Name

John Tear

Biography

A poor labourer of Garff who won his case in the Manx courts — because the Deemster heard the case and the evidence was on his side. Then he lost, because the new system allowed his opponent to appeal to a jurisdiction in London that knew nothing about him, nothing about Garff, nothing about the Island. The appeal cost money John Tear did not have. The system that had worked — imperfect but accessible — had been replaced by something that served lawyers rather than litigants.

Active Period

fl. 1790s

Place

Garff

Period

Crown Administration

Role / Office

Labourer

Petitioner

Book Chapter

Chapter 14