CRIMEN FALSI

In the civil law. The crime of falsifying; which might be committed either by writing, as by the forgery of a will or other instrument; by words, as by bearing false witness, or perjury ; and by acts, as by counterfeiting or adulterating the public money, dealing with false weights and measures, counterfeiting seals, and other fraudulent and deceitful practices. Dig. 48, 10; Halllfax, Civil Law, b. 3 c. 12, nn. 56-59. In Scotch law. It has been defined: “A fraudulent imitation or suppression of truth, to the prejudice of another.” Ersk. Inst. 4, 4, 66. At common law. Any crime which may injuriously affect the administration of Justice, by the introduction of falsehood and fraud. 1 Greenl. Ev. i 373. In modern law. This phrase is not used as a desltniation of any specific crime, but as a general designation of a class of offenses, including all such as Involve deceit or falsification; e.g., forgery, counterfeiting, Using false weights or measures, perjury, etc. Includes forgery, perjury, subornation of perjury, and offenses affecting the public administration of justice. Crime en falsi dicitur, cum guis illicitus, cui non fuerit ad haze data auctoritas, de sigillo regis rapto vel invento, brevia cartasve consignaverit. Fleta, lib. 1, c. 23. The crime of forgery is when any one illicitly, to whom power has not been given for such purposes, has signed writs or charters with the king’s seal, either stolen or found.