Ex Visitatione Dei
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
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."