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REGINAv.DUDLEYANDSTEPHENS
14Q.B.D.273(1884)
LORDCOLERIDGE,CJ.Thetwoprisoners,ThomasDudleyandEdwinStephens,wereindictedforthemurderof
RichardParkeronthehighseasonthe25thofJulyinthepresentyear.TheyweretriedbeforemyBrotherHuddlestonat
Exeteronthe6thofNovember,and,underthedirectionofmylearnedBrother,thejuryreturnedaspecialverdict,the
legaleffectofwhichhasbeenarguedbeforeus,andonwhichwearenowtopronouncejudgment.Thespecialverdict...
isasfollows.
ThatonJuly5,1884,theprisoners,ThomasDudleyandEdward[sic]Stephens,withoneBrooks,allablebodiedEnglish
seamen,andthedeceasedalsoanEnglishboy,betweenseventeenandeighteenyearsofage,thecrewofanEnglish
yacht,aregisteredEnglishvessel,werecastawayinastormonthehighseas1,600milesfromtheCapeofGoodHope,
andwerecompelledtoputintoanopenboatbelongingtothesaidyacht.Thatinthisboattheyhadnosupplyofwater
andnosupplyoffood,excepttwo1lb.tinsofturnips,andforthreedaystheyhadnothingelsetosubsistupon.Thaton
thefourthdaytheycaughtasmallturtle,uponwhichtheysubsistedforafewdays,andthiswastheonlyfoodtheyhad
uptothetwentiethdaywhentheactnowinquestionwascommitted.Thatonthetwelfthdaytheremainsoftheturtle
wereentirelyconsumed,andforthenexteightdaystheyhadnothingtoeat.Thattheyhadnofreshwater,exceptsuch
rainastheyfromtimetotimecaughtintheiroilskincapes.Thattheboatwasdriftingontheocean,andwasprobably
morethan1000milesawayfromland.Thatontheeighteenthday,whentheyhadbeensevendayswithoutfoodandfive
withoutwater,theprisonersspoketoBrooksastowhatshouldbedoneifnosuccourcame,andsuggestedthatsomeone
shouldbesacrificedtosavetherest,butBrooksdissented,andtheboy,towhomtheywereunderstoodtorefer,wasnot
consulted.Thatonthe24thofJuly,thedaybeforetheact.nowinquestion.,theprisonerDudleyproposedtoStephens
andBrooksthatlotsshouldbecastwhoshouldbeputtodeathtosavetherest,butBrooksrefusedtoconsent,anditwas
notputtotheboy,andinpointoffacttherewasnodrawingoflots.Thatonthedaytheprisonersspokeoftheirfamilies,
andsuggesteditwouldbebettertokilltheboythattheirlivesshouldbesaved,andDudleyproposedthatiftherewasno
vesselinsightbythemorrowmorningtheboyshouldbekilled.Thatnextday,the25thofJuly,novesselappearing,
DudleytoldBrooksthathehadbettergoandhaveasleep,andmadesignstoStephensandBrooksthattheboyhad
betterbekilled.TheprisonerStephensagreedtotheact,butBrooksdissentedfromit.Thattheboywasthenlyingatthe
bottomoftheboatquitehelplessandextremelyweakenedbyfamineandbydrinkingseawater,andunabletomakeany
resistance,nordidheeverassenttohisbeingkilled.TheprisonerDudleyofferedaprayeraskingforgivenessforthemall
ifeitherofthemshouldbetemptedtocommitarashact,andthattheirsoulsmightbesaved.ThatDudley,withtheassent
ofStephens,wenttotheboy,andtellinghimthathistimewascome,putaknifeintohisthroatandkilledhimthenand
therethatthethreemenfeduponthebodyandbloodoftheboyforfourdaysthatonthefourthdayaftertheacthad
beencommittedtheboatwaspickedupbyapassingvessel,andtheprisonerswererescued,stillalive,butinthelowest
stateofprostration.ThattheywerecarriedtotheportofFalmouth,andcommittedfortrialatExeter.Thatifthemenhad
notfeduponthebodyoftheboyth.eywouldprobablynothavesurvivedtobesopickedupandrescued,butwould
withinfourdayshavediedoffamine.Thattheboy,beinginamuchweakercondition,waslikelytohavediedbefore
them.Thatatthetimeoftheactinquestiontherewasnosailinsight,noranyreasonableprospectofrelief.Thatunder
thesecircumstancesthereappearedtotheprisonerseveryprobabilitythatunlesstheythenfedorverysoonfeduponthe
boyoroneofthemselvestheywoulddieofstarvation.Thattherewasnoappreciablechanceofsavinglifeexceptby
killingsomeonefortheotherstoeat.Thatassuminganynecessitytokillanybody,therewasnogreaternecessityfor
killingtheboythananyoftheotherthreemen.Butwhetheruponthewholematterbythejurorsfoundthekillingof
RichardParkerbyDudleyandStephensbefelonyandmurderthejurorsareignorant,andpraytheadviceoftheCourt
thereupon,andifuponthewholemattertheCourtshallbeofopinionthatthekillingofRichardParkerbefelonyand
murder,thenthejurorssaythatDudleyandStephenswereeachguiltyoffelonyandmurderasallegedintheindictment..
