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REGINAv.DUDLEYANDSTEPHENS

14Q.B.D.273(1884)

LORDCOLERIDGE,CJ.Thetwoprisoners,ThomasDudleyandEdwinStephens,wereindictedforthemurderofRichardParkeronthehighseasonthe25thofJulyinthepresentyear.TheyweretriedbeforemyBrotherHuddlestonatExeteronthe6thofNovember,and,underthedirectionofmylearnedBrother,thejuryreturnedaspecialverdict,thelegaleffectofwhichhasbeenarguedbeforeus,andonwhichwearenowtopronouncejudgment.Thespecialverdict...isasfollows.

ThatonJuly5,1884,theprisoners,ThomasDudleyandEdward[sic]Stephens,withoneBrooks,allablebodiedEnglishseamen,andthedeceasedalsoanEnglishboy,betweenseventeenandeighteenyearsofage,thecrewofanEnglishyacht,aregisteredEnglishvessel,werecastawayinastormonthehighseas1,600milesfromtheCapeofGoodHope,andwerecompelledtoputintoanopenboatbelongingtothesaidyacht.Thatinthisboattheyhadnosupplyofwaterandnosupplyoffood,excepttwo1lb.tinsofturnips,andforthreedaystheyhadnothingelsetosubsistupon.Thatonthefourthdaytheycaughtasmallturtle,uponwhichtheysubsistedforafewdays,andthiswastheonlyfoodtheyhaduptothetwentiethdaywhentheactnowinquestionwascommitted.Thatonthetwelfthdaytheremainsoftheturtlewereentirelyconsumed,andforthenexteightdaystheyhadnothingtoeat.Thattheyhadnofreshwater,exceptsuchrainastheyfromtimetotimecaughtintheiroilskincapes.Thattheboatwasdriftingontheocean,andwasprobablymorethan1000milesawayfromland.Thatontheeighteenthday,whentheyhadbeensevendayswithoutfoodandfivewithoutwater,theprisonersspoketoBrooksastowhatshouldbedoneifnosuccourcame,andsuggestedthatsomeoneshouldbesacrificedtosavetherest,butBrooksdissented,andtheboy,towhomtheywereunderstoodtorefer,wasnotconsulted.Thatonthe24thofJuly,thedaybeforetheact.nowinquestion.,theprisonerDudleyproposedtoStephensandBrooksthatlotsshouldbecastwhoshouldbeputtodeathtosavetherest,butBrooksrefusedtoconsent,anditwasnotputtotheboy,andinpointoffacttherewasnodrawingoflots.Thatonthedaytheprisonersspokeoftheirfamilies,andsuggesteditwouldbebettertokilltheboythattheirlivesshouldbesaved,andDudleyproposedthatiftherewasnovesselinsightbythemorrowmorningtheboyshouldbekilled.Thatnextday,the25thofJuly,novesselappearing,DudleytoldBrooksthathehadbettergoandhaveasleep,andmadesignstoStephensandBrooksthattheboyhadbetterbekilled.TheprisonerStephensagreedtotheact,butBrooksdissentedfromit.Thattheboywasthenlyingatthebottomoftheboatquitehelplessandextremelyweakenedbyfamineandbydrinkingseawater,andunabletomakeanyresistance,nordidheeverassenttohisbeingkilled.TheprisonerDudleyofferedaprayeraskingforgivenessforthemallifeitherofthemshouldbetemptedtocommitarashact,andthattheirsoulsmightbesaved.ThatDudley,withtheassentofStephens,wenttotheboy,andtellinghimthathistimewascome,putaknifeintohisthroatandkilledhimthenandtherethatthethreemenfeduponthebodyandbloodoftheboyforfourdaysthatonthefourthdayaftertheacthadbeencommittedtheboatwaspickedupbyapassingvessel,andtheprisonerswererescued,stillalive,butintheloweststateofprostration.ThattheywerecarriedtotheportofFalmouth,andcommittedfortrialatExeter.Thatifthemenhadnotfeduponthebodyoftheboyth.eywouldprobablynothavesurvivedtobesopickedupandrescued,butwouldwithinfourdayshavediedoffamine.Thattheboy,beinginamuchweakercondition,waslikelytohavediedbeforethem.Thatatthetimeoftheactinquestiontherewasnosailinsight,noranyreasonableprospectofrelief.Thatunderthesecircumstancesthereappearedtotheprisonerseveryprobabilitythatunlesstheythenfedorverysoonfedupontheboyoroneofthemselvestheywoulddieofstarvation.Thattherewasnoappreciablechanceofsavinglifeexceptbykillingsomeonefortheotherstoeat.Thatassuminganynecessitytokillanybody,therewasnogreaternecessityforkillingtheboythananyoftheotherthreemen.ButwhetheruponthewholematterbythejurorsfoundthekillingofRichardParkerbyDudleyandStephensbefelonyandmurderthejurorsareignorant,andpraytheadviceoftheCourtthereupon,andifuponthewholemattertheCourtshallbeofopinionthatthekillingofRichardParkerbefelonyandmurder,thenthejurorssaythatDudleyandStephenswereeachguiltyoffelonyandmurderasallegedintheindictment....

