Twofold; acting in two capacities or having two aspects; multiplied by two. This term has ordinarily the same meaning in law as in popular speech. The principal compound terms into which it enters are noted below. Double adultery. Adultery committed by two persons each of whom is married to another as distinguished from “single” adultery, where one of the participants is unmarried. Hunter v. U. S., 1 Pin. (Wis.) 91, 39 Am. Dec. 277. Double avail of marriage. In Scotch law. Double the ordinary or single value of a marriage. Bell. See DUPLEX VALOR. Double bond. In Scotch law. Av bond with a penalty, as distinguished from a single bond. 2 Karnes, Eq. 359. Double complaint, or double quarrel. In ecclesiastical law. A grievance made known by 4f clerk or other person, to the archbishop of the province, against the ordinary, for delaying or refusing to do justice in some cause ecclesiastical, as to give sentence, institute a clerk, etc. It is termed a “double complaint,” because it is most commonly made against both the judge and him at whose suit justice is denied or delayed; the effect whereof is that the archbishop, taking notice of the delay, directs his letters, under his authentical seal, to all clerks of his province, commanding them to admonish the ordinary, within a certain number of days, to do the justice required, or otherwise to appear before him or his official, and there allege the cause of his delay; and to signify to the ordinary that if he neither perform the thing enjoined, nor appear nor show cause against it, he himself, in his court of audience, will forthwith proceed to do the justice that is due.
Cowell. Double costs. See COSTS. Double damages. See DAMAGES. Double eagle. A gold coin, of the United States of the value of twenty dollars. Double entry. A system of mercantile book-keeping, in. which the entries in the day-book, etc., are posted twice into the ledger. First, to a personal account, that is, to the account of the person with whom the dealing to which any given entry refers has taken place: secondly, to an impersonal account, as “goods.” Mozley & Whitley. Double fine. In old English law. A fine sur done grant et render was called a “double fine,” because it comprehended the fine sur cognizanee de droit come ceo, etc., and the fine sur concessit. 2 Bl. Comm. 353 Double insurance is where divers insurances are made upon the same interest in the same subject against the same risks in favor of the same assured, in proportions exceeding the value. 1 Phill. Ins. H 359, 366. A double insurance exists where the same person is insured by several insurers separately in respect to the same subject and interest. Civ. Code Cal.