by John Marshall

“ The crime of murder, when committed by any officer, seaman, or marine, belonging to any public ship or vessel of the United States, without the territorial jurisdiction of the same, may be punished with death by the sentence of a court martial. ”

“ Although the bay on which this murder was committed might not be out of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, the ship of war on the deck of which it was committed, is, it has been said, 'a place within the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States,' whose courts may consequently take cognizance of the offence.
That a government which possesses the broad power of war ”