Fr. At another time; formerly; before; heretofore. Autrefois acquit. In criminal law. Formerly acquitted. The name of a plea in bar to a criminal action, stating that the defendant has been once already indicted and tried for the same alleged offense and has been acquitted. Simco v. State, 9 Tex. App. 348; U. S. v. Gibert, 25 Fed. Cas. 1,294. Autrefois attaint. In criminal law. … [Read more...]

A mischance causing the death of a man, as where a person is suddenly drowned or killed by any accident, without felony. Co. Litt 391. … [Read more...]

crim. law, pleading. A plea made by a defendant, indicted for a crime or misdemeanor, that he has formerly been tried and acquitted of the same offence. 2. To be a bar, the acquittal must have been by trial, and by the verdict of a jury on a valid indictment. There must be an acquittal of the offence charged in law and in fact. 3. The Constitution of the U. S., Amend. Art. 5, … [Read more...]

Fr. To have. Aver et tener. In old conveyancing. To have and to hold. AVER, v. In pleading. To declare or assert; to set out distinctly and formally; to allege. In old pleading. To avouch or verify. Litt. … [Read more...]

crim. law. Formerly attainted. 2. This is a good plea in bar, where a second trial would be quite superfluous. Where, therefore, any advantage either to public justice, or private individuals, would arise from a second prosecution, the plea will not prevent it; as where the criminal is indicted for treason after an attainder of felony, in which case the punishment will be more … [Read more...]