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EX VISITATIONE DEI

By the dispensation of God; by reason of physical incapacity. Anciently, when a prisoner, being arraigned, stood silent instead of pleading, a jury was impaneled to inquire whether he obstinately stood mute or was dumb ex visitatione Dei. 4 Steph. Comm. 394.
Also by natural, as distinguished from violent causes. When a coroner’s inquest finds that the death was due to disease or other natural cause, it is frequently phrased “ex visitatione Dei.”

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