Background
Guthrie was the son of Rev Thomas Guthrie, editor of the Sunday Magazine.
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Charles Guthrie
Edit Profilelawyer president Judge of the Court of Session
Education
He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University, and in 1875, was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates.
Career
In 1907, he was appointed a Judge of the Court of Session and a Lord Advocate. 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. Lord Guthrie died at Edinburgh 28 April 1920.
He is buried in the north-west corner of the north section of Dean Cemetery.
Membership
Faculty of Advocates]
Lord Guthrie was a member of the Royal Commissions on Historical Monuments in Scotland (1908) and on Divorce and Matrimonial Causes (1909), and was Chairman of the Houseletting Commission (1906-1907). From 1910 to 1919, he was President of the Boys" Brigade of Great Britain and Ireland, and was a member of various antiquarian societies.
Connections
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Born
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Died
April 28, 1920 (aged 71) -
Nationality
Scottish -
Political Party
The Liberal Party