John Cadell pursued John Morthland, Advocate, and John Johnstone, Printer in Edinburgh, for damages and libel arising from a false newspaper account that attributed inflammatory statements to him regarding militia officials at Tranent in 1797. During the course of the litigation, Morthland and Johnstone petitioned the court alleging judicial misconduct by Cadell as pursuer, including intimidation of witnesses and obstruction of proof, which Cadell denied while countering that the defenders had engaged in witness tampering and dilatory conduct. The cause also involved Morthland’s explanation of bills of exchange relating to property of the Scots Chronicle, and Cadell subsequently sought reimbursement for legal, printing, and clerical expenses incurred in the damages action.AI-generated
Documents in this case (12)
- Petition and Complaint — Petition & Complaint Mr John MorthlandPetitioners allege judicial misconduct by pursuer Mr Cadell, including intimidation of witnesses and refusal of licensing relief to a witness’s husband, obstructing fair proof.
- Mr John Morthland, Advocate, and John Johnstone, Printer in Edinburgh v. John Cadell, Esq; of Cockenzie — Answers, 10 Dec 1799Answers by John Cadell, Esq; of Cockenzie, to the petition and complaint of Mr John Mortland, Advocate, and John Johnstone, Printer in Edinburgh, denying undue influence and asserting procedural propriety.
- John Morthland and John Johnstone v. John Cadell — Replies, 14 Dec 1799Defenders rebut pursuer’s claims of witness tampering and informant solicitation, upholding factual accuracy and procedural legitimacy.
- John Morthland and John Johnstone v. John Cadell — Duplies, 17 Dec 1799Respondent denies delay and witness tampering claims, calling complainers’ conduct dilatory and self-serving.
- John Cadell v. John Morthland and John Johnstone — State of the Process, 17 Jan 1800John Cadell sues John Morthland and John Johnstone for damages in a state of the process proceeding.
- John Cadell v. John Morthland and John Johnstone — State of the Process, 17 Jan 1800 [3]John Cadell sues John Morthland and John Johnstone for libel after a false newspaper account falsely attributed to him inflamed public opinion against militia officials at Tranent in 1797.
- John Cadell of Cockenzie v. John Morthland — Minute, 14 Jun 1800Mr Morthland explains to the Court how Robert Paul renewed and divided bills for property of the Scots Chronicle, with some indorsed to creditors and others retained by him.
- John Cadell v. John Morthland and John Johnstone — Account, 3 Feb 1801John Cadell seeks reimbursement for legal, printing, clerical, and correspondence costs in his damages action against Morthland and Johnstone over militia act enforcement.
People & places in this case
People involved
- John Glen, of Assloss — Party
- Alexander Carnegy Ritchie — Party
- Margaret Scott — Party
- John Morthland, of Rindmuir — Party
- John Webster — Party
- Henry Erskine — Advocate for Party
- Charles Ross — Advocate for Party
- John Clerk, Lord Eldin — Advocate for Party
- George Neilson — Advocate for Party
- William Scott — Advocate for Party
- Archibald Fletcher, of Parkhill — Advocate for Party
- Sir Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth, 1st Baronet of Succoth — Advocate for Party
- Charles Brown — Advocate for Party
- William Mackenzie, of Belmaduthie — Advocate for Party
- John Dickson, of Kilbucho — Advocate for Party
- David Smythe, Lord Methven — Lord Ordinary
- George Allan — Named in case documents
- Thomas Cunningham — Named in case documents
- James Bremner — Named in case documents
- Alexander Strachan, of Tarry — Named in case documents
- John Farmer — Named in case documents
- John Hill — Named in case documents