Fromthesefacts,statedwiththecoldprecisionofaspecialverdict,itappearssufficiencythattheprisonersweresubjecttoterribletemptation,tosufferingswhichmightbreakdownthebodilypowerofthestrongestman,andtrythe

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conscienceofthebest.Otherdetailsyetmoreharrowing,factsstillmoreloathsomeandappalling,werepresentedtothejury,andaretobefoundrecordedinmylearnedBrother'snotes.Butneverthelessthisisclear,thattheprisonersputtodeathaweakandunoffendingboyuponthechanceofpreservingtheirownlivesbyfeedinguponhisfleshandbloodafterhewaskilled,andwiththecertaintyofdeprivinghimofanypossiblechanceofsurvival.Theverdictfindsintermsthat"ifthemenhadnotfeduponthebodyoftheboytheywouldprobablynothavesurvived,"andthat"theboybeinginamuchweakerconditionwaslikelytohavediedbeforethem."Theymightpossiblyhavebeenpickedupnextdaybyapassingshiptheymightpossiblynothavebeenpickedupatallineithercaseitisobviousthatthekillingoftheboywouldhavebeenanunnecessaryandprofitlessact.Itisfoundbytheverdictthattheboywasincapableofresistance,and,infact,madenoneanditisnotevensuggestedthathisdeathwasduetoanyviolenceonhispartattemptedagainst,orevensomuchasfearedby,thosewhokilledhim.Underthesecircumstancesthejurysaythattheyareignorantwhetherthosewhokilledhimwereguiltyofmurder,andhavereferredittothisCourttodeterminewhatisthelegalconsequencewhichfollowsfromthefactswhichtheyhavefound....

[T]herealquestioninthecase[is]whetherkillingunderthecircumstancessetforthintheverdictbeornotbemurder.Thecontentionthatitcouldbeanythingelsewas,tothemindsofusall,bothnewandstrange,andwestoppedtheAttorneyGeneralinhisnegativeargumentinorderthatwemighthearwhatcouldbesaidinsupportofapropositionwhichappearedtoustobeatoncedangerous,immoral,andopposedtoalllegalprincipleandanalogy....Firstitissaidthatitfollowsfromvariousdefinitionsofmurderinbooksofauthority,whichdefinitionsimply,iftheydonotstate,thedoctrine,thatinordertosaveyourownlifeyoumaylawfullytakeawaythelifeofanother,whenthatotherisneitherattemptingnorthreateningyours,norisguiltyofanyillegalactwhatevertowardsyouoranyoneelse.Butifthesedefinitionsbelookedattheywillnotbefoundtosustainthiscontention....

Itis...clear...thatthedoctrinecontendedforreceivesnosupportfromthegreatauthorityofLordHale.Itisplainthatinhisviewthenecessitywhichjustifiedhomicideisthatonlywhichhasalwaysbeenandisnowconsideredajustification....LordHaleregardedtheprivatenecessitywhichjustified,andalonejustified,thetakingthelifeofanotherforthesafeguardofone'sowntobewhatiscommonlycalled"selfdefence."(Hale'sPleasoftheCrown,i.478.)