..
Fromthesefacts,statedwiththecoldprecisionofaspecialverdict,itappearssufficiencythattheprisonersweresubject
toterribletemptation,tosufferingswhichmightbreakdownthebodilypowerofthestrongestman,andtrythe
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conscienceofthebest.Otherdetailsyetmoreharrowing,factsstillmoreloathsomeandappalling,werepresentedtothe
jury,andaretobefoundrecordedinmylearnedBrother'snotes.Butneverthelessthisisclear,thattheprisonersputto
deathaweakandunoffendingboyuponthechanceofpreservingtheirownlivesbyfeedinguponhisfleshandblood
afterhewaskilled,andwiththecertaintyofdeprivinghimofanypossiblechanceofsurvival.Theverdictfindsinterms
that"ifthemenhadnotfeduponthebodyoftheboytheywouldprobablynothavesurvived,"andthat"theboybeingin
amuchweakerconditionwaslikelytohavediedbeforethem."Theymightpossiblyhavebeenpickedupnextdaybya
passingshiptheymightpossiblynothavebeenpickedupatallineithercaseitisobviousthatthekillingoftheboy
wouldhavebeenanunnecessaryandprofitlessact.Itisfoundbytheverdictthattheboywasincapableofresistance,
and,infact,madenoneanditisnotevensuggestedthathisdeathwasduetoanyviolenceonhispartattemptedagainst,
orevensomuchasfearedby,thosewhokilledhim.Underthesecircumstancesthejurysaythattheyareignorant
whetherthosewhokilledhimwereguiltyofmurder,andhavereferredittothisCourttodeterminewhatisthelegal
consequencewhichfollowsfromthefactswhichtheyhavefound....
[T]herealquestioninthecase[is]whetherkillingunderthecircumstancessetforthintheverdictbeornotbemurder.
Thecontentionthatitcouldbeanythingelsewas,tothemindsofusall,bothnewandstrange,andwestoppedthe
AttorneyGeneralinhisnegativeargumentinorderthatwemighthearwhatcouldbesaidinsupportofaproposition
whichappearedtoustobeatoncedangerous,immoral,andopposedtoalllegalprincipleandanalogy....Firstitissaid
thatitfollowsfromvariousdefinitionsofmurderinbooksofauthority,whichdefinitionsimply,iftheydonotstate,the
doctrine,thatinordertosaveyourownlifeyoumaylawfullytakeawaythelifeofanother,whenthatotherisneither
attemptingnorthreateningyours,norisguiltyofanyillegalactwhatevertowardsyouoranyoneelse.Butifthese
definitionsbelookedattheywillnotbefoundtosustainthiscontention....
Itis...clear...thatthedoctrinecontendedforreceivesnosupportfromthegreatauthorityofLordHale.Itisplainthat
inhisviewthenecessitywhichjustifiedhomicideisthatonlywhichhasalwaysbeenandisnowconsidereda
justification....LordHaleregardedtheprivatenecessitywhichjustified,andalonejustified,thetakingthelifeof
anotherforthesafeguardofone'sowntobewhatiscommonlycalled"selfdefence."(Hale'sPleasoftheCrown,i.478.)
