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Judicial Murder-Suicides in Van Diemen's Land
Roger W Byard1,2, Hamish Maxwell Stewart3
1School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
Journal of Forensic Sciences
|October 24, 2017
Summary
In 1827 Tasmania, convicts engaged in "suicide by lottery," a grim practice where one convict killed another to avoid execution. This historical "judicial" murder-suicide offers insights into extreme survival tactics.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychology
- Criminology
- Australian History
Background:
- Historical analysis of Tasmanian colonial convict records from 1827.
- Focus on a specific case of public hanging in Hobart Town.
- Contextualization within the penal settlement of Macquarie Harbor.
Observation:
- Nine convicts were executed following the drowning of a senior constable.
- The convicts offered no defense during their trial.
- Witnesses to the drowning were bound and gagged.
Findings:
- Convicts practiced 'suicide by lottery,' selecting one to kill and one to die.
- The killer faced execution, while witnesses received a reprieve.
- 'Death by gallows' is presented as a 19th-century precursor to 'death by cop' scenarios.
Implications:
- This historical practice expands the understanding of dyadic deaths.
- Introduces the concept of 'judicial' murder-suicide.
- Offers a unique perspective on convict psychology and survival strategies in penal colonies.
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