accessory
Defined in 10 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Stimson (1881), Burrill (1850)
Definitions from Case Law
From 281 U.S. 580 - Universal Battery Co. v. United States · 1930Most cited · 439 citing opinions
any article designed to be used in connection with such vehicle to add to its utility or ornamentation and which is primarily adapted for such use, whether or not essential to the operation of the vehicle
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
Anything which is joined to another thing as an ornament, or to render it more perfect. For example, the halter of a horse, the frame of a picture, the keys of a house, and the like, each belong to the principal thing. The sale of the materials of a newspaper establishment will carry with it, as an accessory, the subscription list (2 Watts [Pa.] Ill); but a bequest of a house would not carry the furniture in it, as accessory to it (Domat, Civ. Law, p. 2, liv. 4, tit. 2, § 4, note 1). Accessorium non ducit, sed sequitur prindpale. Co. Litt. 152a. Used, also, in the same sense as "Accessary" (q. V.)
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Any thing which is J to another thing as an ornament, or to render it more perfect. For example, the halter of a horse, the frame of a picture, the keys of a house, and the lik. belong to the principal thing. The sale of the materials of a newspaper establishment will carry with it, as an accessory, the subscription 1 land v. Stewart. 2 Watts (Fa.) Ill, 2G Am. D. i but a bequest of a house would not carry the furniture In It, as accessory to 1L Domat, Lois Civ. Part. 2, llv. 4, tit. 2, 8. 4. n. 1.;i non duett sed scquit;.: Litt.. a. See Accession; Adjunction; Appubtechief actor in the perpetration of the offence, nor present at its performance, but is some way concerned therein, either before or after the fact committed. An accessory before the fact is one who, being absent at the time of the crime committed, yet procures, counsels, or commands another to commit it. 1 Hale, PL Cr. 615. Any one wbo incites persons or commands another to commit a felony is an accessory before fact and punishable as the principal felon. An accessory is never present at the commitment of the crime; Odger, C. L. 132. In some states an accessory before the fact is treated as a principal, as also in England by statute; 2 C. & K. 8S7; L. R. 1 C. C. R. 77. With regard to those cases where the principal goes beyond the terms of the solicitation, the approved test is, "Was the event alleged to he the crime to which the accused is charged to be accessory, a probable effect of the act which he counselled?" 1 F. & F. Cr. Cas. 242; Rose. Cr. Ev. 181. When the act is committed through the agency of a person who has no legal discretion or will, as in the case of a child or an insane person, the incitor. though absent when the crime was committed, will be considered, not an accessory, for none can be accessory to the acts of a madman, but a principal in the first degree; 1 Hale, PL Cr. 514; U. S. v. Gooding, 12 Wheat. (U. S.) 469, 6 L. Ed. 693. But if the instrument is aware of the consequences of his act, he is a principal in the first degree, and the employer, if he is absent when the act is committed, is an accessory before the fact; 1 R. & R. Cr. Cas. 363; 1 Den. Cr. Cas. 37; 1 C. & K. 589; or if he is present, as a principal in the second degree; 1 Fost. Cr. Cas. 349; unless the instrument concur in the act merely for the purpose of detecting and punishing the employer, in which case he is considered as an innocent agent. An accessory after the fact Is one who, knowing a felony to have been committed, receives, relieves, comforts, or assists the felon; 4 Bla. Com. 37. In England one who harbors a felon, knowing him to be a felon (unless it is a wife harboring her husband). This does not apply to a misdemeanant. In treason such person is deemed a principal traitor; Odger, C. L. 132. No one who is a principal can be an accessory; but if acquitted as principal he may be indicted as an accessory after the fact; State v. Davis, 14 R. I. 2S3. In certain crimes, there can be no accessories; all who are concerned are principals, whether they were present or absent at the time of their commission. These are treason, and all offences below the degree of felony; 4 Bla. Com. 35; 2 Den. Cr. Cas. 453; Com. v. Mc Atee, 8 Dana (Ky.) 28; Williams v. 14 Mo. 137; Sanders v. State, 18 Ark. 198; Com. v. Burns, 4 J. J. Marsh. (Ky. ) 1S2; Stevens v. People, 67 111. 