A trick variously practiced. One mode is as follows, the circumstances being taken from 2 East, P. C. 678: The prisoner, with accomplices, being with their victim, pretend to find a ring wrapped in paper, appearing to be a jeweler's receipt for a "rich, brilliant diamond ring." They offer to leave the ring with the victim if he will deposit some money and his watch as a … [Read more...]

The legal doctrine that a court will only hear a case that is an actual dispute, not one that is hypothetical, theoretically possible or which may happen in the future and which an immediate judgment on the issues is not necessary. … [Read more...]

crim. law. A trick practised by a criminal, by which, on receiving a good piece of money in payment of an article, he pretends it is not good, and, changing it, returns to the buyer a counterfeit one, as in the following case: The prosecutor having bargained with the prisoner, who was selling fruit about the streets, to have five apricot's for sixpence, gave him a good shilling … [Read more...]

A gratuity or reward given to tenants after they had reaped their lord's corn, or done other customary duties. Cowell. … [Read more...]

A custom among commission merchants and brokers, (not unlike the clearing-house system) by which they exchange contracts for sale against contracts for purchase, or reciprocally cancel such contracts, adjust differences of price between themselves, and surrender margins. See Ward v. Vosburgh (C. C.) 31 Fed. 12; Wllllar v. Irwin, 30 Fed. Cas. 38; Pardridge v. Cutler, 68 111. … [Read more...]