Jurors were summoned and have existed as early as the 1840s.
One early list of petty jurors were recorded in an inquest case on 2nd June, 1844.
The twelve persons as below :
BEFORE MR. EDWARD FARNCOMB -- Coroner.
Jurors Sworn.
Mr. T. A. Gibb. Mr. A. Beveridge.
J. F. Edger. W. Scott.
M. W. Pitcher. N. Duus.
A. Fletcher. James Gardner.
W. Davidson. Daniel McGill.
J. C. Power. Edward Yeo. [^]
Some of the names are possibly the ones we know from publications of this decade :
Thomas A. Gibb
William Scott
Angus Fletcher
Walter Davidson
All of these were related to some companies or merchants. And by professions, persons may be exempted if they are surgeons and physicians, Government officers having urgent duties to attend, as two prevailing rules in 1844 (proclaimed in June 1843).
First court cases with a jury ?
As the Friend of China, there were at least : one earlier inquest case on 22 Oct. 1842, which involves jury and with verdict recorded in details; two more inquests in August, with the Jury returning verdicts.
Two jurors lists
From a plain text search, I found that 'Special Jurors' were first mentioned in 1845. 'Decided by the verdict of a jury of Six' were also specified then.
Two separate and distinct lists of jurors (Common Jurors, Special Jurors) were to make out every year hence [*], as the Ordinance No. 7.
Readers of law background are welcome to share further details and comments, for us to learn more.
sources
Friend of China and Hongkong Gazette 1844, 1842 & 1845
[^] this last one Yeo is probably a British subject. This surname originates in Southwest England, meaning someone lives near a river.
[*] Overland China Mail in May 1851 covered this :
the Jury List in 1848 comprised 186 Common Jurors and 47 Special (Jurors)
versus in 1851 diminution to only 69 Common Jurors and 26 Special, in a letter from JPs to the Colonial Secretary W. Caine.
Yes, Yeos were based…
Yes, Yeos were based primarily in the parish of Petrockstowe, Devon and spread thenceforth.
jurors list, enforcement status near the end of 1840s
For one court news of Feb. 1849, China Mail recorded :
source
China Mail, 1849-4-19
first Grand Jury and Petty Jury list
There are actually two more lists of jurors sworn earlier, in March 1844.
LIST OF THE GRAND JURY
Patrick Stewart, (Foreman) David Jardine,
T. A. Gibb, Patrick Dudgeon,
J. F. Edger, Thos. D. Neave,
John Holliday, Scotland,
Angus Fletcher, Robert Strachan,
John Dent, William Scott,
Christopher Fearon, R. F. Gordon,
Charles E. Stewart, C. Cleverley
LIST OF THE PETTY JURY
Messrs. Markwick, Pain,
Smith, Bromclaw,
Dickens, North,
Lattey, Drewett,
Stevenson, McEwen,
McMurray, Miller
Three of the names on the Grand Jury are well known across time, I think. Four of the names are same as the June jury in the main post above. (+)
This was likely the first Criminal Court for trial by jury held on Chinese land. A 2016 gwulo post describes officials and setup on site then (link).
There were two cases heard in this instance of Criminal Court (the session was closed March 6th) :
a true Bill was found against a Seaman of the "Harlequin" (a native of Manila) for wilful murder
a true Bill also found against an Artillery Marine, of H. M. Steamer Driver for manslaughter
Above news was just missed in my previous search as the term 'Jurymen' is used, not 'juror'. (^)
More information of the court cases and trial details were reported on the Hongkong Register on same day (and next weekly issue), including names of the persons in the case #1.
It also cited that the former being the first case of the kind * tried (since 1842), and yet the sentence would be submitted to consideration of British government.
The jury returned a verdict of "Not guilty" on the latter case tried.
sources
Friend of China
Hongkong Register
Wah Kiu Yat Po
(+) a list of Justices of Peace sworn in were reported in mid 1843; many on this Grand Jury list are also JPs;
at least two appear with same name as officials then : Charles E. Stewart (Treasurer and Financial Secretary, until c. April 1844); C. Cleverly (Assistant Surveyor General)
(^) above trial by jury was retold in Chinese on a 'HK Old Stories' column by journalist Ng Bar Ling around 1936-11-7, and hence brings this to light.
* murder