CO129-534-9 Law of Piracy- case of Rex v. Chung Tam Kwong 1-4-1931 - 20-4-1932 — Page 96

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piratical act brings the offender within reach of

the common law may be inferred from the language of

"An Act for Lae more effectual suppression of

Firacy" 11 #illiam III, c.7, .9, which provides

"If any corriander or master of any ship...

shall in any place where the admiral hath juría-

Mletion.......turn pirate........

..................... and piratically and

ship........he

feloniously run away with his..........

snall be adjudged deemed and taken to be a pirate

felon and robber and being convicted thereof according

to the directions of this act snall aave and suffer

pains of death

as pirates felons and

robbers upon the seas ought to have and suffer."

By the same section it was provided that "if any

person shall lay violent hands on his commander

whereby to hinder him from fighting in defence of

his ship and goods comútted to his trust or that

shall confine nis master or make or endeavour to

make a revolt in the ship, he shall be "similarly

punished." The legislature here declared certain

acts to be iratical in character and yet at the

same time found it necessary to provide by statute

for their punishment. it is even more inter

interesting

to note that in the riracy Act, 1721, 8 weorge 1.

c.24, s.l. it was enacted taat "in case any person or persons belonging to any snip or vessel watsouver

upon meeting any merchant ship or vessel upon the

high seas or in any port haven or creek whatsoever,

shall forcibly board or enter into such ship or vessel

and though they do not seize and carry off such

ship or vessel shall tarow overboard or destroy any

part