Acquittal

Incoltracts.

A release, absolution, or discharge from an obligation, liability, or engagement. In eriminal practice. The legal and formal certification of the innocence of a person who has been charged with crime; a deliverance or getting free a person from a charge of guilt, The abselution of a party accused ona trial before atraverse jury.

1 Nott & McC. 36; 3 Mc Cord, 461.

Acguittals in fact are those which take place when the jury, upon trial, finds s verdict of not guilty. Acquittals tn law are those which take place by mere operation of law; as where a man has been charged merely as an accessary, and the principal has been acquitted.

2 Co. Inst. 364.

In feudal law. The obligation on the part of a mesne lord to protect his tenant from any claims, entries, or molestations by lords paramount arising out of the services due to them by the mesne lord. See Co. Litt. 100d.; an obligation to pay money or perform a duty. lt differs from a release in not requiring to ba under seal, This word, though perhaps not strictly speaking synonymous with “receipt,” ineludesit. A receipt is one form vf an acquittance; a discharge is another. A receipt in full is an acquittance, anda receipt fora part of a demand or obligation is an acquittance pio tanto.

51 Vt. 104.