587; Griffith v. State, 90 Ala. 583, 8 South. 812; U. S. v. Boyd, 45 Fed. 851. Such is the English rule; but in the United States it appears not to be determined as regards the cases of persons assisting traitors; Sergeant, Const Law 382; In re Burr, 4 Cr. 472, 501; U. S. v. Fries, 3 Dall. 515, 1 L. Ed. 701. See Charge to Grand Jury, 2 Wall. Jr. 134, Fed. Cas. No. 18,276; U.. S. v. Hanway, 2 Wall. Jr. 139, Fed. Cas. No. 15,299; Carlisle v. U. S., 16 Wall. (U. S.) 147, 21 L. Ed. 426; Hanauer v. Doane, 12 Wall. (U. S.) 347, 20 L. Ed. 439. That there cannot be an accessory in cases of treason, see Davis, Cr. L. 38. Contra, 1 Whart. Cr. L. § 224. There can be no accessory when there is no principal; if a principal in a transaction be not liable under our laws, no one can be charged as a mere accessory to him; U. S. v. Libby, 1 Woodb. & M. 221, Fed. Cas. No. 15,597; Armstrong v. State, 28 Tex. App. 526, 13 S. W. 864. But see Searles v. State, 6 Ohio Cir. Ct. R. 331. This rule was changed by the Stat. 1 Anne, 2, c. 9, so that if the principal felon was delivered in any way after conviction and before attainder, as by pardon or being admitted to benefit of clergy, the accessory might be tried; and that rule is substantially enacted by the Ga. Penal Code § 49, but the common law is otherwise unchanged in this country; Smith v. State, 46 Ga. 298. Where two persons are indicted, one as principal and the other as aider or abettor, the latter may be convicted as principal, where the evidence shows -he was the perpetrator of the deed; Benge v. Com., 92 Ky. 1, 17 S. W. 146. At common law, an accessory cannot be tried, without his consent, before the conviction of the principal; (unless they are tried together; Fost. Cr. Cas. 360; Com. v. Woodward, Thatch. Cr. Cas. (Mass.) 63; Baron v. People, 1 Park. Cr. Cas. (N. Y.) 246; State v. Groff, 5 N. C. 270; Whitehead v. State, 4 Humph. (Tenn.) 278; at least not without some special reason, recognized by law, why the principal has not been tried; Smith v. State, 46 Ga. 298). This is altered by statute in most of the states. This rule is said to have been the outcome of strict medieval logic. The trial of the accused being by sacred or supernatural processes, it would be a shame to the law if the principal were acquitted after the accessory had been hanged. 2 Poll. & Maitl. 508. But an accessory to a felony committed by several, some of whom have been convicted, may be tried as accessory to a felony committed by these last; but if he be indicted and tried as accessory to a felony committed by them all, and some of them Dec. 482; Com. v. Knapp, 10 Pick. (Mass.) 484, 20 Am. Dec. 534. If the principal is dead, the accessory cannot, by the common law, be tried at all. Com. v. Philli] Mass. 423; State v. Mc Daniel, 41 T< If the principal has been tried and acquitted, a person charged as accessory should be discharged on motion, but If the former is not found the latter may by statute be tried and convicted; United States v. Crane, 4 Mc- Lean, 317, Fed. Cas. No. 14,888. The trial of an accessory may proceed where the principal enters a plea of guilty, and his withdrawal of it during the trial of the former does not affect the validity of a conviction. One Indicted as an aider and abettor of the crime of murder may be convicted and sentenced for that offence, notwithstanding the principal offender had been tried previously, and convicted and sentenced for manslaughter only; Goins v. State, 46 Ohio St. 457, 21 N. E. 476.. In offenses less than felony all are principals, and on information charging one as principal he may be convicted of aiding and abetting; [1907] 1 K. B. 40. See Abettor; Aiding and Abetting; Pbincipaj.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Anything which is joined to another thing as an ornament or to render it more perfect or which accompanies it or is connected with it as an incident or as subordinate to it or which belongs to or with it.
In criminal law. An accessary. The latter spelling is preferred. See that title.
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
An incident; a thing which belongs to another thing.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Anything which is joined tv another thing as an ornament, or to render it more perfect, or which accompanies it, or is connected with it as an incident, or as subordinate to it, or which belongs to or with it.
In criminal law. An accessary. The latter spelling is preferred. See that title.
