The Supreme Court: Cyberfair 99 Website

My first home, 1822 - 1828

        A long, long time ago, the three British territories in the Straits of Malacca, namely, Penang, Malacca and Singapore (I call them the three musketeers), were formed into one administratitive unit, the Straits Settlements, in 1826. The three territories shared one professional judge, styled the Recorder, who stayed in Penang, but travelled on circuit to hear cases. He must be a busy man, travelling to three different places. Those who missed him must wait a long, long time to see him in his next visit. In 1856, a second Recorder was appointed to reside at Singapore. Phew! Are we indeed lucky to have many judges in Singapore today.

        But wait, there is a catch! The Straits Settlements was a dependency of the British Raj in India until 1867, when it was transferred to come under the Colonial Office in London, becoming, thereby, a Crown Colony. With this transfer, the Supreme Court in Singapore, and the High Court in Penang, came into being. There! This marks the birth of the the Supreme Court in Singapore!

        For a start, the first courthouse was actually some bloke's idea for a residence. Designed by George D. Coleman, what we now know in Singapore as Parliament House was actually the home of John Argyle Maxwell. You just have to admire old Maxwell for his tenacity.

        It first took him 3 years (1822-1825) to apply for the plot of land, during which he sent up his requests 3 times.

        Third time lucky they say, but these were just the start to his troubles.

        Originally approved by then Singapore's resident councillor, Dr. John Crawfurd, in 1825, his right to the land was questioned by John Prince, the former's successor. In April 1827, John Prince pointed out that the land was meant to be for government storehouses right from the beginning. Hohoho, Maxwell was in some nice hot soup now.

        Fortunately, he was quick to react with the best alternative. Fearing requisition of his property, Maxwell offered up the building for use as a Government House of Court and Recorder's Chambers". Smart move Max. This three-year lease would commence on the day the building was completed, on March 1828.

        In fact, Maxwell the poor chap was never given the chance to stay in the wretched place. He retired to Europe and three years later, returned to Scotland. Talk about a high-stressed life, Maxwell's must have topped the list in the 1800s.

        My first house must have been quite a hotspot, since everyone wanted a piece of it. Prince's successor (who was not a very likeable chap), Kenneth Murchison appealed for a better house to the Governor of the Straits Settlements (the conglomerate under which Singapore resided), Fullerton, in February 1828. He wanted Maxwell's house and to him, it was given (still I feel the house should belong solely to me, but who listens to guardian spirits nowadays). Well, that wasn't it. Murchison thought that the whole house was rightfully his, that silly man.

        Heh, things changed soon.

        It seemed that the recorder (the official judge of the Straits Settlements) refused to make his routine visits to Malacca and Singapore unless his expenses were met courtesy of the East India Company. Under these circumstances, Governor Fullerton was to take his place and preside all trials to take place in Singapore in May of 1828. (Please note that at this juncture, the temporary courthouse was located in Commercial Square.) To provide for his absolute comfort, the governor was to take charge over the house, ahem, MY house during his stay. Murchison received these instructions on April 2nd, five whole days after completion of the house.

        It must have been steam billowing from his ears! What a sight! Murchinson was a terribly petty person. Murchison then wrote a letter of complaint. When the governor arrived, the ensuing argument between them was inevitable (not to mention noisy).

        As my old Ma used to say, never step on the toes of the mighty, especially those of the Governor of the Straits Settlements. Fullerton came to the conclusion that Murchison regarded his own convenience and comfort of greater importance than that of public interest, and with that, it was decided that Maxwell's house was to be the next courthouse, while he would reside in Raffles' bungalow after reconstruction during his future visits.