In Pennsylvania practice. This is the name of a plea to the action of covenant whereby the defendant, upon informal notice to the plaintiff, may give anything in evidence which he might have pleaded. With the addition of the words "absque hoc" it amounts to a denial of the allegations of the declaration; and the further addition of "with leave," etc., imports an equitable … [Read more...]

A liberty to use a crane for drawing up goods and wares of burden from ships and vessels, at any creek of the sea, or wharf, unto the land, and to make a profit of doing so. It also signifies the money paid and taken for the service. Tomlins. … [Read more...]

A contraction, in the old books, of the word "convent." … [Read more...]

A term vulgarly applied to a person of eccentric,, ill-regulated, and unpractical mental habits; a person half-crazed; a monomaniac; not necessarily equivalent to "insane person," "lunatic," or any other term descriptive of complete mental derangement, and not carrying any implication of homicidal mania. Walker v. Tribune Co. (C. C.) 29 Fed. 827. … [Read more...]

criminal law. The common name for the statute 22 and 23 Car. II. c. 1; it having been enacted in consequence of an assault on Sir John Coventry in the street, and slitting his nose, in revenge, as was supposed, for some obnoxious words uttered by him in parliament. 2. By this statute it is enacted, that if any person shall, of malice aforethought, and by laying in wait, … [Read more...]