In practice. This word Is generally defined to be the means of compelling the defendant in an action to appear in court And when actions were commenced; by original writ, instead of, as at present, by writ of summons, the method of compelling the defendant to appear was by what
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In practice. This word Is generally defined to be the means of compelling the defendant in an action to appear in court And when actions were commenced; by original writ, instead of, as at present, by writ of summons, the method of compelling the defendant to appear was by what was termed "original process," being founded an the original writ, and so called also to distinguish it from "mesne" or "intermediate" process, which was some writ or process which issued during the progress of the suit The word "process," however, as now commonly understood, signifies those formal instruments called "writs." The word "process" is In common-law practice frequently applied to the writ of summons, which is the instrument now in use for commencing personal actions. But in its more comprehensive signification it Includes not only the writ of summons, but all other writs which may be issued during the progress of an action. Those writs which are used to carry the judgments of the courts into effect, and which are termed "writs of execution" are also commonly denominated "final process," because they usually Issue at the end of a suit See Carey v. German American Ins. Co., 84 Wis. 80, 54 N. W. 18, 20 L. R. A. 267, 36 Am. St Rep. 007; Savage v. Oliver, 110 Ga. 636, 36 S. E. 54; Perry v. Lorillard Fire Ins. Co., 6 Lans. (N. Y.) 204; Davenport v. Bird, 34 Iowa, 527; Philadelphia v. Campbell, 11 Phila. (Pa.) 161; Phillips v. Spotts, 14 Neb. 139, 15 N. W. 332.
In the practice of the English privy council in ecclesiastical appeals, "process" means an official copy of the whole proceedings and proofs of the court below, which is transmitted to the registry of the court of appeal by the registrar of the court below in obedience to an order or requisition requiring him so to do, called a "monition for process," issued by the court of appeal. Macph. Jud. Com. 173. -Abase of process. See ABUSE.-Comp ul" sory process. See COMPULSORY.-Executory process. In the law of Louisiana, a summary process in the nature of an order of seizure and sale, which is available when the right of the creditor arises from an act or instrument which includes or imports a confession of judgment and a privilege or lien in his favor, and also to enforce the execution of a judgment rendered in another jurisdiction. See Rev. Code Prac. }894, art. 732.-Final process. The last process in a suit; that is, writs of execution. Thus distinguished from mesne process, which includes all writs issued during the progress of a cause and before final iudgment Amis v. Smith, 16 Pet 313, 10 L. Ed. 973.-Irregular process. Sometimes the term "irregular process" has been defined to mean process absolutely void, and not merely erroneous and voidable; but usually it has been applied to all process not issued in strict conformity with the law, whether the defect appears upon the face of the process, or by reference to extrinsic facts, and whether such defects render the process absolutely void or only voidable. Cooper v. Harter. 2 Ind. 253. And see Bryan v. Congdon, 86 Fed. 221, 29 C. C. A. 670: Paine v. Ely, N. Chip. (Vt) 24.-Judicial process. In a wide sense, this term may include all the acts of a court from the beginning to the end of its proceedings in a given cause; but more specifically it means the writ, summons, mandate, or other process which is used to inform the defendant of the. institution of proceedings against him and to compel bis appearance, in either civil or criminal cases. See State v. Guilbert, 56 Ohio St. 575, 47 N. E. 551, 38 L. R. A. 519, 60 Am. St. Rep. 756; In re Smith (D. C.) 132 Fed. 303. -Legal process. This term is sometimes used as equivalent to "lawful process." Cooley v. Davis, 34 Iowa, 130. But properly it means a writ, warrant, mandate, or other process issuing from a court of justice, such as an attachment, execution, injunction, etc. See In re Bininger. 3 Fed. Cas. 416; Loy v. Home Ins. Co., 24 Minn. 319, 31 Am. Rep. 346; Perry v. Lorillard F. Ins. Co., 6 Lans. (N. Y.) 204; Com. v. Brower, 7 Pa. Dist. R. 255.- Mesne process* As distinguished from final oroeess, this signifies any writ or process issued between the commencement of the action and the suing out of execution. It includes the writ of summons, (although that is now the usual commencement of actions,) because anciently that was preceded by the original writ. The writ of capias ad respondendum was called "mesne" to distinguish it, on the one hand, from the original process by which a suit was formerly commenced; and, on the other, from the final process of execution. Birmingham Dry Goods Co. v. Bledsoe. 113 Ala. 418, 21 South. 403; Hirshlser v. Tinsley, 9 Mo. App. 342; Pennington v. Lowinstein. 19 Fed. Cas. 168. -Original process. That by which a judicial proceeding is instituted; process to compel the appearance of tbe defendant. Distinguished from "mesne" process, which issues, during the progress of a suit, for some subordinate or collateral purpose; and from "final" process, which is process of execution. Appeal of Hotchkiss. 32 Conn. 353.-Process of interpleader. A means of determining the ri^ht to property claimed by each of two or more persons, which is in the possession of a third.-Process of law. See DUE PROCESS OF LAW.-Process rolL In practice. A roll used for the entry of process to save the statute of limitations. 1 Tidd, Pr. 161, 162.- Regular process. Such as is issued according to rule and the prescribed practice, or which emanates, lawfully and in a proper case, from a court or magistrate possessing jurisdiction.-Summary process. Such as is immediate or - instantaneous, in distinction from the ordinary course, by emanating and taking effect without intermediate applications or delays. Gaines v. Travis. 8 N. Y. Leg. Obs. 49.-Trustee process. The name given in some states (particularly in New England) to the process of garnishment or foreign attachr ment-Void process. Such as was issued without power in the court to award it, -or which the court had not acquired jurisdiction to issue in the particular case, or which fails in some material respect to comply with the requisite form of legal process. Bryan v, Congdon, 86 Fed. 223, 29 C. C. A. 670.vv In. patent law. A means or method employed to produce a certain result or effect, or a mode of treatment of given materials to produce a desired result, either by chemical action, by" the operation or application of some element or power of nature, or of one substance to another, irrespective of any machine or mechanical device; in this sense a process" is patentable, though, strictly speaking, it is the art and not the process which is the subject of patent See Cochrane v. Deener, 94 U. S. 780, 24 L. Ed. 139; Corning v. Burden, 15 How. 268, 14 L. Ed. 683; Westinghouse v. Boyden Power-Brake Co.. 170 U. S. 537. 18 Sup. Ct. 707, 42 L. Ed. 1136; New Process Fermentation Co. v. Jdaus (C- C.) 20 Fed. 728; Piper v. Brown, 19 Fed. Cas. 718; In re Weston, 17 App. D. C. 436; Appleton Mfg. Co. v. Star Mfg. Co., 60 Fed. 411, 9 C. C. A. 42. -Mechanical process. A process involving solely the application of mechanism or mechanical principles; an aggregation of functions; not patentable considered apart from the mechanism employed or the finished product of manufacture. See Risdon Iron, etc., Works v. Med-art, 158 U. S. 68. 15 Sup. Ct. 745, 39 L. Ed. 899; American Fibre Chamois Co. v. Buckskin Fibre Co., 72 Fed. 514, 18 C. C. A. 662; Cochrane v. Deener, 94 U. S. 780, 24 L. Ed. 139.
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