ButifthiscouldbeevendoubtfuluponLordHale'swords,LordHalehimselfhasmadeitclear.Forinthechapterinwhichhedealswiththeexemptioncreatedbycompulsionornecessityhethusexpresseshimself"Ifamanbedesperatelyassaultedandinperilofdeath,andcannototherwiseescapeunless,tosatisfyhisassailant'sfury,hewillkillaninnocentpersonthenpresent,thefearandactualforcewillnotacquithimofthecrimeandpunishmentofmurder,ifhecommitthefact[sic],forheoughtrathertodiehimselfthankillaninnocentbutifhecannototherwisesavehisownlifethelawpermitshiminhisowndefencetokilltheassailant,forbytheviolenceoftheassault,andtheoffencecommitteduponhimbytheassailanthimself,thelawofnature,andnecessity,hathmadehimhisownprotector...."(Hale'sPleasoftheCrown,vol.i.51.)

But,furtherstill,LordHaleinthefollowingchapterdealswiththepositionassertedbythecasuists,andsanctioned,ashesays,byGrotiusandPuffendorf,thatinacaseofextremenecessity,eitherofhungerorclothing"theftisnotheft,oratleastnotpunishableastheft,assomeevenofourownlawyershaveassertedthesame.""But,"saysLordHale,"ItakeitthathereinEngland,thatrule,atleastbythelawsofEngland,isfalseandtherefore,ifaperson,beingundernecessityforwantofvictualsorclothes,shalluponthataccountclandestinelyandanimofurandistealanotherman'sgoods,itisfelony,andacrimebythelawsofEnglandpunishablewithdeath."(Hale,PleasoftheCrown,i.54.)If,therefore,LordHaleisclearasheisthatextremenecessityofhungerdoesnotjustifylarceny,whatwouldhehavesaidtothedoctrinethatitjustifiedmurder?[Theopinionthenreviewedotherearlytextwritersandfoundthatnoneofthemsupportedthedefendants'contentions.]

Isthere,then,anyauthorityforthepropositionwhichhasbeenpresentedtous?Decidedcasestherearenone....TheAmericancasecitedbymyBrotherStepheninhisDigest[UnitedStatesv.Holmes,26F.Cas.360,1Wall.Jr.1(C.C.E.D.Pa.1842)],fromWhartononHomicide,inwhichitwasdecided,correctlyindeed,thatsailorshadnorighttothrowpassengersoverboardtosavethemselves,butonthesomewhatstrangegroundthatthepropermodeofdeterminingwhowastobesacrificedwastovoteuponthesubjectbyballot,canhardly,asmyBrotherStephensays,beanauthoritysatisfactorytoacourtinthiscountry....

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TheonerealauthorityofformertimeisLordBacon,who...laysdownthelawasfollows:"Necessitycarriethaprivilegeinitself.Necessityisofthreesortsnecessityofconservationoflife,necessityofobedience,andnecessityoftheactofGodorofastranger.Firstofconservationoflifeifamanstealsviandstosatisfyhispresenthunger,thisisnofelonynorlarceny.Soifdiversbeindangerofdrowningbythecastingawayofsomeboatorbarge,andoneofthemgettosomeplank,orontheboat'ssidetokeephimselfabovewater,andanothertosavehislifethrusthimfromit,wherebyheisdrowned,thisisneithersedefendendonorbymisadventure,butjustifiable."...LordBaconwasgreatevenasalawyerbutitispermissibletomuchsmallermen,relyinguponprincipleandontheauthorityofothers,theequalsandeventhesuperiorsofLordBaconaslawyers,toquestionthesoundnessofhisdictum.Therearemanyconceivablestatesofthingsinwhichitmightpossiblybetrue,butifLordBaconmeanttolaydownthebroadpropositionthatmanmaysavehislifebykilling,ifnecessary,aninnocentandunoffendingneighbour,itcertainlyisnotlawatthepresentday....