ButifthiscouldbeevendoubtfuluponLordHale'swords,LordHalehimselfhasmadeitclear.Forinthechapterin
whichhedealswiththeexemptioncreatedbycompulsionornecessityhethusexpresseshimself"Ifamanbe
desperatelyassaultedandinperilofdeath,andcannototherwiseescapeunless,tosatisfyhisassailant'sfury,hewillkill
aninnocentpersonthenpresent,thefearandactualforcewillnotacquithimofthecrimeandpunishmentofmurder,ifhe
committhefact[sic],forheoughtrathertodiehimselfthankillaninnocentbutifhecannototherwisesavehisownlife
thelawpermitshiminhisowndefencetokilltheassailant,forbytheviolenceoftheassault,andtheoffencecommitted
uponhimbytheassailanthimself,thelawofnature,andnecessity,hathmadehimhisownprotector...."(Hale'sPleasof
theCrown,vol.i.51.)
But,furtherstill,LordHaleinthefollowingchapterdealswiththepositionassertedbythecasuists,andsanctioned,ashe
says,byGrotiusandPuffendorf,thatinacaseofextremenecessity,eitherofhungerorclothing"theftisnotheft,orat
leastnotpunishableastheft,assomeevenofourownlawyershaveassertedthesame.""But,"saysLordHale,"Itakeit
thathereinEngland,thatrule,atleastbythelawsofEngland,isfalseandtherefore,ifaperson,beingundernecessityfor
wantofvictualsorclothes,shalluponthataccountclandestinelyandanimofurandistealanotherman'sgoods,itis
felony,andacrimebythelawsofEnglandpunishablewithdeath."(Hale,PleasoftheCrown,i.54.)If,therefore,Lord
Haleisclearasheisthatextremenecessityofhungerdoesnotjustifylarceny,whatwouldhehavesaidtothe
doctrinethatitjustifiedmurder?[Theopinionthenreviewedotherearlytextwritersandfoundthatnoneofthem
supportedthedefendants'contentions.]
Isthere,then,anyauthorityforthepropositionwhichhasbeenpresentedtous?Decidedcasestherearenone....The
AmericancasecitedbymyBrotherStepheninhisDigest[UnitedStatesv.Holmes,26F.Cas.360,1Wall.Jr.1(C.C.E.D.
Pa.1842)],fromWhartononHomicide,inwhichitwasdecided,correctlyindeed,thatsailorshadnorighttothrow
passengersoverboardtosavethemselves,butonthesomewhatstrangegroundthatthepropermodeofdeterminingwho
wastobesacrificedwastovoteuponthesubjectbyballot,canhardly,asmyBrotherStephensays,beanauthority
satisfactorytoacourtinthiscountry....
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TheonerealauthorityofformertimeisLordBacon,who...laysdownthelawasfollows:"Necessitycarriethaprivilege
initself.Necessityisofthreesortsnecessityofconservationoflife,necessityofobedience,andnecessityoftheactof
Godorofastranger.Firstofconservationoflifeifamanstealsviandstosatisfyhispresenthunger,thisisnofelonynor
larceny.Soifdiversbeindangerofdrowningbythecastingawayofsomeboatorbarge,andoneofthemgettosome
plank,orontheboat'ssidetokeephimselfabovewater,andanothertosavehislifethrusthimfromit,wherebyheis
drowned,thisisneithersedefendendonorbymisadventure,butjustifiable."...LordBaconwasgreatevenasalawyer
butitispermissibletomuchsmallermen,relyinguponprincipleandontheauthorityofothers,theequalsandeventhe
superiorsofLordBaconaslawyers,toquestionthesoundnessofhisdictum.Therearemanyconceivablestatesofthings
inwhichitmightpossiblybetrue,butifLordBaconmeanttolaydownthebroadpropositionthatmanmaysavehislife
bykilling,ifnecessary,aninnocentandunoffendingneighbour,itcertainlyisnotlawatthepresentday....
