable
the practitioners formed a distinct body from the very establishment
of the Courts, but it is not till 1693 that we find authentic mention
made of their admission as procurators by the judge. On 2d October
of that year, the Sheriffcalled before him sixteen individuals, " the
ordinar advocats and procurators of this judicatorie," and " under-
standing of their abilities, honestie, and judgment," admitted them
procurators before his court, and discharged every person not duly
admitted by him from practising therein. In 1685, at the instiga
tion of Lord Whitehill, then Commissary Scougal, they formed
themselves into a Society for affording pecuniary relief to decayed
members, widows, &c, and enacted rules and regulations for their
government, which were sanctioned by the Sheriff. In 1774, a royal
charter was obtained, incorporating the Society, and confirming the
former rights and privileges of the members. In 1799, they pro-
cured to themselves a more extensive charter, under the title of
The President and Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. They alone,
of the procurators before the inferior courts in Scotland, are styled
" Advocate," a designation given them from time immemorial — by
what authority is not known. The Society flourishes. It possesses
a moderately good library ; and a large building, containing a hall,
committee rooms, and every other accommodation, was built in
1837. The present entry-money is £120, with £5 5s to the library.
The number of members is one hundred and forty, of which
twenty-four do not reside in Aberdeen.
President, Charles Chalmers. — Treasurer, William Simpson".
1789
Peter Farquharson
1794
Al. Webster
Duncan Davidson
1796
Francis Gordon
* Thomas Burnett
1798
Thomas Hutcheon
1802
Thomas Sangster
1803
Andrew Robertson
Adam Coutts
1804
Hugh Fullerton
*+ Alexander Smith
*f George Yeats
1807
Henry Lumsden
Chas. Winchester
1S08
John Duthie
1809
Alex. Cadenhead
1810
Alexander Allan
John Smith, sen.
1812
*f Charles Chalmers
Alex. Copland
1813
Thomas Reid
*f William Simpson
1814
Francis Garden
George Rainnie
Alex. Gordon
*John 1). Milne
1816
Pat. Bannerman
James Ferguson
John Thorn
James Ross
John Cadenhead
James Simpson
George Wilson
1817
Alexander Gibbon
*James Murray
James i\i 'Hardy
Alexander Muir
William Smith
1818
' Wm. Adam, sen.
John L. Shirrefs