Charles John Guthrie, Baron Guthrie
Encyclopedia
Charles John Guthrie, Baron Guthrie (4 April 1849, Edinburgh
– 28 April 1920, Edinburgh) was a Scottish lawyer.
Guthrie was the son of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie
, editor of the Sunday Magazine
. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy
and Edinburgh University, and in 1875 was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
. He was from 1881 to 1900 legal adviser to the Church of Scotland
, and in 1897 became a Q.C. In 1907 he was appointed a judge of the court of session and created a life peer. Lord Guthrie was a member of the royal commissions on historical monuments in Scotland
(1908) and on divorce (1909), and was chairman of the houseletting commission (1906-7). From 1910 to 1919 he was president of the Boys' Brigade of Great Britain and Ireland
, and was a member of various antiquarian societies.
When young he had been a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson
, and published in 1914 an appreciation of "Cummy," Stevenson's nurse. His other works include John Knox and his House (1898), and an edition of Knox
's History of the Reformation in Scotland (1898), besides contributions to the memoir of his father, Thomas Guthrie (1875).
In one of his first trials as a Judge, that of Oscar Slater
, Lord Guthrie misdirected the jury and made highly prejudicial attacks on the character of the accused contributing to a guilty verdict. Guthrie also failed to highlight misleading comments made by the Liberal Party's Lord Advocate, Alexander Ure, in his summing up. Slater was convicted, sentenced to death but fortunately this was commuted and he was subsequently freed on appeal 20 years later being awarded £6,000 in compensation.
Guthrie married the daughter of Rev. J.C. Burns, D.D., of Kirkliston, and there were two sons and three daughters to the marriage.
He died at Edinburgh April 28 1920.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
– 28 April 1920, Edinburgh) was a Scottish lawyer.
Guthrie was the son of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie
Thomas Guthrie
Thomas Guthrie D.D. was a Scottish divine and philanthropist, born at Brechin in Angus . He was one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, and was associated with many forms of philanthropy - especially temperance and Ragged Schools, of which he was a founder.He studied at Edinburgh...
, editor of the Sunday Magazine
Sunday magazine
A Sunday magazine is a publication inserted into a Sunday newspaper. It also has been known as a Sunday supplement, Sunday newspaper magazine or Sunday magazine section...
. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Edinburgh University, and in 1875 was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
. He was from 1881 to 1900 legal adviser to the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, and in 1897 became a Q.C. In 1907 he was appointed a judge of the court of session and created a life peer. Lord Guthrie was a member of the royal commissions on historical monuments in Scotland
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government 'sponsored' [financed and with oversight] through Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government...
(1908) and on divorce (1909), and was chairman of the houseletting commission (1906-7). From 1910 to 1919 he was president of the Boys' Brigade of Great Britain and Ireland
The Boys' Brigade in the United Kingdom
The Boys' Brigade is the largest Christian uniformed youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its British headquarters are located at Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Companies in other countries may have their own national headquarters...
, and was a member of various antiquarian societies.
When young he had been a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
, and published in 1914 an appreciation of "Cummy," Stevenson's nurse. His other works include John Knox and his House (1898), and an edition of Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
's History of the Reformation in Scotland (1898), besides contributions to the memoir of his father, Thomas Guthrie (1875).
In one of his first trials as a Judge, that of Oscar Slater
Oscar Slater
Oscar Joseph Slater was a victim of British miscarriage of justice. He was born Oscar Leschziner in Oppeln, Upper Silesia, Germany to a Jewish family. Around 1893, to evade military service, he moved to London where he worked as a bookmaker using various names, including Anderson, before settling...
, Lord Guthrie misdirected the jury and made highly prejudicial attacks on the character of the accused contributing to a guilty verdict. Guthrie also failed to highlight misleading comments made by the Liberal Party's Lord Advocate, Alexander Ure, in his summing up. Slater was convicted, sentenced to death but fortunately this was commuted and he was subsequently freed on appeal 20 years later being awarded £6,000 in compensation.
Guthrie married the daughter of Rev. J.C. Burns, D.D., of Kirkliston, and there were two sons and three daughters to the marriage.
He died at Edinburgh April 28 1920.