A Dictionary of Law
William C. Anderson · 1889
!! 1. Accompanying; incidental; subservient; appurtenant: as, an accessory contract or obligation, gg. v. 2. "Whatever is connected as an incident or subordinate thing to another as the principal. See Accession. 3. An accessary, q. v. Accessorial. Going with some other as the chief or more important thing: as, an offense of an accessorial nature,* an accessorial service. 5 ACCrDENT. See Accideeb. An event or occurrence which happens unexpectedly, from the uncontrollable operations of nature alone, and without human agency; or an event resulting undesignedly and unexpectedly from human agency alone, or from the joint operation of both.^ An event from an unknown cause, or an unusual and unexpected event from a known cause; chance, casualty.' In equity, includes not only inevitable casualties and such as are caused by the act of God, but also those that arise from unforeseen occurrences, misfortunes, losses, and acts or omissions of other persons, without the fault, negligence, or misconduct of the party. 8 See Mistake; Relief, 3. 1 See 8 Bl. Com. 11, 36, 176; Broom, Max. 497. ' See 3 Inst. 139; 4 Bl. Com. 36; Broom, Max. 497. 3 Ac-ces'-sory, — "Webster. 4 18 Wheat. 476; 1 Greenl. Ev. § 294. ■ 6 2 F. E. 478. « Morris v. Piatt, 38 Conn. 85 (1864;, Butler, J. ' Crutohfield v. Richmond, &c. R. Co., 76 N. C. 322 Avoidable, unavoidable, and inevitable accident. Accidents are: (1) Such as are " inevitable" or absolutely unavoidable, because effected or influenced by the uncontrollable operations of nature. (3) Such as result from human agency alone, but are " unavoidable " under the circumstances. (3) Such as are " avoidable," because, in a given case, the act was not called for by any duty or necessity, and the injury resulted from the -want of that extraordinary care which the law reasonably requires of one doing such a lawful act, or because the accident was the result of actual negligence or folly, and might, with reasonable care adapted to the emergency, have been avoided. " Unavoidable accident " does not mean an accident which it is physically impossible in the nature of the things to prevent; but an accident not occasioned in any degi'ee, remotely or directly, by the want of such care or skill as the law holds every man bound to exercise. 1 No one is responsible for that which is merely the act of God or *' inevitable accident." But when human agency is combined with it and neglect occurs in the employment of such agency, a. Uability for <lamages results from the neglect.' In maritime law, " inevitable accident " is a relative term, to be construed not absolutely, but reasonably with regard to the circumstances of each case. In that light it signifies an occui Tence which the party charged with the collision could not possibly prevent by the exercise of ordinary care, caution, and maritime skill; as, a collision resulting from the darkness of the night.' "Unavoidable accidents or dangers," in a bill of lading, mean such accidents as are unavoidable by the carrier. To avail himself of such as an exception to his liability he must prove their existence, and clearly show that there was no default on his part.* Where a collision occurs exclusively from natural causes, the loss must rest where it falls, on the principle that no one is responsible for such an accident.... It is only where a disaster happens from natural causes, and without negligence or fault on either 1 Story, Eq. S TO; Bisp. Eq. § 174; Pom. Eq. § 823; 17 F. R. 616. " [Dygert v. Bradley, 8 Wend. 473 (1832). 2C!hidester v. Consolidated Ditch Co., 59 Cal. 202 (1881), cases. • The Morning Light, 2 Wall. 660-61 (1864), cases, aifford, J. side, that "inevitable accident" as a defense can be admitted — a collision which occurs where both parties have endeavored, by every means in their power, with due care and caution, and a proper display of nautical sldll, to prevent the occinrence of the accident." " Inevitable accident," within the meaning of the maritime law, is where a vessel is pursuing a lawful avocation in a lawful manner, using proper precaution against danger, and an accident occurs. ^ When a casualty occurs, which might have been prevented by the use of known and proper means, it is not " inevitable." » See further Act, Of God; CoL-
Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law
Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881
accessary. to something else, called riutn non ducit sed cessory does not lead, shaU pass by grant of grant of the incident. cui accedit: the accessory it relates. The spelling meaning. Accion sur le case,/r.
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
[L. Lat. accessorius, accessorium, qq. v.] Incident, appurtenant, or belonging to. When a subject is conveyed, every one of its accessories are understood to be conveyed with it, unless the contrary be expressed. 1 Kames* Equity, 240. Accessorial is sometimes used in this sense. Story on Bailment, § 54.