Tasmania court records, 1830-1845

MLMSS 4476X

fonds

1830-1845

923524

1 outsize folder of textual material

The Tasmanian criminal law and court system was established by legislation passed by the British parliament. This culminated in the Australian Courts Act (Huskisson Act) 9 Geo. IV CAP. 83 of 1828, which established Supreme Courts in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. The Lieutenant Governor was empowered to appoint Judges and Justices of the Peace. Until formal courts were established, Justices of the Peace acted as magistrates or coroners where and when required. To regularise the criminal trials of transported felons on Norfolk Island during the period 1844-1856 when the Island was annexed to Tasmania, the Criminal Court of Norfolk Island was established by an Act 8 Vic. 12 passed by the Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land. Judges to theis court were appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor

Series 01:
Items 1-2
Coroner's Court documents of an inquest held 7 October 1830 at Kangaroo Point, Van Diemen's Land before Frederick Roper, J. P. into the drowning of William Sharpless. Documents include an authority to summon jurors, list of jurors, depositions of witnesses and statement of verdict

Series 02:
Item 3
Magistrate's documents of testimonies of four witnesses sworn before Frederick Roper, J.P. between 31 January 1831 and 5 February 1831 at Brighton, Van Diemen's Land in case of Rex v. Lunn and Carr

Series 03:
Item 4
Statement of charges against Bartholomew McCann and Thomas Edwards in a trial of murder brought before Alban Charles Stoner 19 June 1845 in the Criminal Court of Norfolk Island. Pleas, verdict and sentence noted

Information transferred from Manuscripts Leaf Catalogue No. 1 (5-565 C) as part of the eRecords Project, 2010-2011

Keyword subjects:
Criminal justice, Administration of -- Tasmania
Criminal justice, Administration of -- Norfolk Island