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punishments. A punishment inflicted in some countries on supposed criminals to induce them to confess their crimes, and to reveal their associates. 2. This absurd and tyrannical practice never was in use in the United States; for no man is bound to accuse himself. An attempt to torture a person accused of crime, in order to extort a confession, is an indictable offence. Law … [Read more...] about TORTURE

Originally a nickname for the wild Irish in Ulster. Afterwards given to, and adopted by, one of the two great parliamentary parties which have alternately governed Great Britain since the Revolution in 1688. Wharton. The name was also given, in America, during the struggle of the colonies for independence, to the party of those residents who favored the side of the king and … [Read more...] about TORY

In old English practice, A word written by the foreign opposer or other officer opposite to a debt due the king, to denote that it was a good debt; which was hence said to be totted. … [Read more...] about TOT

L. Latin: In the old reports. The whole court. … [Read more...] about TOTA CURIA

The Massachusetts act of assembly of 1805, c. 100, which provided that the tools of any debtor necessary for his trade and occupation, should be exempted from execution, was held to designate those implements which are commonly used by the hand of one man, in some manual labor necessary for his subsistence. The apparatus of a printing office, such as types, presses are not … [Read more...] about TOOLS