US v. Bull The United States vs. H.N.

Bull GR L-5270 Jan 15, 1910

Facts:

On the 2nd of December 1908, a steamship vessel engaged in the transport of animals named Standard commanded by H.N. Bull docked in the port of Manila, Philippines. It was found that said vessel from Ampieng, Formosa carried 677 heads of cattle without providing appropriate shelter and proper suitable means for securing the animals which resulted for most of the animals to get hurt and others to have died while in transit. This cruelty to animals is said to be contrary to Acts No. 55 and No. 275 of the Philippine Constitution. It is however contended that cases cannot be filed because neither was it said that the court sitting where the animals were disembarked would take jurisdiction, nor did it say about ships not licensed under Philippine laws, like the ship involved. Issue: Whether or not the court had jurisdiction over an offense committed on board a foreign ship while inside the territorial waters of the Philippines. Held: No court of the Philippines has jurisdiction over any crimes committed in a foreign ship on the high seas, but the moment it entered into territorial waters, it automatically would be subject to the jurisdiction of the country. The offense, assuming that it originated in Formosa, which the Philippines would have no jurisdiction, continued until it reached Philippine territory which is already under jurisdiction of the Philippines. Every state has complete control and jurisdiction over its territorial waters. The Supreme Court of the United States has recently said that merchant vessels of one country visiting the ports of another for the purpose of trade would subject themselves to the laws which govern the ports they visit, so long as they remain. Defendant is thereby found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, and to pay the costs.