Extortion

• The unlawful taking by any officer, by color of his office, of any money or thing of value that is not due to him, or more than is due, or before it Bla. Com. 141; Com. v. Saulsbury, 152 Pa. 554, 25 Atl. G10; 1 Hawk. PL I s.

1; 1 Russ. Cr.* 144; 2 Bish. Cr. L. 390; U. Deaver, 14 Fed. 595.

At common law, any oppression by color of right; but technically the taking of money by an officer, by reason of his office, where none at all was due, or when it was not yet due. The obtaining of money by force or fear is not extortion; People v. Baroi Gl Hun 571, 16 X. Y. Supp. 430; Whart Cr. I..

833.

In a large sense the term includes any oppression under color of right; but it is generally and constantly used in the more limited technical sense above given. The incumbent of an office, which it was attempted to create by an unconstitu statute, cannot be guilty of extortion, as he is neither a de jure nor a de facto officer; Kitby v. State, 57 X. J. L. 320, 31 Atl. 21& To constitute extortion, there must be the receipt of money or something of value; the taking a promissory note which is void is not sufficient to make an extortion; Coin. v. Cony, 2 Mass. 523; Com. v. Pease, 1G Mass. 93.

See Bacon, Abr.; Co. Litt. 168.

It tortion and oppression for an officer to take money for the performance of his duty, though it be in the exercise of a disc: ary power; 2 Burr. '.'27.

See Peo; Wnaley, 6 Cow. 661; Ilelser v. P<>tt. 3 Pa. 183; Com. v. Saulsbury, 152 Pa. 554, 2.". A:;. 610; Com. v. Bagley, 7 Pick. (Mass.) 27'.': 4 Cox. Cr. Cas. 387. See Brackenrid State, 27 Tex. App. 513, 11 S. W. 630, 1 I.. i;. a 360; People v. Barondess, 133 X. Y. 049, 31 X. E. 240.