LAW REPORT
The Queen v. Jemmy
7 Sept. 1860
Argus (Newsp.) (Vic.) (Vic. Sup. Ct. F.C.)

SUPREME COURT

This was a special case, reserved by Mr. Justice Bloodworth at the late Criminal Sitting of the Circuit Court at Castlemalos.

The prisoner was placed on his trial for the murder of an aboriginal woman, his lobra and, subject to the point of law now argued, was found guilty of, manslaughter, and sentenced to one year's imprisonment. The point reserved by the learned judge was whether in the absence of evidence that either of these natives had become civilized, or had changed their habits or roles of life so as to be supposed voluntarily to have subjected themselves to British Laws, the prisoner was liable to the jurisdiction of the court.

Mr. Wright appeared for the Crown; Mr. Adamson for the prisoner.

Mr. Adamson - This case is distinguishable from that of Reg. v. Peter, decided in this court last term, inasmuch as here both the slayer and the deceased were natives. It may be conceded that if the [sovereignty] de facto could impose laws upon a territory held by conquest or occupation, those [laws] would be binding, and would supersede the law previously in force. But it is competent for such a sovereign to sanction the pre-existing laws, and to confine them in their operation to the race which before was subject to them. And this may be done [tacitly]. Such was the case of Ireland with regard to the [Brehon] law. Then there are the American cases and authorities having references to the native Indians. [We cited] Worcester v. The State of Georgia, 6 Peters U.S. Rep. 515; The Cherokee Nation & The State of Georgia, 5 Peters. 1, S. Kent's Commentaries 400, to show that in cases of [?] or qualified subjection, the subject or dependant race may reclaim their immunity from the jurisdiction of the courts of the dominant race. Was that so in this case? The onus lay upon the Crown to have shown that it was not so. But the case negatived the offer of any evidence on this point.

Dr. Sewall, as amicus curiae, having procured a similar point to be reserved, stated that he should argue from the analogy of such cases as arose form the analogy of such cases as the Normans who subsided under the Anglo-Saxon Law.

Mr. Wright, for the crown, was not called on.

The Chief Justice -- This case must be held to be governed by Reg. v. Peters. It makes no difference whether the victim were an Englishwoman or a native. The jurisdiction of the court is [supreme] in fact, throughout the colony, and such regard to all persons in it. It in not intended to decide that in no case might there be a concession to a subject-race or immunity from the laws of the conquerors living among them.

Sir [Redmond Barry]. This is virtually a plea to the jurisdiction. It is not suggested what [other] jurisdiction could be named, so as to "give a better writ."

The conviction was affirmed.