333
The practice has hitherto been to proceed in all such cases before the Colonial Courts. This we have no doubt we have the power to do legally. A pirate being subject to the jurisdiction of any Sovereign within whose power he is brought: but I think it unwise to exercise this right in cases where neither British nor Colonial interests are directly concerned.
I find that during the last five years 244 persons have been tried before the Supreme Court of this Colony for offences of a piratical nature; of these 157 have been convicted, and 87 acquitted. Of the convicted, 30 have been sentenced to death, and 127 to penal servitude for life, and for various periods.
The annual burden this imposed on this Colony is very considerable, and piracy is largely on the increase in the neighbourhood. A large proportion of the piratical cases tried in our Courts come within the category where both the pirates, and the persons upon whom the depredations have been committed, are generally residents on the main land, and the offences are mostly perpetrated either in Chinese Waters, or upon high Seas.
The reason I believe is that the daring robbers who now infest these waters care little for the risk which they incur, in the pursuit of their calling, of being sent for trial, if apprehended, before British Tribunals. They know by experience that the administration...
2.
333
3.
The
proceed in all such cases
practice
has hitherto been to
3.
before the Colonial
years
244
This we have no doubt
legally.
loourts.
the power to do a
pirate being subject
to the jurisdiction of any Sovereign within
power
whose
he is brought: but I think it
unuise to exercise this right in cases where
Neither British nor Colonial interests are
I find that during
persons
during the last
the last five have been tried
before
the
Impreme Count of this bolony for offences of
a puratical nature; of
these
157 have been
157
Convicted
convicted, and 87 acquitted. Of the
30 have been sentenced to death, and 127 to.
penal servitude for life,
and
for
various periods
The annual burden this imposed
is
& directly concerned.
A large proportion of
is largely
as
both the pirates,
whom the def
defiredations
generally residents
the puratical cases tried in our Courts come
within this Category;
and the
persons upon
have been committed, are
| upon
the main land, and the offences are mostly furpatiated either in Chinese Waters, or upon high Seas
the
1
on this Colony
very considerable, and piracy notwithstanding
on the increase in the neighbourhood.
The reason I believe is that the daring est these waters care little
4.
robbers who now
for
of
infest
the risk which they incur, in the pursuit
for trial, if
their calling of being sent for
apprehended, before British Tribunals. They
Knno
by experience
that the administration
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