The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-08
TRIAL by THEIR PEERS.
People In the Old World Who Are
Exempt From the Jurisdiction OF
Ordinary Tribunals.

ordinary Tribunals.
Ex-Attache in New York Tribune.
There are in the Old World a large num-
Der of individuals who by virtue OF old
time prerogatives, conceded to the class
to which they belong, enjoy exemption
from the Jurisdiction of ordinary trbu-
nails. In Austria and in Spain, for in
stance, the Knights of the Order of the
Golden Fleece have the right of demand
ing trial by the chapter of the order, and
immunity from all other legal procedure
In Austria suits against members of the
reigning house can only be dealt with by
tribunal presided over by the minister
of the imperial house. or any one whom
he may delegate for the purpose a
court the verdict OF which must he APP
proved by the sovereign in order to be-
come effective. 1t was owing to the fact
of Princess Philip of Coburg, daughter
or the King of the Belglans, being re-
garded as belonging to the court of Aus
tria that she was exempted from the
jurisdiction OF the ordinary tribunals
three years ago. and that the charges
of fraud and forgery brought against her
by Austrian and foreign tradespeople and
bill discounters were referred to the
llolhidIsC or Imperial
court, presided over by the minister of
the imperial house, Jointly with the lord
high steward of the court, which declar-
ed her mentally irresponsible and thus
acquitted her of all criminal intent.
Mediatizcd Families in Germany.
In Germany the members of the So
called mediatzed families, to the enum-
Grafton of which Part III OF the "Alma-
mach de Gotha" is devoted, were alto
gether exempt from the Jurisdiction Of The
ordinary tribunals of the land until 1878
(even when engaged in legal disputes with
persons who did not belong to their
caste), and were only subject to a trl-
bunal OF their peers. specially organized
for the occasion. And, although since
that time they have TO a great extent
been assimilated to the ordinary citizen
In legal matters, yet they still retain a
large number OF legal prerogatives and
immunities. For instance. they are not
obliged to take the ordinary form of oath
in court, their mere word being held to
be sufficient; they can demand trial by
the Supreme Court, instead of by tri-
bunals of inferior rank; and in matters
which concern offenses not against the
commonwealth, the state or against COM
mon law, but merely against the family
to which they belong, as well as in family
N'SPNNSS abOhN PAOpthAJ ntt1
ship of minors, spendthrifts and lunatics,
the issues are dealt with by a special tri-
bunal composed of the agnates OF the
family the decisions of which are subse-
quently ratified and enforced by the SUI
preme Court. 1t should be explained that
the heads of these mediatized
houses, some of them dukes
some princes, others merely marqulses
and counts, formerly enjoyed the rank
nd Of ..lr.
however to his apostolic majesty the
Emperor OF the Holy Roman Empire
The Napoleonic wars swept the majority
OF these small states away, and the treaty
of Vienna set the seal 10 their disappear
ance. 1t was felt however, at the time
of the Congress of Vienna that these dis
possessed petty sovereigns required some
sort OF compensation for the loss of their
dominions, as well as the balm for their
wounded pride. Accordingly, they and
their lineal descendants were invested
with a number of extraordinary privileges
similar to those enjoyed to this day by
princes and princesses OF reigning dynas-
ties, and which served to distinguish them
from ordinary mobiles OF the land. Among
these prerogatives were exemption from
taxation, from the jurisdiction OF ordinary
tribunals and from obligatory military
service. Little by little they are being
deprived of these immunities. which,
where not entirely abolished, are at any
rate modified. Thus, although the scion
of the medatized houses are now brought
within the scope of the law OF obligatory
military service, they enter the army as
officers without having 10 go through the
ordinary procedure to secure a commits
sion.
In France Italy. Spain, Portugal and
several other European countries the
Senate serves as a tribunal for the trial
of offenses Of a reasonable character
against the state. and likewise in cases
of crimes against common law, where
the offenders are cabinet ministers, great
dignitaries Of the state or members OF
the Senate. Thus In France a man who
has the Grand Cross of the National Or
der OF the Legion of Honor can demand
exemption from the jurisdiction OF the
ordinary courts OF law, and trial by the
Senate sitting as the supreme tribunal
of the land, no matter what his offense;
and the French Senate has Just passed
judgment upon Count de Lur-Saluces,
who was charged with partaking In
Royalist conspiracy having for it's OBJ
ject the overthrow Of the republic.
The board OF Green Cloth.
In England all the members of the
royal household and the officials Of the
royal court, no matter what their de-
gree, are subject to special tribunal,
known as the Board of Green Cloth.
which has likewise exclusive Jurisdiction
in the case OF oil offenses committed
within the precincts OF the royal palaces
and the gardens, grounds and parks con-
nected Herewith. The Board OF Green
Cloth, composed OF several high digntia-
ries OF the household. Is presided over
by the Lfod Steward of the Household,
who has the power TO delegate 20 any
Judge or magistrate his authority TO
daal in the name OF the board, with Of
lenses that would legally come before the
latter. II Is as the representative OF
the Board Of Green Cloth. and as the
deputy of the lord steward. that the Sc
Nor police ma gistrate of the metropolis
holds court in room underneath the
grandstand at Ascot during the Ascot
race meet each year. the Ascot race
course forming part Of the royal domain
OF Windsor
Besides the Board Of Green Cloth, there
Is the House of Lords. which is called
upon 10 serve rs n tribunal In a number
OF specific cases. Strictly speaking, there
are two separate tribunals known as the
House Of Lords. There II. for instance.
the tribunal to which cases may be car
ried on appeal from the Supreme Court.
and which In composed OF what are known
az the law lords. that II 10 say. OF peers
who have occupied seats on the bench
or who ere stiii regular members OF the
High Court OF Judicature. But no lay
or spiritual peers have anything 20 do
Nth this tFlhuuaI which has 4tfrtaNfafio.