Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

334 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
whether A, B, or C, hath stole the thing lost, and
at the nomination of the guilty person, the sive shall
turne round."
On the 26th November, 1626, the Kirk-session of
Stow considered a case in connexion with " turning the
riddle." James Ormiston having missed sixteen shil-
lings, waited " upon Isobel Cleghorne, in the Stowe,"
who, on " turning the riddle," assured him that George
Pringle, in the Torquhan, was the thief. Pringle
repudiated the charge, and brought Ormiston before the
Session, to answer for his calumny. Ormiston was
penitent, withdrew the imputation, and readily con-
sented to submit to the decree of the court, which was
that "next Sabbath, in presence of the congregation, he
should acknowledge his offence to God, and his offence
to George Pringle, as also to pay twentie shillings to
the poore."
In 1709, the Kirk-session of Kilmorie, Isle of Bute,
deliberated on a case of charming. The circumstances
are thus set forth : —
" Janet Hunter, being formally summoned and called,
compeared, and being questioned anent the report that
was given forth on her, that she used a charm for
the discovery of theft, by 'turning the riddle,' she
plainly confessed that she did use it ; and being further
interrogate, what words she used, she replied, that she
used no words ; and being asked if she did not say, ' by
Peter, by Paul, it was such a person,' she replied
that she did use these words, and none else ; and being
farther interrogate, if the riddle did turn at the naming
of any of those persons suspected, she replied that it did
actually turn at the naming of one ; and being interro-
gate farther, who employed her, she replied it was