Here are examples of documents from all across the Highlands. Clicking on the images will allow you to see them in more detail. The images supplied are for educational purposes so please don’t use them for other reasons or share them online – thank you!
Crime & Punishment
The Highland Archive Service looks after some historic court papers as well as the archives of the Northern Constabulary (the police in the Highlands). The documents below tell some of the stories of those who have committed crimes in the past, as well as those who solved crimes. From Hugh MacLeod (the school teacher turned murderer) to Robert Ryder the gold thief and police officer William Sutherland.
This is a death warrant for Hugh MacLeod. He was known as the Assynt Murderer. Read a transcript of the warrant and more about Hugh’s story here.
These extracts from the Fort William charge book date from July 1912 and March 1914. The Charge Book lists some of the offences and crimes people were charged with. Some of the offences listed included ‘Allowing Cattle to Stray on to Public Road’; ‘Allowing Dog to Stray at Night’; ‘Theft of a Cabbage’; Theft of Carrots’ and ‘Playing Shinty on Public Street’.
Below are extracts from Police Occurrence Books in Kildonan and Wick. The first, from Kildonan in Sutherland tells the story of a theft at the gold diggings during the Kildonan Goldrush of 1869…read more about it in our storyboard. You can also read a transcript of the log book here.
The next tells of a different sort of mysterious theft in Wick Harbour. You can read a transcript of it here.
Anne Jackson was convicted of forgery in 1754. Below is an extract detailing her punishment, you can read a full transcript of the document here.
You can also read about the case of the Mulbuie Murderer in our storyboard.
Law & Order
You can also find more information about the police officers working to catch criminals. Below is a photograph of some of the officers, as well as an example of the staff records we hold. You can also read more about PC William Sutherland in our storyboard.
