Catalogue description Prisoner name: Catherine Johnston or Catherine Johnstone or Catherine Liston. Prisoner...

Prisoner name: Catherine Johnston or Catherine Johnstone or Catherine Liston.

Prisoner age: 38.

Prisoner occupation: Fish and oyster seller.

Court and date of trial: High Court of Judiciary, Edinburgh [Midlothian], 23 December 1828.

Crime: Assaulting and stabbing James Allan, coach builder, in Greenside Street, Edinburgh, on 1 November 1828.

Initial sentence: Seven years transportation.

Annotated: Nil.

Petitioner(s): Two petitions from Catherine Johnstone or Liston, the prisoner, both undersigned by James Allan, the victim, and verified by his employers, Allan and Sherwood, that his injury was slight.

Grounds for clemency: The prisoner is of previous good character; she has three young children to support; the stabbing was accidental; the victim, who was only slightly injured, asks for clemency.

Other papers: Copy declarations of the prisoner. Printed indictment. Notes of the trial. Covering letter from D Boyle, Lord Justice Clerk, recommending that sentence be carried out.

Additional Information: Witness, Anne Deas, fish and oyster woman, sentenced to three months imprisonment for gross prevarication upon oath. The prisoner lives at Newhaven near Edinburgh and is married to John Johnston, sailor, at present in Van Diemen's Land.