Legal Term Dictionary

An officer in the English chancery whose duty was to fit the wax to seal the writs, commissions, and other instruments thence issuing. The office was abolished by St 15 A 16 Vict. c. 87, § 23.

An officer in the English chancery whose duty was to fit the wax to seal the writs, commissions, and other instruments thence issuing. The office was abolished by St 15 A 16 Vict. c. 87, § 23. Less...

An ancient term for goods, wares, and merchandise.

An ancient term for goods, wares, and merchandise. Less...

Traffic; the practice of buying and selling.

Traffic; the practice of buying and selling. Less...

A measure used by engineers and surveyors, being twenty-two yards in length.

A measure used by engineers and surveyors, being twenty-two yards in length. Less...

A term applied metaphorically to the series of conveyances, or other forms of alienation, affecting a particular parcel of land, arranged consecutively, from the government or original source of title down to the present holder, each of the instruments included being called a link." Payne v. Markle, 89 111. 69.

A term applied metaphorically to the series of conveyances, or other forms of alienation, affecting a particular parcel of land, arranged consecutively, from the government or original source of title down to the present holder, each of the instruments included being called a link." Payne v. Markle, 89 111. 69. Less...

A name given to the presiding officer of an assembly, public meeting, convention, deliberative or legislative body, board of directors, committee, etc.

A name given to the presiding officer of an assembly, public meeting, convention, deliberative or legislative body, board of directors, committee, etc. Less...

In English parliamentary practice. In the commons, this officer, always a member, is elected by the house on the assembling of every new parliament. When the house is in committee on bills introduced by the government, or.in committee of ways and means, or supply, or in committee to consider preliminary More...

In English parliamentary practice. In the commons, this officer, always a member, is elected by the house on the assembling of every new parliament. When the house is in committee on bills introduced by the government, or.in committee of ways and means, or supply, or in committee to consider preliminary resolutions, it is his duty to preside. Less...

Twelve sacks of coals, each holding three bushels, weighing about a ton and a half. In Wales they reckon 12 barrels or pitchers a ton or chaldron, and 29 cwt of 120 lbs. to the ton. Wharton

Twelve sacks of coals, each holding three bushels, weighing about a ton and a half. In Wales they reckon 12 barrels or pitchers a ton or chaldron, and 29 cwt of 120 lbs. to the ton. Wharton Less...

1. To object or except to; to prefer objections to a person, right, or instrument; to formally call into question tbe capability of a person for a particular function, or the existence of a right claimed, or the sufficiency or validity of an Instrument 2. As a noun, the word More...

1. To object or except to; to prefer objections to a person, right, or instrument; to formally call into question tbe capability of a person for a particular function, or the existence of a right claimed, or the sufficiency or validity of an Instrument 2. As a noun, the word signifies the objection or exception so advanced. 3. An exception taken against legal documents, as a declaration, count, or writ But this use of the word is now obsolescent 4. An exception or objection preferred against a person who presents himself at the polls as a voter, in order that his right to cast a ballot may be inquired into. 5. An objection or exception to the personal qualification of a judge or magistrate about to preside at the trial of a cause; as on account of personal interest, his having been of counsel, bias, etc. 6. An exception or objection taken to the jurors summoned and returned for the trial of a cause, either individually, (to the polls,) or collectively, (to the array.) People v. Travers, 88 Cal. 233, 28 Pac. 88; People v. Fitsparrlck, 1 N. Y. Cr. R. 425. AT COMMON LAW. The causes for principal challenges fall under four heads: (1) Propter honoris respectum. On account of respect for the party's social rank. (2) Propter defectum. On account of some legal disqualification, such as infancy or alienage. (3) Propter affectum. On account of partiality; that is, either expressed or implied bias or prejudice. (4) Prop* tor delictum. On account of crime; that is, disqualification arising from the conviction of an infamous crime. —Challenge for cause. A challenge to a juror for which some cause or reason is alleged. Termes de la Ley; 4 Bl. Comm. 353. Thus distinguished from a peremptory challenge. Turner v. State, 114 Ga. 421. 40 S. E. 308; Cr. Code N. Y. 1903,1 374.—Challenge propter affectum. A challenge interposed on account of an ascertained or suspected bias or partiality, and which may be either a principal challenge or a challenge to the favor. Harris-hurg Bank v. Forster, 8 Watts (Pa.) 300; State v. Sawtelle. 66 N. H. 488, 32 Atl. 831; Jewell v. Jewell, 84 Me. 304, 24 Atl. 858. 18 L. R. A. 473.—Challenge to the array. An exception to the whole panel in which the jury are arrayed, or set in order by the sheriff in his return, upon account of partiality, or some default in the sheriff, coroner, or other officer who arrayed the panel or made the return. 3 Bl. Comm. 359; Co. litt 155b; Moore v. Guano Co.. 130 N. C. 229, 41 S. B. 293; Thompson v. State, 109 Ga. 272. 34 S. E. 579; Durrah v. State. 44 Miss. 789.—Challenge to the favor. Is where the party has no principal challenge, but objects only some probable circumstances of suspicion, as acquaintance, and the like, the validity of which.must be left to the determination of triors, whose office it is to decide whether the juror be favorable or unfavorable. 8 Bl. Comm. 363 ; 4 Bl. Comm. 853; Thompson v. State, 109 Ga. 272, 34 S. E. §79; State v. Sawtelle, 66 N. H. 488, 32 Atl. 831: State v. Baldwin, 1 Tread. Const 18. C.) 292.—Challenge to the panel. The same as a challenge to the array. See supra. And see Pen. Code Cal. 1903. f 1058.—Challenge to the poll. A challenge made separately to an individual juror; as distinguished from a challenge to the array. Harrisburg Bank v. Forster, 8 Watts (Pa.) 306.—General challenge. A species of challenge for cause, being an objection to a particular juror, to the effect that the juror is disqualified from serving in any case. Pen. Code Cal. § 1071.—Peremptory challenge. In criminal practice. A species of challenge which a prisoner is allowed to have against a certain number of jurors, without assigning any cause. Lewis v. U. S.. 146 U. S. 370. 13 Sup. Ct. 136, 36 L. Ed. 1011; Turpin v. Stote, 55 Md. 462; Leary v. Railway Co., 69 N. J. Law, 67, 54 Ati. 527; State v. Hays, 23 Mo. 287.—Principal challenge. A challenge of a juror for a cause which carries with it, prima facie, evident marks of suspicion either of malice or favor; as that a juror is of kin to either party within tbe ninth degree; that he has an interest in the cause, etc 3 Bl. Comm. 363. A species of challenge to the array made on account of partiality or some default in the sheriff or his under-offi-cer who arrayed the panel. Less...

A summons or invitation, given by one person to another, to engage in a personal combat; a request to fight a duel. A criminal offense. See Steph. Crim. Dig. 40; 3 East, 581; State v. Perkins, 6 Blackf. (Ind.) 20.

A summons or invitation, given by one person to another, to engage in a personal combat; a request to fight a duel. A criminal offense. See Steph. Crim. Dig. 40; 3 East, 581; State v. Perkins, 6 Blackf. (Ind.) 20. Less...