LAW IN THE ARCTIC

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 701, 29 November 1933, Page 7

LAW IN THE ARCTIC

STIRRING POLICE WORK RECALLED BY INSPECTOR'S DEATH. FARTHEST NORTH TRIAL. The recent death of Inspector Joy, of the North-west Mounted Poilice, recalls many stirring patrols done by that officer, culminating in the farthest north trial by jury, which attended his most notable aohievemenit in the administration of the white man's law in the Arctic. Robert S. Janes, a Newfoundlander, while servi'ng as second mate on the Government exploration ship Arctic, saw possibilities of reaping a fortune in furs in Norfchern Baffin Land. He chartered a schooner in St. Jrohn's, loaded it with trade goods for exchange for fox pelts and walrus ivory, and landed at Patricia River. Th'e schooner promised to return for him in two years. The venture was successful beyond his dreams. His store shed was jammed with furs worth a fortune. The schooner never returned. In (the fourth year, Janes essayed to reach civilisation, a skd joumey (of 1500 miles. Bidding adieu to his precious furs, he set out in midwinter, h'eading for Admiralty Sound. Near Gape Crawford he came up with a party of Esleimo sealers. Short of meat for his dogs, but with nothing to trade in return, he reminded them of past favours ; he demanded food. A quarrel ensued, in which Janes was killed. In the summer of 1921, Inspector — fchen Sergeant — Joy set out for Ponds Inlet, where th'e Hudson's Bay Company had decided to open a station. With an Eskimo interpreter, he reached Patricia Bay and found Janes' old post. The store was empty. Turn- ' ing south,- Joy eventually learned where Janes was killed. Six months after leaving his piost, he located the body, frozen stiff and wrapped in a blanket, heneath a cairn of rocks that shielded it from wolves. Loading it on his sied, he set out for Aretic Bay, where, in an Eskimo village, he learned the identity of the three who had killed Janes. Returning to Ponds Inlet, he held an inquest, buried the body, and recommenced his search for th'e slayers. After traveliing hundreds of miles, Sergeant Joy had three men under arrest at the end of six months. In the summer of 1923 the trial opened at Ponds Inlet, before Mir. Justdce Rivet, of MontreaJ, and a jury of six men from the ship's crew, which is legal in the Arctic. Red-eoated mounted policeinen marshalled the Eskimos, many of wh'om had travelled 400 miles to see the trial. In an open-air court the murderer was sentenced to- ten 'years' imprisomnent. 'O'orlooreungnak v^as ordered to he confined for two years at Ponds Inlet. Adteetah was aequitted. In the •shadow of the North Pole, the white imian's justice was vindicated.