Probable
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
Having the appearance of truth ; having the character of probability; appearing to be founded in reason or experience. Bain v. State, 74 Ala. 39; Sinte v. Thiele, 119 Iowa, 659, 94 N. W. 256.
— Probable cause. "Probable cause" may be defined to be an apparent state of facts found to exist upon reasonable inquiry, (that is, such inquiry as the given case renders convenient and proper,) which would induce a reasonably intelligent and prudent man to believe, in a criminal case, that the accused person had committed the crime charged, or, in a civil case, that a cause of action existed. Alsop v. Lid-den, 130 Ala. 548, 30 South. 401; Brand v. Hinchman, 68 Ml chi 590, 36 N. W. 664. 13 Am. St. Rep. 362 ; Mitchell v. Wall, ill Mass. 497; Driggs v. Burton. 44 Vt. 146; Wansei v. Wyckoff, 9 Hun (N. Y.) 179; Lacy v. Mitchell, 23 Ind. 67; Hutchinson v. Wenzel, 155 Ind. 49, 56 N. E. 845. "Probable cause," in malicious prosecution, means the existence of such facts and circumstances as would excite the belief in a reasonable mind, acting on the facts within the knowledge of the prosecutor, that the person charged was guilty of the crime fur which he was prosecuted. Wheeler v. Nesbitt, 24 How. 544, 16 In Ed. 765.
— Probable evidence. See Evidence.
— Probable reasoning. In the law of evidence. Reasoning founded on the probability of the fact or proposition sought to be proved or shown ; reasoning in which the mind exercises a discretion in deducing a conclusion from premises. Burrill.