Nowitisadmittedthatthedeliberatekillingofthisunoffendingandunresistingboywasclearlymurder,unlessthekillingcanbejustifiedbysomewellrecognisedexcuseadmittedbythelaw.Itisfurtheradmittedthattherewasinthiscasenosuchexcuse,unlessthekillingwasjustifiedbywhathasbeencalled"necessity."Butthetemptationtotheactwhichexistedherewasnotwhatthelawhasevercallednecessity.Noristhistoberegretted.Thoughlawandmoralityarenotthesame,andmanythingsmaybeimmoralwhicharenotnecessarilyillegal,yettheabsolutedivorceoflawfrommoralitywouldbeoffatalconsequenceandsuchdivorcewouldfollowifthetemptationtomurderinthiscaseweretobeheldbylawanabsolutedefenceofit.Itisnotso.Topreserveone'slifeisgenerallyspeakingaduty,butitmaybetheplainestandthehighestdutytosacrificeit.Warisfullofinstancesinwhichitisaman'sdutynottolive,buttodie.Theduty,incaseofshipwreck,ofacaptaintohiscrew,ofthecrewtothepassengers,ofsoldierstowomenandchildren,asinthenoblecaseoftheBirkenheadthesedutiesimposeonmenthemoralnecessity,notofthepreservation,butofthesacrificeoftheirlivesforothers,fromwhichinnocountry,leastofall,itistobehoped,inEngland,willmenevershrink,asindeed,theyhavenotshrunk.Itisnotcorrect,therefore,tosaythatthereisanyabsoluteorunqualifiednecessitytopreserveone'slife.Necesseestuteam,nonutvivam,isasayingofaRomanofficerquotedbyLordBaconhimselfwithhigheulogyintheverychapteronnecessitytowhichsomuchreferencehasbeenmade.ItwouldbeaveryeasyandcheapdisplayofcommonplacelearningtoquotefromGreekandLatinauthors,fromHorace,fromJuvenal,fromCicero,fromEuripides,passageafterpassage,inwhichthedutyofdyingforothershasbeenlaiddowninglowingandemphaticlanguageasresultingfromtheprinciplesofheathenethicsitisenoughinaChristiancountrytoremindourselvesoftheGreatExamplewhomweprofesstofollow.Itisnotneedfultopointouttheawfuldangerofadmittingtheprinciplewhichhasbeencontendedfor.Whoistobethejudgeofthissortofnecessity?Bywhatmeasureisthecomparativevalueoflivestobemeasured?Isittobestrength,orintellect,orwhat?Itisplainthattheprincipleleavestohimwhoistoprofitbyittodeterminethenecessitywhichwilljustifyhimindeliberatelytakinganother'slifetosavehisown.Inthiscasetheweakest,theyoungest,themostunresisting,waschosen.Wasitmorenecessarytokillhimthanoneofthegrownmen?Theanswermustbe"No"

SospaketheFiend,andwithnecessity,Thetyrant'splea,excusedhisdevilishdeeds.

Itisnotsuggestedthatinthisparticularcasethedeedswere"devilish,"butitisquiteplainthatsuchaprincipleonceadmittedmightbemadethelegalcloakforunbridledpassionandatrociouscrime.Thereisnosafepathforjudgestotreadbuttoascertainthelawtothebestoftheirabilityandtodeclareitaccordingtotheirjudgmentandifinanycasethelawappearstobetoosevereonindividuals,toleaveittotheSovereigntoexercisethatprerogativeofmercywhichtheConstitutionhasintrustedtothehandsfittesttodispenseit.

Itmustnotbesupposedthatinrefusingtoadmittemptationtobeanexcuseforcrimeitisforgottenhowterriblethetemptationwashowawfulthesufferinghowhardinsuchtrialstokeepthejudgmentstraightandtheconductpure.Weareoftencompelledtosetupstandardswecannotreachourselves,andtolaydownruleswhichwecouldnotourselvessatisfy.Butamanhasnorighttodeclaretemptationtobeanexcuse,thoughhemighthimselfhaveyieldedtoit,norallowcompassionforthecriminaltochangeorweakeninanymannerthelegaldefinitionofthecrime.Itisthereforeourdutytodeclarethattheprisoners'actinthiscasewaswillfulmurder,thatthefactsasstatedintheverdictarenolegaljustificationofthehomicideandtosaythatinourunanimousopiniontheprisonersareuponthisspecialverdictguiltyofmurder.

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NOTE:

*TheCourtthenproceededtopasssentenceofdeathupontheprisoners.

*ThissentencewasafterwardscommutedbytheCrowntosixmonths'imprisonment.

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