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Archiver > ABERDEEN > 2008-11 > 1226604917


From: "Trena" <>
Subject: Re: [ABERDEEN] ROBERT ADAM/S
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:35:17 -0500
References: <c30.45d26092.364bacdf@cs.com><861D4801D6094324BBCD8C130F199F07@computer><491BF56C.4000500@which.net>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gavin Bell"
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 4:37 AM
Subject: Re: [ABERDEEN] ROBERT ADAM/S


> And a Sheriff's
> Officer does not attempt to apprehend criminals. According to the
> "Concise Scots Dictionary", he is:
>
> '... an official or messenger who carries out the Warrants of the
> Sheriff, enforces Diligence, serves Writs'
>
> If you get into debt, for example, it would be a Sheriff Officer who
> would turn up to poind your goods (ie seize and sell them to pay the
> debt), or if you are cited as a witness to a case before the Court, it
> will be the Sheriff Officer who issues the Warrant for your attendance
> to give evidence. But he is an approved contractor, rather than being
> employed directly by the Court, so it is doubtful whether you would
> learn much about him via Court records.

Which, if I'm not mistaken, was/is the role of a Sheriff in modern day
Canada. At least what you describe above seems to have been among my
friend's father's duties when he was a Sheriff here (Ontario), during the
mid-1960s. As far as I'm aware, it is the sort of role a Sheriff here has
always taken part in, not to actively search for/seek out criminals as the
police would do. An officer of the Court/Crown is how I think of the
position ... rightly or wrongly, I don't actually know!

[My 3 x g-gf, James JAMIESON was a Sheriff, Unst Shetland.]

Toni

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