Nowitisadmittedthatthedeliberatekillingofthisunoffendingandunresistingboywasclearlymurder,unlessthe
killingcanbejustifiedbysomewellrecognisedexcuseadmittedbythelaw.Itisfurtheradmittedthattherewasinthis
casenosuchexcuse,unlessthekillingwasjustifiedbywhathasbeencalled"necessity."Butthetemptationtotheact
whichexistedherewasnotwhatthelawhasevercallednecessity.Noristhistoberegretted.Thoughlawandmorality
arenotthesame,andmanythingsmaybeimmoralwhicharenotnecessarilyillegal,yettheabsolutedivorceoflawfrom
moralitywouldbeoffatalconsequenceandsuchdivorcewouldfollowifthetemptationtomurderinthiscaseweretobe
heldbylawanabsolutedefenceofit.Itisnotso.Topreserveone'slifeisgenerallyspeakingaduty,butitmaybethe
plainestandthehighestdutytosacrificeit.Warisfullofinstancesinwhichitisaman'sdutynottolive,buttodie.The
duty,incaseofshipwreck,ofacaptaintohiscrew,ofthecrewtothepassengers,ofsoldierstowomenandchildren,asin
thenoblecaseoftheBirkenheadthesedutiesimposeonmenthemoralnecessity,notofthepreservation,butofthe
sacrificeoftheirlivesforothers,fromwhichinnocountry,leastofall,itistobehoped,inEngland,willmenevershrink,
asindeed,theyhavenotshrunk.Itisnotcorrect,therefore,tosaythatthereisanyabsoluteorunqualifiednecessityto
preserveone'slife.Necesseestuteam,nonutvivam,isasayingofaRomanofficerquotedbyLordBaconhimselfwith
higheulogyintheverychapteronnecessitytowhichsomuchreferencehasbeenmade.Itwouldbeaveryeasyand
cheapdisplayofcommonplacelearningtoquotefromGreekandLatinauthors,fromHorace,fromJuvenal,fromCicero,
fromEuripides,passageafterpassage,inwhichthedutyofdyingforothershasbeenlaiddowninglowingandemphatic
languageasresultingfromtheprinciplesofheathenethicsitisenoughinaChristiancountrytoremindourselvesofthe
GreatExamplewhomweprofesstofollow.Itisnotneedfultopointouttheawfuldangerofadmittingtheprinciple
whichhasbeencontendedfor.Whoistobethejudgeofthissortofnecessity?Bywhatmeasureisthecomparative
valueoflivestobemeasured?Isittobestrength,orintellect,orwhat?Itisplainthattheprincipleleavestohimwhois
toprofitbyittodeterminethenecessitywhichwilljustifyhimindeliberatelytakinganother'slifetosavehisown.Inthis
casetheweakest,theyoungest,themostunresisting,waschosen.Wasitmorenecessarytokillhimthanoneofthegrown
men?Theanswermustbe"No"
SospaketheFiend,andwithnecessity,
Thetyrant'splea,excusedhisdevilishdeeds.
Itisnotsuggestedthatinthisparticularcasethedeedswere"devilish,"butitisquiteplainthatsuchaprincipleonce
admittedmightbemadethelegalcloakforunbridledpassionandatrociouscrime.Thereisnosafepathforjudgesto
treadbuttoascertainthelawtothebestoftheirabilityandtodeclareitaccordingtotheirjudgmentandifinanycase
thelawappearstobetoosevereonindividuals,toleaveittotheSovereigntoexercisethatprerogativeofmercywhich
theConstitutionhasintrustedtothehandsfittesttodispenseit.
Itmustnotbesupposedthatinrefusingtoadmittemptationtobeanexcuseforcrimeitisforgottenhowterriblethe
temptationwashowawfulthesufferinghowhardinsuchtrialstokeepthejudgmentstraightandtheconductpure.We
areoftencompelledtosetupstandardswecannotreachourselves,andtolaydownruleswhichwecouldnotourselves
satisfy.Butamanhasnorighttodeclaretemptationtobeanexcuse,thoughhemighthimselfhaveyieldedtoit,nor
allowcompassionforthecriminaltochangeorweakeninanymannerthelegaldefinitionofthecrime.Itisthereforeour
dutytodeclarethattheprisoners'actinthiscasewaswillfulmurder,thatthefactsasstatedintheverdictarenolegal
justificationofthehomicideandtosaythatinourunanimousopiniontheprisonersareuponthisspecialverdictguilty
ofmurder.
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NOTE:
*TheCourtthenproceededtopasssentenceofdeathupontheprisoners.
*ThissentencewasafterwardscommutedbytheCrowntosixmonths'imprisonment.

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